Week 3 - ICCR

What does the pressure v density graph look like?

Similar to the exponential function graph

What is scale height?

The height over which the pressure or density decreases by a factor of 1/e

What’s the best way to describe how density and pressure work together?

Scale height

What is the surface temperature?

288 K

Where does it start to get cooler and warmer in the atmosphere?

Cooler: Troposphere to Stratosphere, Mesosphere to Thermosphere

Hotter: Stratosphere to Mesosphere, Thermosphere onward

What is the order of the layers of the Earth?

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

What are the boundaries between each layer of the atmosphere called?

First syllable + pause

What is the heat source for each layer of the atmosphere?

Sun

What are the first rays of light to be absorbed?

X-rays and far UV light (absorbed by first molecule in atmosphere)

Where is near UV light absorbed?

The top of the troposphere

What happens to all the other rays of light?

They are absorbed by the ground through conduction and convection

Depending on the day, how low can the tropopause be?

It is usually at 10 km, but it can be 6 km

Where do airplanes usually travel?

The bottom of the stratosphere (back into troposphere for descent)

How deep is the ocean?

Usually around 5km

What is the abyssal plain?

How deep the ocean goes

What is the deepest point in the ocean?

Mariana’s Trench (11 km)

What is larger the ocean crust or continental crust?

Continental

What does residence time equal to in equation?

Content / Flux (can be input or output flux)

What is the definition of residence time?

The average time a particle spends in a reservoir

What variable represents inputs - outputs?

Q

What is the flow rate formula?

mL/seconds

What is the equation for the amount of water leaving the tank?

Q(out) = K√(z(eff)) 

What is Z(eff) equal to?

Depth of the water

What is the equation for maximum flow rate?

Q(in) = K√(z(eff)) 

How can we remember the equation for maximum flow rate?

“I’m queuing into my surroundings because of Konstant depth

How can we remember the value of constant K?

K is the 11th letter of the alphabet. Remember that it is 11 and super high divisible by 5 decimal (11.95)

The bigger the tank, the ______ it takes to reach equilibrium

longer

If output > input, the depth of the river changes and ________

Reaches a new equilibrium

If input > output, the river will ____________

Overflow

As humidity increases, what happens?

Clouds increase

Where is heat stored in our world?

The atmosphere and our oceans

What is the greenhouse gas effect?

Heat radiation is trapped inside the Earth’s atmosphere and unable to leave causing the temperature to rise

How does flow rate change with time?

As Q(in) or the input changes, the water depth will change accordingly

Which of these is not included in a system?

Valve

T/F: When humidity increases, clouds increase

True

We learned that flow rate of a valve (Q) is calculated dividing one variable by another. What two variables (measures) are used to calculate flow rate? (please write in complete sentences)​

The equation for flow rate of a valve is Q = mL/second. This means that the two variables used to calculate flow rate are volume (mL) and time (second).

What does Z(eff) represent?

The depth of the water

What is transition state?

When the temperature goes up or down to a mew value that can be sustained

T/F: The formula for flow rate of a valve is Q = V / time

True

What is system analysis?

A study of a complicated system with input and outputs

If output is greater than input, then depth of the reservoir will change and reach a new _____

Equilibrium

T/F: Heat can be stored only in the atmosphere

False

What is the variable the causes water depth to change?

Q(in)

T/F: Scale height is the interval over which pressure or density can decreases by a specific factor. When there is a larger scale height, density decreases

True

What is the difference between a larger scale height and a smaller scale height?

A larger scale height means that there is a deeper atmosphere and it decreases in density more slowly as you go up into it. Whereas, with a smaller scale height, the density decreases more rapidly, and there is a thinner atmosphere. ​

What is the chemical formula for Ozone?

O3

T/F: The residence time of oxygen is 10 billion years

True

The rate of precipitation is equal to the rate of ________

Evaporation

T/F: The equation P =pRT is known as the Noble Gas Law

False

What is the residence time of a water molecule in the ocean?

5000 years