Ch 1
Earth And Atmospheric Sciences 107 with Fishman at Saint Louis University
About this deck
By: Ben Mcrummen
Created: 2012-02-11
Size: 16 flashcards
Views: 8
Created: 2012-02-11
Size: 16 flashcards
Views: 8
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Bimolecular and Trimolecular molecules
Nitrogen(N2) -Occupies about 78% of the atmosphere
Oxygen(O2)- Occupies about 21% of the atmosphere
Carbon Dioxide(CO2)- 385 ppm
Water Vapor
–Near the poles Water Vapor content is approximately 1% while at the equator it is nearly 4% of the air.
–it is the only substance that can exist as a gas, liquid, and a solid at normal temperatures and pressures.
-Releases energy into the atmosphere called Laten heat
Lapse Rate
The rate at which the air temperature decreases with hight
Temperature inversion
Occasionally the temperature may increase with hight
Thermal Layers of the Atmosphere
1. Troposphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere
Troposphere
-It is in this layer where all the weather occurs
-The area is fron the surface to 11km
-Just above this layer is the isothermal layer is called the tropopause.
-The lapse rate is 0 here
–This region is kept well stirred by rising and descending air currents.
Stratosphere
-This layer is above the Tropopause. The temperature increases with height in this layer (averaging less than -46°C).
- The area between 11km and 50km
-Some of the absorbed energy warms the air rather than splitting the Oxygen molecule.
-Above this layer there is another inversion called the stratopause.
Mesosphere
-The layer above the Stratopause between 50km and 85km
-The atmosphere here is very thin and the atmospheric pressure is quite low, averaging about 1 mb.
-The air here is also extremely cold averaging only -90°C.
-Above this layer is the mesopause
Thermosphere
–This is the “hot layer” above the mesosphere.
–As with the stratosphere, the oxygen in the thermosphere is absorbing energetic solar rays, warming the layer.
–With relatively few atoms and molecules, the absorption of a small amount of solar energy can cause a large increase in temperature.
–Although the temperature may rise to nearly 1000°C in this layer there are so few molecules that little or no heat is transferred.
Ozone Layer
-In the stratosphere, Ozone is most dense near 25 km where the Ozone concentration is about 12 ppm.
-This natural balance can be destroyed naturally by volcanic eruptions and by man-made causes.
-Protects humans, plants and animals from the suns harmful radiation
Air pressure
-The amount of force exerted over an area of surface
-Expressed in 3 units
-Millibar(mb)
-Hectopascal(hPa)
-Inches of mercury(Hg)
1013.25mb = 101.3.25hPa = 29.92 in. Hg
Density
Is determined by the masses of atoms and the amount of space between them.
Density = Mass/volume
Weather
Comprised of 7 elements
1. Air temperature
2. Air pressure
3. Humidity
4. Clouds
5. Precipitation
6. Visibility
7. Wind
Climate
-Is the long-term or average weather for a particular location or region.
-Determines what crops can be grown, what clothes people wear, and the kind of home we buy.
-Although sudden changes in weather may occur at a moment, climatic change takes place gradually over many years.
Wind direction
The direction from which the wind is blowing
Atmospheric Layers
The warmest atmospheric layer is the Thermosphere; The coldest is the Mesosphere. And most of the gas ozoneis found in the stratosphere.
About this deck
By: Ben Mcrummen
Created: 2012-02-11
Size: 16 flashcards
Views: 8
Created: 2012-02-11
Size: 16 flashcards
Views: 8
About StudyBlue
STUDYBLUE makes things that make you better at school.
Things like online flashcards with photos and audio.
Things like personalized quizzes and friendly reminders about when (and what) to study next.
Think of it as a digital backpack™: access to all of your study materials online and on your phone.
STUDYBLUE exists to make studying efficient and effective for every student, for free. Join us.
“I have used this website for three exams, and I see a huge difference in my test results.”
Naj
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