Name ________________________________________________________ Number______________
Study Guide Atmosphere
Vocabulary:
Absorb: To take in or soak in.
Atmosphere: The envelope of gases surrounding a planet.
Coriolis Effect: Results from earth's rotation causing freely moving objects to veer toward the right in the Northern
Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. It effects things like wind, ocean currents, airplanes,
missiles.
Greenhouse Effect: The trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere because the atmosphere
allows visible radiation from the sun to enter but prevents infrared radiation from leaving.
Hadley Cells: A large-scale atmospheric convection cell in which air rises at the equator and sinks at medium
latitudes, typically about 30° north or south.
Ozone: A colorless unstable toxic gas with a pungent odor and powerful oxidizing properties, formed from oxygen
by electrical discharges or ultraviolet light. It differs from normal oxygen (O2) in having three atoms in its molecule
(O3).
Reflect: A surface throws or bends back light, heat, or sound.
Scatter: To cause to separate and go in various directions.
Stratosphere: The layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 32 miles (50 km)
above the earth's surface (the lower boundary of the mesosphere).
Troposphere: The lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the earth's surface to a height of about 3.7–6.2
miles (6–10 km), which is the lower boundary of the stratosphere.
Trade Winds: A wind blowing steadily toward the equator from the northeast in the northern hemisphere or the
southeast in the southern hemisphere, esp. at sea. Two belts of trade winds encircle the earth, blowing from the
tropical high-pressure belts to the low-pressure zone at the equator.
Albedo: is a measure of the reflectivity of the earth's surface. Ice, especially with snow on top of it, has a
high albedo: most sunlight hitting the surface bounces back towards space.
Greenhouse gases include CO2, H2O, methane, O3, nitrous oxides (NO and NO2),and chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs). Explain why these are called Green house gasses, which one is the most abundant? What are
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?
Tropospheric greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere; greenhouse gases vary in their heat-trapping abilities.
CO2 is the most abundant greenhouse gas. Even though the amount of heat is can hold is small compared to other
greenhouse gasses. The total amount is so great that it has an effect on our planet.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are manmade chemicals that have leaked into the atmosphere and have had a large
impact on the Ozone by creating a hole in the Ozone and because it hold 10,000+ more heat then CO2 can it also
effects the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas.
Are levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing due to human activities? If so Why?
Yes, they are increasing. Human activity such as burning fossil fuels, cutting down the rain forest, and releasing
CFCs in to the atmosphere have increased the % of greenhouse gasses in out atmosphere.
Increased levels of greenhouse gases lead to increased average global temperatures. Explain Why?
Because, greenhouse gasses are so good at holding onto heat and not letting them escape we have seen an
increase of about 2.4 degrees globally in the last 100 years. You might not think that is much but, because of the
increase in temperature we have seen glaciers disappear and a rise in out sea levels.
The amount of energy received at the poles and at the equator is different, Why is this so?
More solar radiation strikes the equator than the poles. Solar energy that reaches Earth near the equator is more
direct and therefore, more concentrated.
What happens to incoming solar radiation?
Incoming solar radiation is absorbed by atmospheric gases; reflected by clouds, the ground, and atmosphere; or
scattered.
What is much of the radiation that strikes the ground radiated back into the atmosphere as?
Heat
What drives atmospheric circulation?
The difference in the amount of solar energy, drives atmosphere we also call this wind
How does the Coriolis effect, effect global winds deflect?
Defects air or wind to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and deflect to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
Creating a clockwise or counter clock wise pattern
What could this picture represent? This picture could represent a green house
Where would the heat be greater inside or outside the cup? The heat would be greater on the inside where it is
being trapped by the plastic
How much Heat is being absorbed? 49%
How much total energy is being reflected? 31%
Why do you think that the clouds are reflecting
the energy? (could it have anything to do with
albedo?) the cloud have a high albedo or
just like water, or ice and therefore it is
reflecting as much as it is abosrbing
What is the total amount of sunlight that is
changed to heat? 69%
Write a brief description of what this picture is depicting. What are Hadley cells, the Jet stream and what causes wind?
Global radiation
What type or relationship does Global Radiation
have with Air Temperature? Direct relationship
when global radiation goes up so does the temp
Global
Radiation
Air
Temperature
Why are temperatures coolest at days 10 and
300? These two days represent winter days and
although the earth is closer to the sun during
our winter, the northern hemisphere receives
less direct sunlight. This makes it cooler
What does this graph represent? The relation
ship between the global radiation the Earth is
receiving and its temperature at specific times of the year.
Name ________________________________________________________ Number______________
Study Guide Atmosphere
Vocabulary:
Absorb:
Atmosphere:
Coriolis Effect:
Greenhouse Effect:
Hadley Cells:
Ozone:
Reflect:
Scatter:
Stratosphere:
Troposphere:
Trade Winds:
Albedo:
Greenhouse gases include CO2, H2O, methane, O3, nitrous oxides (NO and NO2),and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Explain why these are called Green house gasses, which one is the most abundant? What are chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs)?
Are levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing due to human activities? If so Why?
Increased levels of greenhouse gases lead to increased average global temperatures. Explain Why?
The amount of energy received at the poles and at the equator is different, Why is this so?
Incoming solar radiation is absorbed by atmospheric gases; reflected by clouds, the ground, and atmosphere; or
scattered.
What is much of the radiation that strikes the ground is radiated back into the atmosphere as?
What drives atmospheric circulation?
How does the Coriolis effect , global winds?
What could this picture represent?
Where would the heat be greater inside or outside the cup?
How much Heat is being absorbed?
How much total energy is being reflected?
Why do you think that the clouds are reflecting
the energy? (could it have anything to do with
albedo?)
What is the total amount of sunlight that is
changed to heat?
Write a brief description of what this picture is depicting. What are Hadley cells, the Jet stream and what causes wind?
Global radiation
What type or relationship does Global Radiation
have with Air Temperature?
Global
Radiation
Air
Temperature
Why are temperatures coolest at days 10 and
300?
What does this graph represent?