Environmental Science: Unit 4: Atmosphere Questions & Answers

Ozone Layer - ANSWERSBunch of O3 molecules in the stratosphere. Acts as Earth's sunscreen since it blocks UV rays. Causes of UV Radiation - ANSWERSCauses include skin cancer, cataracts, weakened immune systems, plankton survival and plant growth. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - ANSWERSMain cause of depletion of ozone. Occurs through a 2-5 year process where they break down O3 into O2. Includes aerosols, insulating foams, refrigerants, solvents. Antartica - ANSWERSWhere the depletion of the ozone occurs due to cold air sinking and causing vortex type weather to create holes in the ozone layer. Montreal Protocol - ANSWERSAgreement made by UN that banned use of CFC's (over 190 countries to date). 2010 - ANSWERSYear EPA banned production of most CFC's in US. Nothing - ANSWERSWhat we have to do in order for the ozone layer to be repaired. Greenhouse Gases - ANSWERSGases that trap heat in Earth's atmosphere. Includes carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gasses. Carbon dioxide - ANSWERSThe most abundant, yet lowest gas on the global warming potential (GWP) scale (1). Comes from electricity, industry, and transportation. Methane (CH4) - ANSWERSGWP = 24X stronger than CO2. Second most abundant gas. Comes from industry, agriculture, and waste. Nitrous Oxide (N2O) - ANSWERSGWP = 310X stronger than CO2. Third most abundant gas. Comes from industry, agriculture, and transportation. Fluorinated Gases - ANSWERSGWP = 140 - 23,900X stronger than CO2. Includes HFC's, PFC's, and SF's. Comes from production of electricity, industry, and substiution for ozone depleting substances. Reduce Climate Change - ANSWERSWe can do the following: Recycle, save energy, save water, compost, and educate. Albedo effect - ANSWERSPercentage of incoming radiation reflected off of a surface. 0 = 0% reflected, 1 = 100% reflected. Kyoto Protocol (1997) - ANSWERSInternational agreement setting binding limits on emissions of greenhouse gases from industrialized countries. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - ANSWERSAn international agreement for dealing with climate change, adopted at United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (the "Earth Summit") in Rio in 1992. Troposphere - ANSWERSFirst Layer of atmosphere from Earth to 18 km high. Stratosphere - ANSWERSSecond layer of atmosphere from 18 km to 50 km. Mesosphere - ANSWERSThird layer of atmosphere from 50 km to 90 km Thermosphere - ANSWERSFourth layer of atmosphere from 90 km to 350 km. (It's where satellites orbit. Weather - ANSWERSShort term conditions of the troposphere at a specific place and time. Cold Front - ANSWERSWhen cold air moves under warm air. Causes cooler temperatures, and warm air to condense forming clouds. Climate - ANSWERSRegion's general pattern of atmospheric or weather conditions over a long period. Warm Front - ANSWERSWhen warm air moves over a cooler area. Causes longer rains and warmer temperatures. Rain Shadow - ANSWERSLowering precipitation and the resulting semiarid or arid conditions on the leeward (wind protected) side of high mountains. Low Pressure System - ANSWERSWarm air rises carrying moisture. Forms clouds. High Pressure System - ANSWERSAir sinks. No air to form condensation. Causes clear skies and little sleep. Tornado - ANSWERSWhen warm and cold fronts collide, it causes thunderstorms. Winds form causing a cyclonic cloud to form and devastation ensures. Hurricane - ANSWERSAlso called a tropical cyclone or a typhoon, warm ocean water evaporates forming a giant storm cloud that starts to spin and wreaks havoc over the land.