Earth Science Unit 7

What is the definition of weather?

A description of the atmosphere at a particular place and time

What is the definition of climate?

The average state of the atmosphere over a region or interval of time

What is the composition of the atmosphere?

78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen 1% Argon & Carbon Dioxide

The ozone (O₃) in the atmosphere…

Common in stratosphere; single O atoms made by UV light splitting O2 molecules; Hazardous in lower troposphere but beneficial in stratosphere

Water Vapor (H₂0) in the atmosphere…

Varies between 0-4%; percentage depends on thee presence of standing bodies of water and transport by prevailing winds.

What does acid rain consist of?

Nitrogen and Sulfur Oxides

What can we do to remedy acid rain?

Catalytic converters on vehicles & Scrubbers in factory and power plant smokestacks

What is smog?

Visible air pollution consisting of nitrous and sulfurous oxides, ozone, and smoke

How does smoke get in the atmosphere?

From large forest fires

What are aerosols in the atmosphere?

Nitrous and sulfurous oxides can come from volcanic eruptions

How does dust get in the atmosphere?

From dry desert climates & dry lake beds

What is vog?

Volcanic smog

What is the conventional view of the origin of the atmosphere?

Various gases escape from earth’s interior; Volcanoes add gas; Gases added from comets and meteor strikes; Oxygen only added later, after photosynthesis evolved; Gravity retains the atmosphere on earth and other larger planets; Water is a major component of the earth’s interior

What is the Biblical view of the origin of the atmosphere?

Created on the second day, in preparation for all the life forms to follow on Days 3, 5, and 6.

What does the Waters Above the Firmament 1874 by Isaac Vail say?

Proposed a vapor canopy but was disproven

How do you measure air pressure?

By the height of a column of mercury in a tube. As air pressure changes, the height of the mercury rises and falls. Measured in millibars.

High air pressure =

Nice clear days

Low air pressure =

cloudy stormy days

Thermosphere

90 km—edge of space; location of auroras (Northern Lights)

Mesosphere

50km—90km; temperature decreases with altitude

Stratosphere

18km—50km; temperature increases with altitude due to absorption of UV by ozone

Troposphere

surface—18km; temperature decreases with height; most surface weather is confined to this layer

What is temperature?

Measure of the potential and kinetic energy of atomss and molecules

Sensible Heating

Energy flow that results in a temperature change. Objects with low heat capacity warm up faster than ones with high heat capacity.

Latent Heating

Energy flow that results in a phase change and no temperature change

What is conduction?

Transfer of energy due to the collisions between adjacent molecules. ^^^ [stove flame heating a teapot]

What is convection?

Transfer of energy due to rising motion of less dense warm fluids (liquids & gases) OO [liquid in teapot]

What is radiation?

Transfer of energy due to electromagnetic waves. Hotter objects emit more radiation at shorter wavelengths. Most solar radiation is in the visible range and terrestrial radiation is in the thermal infrared range. SS [handle of the teapot]

What is the Vernal Equinox?

1. First day of Spring

2. March 20th

What is the Summer Solstice?

1. First day of Summer

2. June 21st

3. Sun directly over the Tropic of Cancer

What is the Autumnal Equinox?

1. First day of Fall

2. September 22nd

What is the Winter Solstice?

1. First day of Winter

2. December 21st

3. Sun directly over Tropic of Capricorn

What is albedo?

The percentage of solar radiation reflected or scattered by a surface

What was the temperature of the air and the oceans Pre-Flood?

Air: mostly warm Oceans: mostly warm

What was the temperature of the air and the oceans Post-Flood?

Air: warm Oceans: hot

What was the temperature of the air and oceans during the Ice Age?

Air: warm/cold Oceans: warm

What is the temperature of the air and the oceans today?

Air: warm/cold Oceans: cold

What is saturation?

When the amount of evaporation matches the condensation

What is sublimation?

A phase change from solid to vapor

What is deposition?

A phase change from vapor to solid

What is a psychrometer?

A dry-bulb and wet-bulb thermometer that is exposed to moving air. Used to measure humidity.

What is adiabatic Processes (convection?

Rising air experiences less pressure and expands in volume, resulting in a temp. decrease.

Sinking air experiences increased pressure