0
Atmospheric Sciences
Atmospheric science is the study of the atmosphere, its processes, and the interaction of the atmosphere with other systems, including the effects other systems have on the atmosphere and visa versa. Fields in Atmospheric Sciences include Meteorology, Climatology, and Aeronomy. Ask and answer questions about Atmospheric Sciences in this category.
7,660 Questions
What fog results from adiabatic cooling?
Upslope is the only possibility because it's the only one where the air is rising.
What is the percent of iodine in atmosphere?
Iodine is not typically found in significant concentrations in Earth's atmosphere. Its presence is mainly related to industrial emissions, such as from coal-fired power plants and seaweed processing facilities. The percentage of iodine in the atmosphere is generally very low, often less than 0.1 parts per billion.
What increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
- The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, transport and the generation of electricity, which releases carbon dioxide.
- Deforestation
- The production of cement which contributes 5% of all man-made carbon dioxide emissions.
A:
Human activities are shown by atmospheric scientists to be responsible for increasing the amount of carbon dioxide CO2 in the atmosphere. The major sources of human emissions are the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas for industry, driving our transport, heating our homes and generating electricity.
Humans produce between 3 and 6% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Natural carbon sources produce much larger quantities than mankind, but this is offset by the vast natural carbon sinks that remove CO2 from the air. The current imbalance is due to human activity.
We know where the increase comes from because CO2 from fossil fuels has a specific chemical signature, and scientists have observed that the proportion of CO2 from fossil fuels in the atmosphere has increased globally, and even more in cities and populated areas.
Human emissions are not the only factor, but it is currently the most significant. For example, human emissions of CO2 are more than 130 times greater than the amount released by volcanic eruptions.
More comments:
Most of this increase in CO2 production (by man) is due to our ever increasing electricity consumption.
Burning wood or allowing trees to rot does not increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as long as old trees are replaced by new ones which absorb as much carbon as the old ones had done. This is essentially part of the natural cycle, in which carbon is continually added to and removed from the atmosphere But deforestation does increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, because new trees are not allowed to replace those removed.The most important way in which we add to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is by burning fossil fuels. Another important contributor is the manufacture of cement. Climate scientists say that overall we have increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by around 35 per cent since the beginning of the Industrial Age.The Carbon/CO2 on earth is part of a natural cycle which balances the CO2 in the atmosphere with the carbon locked in the rocks as limestone, and hydrocarbons. In general over the totality of geologic time the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has fallen as a result of biological processes. In recent times human activity has been responsible for releasing a large quantity of fossil Carbon (oil, gas and coal) as CO2 into the atmosphere. While much of this has been buffered by the CO2 dissolving in the oceans, there has also been a marked increase in CO2 percentage in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution.
The burning of fossil fuels is a primary source of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Motor vehicle exhaust and the burning of fuel oil in ships and factories or power plants puts lots of CO2 into the air. We also burn a lot of coal worldwide, and this also ups CO2 output by people. Additionally, the burning of wild lands (either by accident or on purpose) is increasing the amount of combustion byproducts (including CO2) in the air.
Man uses energy. We create CO2 when we use energy. CO2 is the only gas in our environment that we make a substantial portion of. Man produces almost 7% of this gas. Much of this CO2 that we emit (over half) is to heat, cool and power our homes.
Industrial activities have definitely contributed the most to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the air. Carbon dioxide is released when the factories are running and producing stuff. Burning of fossil fuels also cause it to rise.
Every carbon-based life form (that includes every plant, animal, and human on earth) adds CO2 to the atmosphere when it decomposes (or is burned). As agriculture developed, bigger and better plants cover more of the earth and an ever-increasing number of livestock are being raised. In addition, carbon from coal petroleum deposits that have been buried for millennia are being extracted and burned, releasing even more CO2 into the air.
Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation are the main causes of excess CO2... humans and other animals also increase carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since we breathe out CO2. Although, humans and other animals breathing is not the main cause of excess CO2 in the atmosphere.
The lowest layer of atmosphere?
