Bio.B8 Exam 2

Atmosphere is composed of what?

nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (20%)

The first atmosphere layer starting from the ground is what?

Troposphere

The second atmosphere layer is what? (Hint: Spy plane goes here)

Stratosphere (Ozone layer)

The third atmosphere layer is what? (Hint: where meteors break apart)

Mesosphere

The fourth atmosphere layer is what? (Hint: where satellites are)

Thermosphere

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather: changes by minute/unpredictable (“you can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather" - The Outkast).

Climate: Average temperature/predictable

What is energy budget?

the balance of incoming and outgoing heat on Earth

What are the greenhouse gases?

nitrogenous oxide, methane, ozone, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor

What are the atmosphere gases?

nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, and sulfur

Electromagnetic waves from the sun spectrum include…

Gamma rays, X-rays, UV, Visible light, Infrared, Microwaves, Radio waves

Wavelength is…

space between two peaks

Photons are…

starting points of a wavelength; the shorter they are, the higher frequency and energy

Crest of a wavelength is…

the top peak of a wavelength

Trough of a wavelength is…

the low peak of a wavelength

Gamma rays:

deadly pass through your body (but can kill cancerous cells) = shorter wavelength/higher frequency

X-Rays:

Slightly longer wavelength; can’t pass through lead and bone

UV (Ultraviolet)

how sunburn occurs, yet long exposure can damage cells

Visible light

makes things able to be seen (light of colors)

Infrared

emitted heat energy (ex. heater for a room)

Microwaves

activity of energy and absorbing heat (ex. heating leftover food)

Radio waves

channels/signaling = longer wavelengths/low frequency

Greenhouse Effect:

heat that is trapped even when reflected inside a global sphere

Solar Radiation:

concentrated over a small area (the equator/tropics receive more intense sunlight)

concentrated over a large area (the polar regions receive less intense sunlight)

How does greenhouse effect occur?

the heating caused by more vigorous vibrations of greenhouse gases

Albedo

the reflectivity of a surface (lighter surfaces are more reflective than darker surfaces, therefore, lighter surfaces reflect more light and darker surfaces absorb more light)

Why do the poles reflect more solar energy?

because the poles have a higher albedo (light reflectivity)

Why are the poles not becoming increasingly colder, and the equator becoming increasingly warmer despite more sun exposure?

because 20% of the heat from the equator is transported to the poles before it is emitted, usually in the form of ocean and atmospheric circulation

What is the Coriolis Effect?

a result of the fact that different latitudes on Earth rotate at different speeds

From the point of view of a cannon, the Coriolis deflection in the Northern Hemisphere will always turn…

right towards the equator

From the point of view of a cannon, the Coriolis deflection in the Southern Hemisphere will always turn…

left towards the equator

Hadley Cells:

rising air at the equator at 0 degrees and sinking air at 30 degrees

Polar Cells:

rising cold air at the poles at 90 degrees and sinking air at 60 degrees

Ferrel Cells:

rising cold air at 60 degrees and sinking air at 30 degrees

Trade winds

surface-level air currents found in the north and south hemispheres

The westerlies are…

the dominant winds between 30 and 60 degrees blow right on the hemisphere

the winds that blow left on the hemisphere from 60 and 90 degrees are…

polar easterlies

Air rising at the warm equator carries full of…and as it rises it…

water vapor; cools and forms rain

What is the Rain Shadow effect?

temperature changes as air flows through different elevations (winds pick up moisture from the ocean and cool as it travels above a mountain range to release the moisture and settle with little moisture on the other side of the mountain)

Gyres are circular motion patterns in which the northern hemisphere currents rotate (1) and the southern hemisphere gyres rotate (2)

1. clockwise

2. counterclockwise

Thermohaline Circulation is":

the deep water formation and surface current

Gulf stream is…

warm and saline that turns to cold and saline (North Atlantic Deep Water)

Primary pollutants

come from the pollutant source in its compound form

Secondary pollutants

forms into a new compound in chemical reactions in the atmosphere

Positive feedback loop

speeding the process of global warming

Negative feedback loop

reverse the process of global warming

Examples of primary pollutants

• carbon dioxide

• Erupted volcanoes

• Forest fires

• Burning fossil fuels

Examples of secondary pollutants

• nitrogen oxides (brown tint)

• Acid deposition

• Changes pH for aquatic life

Particular matter (PM scale)

2.5 micrometers: extremely small particles than a piece of hair strand

10 micrometers: the same width as a piece of hair strand

Particulate matter consist of:

• 62% natural sources

• 38% anthropogenic sources

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

From car emissions, gasoline, cigarettes, paints, fumes that have an order and irritate notes, eyes, and liver

Ozone

Usually in the stratosphere but the concern is the fact that it’s in the troposphere.

Clean Air Act

1963: enacted to monitor and study air pollution

Motor Vehicle Air Pollution Control Act

1965: the control of car emissions once detected

Clean Air Act 1970

Expanded sources covered and enforced by the law

Clean Air Act 1990

More enforcement to prevent acid rain and the ozone hole from growing

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Improved air quality: the amount of released pollutants

CFC (chlorofluorocarbon)

When UV radiation hits, chlorine breaks the hydrogen and attracts ozone which then breaks apart the oxygen and the cycle repeats. Found in hairspray back then, and caused the ozone hole

How do scientists uncover climate change?

• ring trees (years of rain)

• Coral reefs

• Drilling holes

• Frozen air bubbles in Antarctica

As CO2 increases, temperature…

Increases

Milankovitch Cycles

The orbital shape of Earth around the sun

Eccentricity

How much the Earth changed it’s orbital shape form a perfect circle. Changes every 100,000 years.

Circle orbits tend to lead to

Warmer temperature periods

Oval orbital shapes tend to lead to

An ice age where the ice doesn’t melt as much

Obliquity

The changes of tilt the Earth has occurred. Changes every 41,000 years.

The Earth’s tilt towards the sun leads to

Warmer temperatures with the north poles melting more than usual.

Axial precession

Earth wobbling every 26,000 years

Solar cycle

11 year cycle where the magnetic force in the sun flips affecting the strength of solar flares

Why is the solar radiation not responsible for climate change?

Because the sun’s radiation is decreasing it’s strength while temperatures continue to rise, showing no correlation between the two

Sources

Releasing pollutants

Sinks

Absorbing and taking the amount of CO2 from the atmosphere