Atmosphere
What are the 3 main components of the atmosphere? Which component makes up the majority of the atmosphere?
1. Nitrogen (78%)
2. Oxygen (20.9%)
3. Argon (0.9%)
Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to the Earth and contains 75% of all of the mass of the atmosphere?
Troposphere
Which area of the Earth receives the most solar radiation?
Equator
Why is gaseous nitrogen in the atmosphere difficult to break down?
Gaseous nitrogen has a triple bond holding it together
What is unique about the phosphorus cycle?
The phosphorus cycle does not involve the atmosphere because phosphorus is found in rocks
How does nitrogen become usable for us to breathe?
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert the nitrogen in the soil
In which layer of the atmosphere are you most likely to find a space station?
Thermosphere
What season is it in Indiana when the Southern hemisphere is pointed towards the sun?
Winter
What is nitrification/nitrogen fixation?
The process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia (NH3), then converting ammonia (NH3) into nitrites (NO2-) and nitrates (NO3-) for plants to use
In what scenario would the carbon cycle happen very quickly?
Carbon cycles very quickly from the atmosphere to plants, plants to animals, animals to soils, and soils back into the atmosphere
Define pressure.
Which layer of the atmosphere contains meteors that burn up?
Mesosphere
What causes global winds?
Unequal heating of the earth
What role do fungi and bacteria play in nitrogen fixing?
They use the enzyme nitrogenase to break nitrogen's triple bond
They convert nitrogen into ammonia (NH3)
They convert ammonia (NH3) into nitrites (NO2-) and nitrates (NO3-) for plants to use
How have synthetic fertilizers impacted ecosystems?
Ecosystems have become overloaded with too much nitrogen and phosphorus
What is the tool used to measure air pressure?
Mercury barometer
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
What are the 3 main wind circulation patterns of the Earth?
1. Hadley cells
2. Ferrel cells
3. Polar cells
What is denitrification?
The process of converting nitrate (NO3-) back into nitrogen and oxygen
The opposite process of nitrogen fixation
How have humans accelerated the addition of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
Burning of fossil fuels
Person A is standing on top of a mountain. Person B is standing on the beach. Which person is experiencing higher air pressure?
Person B. Air pressure decreases as altitude increases
List the layers of the atmosphere from closest to farthest from the Earth's surface.
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
What phenomenon explains why points on the Earth near the poles spin slower than regions near the equator?
Coriolis Effect
What is another way in which nitrogen can be converted into a useable form?
Lightning
Man-made fertilizer products
How does carbon affect ocean life?
Causes the ocean to be more acidic