Geog 1900 Exam 1 OSU: Questions & Answers (Rated
A+)
What are the main processes responsible for the difference between today's
atmospheric composition and the composition of the early atmosphere?
Correct Ans - permanent and variable gasses, out gasssing and potentially
impact degassing
What are the three most common permanent gases of the atmosphere. Why
are they called permanent? Correct Ans - Nitrogen, Argon, and Oxygen.
They are permanent because they are found in the same portion in the
atmosphere over space and time.
What are variable gasses? Have at least two examples. Correct Ans - Are
those present in small and variable amounts. Water vapor (H2O), Carbon
Dioxide (CO2) and Ozone (O3).
What are aerosols? Correct Ans - Solid and liquid material in suspension.
Role in energy budget directly (radiation absorption and scattering) and
indirectly (cloud formation and characteristics)
The vertical distribution of pressure and temperature in the atmosphere. Why
is it non- linear? In other words, why does pressure change more with
elevation near the surface than at higher elevations? Correct Ans - There
is more air near the surface than higher up.
Atmospheric layers. Know the basics (vertical temperature profile, average
location, percentage of total mass) for troposphere and stratosphere.
Correct Ans - troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
1. troposphere- heated from below, where we live, 80% mass
2. stratosphere- heated from above, where ozone layer is located, 20% mass
Vertical temperature profile and stability in the troposphere Correct Ans
- heated from surface NOT sun, instability (warmer--> colder)
Ozone layer. Ozone and ultraviolet absorption. Correct Ans - Three
atoms of oxygen and absorbs harmful UV radiation
, The ozone hole: causes, consequences impact on surface and stratospheric
temperature. Correct Ans - CFC's, reduction in absorption of solar
energy and small decrease in temperature
What is the Montreal Protocol? Why and how it has impacted atmospheric
ozone concentrations. Correct Ans - Controls CFC emissions, decreased
CFC's and gradually building back ozone
What is the most important source of energy for the climate system.
Correct Ans - solar energy
The concept of radiation as wave or particle flux Correct Ans - propagate
at speed of light, 3x10^8 m/s.
High Frequency = short wavelength
Low Frequency = long wavelength
What is the electromagnetic spectrum? Correct Ans - the range of
wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends.
The relationship between frequency and wavelength in electromagnetic
radiation Correct Ans - Higher frequency --> higher energy
The concept of black body Correct Ans - A black body or blackbody is an
idealized physical body that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation,
regardless of frequency or angle of incidence.
The Stefan-Boltzmann and Wein's displacement equations.
Implications for the differences in type of radiation and amount of radiative
energy emitted by the Sun and the Earth. Correct Ans - Weins:
Wavelength (10^-6m)= 2.897x10-3/T
S-B: I=(5.67x10^-8)T^4
Wein's: wavelength is inversely proportional to the temp. hotter objects have
shorter wavelength of maximum radiation.
S-B: hotter objects radiate more energy.
A+)
What are the main processes responsible for the difference between today's
atmospheric composition and the composition of the early atmosphere?
Correct Ans - permanent and variable gasses, out gasssing and potentially
impact degassing
What are the three most common permanent gases of the atmosphere. Why
are they called permanent? Correct Ans - Nitrogen, Argon, and Oxygen.
They are permanent because they are found in the same portion in the
atmosphere over space and time.
What are variable gasses? Have at least two examples. Correct Ans - Are
those present in small and variable amounts. Water vapor (H2O), Carbon
Dioxide (CO2) and Ozone (O3).
What are aerosols? Correct Ans - Solid and liquid material in suspension.
Role in energy budget directly (radiation absorption and scattering) and
indirectly (cloud formation and characteristics)
The vertical distribution of pressure and temperature in the atmosphere. Why
is it non- linear? In other words, why does pressure change more with
elevation near the surface than at higher elevations? Correct Ans - There
is more air near the surface than higher up.
Atmospheric layers. Know the basics (vertical temperature profile, average
location, percentage of total mass) for troposphere and stratosphere.
Correct Ans - troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
1. troposphere- heated from below, where we live, 80% mass
2. stratosphere- heated from above, where ozone layer is located, 20% mass
Vertical temperature profile and stability in the troposphere Correct Ans
- heated from surface NOT sun, instability (warmer--> colder)
Ozone layer. Ozone and ultraviolet absorption. Correct Ans - Three
atoms of oxygen and absorbs harmful UV radiation
, The ozone hole: causes, consequences impact on surface and stratospheric
temperature. Correct Ans - CFC's, reduction in absorption of solar
energy and small decrease in temperature
What is the Montreal Protocol? Why and how it has impacted atmospheric
ozone concentrations. Correct Ans - Controls CFC emissions, decreased
CFC's and gradually building back ozone
What is the most important source of energy for the climate system.
Correct Ans - solar energy
The concept of radiation as wave or particle flux Correct Ans - propagate
at speed of light, 3x10^8 m/s.
High Frequency = short wavelength
Low Frequency = long wavelength
What is the electromagnetic spectrum? Correct Ans - the range of
wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends.
The relationship between frequency and wavelength in electromagnetic
radiation Correct Ans - Higher frequency --> higher energy
The concept of black body Correct Ans - A black body or blackbody is an
idealized physical body that absorbs all incident electromagnetic radiation,
regardless of frequency or angle of incidence.
The Stefan-Boltzmann and Wein's displacement equations.
Implications for the differences in type of radiation and amount of radiative
energy emitted by the Sun and the Earth. Correct Ans - Weins:
Wavelength (10^-6m)= 2.897x10-3/T
S-B: I=(5.67x10^-8)T^4
Wein's: wavelength is inversely proportional to the temp. hotter objects have
shorter wavelength of maximum radiation.
S-B: hotter objects radiate more energy.
