All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Identify the greenhouse gas produced by agricultural activities.
Answer: Methane. Released from livestock, rice fields, and landfills.
Flashcard 2: Which atmospheric layer protects Earth from meteoroids?
Answer: Mesosphere. Meteors burn up due to friction in this layer.
Flashcard 3: What gas in the atmosphere is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect?
Answer: Carbon dioxide. Traps heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming.
Flashcard 4: What is the significance of the ionosphere?
Answer: It reflects radio waves back to Earth. Enables long-distance radio communication around Earth.
Flashcard 5: What is the main factor that influences local atmospheric pressure?
Answer: Altitude. Higher altitude means less atmospheric mass above.
Flashcard 6: What term describes the warming of Earth's surface due to trapped heat?
Answer: Greenhouse effect. Atmospheric gases trap outgoing infrared radiation from Earth.
Flashcard 7: Identify the global wind pattern located at the equator.
Answer: Trade winds. Blow from east to west near the equator.
Flashcard 8: In which layer of the atmosphere is the ozone layer found?
Answer: Stratosphere. Contains the highest concentration of ozone molecules.
Flashcard 9: Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to Earth's surface?
Answer: Troposphere. Extends from Earth's surface to about 12 km altitude.
Flashcard 10: What gas in the atmosphere is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect?
Answer: Carbon dioxide. Traps heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming.
Flashcard 11: What term describes the long-term average of weather patterns in an area?
Answer: Climate. Average weather conditions over 30+ years.
Flashcard 12: What is the unit of measurement for atmospheric pressure?
Answer: Pascal (Pa) or Millibar (mb). Standard units for measuring atmospheric force per area.
Flashcard 13: Which atmospheric layer contains the ionosphere?
Answer: Thermosphere. High-energy solar radiation ionizes gas molecules here.
Flashcard 14: What term describes the cycling of carbon through the atmosphere, oceans, and organisms?
Answer: Carbon cycle. Carbon moves between atmosphere, land, and ocean reservoirs.
Flashcard 15: Identify the process where plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis.
Answer: Carbon fixation. Plants convert atmospheric CO2 into organic compounds.
Flashcard 16: Identify the primary source of energy that drives Earth's atmospheric processes.
Answer: The Sun. Solar radiation powers weather, climate, and atmospheric circulation.
Flashcard 17: Identify the global wind pattern located at the equator.
Answer: Trade winds. Blow from east to west near the equator.
Flashcard 18: Identify the layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs.
Answer: Troposphere. Contains most atmospheric water vapor and air movement.
Flashcard 19: In which layer of the atmosphere is the ozone layer found?
Answer: Stratosphere. Contains the highest concentration of ozone molecules.
Flashcard 20: Identify the process of water vapor turning into liquid in the atmosphere.
Answer: Condensation. Water vapor cools and changes back to liquid droplets.
Flashcard 21: Which process describes the release of water from plants into the atmosphere?
Answer: Transpiration. Water vapor exits through leaf pores called stomata.
Flashcard 22: What term describes the warming of Earth's surface due to trapped heat?
Answer: Greenhouse effect. Atmospheric gases trap outgoing infrared radiation from Earth.
Flashcard 23: What is the process by which water vapor enters the atmosphere?
Answer: Evaporation. Solar energy converts liquid water to water vapor.
Flashcard 24: What is the primary component of smog?
Answer: Ground-level ozone. Forms when sunlight reacts with pollutants near Earth's surface.
Flashcard 25: How does atmospheric pressure change with altitude?
Answer: Decreases with altitude. Less air mass above creates lower pressure.
Flashcard 26: What is the main factor that influences local atmospheric pressure?
Answer: Altitude. Higher altitude means less atmospheric mass above.
Flashcard 27: What is the primary human activity that increases atmospheric carbon dioxide?
Answer: Burning fossil fuels. Releases stored carbon from coal, oil, and natural gas.
Flashcard 28: What is the term for the movement of air from high to low pressure?
Answer: Wind. Air flows from areas of higher to lower pressure.
Flashcard 29: What is the term for the transfer of heat through the atmosphere by mass movement?
Answer: Convection. Warm air rises and cool air sinks, creating circulation.
Flashcard 30: What is the significance of the ionosphere?
Answer: It reflects radio waves back to Earth. Enables long-distance radio communication around Earth.