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ATOC 1060
Exam 1
139
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 1
09/22/2009

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
The term "albedo" refers to the absorption of radiation
Definition
False
Term
Without an atmosphere, the earth's temperature would be a frigid -100 degrees Celsius
Definition
False
Term
Over the past 400,000 years, CO2 abundances in Earth's atmosphere have varied in correlation with Earth's temperature
Definition
True
Term
Molecules are called 'greenhouse gases' if they
Definition
Absorb infrared radiation, but are transparent to visible light.
Term
Global warming and anthropogenic climate change are terms that refer to the same environmental issue, specifically the alteration of Earth's surface temperature and climate due to release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by human activities. T or F?
Definition
True
Term
Greenhouse gases are important because they absorb visible radiation in the earth's atmosphere
Definition
False
Term
CO2 is the primary greenhouse gas in the earth's atmosphere
Definition
False
Term
As the temperature of a blackbody object increases, radiation from that object
Definition
shifts to shorter wavelengths and becomes more intense
Term
Climate scientists believe that due to human activities earth is changing faster now than it has in the past.
Definition
True
Term
The most abundant gas in the earth's atmosphere is
Definition
Nitrogen
Term
The ozone hole is a good example of a change in Earth's atmosphere that is due mainly to natural causes.
Definition
True
Term
The energy flux emitted by a blackbody object goes as
Definition
The temperature raised to the fourth power
Term
Based on the inverse square law an object that is twice as far from the sun as the earth recieves______ as much solar flux that the earth.
Definition
1/4
Term
The sun's emission consists of
Definition
primarily of infrared light, with some ultraviolet
Term
Latent heat refers to energy gained or lost when a substance such as water changes phases
Definition
True
Term
The earths temperature has increase by about ___ over the last century
Definition
.8 degrees C
Term
The region of the infrared spectrum between 8 microns and 13 microns is referred to as the "window region" because at these wavelengths
Definition
CO2 and H2O are poor absorbers, so light can escape more readily to space
Term
There is a radiation deficit in the polar regions(that is less incoming solar radiation that outgoing thermal radiation) because ____?
Definition
Heat is transfered poleward by circulations of the atmosphere and oceans
Term
The effect of clouds on earth's radiation budget is easy to calculate quantitatively because all clouds reflect light to space, increasing the albedo
Definition
False
Term
The increase in ice coverage at high latitudes with decreasing global temperatures is an example of positive feedback
Definition
True
Term
233k = ____ *C
Definition
-40*C
Term
The magnitude of Earth's greenhouse effect is about
Definition
33* Celsius
Term

Which of the following gases is not an important greenshouse gas?

- N2O - Nitrous Oxide

- CC13F - Freon 11

- CH4 - Methane

- Ar - Argon

- H20 - Water Vapor

Definition
Ar - Argon
Term
273k = ___*C
Definition
0*C
Term
300k =___*C
Definition
27*C
Term
0k=___*C
Definition
-273*C
Term
373k=___*C
Definition
100*C
Term
What are the approximate minimum and maximum temperatures of Earth's troposphere?
Definition
Minimum 215 K
Maximum 285 K
Term
32*F=___*C
Definition
0*C
Term
212*F=___*C
Definition
100*C
Term
100*F=____*C
Definition
37.8*C
Term
High temperatures in the earth's stratosphere at 50 km are due primarily to what?
Definition
absorption of solar UV radiation by ozone
Term
0*F=___*C
Definition
-17.8*c
Term
75*F=___*C
Definition
23.9*C
Term
"Convection" refers to what?
Definition
the transport of heat by motions of a fluid (liquid or gas)
Term
The pressure of Earth's atmosphere decreses/increases by a factor of what?
Definition
decreases by a factor of 10 for every 16 km increase in altitude throughout most of the atmosphere
Term
For every 100 units of solar radiation incident on Earth,
Definition
30 units are reflected directly back to space, and 70 units are radiated to space as outgoing infrared radiation
Term
low thick clouds do what?
Definition
reflect radiation back to space
Term
What is the actual value of incident radiation to the earths system?
Definition
The solar constant at earth = 1370 W/m^2 mulitiplied by the projected are on the earth (R^2)
Term
High, thin clouds do what?
Definition
trap infrared radiation near the surface
Term
Because water is a greenhouse gas, the increasing evaporation of water with warmer temperatures is an example of positive feedback on Earth's surface temperature.
Definition
True
Term
Pressure difference in the atmosphere are typically related to the distribution of surface temps? (T/F)
Definition
True
Term
At norther mid-latitudes, even though the coriolis effect acts to turn a moving parcel of air to the right of the direction of motion an air parcel will always move directly from a region of high pressure to one of lower pressure in order to equalize the pressure. (T/F)
Definition
False
Term
Surface air at the equator is warmer than surface air in the polar regions because the equator is closer to the sun than are the polar regions.  (T/F)
Definition
False
Term
An abundance of _________, a "greenhouse gas" have been increasing in the atmosphere for many decades.
Definition
Carbon dioxide C02
Term

