2.4 Apex Earth Science

chlorofluorocarbons

They combine with solar radiation in the stratosphere and break apart ozone molecules.

greenhouse effect

Lots of infrared photons get blocked by greenhouse gases and clouds in the atmosphere, and are absorbed and trapped inside, making the Earth hotter.

mesosphere characteristics

temperature decreases as you climb, low temperatures of -90 celsius, contains very few molecules, 50 to 85 km 3rd layer

ozone

absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Acts as a natural sunblock.

stratosphere

Temperature trends increase as you climb; airplanes fly through the lower region, has ozone layer

thermosphere

temperature trends increase as you climb up, ionosphere, temperatures as high as 2000 celsius

troposphere

most weather happens here, decreasing temperature trends, consists of all atmosphere gases and water vapor

Layers of the atmosphere

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere.

the origin of and changes in Earth's atmosphere over geologic time.

In the early Earth, volcanoes outgassed most of what became our atmosphere from inside the planet. Blue-green algae converted carbon dioxide to oxygen.

Define the ozone layer and describe its role in the atmosphere.

Excessive use of chloroflourocarbons (CFCs) have led to holes in the ozone layer, which normally prevents dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays from reaching Earth's surface.

the consequences of ozone depletion in the atmosphere and what people can do to protect it.

Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere lead to an enhanced greenhouse effect.

albedo

The total percentage of light that is reflected from a body to outer space.

carbon sinks

reservoirs for storing carbon, which come in five major categories (plants, & animals, atmosphere)

carbon sources

something that releases carbon into the atmosphere

carbon uptake

The process by which ecosystems absorb and store CO₂ from the atmosphere

eutrophication

A buildup of nitrogen in a water source causes excessive plant growth, which causes plants to die (agricultural runoff)

nitrogen fixation

Breaking up nitrogen molecules so they can be used by plants and animals. This is done by bacteria.

. Classify the carbon sources

burning fossil fuels, plant and human respiration, and decay of organic matter

Analyze the role of plants in the carbon cycle

Plants take in carbon dioxide through photosynthesis.

. Organize the steps of the nitrogen cycle.

In the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen is pulled from the atmosphere and made useful via nitrogen fixation. It enters the food chain as protein, and returns to the atmosphere after decay and through the use fertilizers, and burning fossil fuels..

. Classify the carbon sinks

soil, rocks, and plants

Predict the effects of carbon and nitrogen imbalance.

the greenhouse effect can become too powerful if excess carbon dioxide exists in the atmosphere and excessive nitrogen levels in water sources cause eutrophication.

Convection

Convection involves the movement of fluids and gases, including ocean currents and weather systems.

Conduction

involves the direct contact of two objects of different temperature.

Radiation

Involves the transmission of electromagnetic waves. This is how sunlight gets to us from Earth. Radiation can be absorbed, reflected or transmitted, although usually some combination of the three happens

Compare the role of different types of radiation in Earth heating.

Transmission: goes through an object, Reflection: light bounces off an object, Absorption: when light is absorbed and heats the object up

Coriolis effect

Earth's spin causes the Coriolis effect, which makes winds deviate from straight paths. Winds move to the right of their motion in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.

diurnal cycle

Daily cycle of heating and cooling due to the Earth's rotation. The temperature is usually lowest just before sunrise, right before the sun starts to heat things again.

doldrums

The trade winds meet at the Intertropical Convergence Zone, resulting in still air and frequent precipitation.

insolation

The amount of sunlight is striking a surface.

Polar Jet stream

A river of fast-moving air high above the surface of the planet. Blowing west to east.

Subtropical jet stream

weaker than polar jet streams, but follows the horse latitudes.

land breeze

A wind blowing out from the ocean during the day. At night, the land cools off, while the water remains relatively warm.

sea breeze

A wind blowing in from the ocean during the day. Water remains cool while the land heats up.

mountain breeze

Reverse of a valley breeze. Cool air moves down the sides at night, and the heat radiates away from the sides.

valley breeze

During the day, the sun heats up the sides and bottom of a valley. The warmed air gradually moves up the sides of the valley. The warm air expands into the cooler area in the middle, eventually falling back to the bottom.

polar easterlies

The winds that blow from the polar regions to the subpolar lows. This is the polar cells ground level winds.

Analyze the role of the atmosphere in the unequal heating of Earth.

The radiation balance of Earth is determined primarily by differences in insolation, albedo, and the absorption properties of the atmosphere.

Compare the characteristics of different Earth surfaces.

Unequal heating of land and water leads to a sea breeze during the day and a land breeze at night. Valley or mountain areas have similar breezes due to heating of the sides of the slopes.

Organize the processes of wind generation through pressure differences.

Warm air rises creating a low pressure area; cool air falls creating a high pressure area. Air tends to move from high pressure to low pressure.

seasonal cycle

The seasonal temperature cycle due to the tilt of Earth's axis. When the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, isolation increases, and the radiation balance is positive.

subpolar low

Near 60° latitude are belts of low surface pressure called subpolar lows.

trade winds

The ground winds of the hadley cell. Blows from horse latitudes towards the equator. Blows east to west

valley breeze

During the day, the sun heats up the sides and bottom of a valley. The warmed air gradually moves up the sides of the valley. The warm air expands into the cooler area in the middle, eventually falling back to the bottom.

Analyze the effect of the jet stream.

The Westerlies and Polar Easterlies meet at the polar front, which outlines the polar jet stream. A jet stream is a high-altitude river of fast-moving air. The polar jet stream is stronger than the subtropical jet stream.

Identify major regions of high and low pressure

Each hemisphere can be divided into three major convection cells whose boundaries are the equator, the horse latitudes (subtropics), the subpolar low, and the Poles.