Environmental Science Review Sheet PDF

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Environmental Science Review Sheet Lecture 8: Atmosphere What is the Atmosphere -Thin layer of gases that surrounds the planet and makes life possible on Earth Atmospheric Resources(Earth’s atmosphere is arguably the most important medium for life) •AIR: Oxygen for Respiration, Carbon Dioxide for Photosynthesis •Climate (Winds, Weather, Precipitation) •Warmth (Greenhouse Effect) •Protection from UV, Radiation •Allows Light Through for Photosynthesis Layers of Atmosphere •Troposphere : Lowest layer –Up to 10km – Temperature decreases with height – Contains most moisture in the atmosphere – “Weather” occurs here •Stratosphere : 10km – 45km –Temperature increases with height –OZONE LAYER is here -Traps UV Radiation –Thinner air, planes fly here •Mesosphere : 45km - 80km –Again the temperature decreases with height, VERY THIN AIR •Ionosphere/Thermosphere : 80km – 500km –Temperature increases with height due to ultraviolet radiation –This layer is filled with charged particles •Exosphere = Space Stratosphere- Ozone Hole Troposphere – Greenhouse Effect Notes on the Temperature Profile •Near the ground, temperature decreases with altitude –typically about 3ºF per 1000 feet, or 6ºC per km –inherently unstable: cold on top of hot®mixing •At top of troposphere, get a temperature inversion in the stratosphere –inherently stable: hot air on top of cold air Wind – “The solution to pollution is dilution” Higher wind speeds: –dilute concentrations of pollutants –create more turbulence à increase mixing Atmospheric Circulation •Uneven Heating from the Sun •Warm Air Rises, Cool Air Falls •The Earth Spins à Coriolis Effect (Wind to Right in North, Left in South) •Leads to Wind Patterns, Movement of Pollutants •Trade Winds, Doldrums, Jet Stream Atmospheric Stability

-Want to allow pollution to rise and disperse – need MIXING Mixing depth -vertical depth of convection layer in atmosphere •Higher mixing depth à Better air quality •Stable air à shallow mixing depthà bad air quality Radiation Inversion •Caused by cooling of Earth at night •Usually only last...