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12 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What is the relationship between wavelength and temperature?
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Wavelength is inversely related to temperature
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The shorter the wavelength?
The longer the wavelength? |
Hotter the object
Cooler the object |
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3 things insolation does as it reaches the earth system ("insolation budget")
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1. 53% absorbed at earth's surface
2. 17% absorbed by atmosphere 3. 30% is reflected back |
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What is the albedo? and what factors contribute to albedo.
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Proportion of insolation that is reflected back by a particular surface. Factors: COLOR, slope, compostition, moisture content. Higher the albedo the lighter the surface, lower the albedo the darker the surface.
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What can happen to the Earth's radiant energy?
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1. 91% Absorbed by the earth's atmosphere
2. 9% Escapes to outer space |
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What is counter-radiation?
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Downward flow of longwave radiation from earth's atmosphere to the earth's surface.
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What is the Kyoto Protocol?
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An amendment to UN treaty on climate change, to reduce CO2 emissions, negotiated in Kyoto, Japan in 1997, more than 160 parties (mostly countries) have ratified it
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Atmosphere: "blanket of air" means what?
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a heat engine that produces our weather and climate, begins a few meters within the soil but upper level harder to define
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What is the difference between Constant Gases and Variable Gases?
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Constant Gases (Nitrogen, Oxygen) make up the majority of the atmosphere.
Variable Gases (Water Vapor, Carbon dioxide, Ozone, etc.) |
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What do Impurities do?
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They serve as condensation nuclei.
(Ex. such as dust, plant spores, exhaust, smoke) |
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Where does atmosphere "end" and outer space "begin"? According to text? NASA? Karman Line?
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No well-established and universally accepted boundary definition exists.
The Limits (according to our text) suggests: 60,000km or 37,000mi about earth's surface. NASA: 80km or 50mi above earth's surface. Karman Line: 100km or 62mi above earth's surface. (Represents boundary separating aeronautical and astronautical interests) |
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Homosphere based on Composition
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about 50-63mi (80-100km)
uniform chemical composition ("homogenous") mixed well due to vertical air motions and molecular collisions upper limits consistent with NASA definition and Karman Line |