Environmental Sci

What are the major components of the Earth's atmosphere by percentage?

Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, Argon 1%, Trace gases.

What are the three major events in Earth's atmospheric evolution?

Volcanic outgassing, meteoritic bombardment, oxygenation.

What instrument is used to measure air pressure?

Barometer

What does high psi indicate about air pressure and elevation?

Higher psi indicates being closer to sea level and drier conditions.

Which atmospheric layer contains most of the mass and weather?

Troposphere

What is the role of the ozone layer?

The stratosphere contains the ozone layer, which protects from harmful UV radiation.

What happens to meteors in the mesosphere?

Meteors burn up in the mesosphere

What is the significance of the thermosphere?

The thermosphere is where the space station orbits, characterized by low particle mass

How does the exosphere relate to space?

The exosphere fades into space

What causes the changing of seasons on Earth?

Axial tilt

What are the three cell types in atmospheric circulation?

Hadley cells (0-30°), Ferrel cells (30-60°), Polar cells (60-90°).

How does the Coriolis effect influence atmospheric movements?

The Coriolis effect causes Earth to spin at different speeds, with the equator spinning faster.

How do the northern and southern hemispheres differ in terms of rotation direction?

In the North, atmospheric rotation is counterclockwise; in the South, it is clockwise.

What are the characteristics of El Niño?

Weak winds and warmer weather.

What are the characteristics of La Niña?

Strong cold winds.

What is the nitrogen cycle?

The process that converts atmospheric nitrogen gas into usable forms for organisms.

What are the main processes involved in the phosphorus cycle?

Rock uplift, erosion, and storage in rocks.

How do synthetic filters impact phosphorus and nitrogen cycling?

Synthetic filters disrupt the natural phosphorus and nitrogen cycle.

What can affect the carbon cycle?

The carbon cycle can occur rapidly or slowly; the burning of fossil fuels disrupts it.

What is the carbon cycle?

The carbon cycle is the process by which carbon moves between the Earth's atmosphere, land, oceans, and living organisms.

What are the main processes involved in the carbon cycle?

Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.

How does the ocean contribute to the carbon cycle?

The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in water and marine organisms.

Carbon Sink vs Resevior

Sink - Absorbs more than released

Resevior - stored