Enivormental Science Atmosphere
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Created by:
lilmisssue101 on November 30, 2011
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17 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Troposphere | First layer of active and convective weather 1. Ranges from 11 miles high above the equator to 5 miles high above the poles 2. Composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, less than 1% Argon, Carbon Dioxide 3. Holds atmospheres mass |
| Stratosphere | The global sunscreen Ozone Layer 1. Ozone is produced when oxygen molecules interact with lightning and UV radiation from the sun 2. Keeps 99% of the suns harmful UV radiation from reaching Earths surface 3. Helps protect human skin cancer, cateracts, sun burns, and damage to the immune system 4. Protects plants and animals and prevents O2 from changing to O3 |
| Mesosphere | Temperature decreases with altitude |
| Thermosphere | Temperature increases with altitude Absorbs short wave radiation Nitrogen and oxygen atoms absorb solar energy |
| Green House Effect | good different elements in the atmosphere such as H2O vapor, CO2, CH4, N2O, CFC5 hold solar radiation in the form of heat in our atmosphere |
| Global Warming | bad increase in average global temperature |
| Facts | 1. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing by .4% per year 2. The net effect would be an increase in the global temperature of about 2 degrees Celsius by 2100 3. Gasses leading to global warming - Methane - Chlorofluorocarbons - Nitrous Oxide |
| Effects | - Glacial Melting - Flooding of Coasts - Changes in climate( change in crops and soils are not appropriate in other regions) - Atmosphere Changes ( More hurricanes and storms) |
| Solutions | 1. It would cost about $27 trillion for the US to lower CO2 emissions by 70% in the next 40 years - Would save industry $5 trillion 2. Net savings $2.3 trillion |
| Ways to Reduce CO2 | 1. Cut fossil fuel use - uses e more efficiently - use natual gas - uses 1/2 as much CO2 as burning of coal to generate electricity 2. Improve energy efficiency 3. Shift to renewable energy sources - solar - wind - water 4. Reduce deforestation - Absorb CO2 that we put in the atmosphere - Each person would need to plant 1,000 trees a year 5. Use sustainable agriculture - use organic fertilizers - soil and water conservation - Planting a variety of crops in a large area 6. Slow population growth |
| Chlorofluorocarbons since 1930 | 1. Coolants in air conditions and refrigerators 2. Propellants in aerosol spray cans 3. Cleaner for electrical parts 4. Statilant in hospitals 5. Fumigants 6. Bubbies in Foam |
| 1974 | CFCs were $28 billion per year industry - Scientist Roland and Molina asked for a ban |
| Roland and Molina's findings | 1. Takes 10-20 years to reach the stratosphere 2. Under high UV light CFCs break down 3. Chemical reactions occur and the CFCs combine with O3 breaking the ozone down |
| 1989 | 15 years later Roland and Molina finally convince politicians to slowly phase out CFCs |
| 1995 | Nobel prize in chemistry is won by Roland and Molina |
| Where are ozone layers the thinnest | 1. At the poles 2. Austrilla 3. New Zealand 4. South Africa |
| Effects | 1. Skin canver - 700,000 Americans develop skin cancer every year - After sun damage you wont see the results for 10- 15 years 2. Decreased immune system 3. Destruction of plants 4. Decreased amount of phytoplankton |
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