Download Heating the Atmosphere (Chapter 14, with material from Chapter 2)

Name ____________________
Section ___________________
Heating the Atmosphere (Chapter 14, with material from Chapter 2)
1. Reflection on Prior Knowledge:
What process in Earth’s early history resulted in the formation of an atmosphere?
What gases characterized the composition of this early atmosphere?
Is having an atmosphere a unique characteristic of our planet? Explain!
2. What gases characterize the composition of Earth’s modern day atmosphere?
By what process did Earth’s early atmosphere change?
3. What are Greenhouse Gases?
4. Is Earth’s atmosphere stable or is it continuing to change over time?
5. Is oxygen a necessary requirement for the presence of life?
6. Earth’s gravity is responsible for holding the gases of the atmosphere in place.
Within _________________ miles and ____________________ kilometers of Earth’s surface, one may
find 99% of the gases comprising Earth’s atmosphere. Half of Earth’s atmosphere is found within
___________ miles of Earth’s surface.
Name ____________________
Section ___________________
7. The Thermal Structure of Earth’s Atmosphere
Thermal Layer
Thermal Structure
Other Characteristics
Thermosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere
8. List the three factors that affect the heating of the Earth:
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•
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9. Describe the terms “rotation” and “revolution” as they apply to Earth motions.
10. Label the seven major parallels (latitude values) of Earth:
What is the significance of
the 23.5° latitude value?
Name ____________________
Section ___________________
11. Earth is closest to the Sun at ____________________, which occurs in ___________________.
Earth is furthest from the Sun at ____________________, which occurs in ___________________.
12. The ___________ __________ is the point on Earth’s surface where the Sun’s radiation strikes at a 90° angle.
In the following image, this point is located at _______________ latitude.
a.) The solar footprint increases
as the angle of incidence (increases / decreases).
b) In this image, the solar footprint is greatest at:
23.5° S
30° N
0°
90° N
13. Earth-Sun Relationships –
On the following diagram, indicate any missing information for solstices, the equinoxes, and the location
of the subsolar point.
Name ____________________
Section ___________________
14. Summary: (circle the correct answers in the statements below.)
In addition to seasonal changes, Polar Regions receive less solar energy than any other region on Earth’s
surface because:
The solar footprint is (greater / smaller) in Polar Regions.
Incoming solar energy must pass through (more / less) of the atmosphere in Polar Regions.
(More / Less) sunlight is reflected in Polar Regions due to the angle of incidence as well as the albedo or
reflectivity of the surface.
15. Due to the controls on incoming solar energy, Earth’s surface experiences net heat (gain / loss) between
40° North and South latitudes. At latitudes greater than 40° North and 40° South, Earth’s surface experiences
net heat (gain / loss).
16. How do the following factors affect receipt of solar energy?
Differential heating of land and water:
Altitude:
Geographic position:
Cloud cover:
Albedo:
17. How many temperature zones does San Diego County exhibit?
18. What is an “isotherm”?
19. World average temperature extremes occur in January and July.
Why do these extremes not match the timing of the solstices?
20. Heat is always transferred from _____________ objects to _______________ objects.
The mechanisms of heat transfer are:
•
•
•
Name ____________________
Section ___________________
21. Incoming solar radiation (energy) occurs in which wavelengths: (circle all that apply)
Ultraviolet
Visible light
Short-wave Infrared
Long-wave infrared
Incoming solar radiation is dominated by: (circle the correct answer)
Ultraviolet
Visible light
Short-wave Infrared
Long-wave infrared
22. Approximately _______% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed by Earth’s surface.
Approximately _______% of incoming solar radiation is lost to space. This is Earth’s ______________.
23. Outgoing Earth radiation (energy) occurs in which wavelengths: (circle all that apply)
Ultraviolet
Visible light
Short-wave Infrared
Long-wave infrared
24. How do greenhouse gases interact with this outgoing energy?
25. If Earth did not have a natural greenhouse effect, what would be the impact on life?
26. Why are there two greenhouse effects?
•
Natural greenhouse effect:
•
Anthropogenic greenhouse effect:
27. What is the single common factor among all anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases?