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