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Meteorology
May 1 2006
40
Meteorology
8th Grade
04/26/2006

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Cards

Term
Which gases made up Earth's earliest atmosphere?
Definition
mostly methane and Ammonia
Term
How can the composition of Earth's atmosphere change over time?
Definition
natural changes- photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition

unnatural changes- caused by living things..pollution((industry, burning fossil fuels))
Term
How much of today's atmosphere is made of Nitrogen?
Definition
78%
Term
How much of today's atmosphere is made up of Oxygen?
Definition
21%
Term
How much of today's atmosphere is made of Carbon Dioxide?
Definition
.03%
Term
How much Argon is there in today's atmosphere?
Definition
.94%
Term
What does "Trace" mean?
Definition
less than .01%
Term
List some of our atmosphere's "trace gases".
Definition
Ozone, Methane, Ammonia, Xenon, Hydrogen, Helium
Term
What are Nitrates?
Definition
Nitrogen compounds used by plants to make protein.
Term
What are Proteins?
Definition
Nitrogen compounds used in cell growth and repair.
Term
Describe the Nitrogen Cycle.
Definition
Constant movement of N from the air, the soil, to living things, and back to air of soil.
Term
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
Definition
Gases in the atmosphere trap heat near the surface of a planet.
Term
Which gas is most responsible to the Greenhouse Effect?
Definition
CO2 or Carbon dioxide
Term
What is Ozone?
Definition
a form of oxygen.. ((O3))
Term
How is Ozone beneficial to humans?
Definition
absorbs ultra violet radiation ((u-v rays)) before they reach the surface.
Term
What is happening to the Ozone in our atmosphere?
Definition
Little by little it is getting thinner and thinner. We already have a hole in it above Antarctica.
Term
What is our "atmosphere"?
Definition
Contains all of the gases necessary for the continued survival of the living creatures of this wonderful world.
Term
What is Decay?
Definition
Bacterial breakdown of organic material.
Term
What are the Nitrogen-fixing bacteria? Why are they useful?
Definition
Bacteria in the soil. It is able to change the atmospheric Nitrogen into a more useable form, called Nitrates. These Nitrates are used by the plants to make proteins.
Term
Describe the Oxygen/ Carbon Dioxide Cycle.
Definition
Drawing:
Term
What is Respiration?
Definition
The process used by some living things to obtain energy by "burning" food in the presence of atmospheric oxygen.
Term
What is photosynthesis?
Definition
Uses carbon dioxide to produce long chains of carbon atoms used as food by living creatures.
Term
What is combustion?
Definition
The process known as "burning", where fuel is combined with heat and oxygen to make a fire.
Term
What causes Global Warming?
Definition
An increase in carbon dioxide.
Term
How do humans affect the Greenhouse Effect?
Definition
The widespread burning of fossil fuels (which releases CO2 into the atmosphere), combined with the systematic destruction of our rain forests, oceanic phytoplankton and local woodlands and grasslands, all combine to cause global carbon dioxide levels to climb steadily higher and higher.
Term
What do humans do that most affects the levels of Ozone in our atmosphere?
Definition
We use chemicals that eat the ozone before it has a chance to absorb UV rays.
Term
How is ozone made in nature?
Definition
Lightning.
Term
List the layers in our atmosphere.
Definition
Troposphere, Stratusphere, Mesosphere, Ionosphere, and Exosphere.
Term
Briefly describe each layer of our atmosphere.
Definition
Troposphere- Over 50% of the air is here. +22 to -55 degrees celsius.
Stratosphere- -55 to 0 degrees.
Mesosphere- Coldest layer.0 to -100 degrees
Ionosphere- Contains "Ions"- atoms with an electrical charge. A-100 to +2000 degrees.
Exosphere- + 2000 to - 300 degrees.
Term
Where does weather occur?
Definition
Troposphere
Term
In which layer of the atmosphere do you live?
Definition
Troposphere
Term
Where is the "Ozone Layer" located.
Definition
Stratosphere
Term
Where do Jets fly?
Definition
Stratosphere
Term
Which layer of the atmoshpere helps to protect us from meteorites?
Definition
Mesosphere
Term
In which layer of our atmoshpere do we see the Auroras?
Definition
Ionosphere
Term
Which layer of the atmosphere cna be used in radio communications?
Definition
Ionosphere
Term
In which layer of the atmosphere do artificial satellites oribit?
Definition
Esosphere
Term
Why do meteorites begin to burn up in the Mesosphere?
Definition
As the meteorite falls through our atmosphere, it bumps into air molecules. In the mesosphere, these air molecules are finally close enough together to cause the meteorite first to get warm, then to burn, then eventually to melt away entirely.
Term
Why do artificial satellites orbit in the exosphere?
Definition
They would be ruined by any other layer. It is close enough for them to held in place by gravity but far enough away not to burn.
Term
At what altitudes are the various layers of the atmosphere located?
Definition
Troposphere- 0-16 km
Stratosphere- 16-50 km
Mesosphere- 50-80 km
Ionosphere- 80-550 km
Exosphere- 550-1000 km
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