As ocean warms, sea ice will ____

As sea ice ____s, more _____ is absorbed in the ocean. This causes the warmer water.

 

Is this positive or negative feedback?

Definition
melt, melts, sunlight

Positive

Term
What is a blackbody object?
Definition
One that can absorb and emit electromagnetic radiation at all wavelengths with equal efficiency. 

- Does not prefer some wavelengths over others.

Term
A blackbody radiates a total energy of?
Definition
T^4
Term
Energy balance
Definition
outgoing radiation = incoming radiation absorbed by earth = outgoing infrared radiation
Term
Effective radiating temperature
Definition
the temperature that an object would need to be radiating at in order to be in balance with the incoming absorbed solar radiation

See Fig 3.1

Term

Earth's atmosphere today

Nitrogen

Oxygen

Argon

Water Vapor

Carbon dioxide

* Give % by volume

Definition
Nitrogen 78%
Oxygen 21%
Argon .9%
Water Vapor .00001%
Carbon Dioxide .037%
Term
Greenhouse gases
Definition
Water vapor
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Nitrous oxide
ozone
freon -11
freon -12
Term
What are the most important absorbers in the atmosphere
Definition
Water vapor and carbon dioxide
Term
What do low, thick clouds do with radiation?
Definition
get warm radiation from the thin clouds and get trapped
Term
What do high, thin clouds do with radiation?
Definition
allow radiation to go through them and warms the earth
Term
For an atmosphere that is in radiative balance (incoming = outgoing), how does temperature chance with height?
Definition
Add more layers, and the surface gets even warmer because the layer above it is warmed by the layer above it etc...
Term
Water vapor, a greenhouse gas, represents what kind of feedback in the Earth system?
Definition
positive
Term
Other than radiation, what forms of heat transfer are important in the atmosphere?
Definition
convection, latent heat, and conduction
Term
Differential heating is due to what?
Definition
The curvature of the earth. 
-See Fig 4.1
Term
Where does solar energy go? (Earth's budget)
Definition
45 units absorbed by surface 25 units absorbed by clouds and gases

