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what does the biosphere contain
conditions suitable for supporting life
all living things on earth
contains all the spheres
what is the atmosphere
layer of gases that surrounds the earth
the atmosphere is composed of ___% oxygen
21
the atmosphere is composed of ___% nitrogen
21
what is the distance of the troposphere from the earth
0-10 km
what does the troposphere contain
most of the atmospheres gas and dust
which sphere does weather occur in
troposphere
what is special about the troposphere
only part of the atmosphere that can support life
what is the distance of the stratosphere from the earth
10-50 km
what does the stratosphere contain
the ozone layer
what is the distance of the mesosphere from the earth
50-80 km
what is the distance of the thermosphere from the earth
80-500 km
how much of the gases does the thermosphere contain
very little
what does the hydrosphere contain
all the water on earth
percentage of water stored as salt water
97%
what the lithosphere contains
rocks, minerals, elements
temperature
the measure of thermal energy
thermal energy
kinetic energy of molecules or atoms
insolation
amount of solar energy received by a region on earths surface
angle of incidence
angle between a ray falling on a surface and the line perpendicular to it
where the angle of incidence increases
the poles
why the angle of incidence increases
the curvature of the earth
why do seasonal changes occur
earths angle of inclination
what happens to the angle of inclination in the northern hemisphere during the summer solstice
angle of inclination causes the north pole to be closer to the sun
what happens when the north pole is closer to the sun
greater insolation, more hours of daylight
what happens to the angle of inclination in the northern hemisphere during the winter solstice
angle of inclination causes the north pole to be farther from the sun
what happens when the north pole is farther from the sun
less insolation, less hours of daylight
albedo
percentage of solar radiation that a surface reflects
average earth albedo
30%
net radiation budget
incoming radiation - outgoing radiation
when particles reflect energy
change the rays direction
incoming radiation
solar energy that reaches earths surface
outgoing radiation
thermal radiation that is emitted by earths surface
net radiation budget deficit
regions near the poles
net radiation budget surplus
regions near the equators
green house effect
absorption of outgoing thermal energy by water, co2, and other gases
radiation
emission of energy as particles or waves that can be absorbed
conduction
transfer of thermal energy through direct contact
convection
transfer of thermal energy through movement
convection currents
air moving from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure
global wind patterns
caused by unequal heating and cooling of the earth, plus the Coriolis effect
jet streams
fast moving air in the stratosphere
thermal energy trasnfer
transferred through water using convection currents
specific heat capacity
amount of energy required to raise the temperature
why does water have a high specific heat capacity
hydrogen bonds
quantity of thermal energy
amount of energy absorbed or released when temperature changes
Note 
Flashcard (46)