6.1 Introduction to the Atmosphere (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): SL): Flashcards
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What are the two most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere, and their approximate percentages?
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What are the two most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere, and their approximate percentages?
Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere and oxygen about 21%.
Despite its low concentration of about 0.04%, why is carbon dioxide essential in the atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide is essential for photosynthesis in plants and for maintaining the greenhouse effect.
True or False?
Argon participates actively in atmospheric chemical reactions.
False.
Argon is an inert gas that does not participate in chemical reactions.
What role does water vapour play in the atmosphere?
Water vapour plays an important role in the Earth's weather patterns and the formation of clouds and precipitation.
Define convection, as a process that redistributes atmospheric gases.
Convection is the vertical movement of air, where warm air rises and cool air sinks.
Define diffusion, as a process that redistributes atmospheric gases.
Diffusion is the movement of gases from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.
What causes wind, the main mover of gases in the atmosphere?
Differences in air pressure cause wind.
The two atmospheric layers most important for living systems are the troposphere and the .
The two atmospheric layers most important for living systems are the troposphere and the stratosphere.
Up to what altitude does the troposphere, the lowest atmospheric layer, extend?
The troposphere extends up to about 10 km from the Earth's surface.
What does the ozone layer in the stratosphere do?
The ozone layer absorbs and blocks most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Why does the equator receive more heating from the Sun than the poles?
The equator receives more direct sunlight than the poles, making it warmer.
True or False?
The tricellular model of atmospheric circulation explains how heat is redistributed from the poles to the equator.
False.
It explains how heat is redistributed from the equator to the poles.
What are some natural inputs into the atmospheric system?
Natural inputs include gases from volcanic eruptions, gases from plants and other living organisms, and dust from desert regions.
What are some anthropogenic inputs into the atmospheric system?
Anthropogenic inputs include greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion and livestock, and air pollutants from industrial processes.
How are pollutants and aerosols removed as outputs from the atmosphere?
Pollutants and aerosols are removed from the atmosphere through processes such as precipitation and dry deposition.
Define the greenhouse effect.
The greenhouse effect is the natural process by which greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation re-emitted from the Earth's surface, keeping the planet warmer than it would otherwise be.
What would Earth's average surface temperature be without the greenhouse effect, compared to its actual average of about 15°C?
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth's average surface temperature would be about -18°C.
True or False?
Black carbon is classified as a greenhouse gas.
False.
Black carbon is an aerosol, not a greenhouse gas.
Which four gases are named as the key greenhouse gases?
Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides are the key greenhouse gases.
Define black carbon.
Black carbon is an aerosol produced from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, wood and other biomass, which absorbs sunlight and warms the atmosphere.
How does black carbon affect snow and ice surfaces?
Black carbon can darken snow and ice, reducing their reflectivity and accelerating melting.
Why is water vapour described as part of a positive feedback loop in the atmosphere?
A warmer atmosphere holds more water vapour, which leads to more warming and greater evaporation.
True or False?
Water vapour is usually included in climate models in the same way as other greenhouse gases.
False.
Water vapour is often excluded from climate models because its levels are dynamic and it cannot be mitigated against.
Why is carbon dioxide such a significant contributor to the greenhouse effect?
Carbon dioxide has a high concentration in the atmosphere and a long lifespan there.
Deforestation increases atmospheric carbon dioxide because the carbon stored in trees is released as they are cleared or .
Deforestation increases atmospheric carbon dioxide because the carbon stored in trees is released as they are cleared or burned.
Methane is more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat, yet contributes less to overall warming. Why?
Methane is highly effective per molecule at trapping heat, but it is present in the atmosphere in much lower concentrations than carbon dioxide.
What is nitrous oxide's warming effect per molecule, compared to carbon dioxide?
Nitrous oxide has a warming effect nearly 300 times that of carbon dioxide per molecule.
Name two agricultural sources of methane emissions.
Livestock digestion and rice paddies are two agricultural sources of methane.
What is the difference between the greenhouse effect and the enhanced (or accelerated) greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is a natural process necessary for life, whereas the enhanced greenhouse effect refers to human-caused changes to it, commonly known as global warming.
What happens to solar radiation when it reaches the Earth's surface?
Some of the Sun's thermal energy is reflected from Earth's surface, but most is absorbed and re-emitted as infrared radiation.
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