25 units reflected by clouds and gases

5 units reflected by the surface

Term
Of 133 energy units absorbed by the earth's surface, how many units evaporate water and how many units produce convection?
Definition
24 units evaporate water and 5 units produce convection
Term
The earth system receives 99% of its heat in the form of _____ from the sun primarily in the visible and ______
Definition
radiation, near-IR
Term
Earth's surface maintains thermal balance by convection of _____ ____ _____, air carrying heat upward, by _________ __________ and by radiating the remainder upward.
Definition
warm, less dense
evaporating water (latent heat)
Term
Of the 104 units of energy radiated by the suface, __ units escape to space through windows in the ________ spectrum of the atmosphere
Definition
4, infrared
Term
In the tropics there is more ______ solar radiation than _______ solar radiation.
Definition
incoming, outgoing = a surplus of solar radiation
Term
In the polar regions, ___ solar radiation is received than ______ radiation is emitted.
Definition
less, thermal = deficit of solar radiation
Term
The earths temperature has increased about____ over the last century
Definition
.8 Degrees Celcius
Term
Based on the inverse square law, an object that is twice as far from the sun as the earth receives
Definition
one-fourth as much solar flux than the earth
Term
Global warming and ______________ climate change refer to the same environmental issue. That the alteration of the earths temperature and climate is due to the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by human activities.
Definition
Anthropogenic
Term
An albedo of 1 means what
Definition
pure reflection
Term
An albedo of 0 means what
Definition
pure absorption (blackbody)
Term
Over the past 400,000 years _____ abundances in earths atmosphere have varied in correlation with the earths temperature
Definition
C02
Term
molecules are called "greenhouse gases" if they
Definition
absorb infrared radiation, but are transparent to visible light
Term
What is the primary greenhouse gas in the earths atmoshere
Definition
water vapor
Term
as the temperature of a blackbody object increases, radiation from that object
Definition
shifts to shorter wavelengths and become more intense
Term
what is the most abundant gas in the earths atmosphere
Definition
nitrogen
Term
The energy flux emitted by a blackbody object goes as
Definition
The temperature raised to the fourth power
Term
Of the 100 units of solar radiation that are incoming at the top of earths atmosphere, ____ units are absorbed by earths surface, ______ units are absorbed by the atmosphere, ____ are reflected by the atmosphere back to space, and ____ are reflected by the surface.
Definition
45,25,25,5
Term
Of the ____ units of thermal (infrared) energy radiated by earths surface, ___ units escape directly to space and ___ units are absorbed by the atmosphere
Definition
104, 4, 100
Term
The ice coverage at high latitudes with decreasing global temperatures is an example of ______ feedback
Definition
positive
Term
The increase of temperature of the earth will cause an increase in water vapor into the earths atmosphere, increasing the albedo, and then decreasing the temperature. This is an example of what kind of feedback
Definition
negative
Term
The atmosphere is composed of what
Definition
units that come from the heating of the atmosphere by gases and clouds (solar energy absorbed by atmosphere), units that come from the heating of the atmosphere by the greenhouse effect, and units that are from the heating of the atmosphere due to thermals and evaporation.
Term
What are the approximate min and max temperatures of earths troposphere
Definition
min 215K max 285K
Term
What would the temperature of the earth be if there wasnt an atmosphere
Definition
255K
Term
The magnitude of earths greenhouse effect is about
Definition
33* celcius
Term
for every 100 units of solar radiation incident on the earth
Definition
30 units are reflected directly back to space, and 70 units are radiated to space as outgoing infrared radiation.
Term
Pressure differences in the earths atmosphere are typically related to the distribution of surface temperatures
Definition
True
Term
The region of the infrared spectrum between 8 microns and 13 microns is referred to as the window region because at these wavelengths
Definition
C02 and H20 are poor absorber, so light can escape more readily to space
Term
The suns emission consists of
Definition
primarily of visible and infrared light, with some ultra violet
Term
There is less incoming solar radiation than outgoing thermal radion in the polar region, causing a radiation deficit because
Definition
heat is transferred poleward by circulations of the atmosphere and oceans
Term
What is the actual value of "100 units" of incident radiation
Definition
The solar constant at earth multiplied by the projected area of earth
Term
high temperatures in the earths stratosphere at 50 km are due primarily to absorption of solar UV radiation by ozone
Definition
True
Term
How many units of thermal energy come from the greenhouse effect
Definition
88 units (note - larger than the units of solar radiation that the earth absorbs from the sun)
Term
Are there more units of latent heat or convection in earths budget?
Definition
latent heat (evaporation)
Term
the pressure of earths atmosphere
Definition
decreases by a factor of 10 for every 16 km increase in altitude
Term
reflection
Definition
albedo
Term
absorption
Definition
warms object
Term
Objects that are _____ absorb better than other objects
Definition
black
Term
Why is it colder at the poles?
Definition
Because at the equator, it is receiving direct sunlight whereas at the poles, it is receiving indirect sunlight
Term
What does Wein's law tell us about BB wavelengths
Definition

Max Wavelenth = 2898/T

- The maximum flux that a BB can reach at a certain wavelength

 

