Chapter 15 - Atmosphere

Characteristics of the

AtmosphereAtmospheric

HeatingGlobal Winds

and Local Winds

AirPollution Terms to Know

100 100 100 100 100

200 200 200 200 200

300 300 300 300 300

400 400 400 400 400

500 500 500 500 500

Question 1 - 10

What are the two major gases in the

atmosphere?

Answer 1 – 10

Nitrogen & Oxygen

Question 1 - 20

What happens to air pressure as altitude

increases?

Answer 1 – 20

It decreases.

Question 1 - 30

What are the divisions of the upper layer of the

atmosphere?

Answer 1 – 30

Ionosphere and exosphere

Question 1 - 40

What are the 4 layers of the atmosphere?

Answer 1 – 40

Troposphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, and

Thermosphere

Question 1 - 50

Why does the temperature of different

layers of the atmosphere vary?

Answer 1 – 50

The composition of the gases in the layer absorb solar energy differently.

Question 2 - 10

How much of the sun’s energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface?

Answer 2 – 10

50%

Question 2 - 20

What is the term for the process of how the gases in the

atmosphere absorb thermal energy & radiate it back to

Earth?

Answer 2 – 20

Greenhouse Effect

Question 2 - 30

What is the transfer of thermal energy by the

circulation or movement of a liquid or gas?

Answer 2 – 30

Convection

Question 2 - 40

How do differences in air density cause

convection currents?

Answer 2 – 40

Cold air is more dense so it sinks and the warm air

rises

Question 2 - 50

What are the two main human activities that increase the levels of greenhouse gases?

Answer 2 – 50

Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation

Question 3 - 10

List the 3 types of global winds.

Answer 3 – 10

Polar easterlies, Prevailing westerlies,

and trade winds

Question 3 - 20

List the 4 types of local winds.

Answer 3 – 20

Sea, Land, Mountain, and Valley breezes

Question 3 - 30

What are the winds that flow towards the poles from W to E between the 30 & 60 degree

latitudes?

Answer 3 – 30

Prevailing Westerlies

Question 3 - 40

What weather do the polar easterlies bring?

Answer 3 – 40

Snow and freezing cold

Question 3 - 50

Why does sinking air cause areas of high

pressure?

Answer 3 – 50

Sinking air presses down on the air beneath it

Question 4 - 10

How are primary pollutants put into the

air?

Answer 4 – 10

Directly by human or natural activity

Question 4 - 20

Name 2 examples of secondary pollutants.

Answer 4 – 20

Smog and ozone

Question 4 - 30

What is formed when sunlight reacts with ozone and vehicle

exhaust?

Answer 4 – 30

Smog

Question 4 - 40

What are the 3 sources of human-made air

pollution?

Answer 4 – 40

Industrial air pollution, indoor air pollution, and

transportation.

Question 4 - 50

How is acid precipitation formed?

Answer 4 – 50

Fossil fuels burn, mix with water vapor, and form sulfuric and nitric acid.

Question 5 - 10

In which 2 atmospheric layers does

temperature decrease as altitude increases?

Answer 5 – 10

Troposphere & Mesosphere

Question 5 - 20

What is the transfer of energy as heat

through a material? (touching)

Answer 5 – 20

Thermal conduction

Question 5 - 30

What is the movement of air caused by differences

in air pressure?

Answer 5 – 30

Wind

Question 5 - 40

What is the curving path of an moving object from an otherwise

straight path caused by the Earth’s rotation?

Answer 5 – 40

The Coriolis Effect

Question 5 - 50

What is the contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural

sources?

Answer 5 – 50

Air pollution