Unit2.1 - 2.4 questions enviromental science

Which gas makes up the largest percentage of earths atmosphere?

78% Nitrogen

Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

Stratosphere

In which layer do auroras occur?

Thermosphere

True or false

Atmospheric pressure increases as altitude increases

False

True or False

The Montreal. Protocol was an international treaty to reduce CFCs and protect the ozone layer

True

Why is Earth’s atmosphere unique compared to Venus and Mars?

Earth's atmosphere is unique because photosynthetic microbes billions of years ago transformed COz into Oz, giving Earth its oxygen-rich atmosphere. Venus & Mars stayed COz-heavy (~96%).

What device is used to measure atmospheric pressure?

Barometer

What happens to air temperature as altitude increases in the trospohere why?

In the troposphere, temperature decreases with altitude because the air is heated from the earths surface.

(Ground absorbs sunlight → warms air near bottom)

List the five layers of the atmosphere from lowest to highest

1. Troposphere

2. Stratosphere

3. Mesosphere

4. Thermosphere

5. Exosphere

How many years of data are needed to define climate?

30 or more years

Which atmospheric circulation cell occurs in tropical and sub-tropical regions?

Hadley cell

In the Northern Hemisphere, the coriolis effect causes winds to what

Bend right, clockwise

True or False

Florida has four distinct seasons because of its latitude.

False

True or false

The coriolis effect is strongest near the poles n weakest at the equator

True

High pressure bands re usually linked to fair, dry, hot weather

True

High pressure bands (like 30degrees N/S) = hot, dry, fair whether. Deserts are found near these latitudes.

Explain the difference between weather and climate.

Weather = Short term

Climate = Long term averages

Why does Florida only have two seasons.(Wet and Dry)

Floridas tropical latitude gives it wet (may - sept) and dry ( oct - April)

Name 3 prevailing wind types and where they are found.

1. Trade winds → Tropics (Hadley)

2. Westerlies → Mid latitudes (Ferrell)

3. Polar easterlies → Poles (Polar cell)

What instruments are used to measure wind speed, humidity, and air pressure?

• Anemometer = Wind speed

• Hygrometer = Humidity

• Barometer = Pressure

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of “Obscuration”

What is the main ingredient required for hurricane formation?

Warm ocean water above 80 F

Why dont hurricanes form near the equator?

No Coriolis effect

True or False

Precipitation occurs when droplets or snowflakes become to heavy to stay suspended in rising air currents.

True

True or false

Hurricanes are categorized by the Saffir Simpson Scale, which takes into account wind speed, barometric pressure, and storm surge.

False

True or False

Many hurricanes that reach the U.S East Coast begin as tropical disturbances off the coast of africa

True

What are three main categories of weather phenomena?

1. Precipitation - rain, hail, snow,

2. Obscurations - haze, fog, smog, smoke, volcanic ash

3. Other metoroligcal disturbances - tornadoes, squalls, dust storms, water spouts

Explain the process of how warm water fuels a hurricane.

Warm water evaporates → humid air rises → condensation forms clouds & releases heat → this heat powers convection, fueling the hurricane like a loop.

Why are hurricanes considered a “heat engine”?

Hurricanes are called heat engines because they convert the heat energy from warm ocean water into the mechanical energy of strong winds.

What does the Saffir-Simpson scale measure?

Wind speed

Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

Oxygen (O₂)

What were pre-industrial CO₂ levels compared to 2016 levels?

278 ppm → 400+ ppm

Which organization concluded with 99% certainty that climate change is caused by human activity?

IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

True or False

The greenhouse effect is always harmful to Earth.

False

True or False

The burning of fossil fuels has overwhelmed the natural carbon cycle.

True

True or False

The Saffir-Simpson scale is used to measure air pollution levels.

False

What is the difference between the natural greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect?

• Natural = keeps Earth habitable by trapping some heat.

• Enhanced = human activity (fossil fuels, deforestation) adds excess greenhouse gases → too much heat trapped → climate change.

What is Climate determined by?

Latitude.

countries with the same latitude will have similar climate

What are the heat trapping gases?

1. Carbon dioxide

2. Water Vapor

3. Mathane

4. Nitrous Oxide

what is the greenhouse effect caused by? and why is it needed.

it is cuased by he capture of infred radiation from the sun by green house gases. these gases are needed for the greenhouse effect which keeps the plane warm and habital.

What are the five main pollutants measured by the EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI)?

1. Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10)

2. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)

3. Ozone (O₃)

4. Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂)

5. Carbon Monoxide (CO)

What are CFC'‘s and why are the damanging

CFC’s or “Chlorofluorocarbon” are componds ofcarbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and flourine that are ised in refrigerents or aerosol propellants, they are harmful to the ozone layer.

CFCs release chlorine in the atmosphere, which destroys ozone molecules (1 chlorine atom can break down thousands of ozone molecules).