Area beneath the curve = sigmaT^4 = total flux

Term
Magnetic spectrum and wavelengths
Definition

____________________________

             UV                Visible             IR

 

UV has small, high energy wavelengths

IR was large, low energy wavelengths

Term
Greenhouse gases absorb
Definition
IR radiation
Term
Anthropogenic
Definition
Human induced changes in the atmosphere
Term
atmosphere
Definition
thin envelope of gases that surround the earth 
Term
hydrosphere
Definition
composed of various reservoirs of water including ice
Term
chlorofluorocarbon
Definition
CFC's, Synthetic compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon. Caused the ozone hole
Term
Stratosphere
Definition
Absorbs UV rays and is warmer that the atmosphere below it because of it. (Ozone)
Term
negative feedback loop
Definition
diminish the effects of disturbances
Term
Positive feedback loops 
Definition
amplify the effects of disturbances
Term
wavelength
Definition
the distance between two adjacent crests
Term
frequency
Definition
the number of crests that pass a fixed point in a second.
Term
electromagnetic spectrum
Definition

wavelength:(SM---LG)

UV<----->Visible<----->IR

 

Energy:(H--L)

UV<--->Vis.<--->IR

Term
flux
Definition
the amount of energy in an electromagnetic wave that passes perpendicularly through a unit surface area per unit time
Term
inverse square law
Definition
the rate at which the solar flux decreases with increasing distance (1/r^2)
Term
Blackbody 
Definition
something that emits (or absorbs) electromagnetic radiation with 100% efficiency at all wave lengths
Term
wiens law
Definition
the flux of radiation emitted by a blackbody reaches its peak wavelength at delta max. or (2898/T) (Sun @visible wavelength, earth @ IR)
Term
Stefan-Boltzmann Law
Definition
the energy flux emitted by a blackbody (T^4)
Term
3 most abundant gases in the atmosphere
Definition
Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon
Term
4 most abundant greenhouse gases
Definition
water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, are nitrous oxide
Term
convection
Definition
a process in which heat energy is transported by the motions of a fluid (boiling water)
Term
conduction
Definition
the transfer of heat energy by direct contact between molecules
Term
Latent Heat
Definition
the heat energy released or absorbed during the transition from one phase to another
Term
Cirrus Clouds
Definition
High level clouds that trap in heat 
Term
Stratus clouds
Definition
low level thick clouds that reflect incoming radiation back out into space
Term
Of 100 units of incoming solar radiation approx. how many are absorbed by earths surface?
Definition
45 or about half
Term
Air moves over earths surfaces because there are ___________ differences in pressure. Air also moves __________ because it is either forced to move mechanically or because there are changes in _________.
Definition
horizontally, vertically, buoyancy
Term
Warmer air has a lower/higher density than cooler air
Definition
lower
Term
Air tends to move from an area of ____ pressure, to an area of _____ pressure, until the two pressures are equalized.
Definition
higher, lower
Term
If an air mass is heated until its density is lower than that of its surrounds, the lower-density air will rise. This phenomenon is a form of _________
Definition
Convection
Term
If an air mass is cooled until its density is higher than that of the underlying air, it will sink. This is referred to as ________
Definition
subsidence
Term
The incoming solar energy varies with _____ and with ______ whereas the outgoing terrestrial radiation depends on the temperature of the surface an atmosphere at each location.
Definition
latitude, season
Term
The maximum solar absorption is found in the ____ and the available solar energy decreases rapidly as we move toward the _____
Definition
tropics, poles
Term
The tropic air near the surface rises, creating a ___-pressure region
Definition
low
Term
The merging of air masses that are moving inward toward a low-pressure region is called _____. The air masses that meet at the tropics and rise make up the _________________
Definition
convergence, Intertropical convergence zone
Term
The air that rises in the ITCZ is forced to diverge _________
Definition
poleward
Term
divergence
Definition
refers to the movement of air outward from a region in the atmosphere
Term
The poleward moving air subsides at about ___ N and ____ S, replacing air that is moving equatorward at the surface
Definition
30,30
Term
At 30* N and 30* S, the air warms as it sinks, which prevents ______ and _____ from forming.
Definition
condensation, clouds
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