Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences: Terms and Concepts, Quizzes of Environmental Science

Download Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences: Terms and Concepts and more Quizzes Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 dominant components of the atmosphere DEFINITION 1 nitroge - 78% and oxygen 21% TERM 2 changes in atmospheric density, pressure and temperature with altitude DEFINITION 2 higher altitude: lower air pressure, lower density and lower temperature TERM 3 temperature/ heat DEFINITION 3 temperature: proportional to the average speed of the atoms or molecules in an object TERM 4 electromagnetic radiation (maximum wavelength - function of temperature) DEFINITION 4 travels through space in the form of waves, requiring no intervening medium to transmit itQuantity of energy carried in a wave is associated with the height/ amplitude of the wave. Directly proportional to the amplitude of the wave. quality/ type depends on the wavelengthpeak wavelength of radiation emission is inversely related to the temperature of the emitting bodyQ (heat transfer per unit time) = 5.6703 * 10-8 Stefan-Boltzmann Constant * absolute temperature in Kelvin ^4 * area of the emitting body TERM 5 Radiation balance DEFINITION 5 accounting of the incoming/outgoing components of radiationover long period of time, the components are balancedshort period of time, unequally distributed over the Earth TERM 6 shortwave DEFINITION 6 from the sun penetrates through space to the outer edge of the atmosphere unimpeded by the vacuum of outer spaceOnce solar radiation begins to penetrate through the atmosphere, the amount begins to decrease due to absorption and reflection TERM 7 Direct/diffuse DEFINITION 7 Direct solar radiation (S) is shortwave radiation able to penetrate through the atmosphere without having been affected by constituents of the atmosphere in any way.Diffuse radiation (D) is shortwave radiation that has been scattered by gases in the atmosphere. TERM 8 Longwave radiation DEFINITION 8 Net Longwave radiation L*=Ldown - LupGreenhouse effect: counter radiation near gases (H2O+CO2) do not absorbe shortwave but longwavethe absorbed energy absorbed at the surface of earth is radiated in longwave radiation TERM 9 Net Radiation Balance DEFINITION 9 Net radiation = (S+D)(1-a) + L*= direct solar radiation + diffuse radiation - (direct solar radiation + diffuse radiation)*albedo + atomospheric radiation - surface radiation TERM 10 Non-radiative heat transfer DEFINITION 10 phase change of water (latent heat), changing the temperature of the air (H) and subsurface (G)Q* = H + LE + GH = Ts - Ta = surface temperature - airtemperature TERM 21 Net shortwave radiation DEFINITION 21 the difference between incoming and outgoing shortwave radiation:K* = (S+D)-(S+D)a TERM 22 Breaks/surf formation DEFINITION 22 breaks: wavelength shortens and the wave steepens until it finally collapses forwardsurf: chaotic,turbulentwaves TERM 23 Refraction DEFINITION 23 when water wave strikes the shore at an angle, causing the wave to bend TERM 24 Longshore current DEFINITION 24 longshore current flows parallel to the shore during refraction TERM 25 Beach drift DEFINITION 25 sand moved a short distance parallel to the cost TERM 26 Longshore bar (sandbar) DEFINITION 26 beachdrift during longshore current, zig zag beach TERM 27 Rip current DEFINITION 27 when the flow of water TERM 28 Spit DEFINITION 28 small, finger-like ridge of sand or gravel that extends froma beach TERM 29 Baymouth bar DEFINITION 29 a spit may block the entrance to a bay, forming a baymouth bar TERM 30 Barrier island/lagoon DEFINITION 30 barrier island: long, low-lying island that extends parallel to shorelinethe water body separates the island from the mainland is lagoon TERM 31 Intertidal zone DEFINITION 31 also called foreshore TERM 32 Ocean basin mid-oceanic ridge abyssal plane continental slope/shelf coastal margin DEFINITION 32 abyssal plane: three layers of oceanic crust: layer 1: sediments layer 2: pillow basalt 3: vertical dikes overlaying gabbrobelow 3 is upper mantle TERM 33 Contrast passive and active continental margins DEFINITION 33 passive: a broad continental shelf, slope and rise formed b accumulation of sediment eroded from the continentactive: oceanic plate sinks beneath a continent, forming a trench TERM 34 Salinity DEFINITION 34 amount of salt found in 1kg waterag is 35ppt TERM 35 Attenuation of light in vertical water column DEFINITION 35 absorbed light, scattered lightby small particulates, dissolved organics TERM 46 Current/gyres DEFINITION 46 current: continuous flow of water in a particular directiongyres: open ocean surface currents move in circular paths TERM 47 General patterns of ocean surface currents DEFINITION 47 0-30-60-90 latitudein different oceans TERM 48 Deep sea currents DEFINITION 48 upwelling in equator, down at poles TERM 49 Upwelling coastal and equatorial DEFINITION 49 equatorial: happen at equatorscoastal: water rise when heating the edge of continent TERM 50 Global heat transport tropics to poles DEFINITION 50 Regions of surplus and deficit in net radiation:deficit: poles. surplus: around the equator35S to 35NImportance of atmospheric and surface ocean circulation:heat gained in the tropics is transported to the poles by ocean currents Cooler air from the higher latitudes and cold ocean currents move toward the equator to cool the lower latitudes TERM 51 Ascending air mass low surface pressure DEFINITION 51 temperature is warmer, , surface pressure will be low TERM 52 Descending air mass surface high pressure DEFINITION 52 temperature is cooler, air particles drop, surface pressure will be high TERM 53 Global patterns of atmospheric circulation DEFINITION 53 equatorsurface pressure low, polessurface pressure highwith the earth spinning, air is deflected to the right in the northern hemisphereintertropical convergence zone: 90(down)-60(up)-30(down)-0(up) TERM 54 Saturation vapor pressure Evaporation/Condensation/Equilibrium and Temperature DEFINITION 54 water molecules leaving water surface: evaporationcondensation: water molecules returning to the surfaceequilibrium: when condensation and evaporation are at the same ratepressure: water content of the airAt equilibrium, pressure is "saturation vapor pressure"Higher the temperature, higher the saturation vapor pressure TERM 55 Relative humidity Changes with temperature DEFINITION 55 relative humidity = actual vapor pressure/ saturation vapor pressurehigher the temperature, relative humidity is smaller TERM 56 Dew point temperature DEFINITION 56 when relative humidity is 1 TERM 57 Lapse rate Environmental lapse rate Adiabatic lapse rates dry and wet DEFINITION 57 lapse rate: decrease of an atmospheric variable with heightenvironmental lapse rate: change of temperature with altitude for the stationary atmosphereadiabatic lapse rates: change in temperature of a mass of air as it moves upwards dry: negative of the rate at which a rising parcel of dry or unsaturatted air changes temperature with increasing height moistlatent heat is released when water condenses. So wet rate is lower than dry rate TERM 58 Lifting condensation level DEFINITION 58 altitude at which condensation begins TERM 59 Lifting mechanisms DEFINITION 59 Four mechanisms:1. orographic lifting; air forced over a mountainous barrier2. frontal wedging, warmer, less dense air, is forced over cooler dense air3. convergence: pileup of horizontal air flow results in upward movement4. localized convective lifting: unequal surface heating causes localized pockets of air to rise TERM 60 Stable/Unstable air DEFINITION 60 stable air: air is cooler than the surrounding airunstable air: air is warmer than the surrounding air