University:
Capital University
Course:
ENVS 250 | Environmental Science
Academic year:

2024
Views:

132

Pages:

2
Author:

Maddison Oconnor

Ch 11/12/13 Earth’s Atmosphere Study Guide Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________ Period: ____ Lesson 1 and Reinforcement 1. What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? _ Nitrogen__ By what percent? __ 78%___ The second most? _ Oxygen_ By what percent? __ 21%__ 2. Why does water vapor in the atmosphere vary? (Think of the desert vs. a rain forest!) _ Water vapor varies due to differences in temperature and humidity levels, which are influenced by factors such as proximity to bodies of water, altitude, and local weather patterns. For instance, a desert typically has low humidity and little water vapor, while a rainforest experiences high humidity and abundant water vapor 3. What are the functions/importances of the following substances in the atmosphere… a. oxygen _ Essential for respiration in organisms and combustion processes_ b. carbon dioxide _ Plays a crucial role in the greenhouse effect, regulating Earth's emperature c. ozone _ Absorbs and filters harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun d. water vapor _ Important for weather patterns, precipitation, and regulating temperature__ e. water __ Facilitates the water cycle, vital for life and weather patterns Plays a role in cloud formation and reflects sunlight, influencing climate f. ice __ g. dust and salt __ Contribute to the formation of clouds and precipitation 4. Briefly describe the 5 layers of the atmosphere? What is found in each? Troposphere: Closest to Earth's surface, contains weather phenomena and most of Earth's atmosphere_______ b. Stratosphere: Contains the ozone layer, where temperatures rise due to ozone absorption of UV radiation c. Mesosphere: Protects Earth's surface from meteoroids, where temperatures decrease with altitude d. Thermosphere: Experiences high temperatures due to absorption of solar radiation, contains the ionosphere e. Exosphere: Outermost layer, where atoms and molecules can escape into space due to low density 5. Where is the ozone layer? The ozone layer is primarily located in the lower portion of the stratosphere Why is it so important to life on Earth? a. It is crucial because it absorbs and filters harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, protecting life on Earth from its harmful effects, such as skin cancer and damage to ecosystems 6. How does the temperature vary as one moves up the troposphere? The temperature generally decreases with altitude in the troposphere In which layers does molecular heat increase? Molecular heat increases in the stratosphere and thermosphere In which layer does molecular heat decrease? Molecular heat decreases in the mesosphere 7. Why is the thermosphere said to be the hottest layer when it feels so cold up there? The thermosphere is said to be the hottest layer because it experiences extremely high temperatures due to the absorption of solar radiation. However, it feels cold to humans and other objects because the air density is extremely low, so there are very few molecules to transfer heat 8. How much of the sun’s energy does Earth’s surface absorb? Earth's surface absorbs about 50% of the Sun's incoming solar energy What happens to the rest of it? The rest of the Sun's energy is either reflected back into space by clouds, the atmosphere, and Earth's surface, or it is absorbed by the atmosphere and heats it

Earth’s Atmosphere: Lesson 1 and Reinforcement

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