Questions and Answers
What temperature trend occurs in the troposphere with increasing altitude?
What is a unique characteristic of the stratosphere compared to other atmospheric layers?
What causes the increase in temperature in the thermosphere?
What phenomenon can form in the stratosphere during polar winter conditions?
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What happens to ozone concentration and heating rate above 50km in the atmosphere?
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What percentage of the atmosphere is composed of Nitrogen (N2)?
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Why are O2 and N2 not considered greenhouse gases?
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Which gas has the lowest concentration in the atmosphere?
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What is the primary form of nitrogen that plants absorb from the soil?
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Which process is NOT part of the nitrogen cycle?
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What gas is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect?
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Which statement about Argon (Ar) is true?
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How does atmospheric pressure change with altitude?
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What is the process called when bacteria or fungi convert organic nitrogen into ammonium?
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Which gas has the highest concentration in the atmosphere according to the provided data?
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What effect do greenhouse gases have on the Earth's atmosphere?
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What is the barometric law primarily used for?
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How does atmospheric pressure change with altitude in the first 1000 meters?
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Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to Earth's surface?
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What commonly causes ears to pop in an airplane?
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Which of the following gases is categorized as a minor greenhouse gas?
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Study Notes
Atmospheric Composition & Structure
- Major atmospheric components include Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Argon (0.9%), Carbon Dioxide (0.039%), and variable Water Vapor (up to 4% in tropics, 0.00001% at the South Pole).
- Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon are the most abundant gases but do not contribute to the greenhouse effect.
- Nitrogen is essential in biological cycles and is converted through fixation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification.
- Plants absorb nitrogen as nitrates (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+) from the soil.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Water Vapor (H2O) are significant greenhouse gases, while methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and freons also contribute to climate change despite their lower concentrations.
Greenhouse Effect
- Increased greenhouse gas levels, such as CO2, trap heat from the sun, leading to global warming.
- The greenhouse effect prevents heat from escaping into space, maintaining Earth's temperature.
Atmospheric Pressure & Temperature
- Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude, following the barometric law, with approximately 11.3 Pa reduction per meter in the first 1000 meters.
- Key atmospheric layers and their temperature trends:
- Troposphere: Temperature decreases with altitude
- Stratosphere: Temperature increases with altitude
- Mesosphere: Temperature decreases with altitude
- Thermosphere: Temperature increases with altitude
Atmospheric Layers
- Troposphere: Contains weather phenomena; mixed by convection; temperature decreases as altitude increases.
- Stratosphere: Holds majority of the Earth’s ozone; very dry with less than 5 ppm water vapor; forms polar stratospheric clouds during cold conditions.
- Mesosphere: Temperature decreases with altitude; ozone concentration is lower, causing cooling.
- Thermosphere: Temperature increases due to absorption of UV radiation by oxygen molecules.
Additional Concepts
- The vertical temperature profile indicates significant heating occurs in the upper stratosphere due to UV radiation.
- Atmospheric layers affect climate and radiation budgets, influencing weather and temperature patterns on Earth.
Unique Phenomena
- Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and Aurora Australis (Southern Lights) occur in the upper atmosphere, influenced by solar activity.
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Description
This quiz covers the composition and structure of the atmosphere, focusing on greenhouse gases and their impact on climate change. It explores why gases like O2 and N2 do not contribute to the greenhouse effect, as well as variations in atmospheric pressure and temperature with altitude.