The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere is the troposphere. It extends up to about 10-15 kilometers in altitude, depending on the location. The troposphere is where all weather events occur and contains the highest concentration of gases, including oxygen and nitrogen.
Dispersion lighti on is responsible to look sky blue?
A bit of background: The white light from the sun is a mixture of all colours of the spectrum. Each colour of light ahas a wavelengths. The visible part of the spectrum ranges from red light (wavelength =720 nm), to violet (wavelength =380 nm), with orange, yellow, green, blue and indigo between. The human eye reacts most strongly to strongly to red, green and blue wavelengths. This gives us colour vision. The explanation: Light passing through a clear fluid with suspended particles is scattered. Some wavelengths like blue are scattered more strongly. The first person to notice this and experiment with it was John Tyndall in 1859. So he got to mane the effect the Tyndall Effect. He made three important observations: * From the side, (the way we see most of the sunlight in the sky) the beam can be seen by the blue light it scatters * The light seen directly at the end (looking towards the source) is red. This is the way we see the sunlight at sunset
* The scattered light is polarized. This is why polarized sun glasses make some parts of the sky seem darker.
Some early researchers (Tyndall and Rayleigh) thought that the blue colour of the sky must be due to small particles of dust and droplets of water vapour in the sky. Later scientist discounted this and proposed that oxygen and nitrogen molecules are the cause of the scattering.
In 1911 Einstein did the math to prove that the molecules could cause the scattering. Technically the molecules scatter light because the electromagnetic field of the light waves induces electric dipole moments in the O2 and N2 molecules,
The process of longwave radiation trapping through the greenhouse effect has the greatest role in warming the upper troposphere. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, trap outgoing longwave radiation, leading to a warming effect in the upper troposphere. This process is critical for maintaining Earth's temperature and climate.
During the 20th century earth's average surface temperature has?
increased significantly due to human activities releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. This has caused global warming, leading to changes in climate patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. Efforts are being made to reduce these emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
What types of elements make up the atmosphere on mars?
The atmosphere on Mars is composed mainly of carbon dioxide (95.3%), with nitrogen (2.7%) and argon (1.6%) making up the majority of the remaining gases. There are also trace amounts of oxygen, water vapor, and other gases present.
How does the amount of air changes as you travel up through earth's atmosphere?
The amount of air decreases as you travel up through Earth's atmosphere. This is because the atmosphere is less dense at higher altitudes, leading to lower air pressure and a decrease in the concentration of gases.
Oxygen is supplied to the atmosphere by what?
Oxygen is primarily supplied to the atmosphere through photosynthesis by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. These organisms convert carbon dioxide into oxygen during the process of photosynthesis. Additionally, a small amount of oxygen is also released through chemical reactions, such as the breakdown of ozone in the stratosphere.
Is oxygen supplied to the atmosphere by ozone?
No, oxygen is primarily supplied to the atmosphere through photosynthesis by plants and other photosynthetic organisms. Ozone is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms and is found in the Earth's stratosphere, where it plays a crucial role in absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
Can you list 2 properties of a liquid?
A liquid has a definite volume but no definite shape. If you pour 2 ounces of water into a container, it will still be 2 ounces, but the shape will change to fill the container.
Solids have definite volume and shape, and gases have neither definite volume nor definite shape.
What changes happen to water during each process in the cycle?
During evaporation, water changes from liquid to vapor as it is heated by the sun. During condensation, water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds. During precipitation, water falls from the clouds in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
What is the percentage that nitrogenwatercarbon dioxide and oxygen make up in the atmosphere?
oxygen-23%
nitrogen-71%
carbon dioxide-0.03
argon-0.9
What layer of the atmosphere has the most clouds?
The layer of the atmosphere that has the most clouds is the troposphere. This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere where most weather events occur, including cloud formation.
Fifty percent of the gases making up the atmosphere are found below?
The majority of the gases making up the atmosphere are found below an altitude of 5.6 kilometers (18,000 feet). This layer close to Earth's surface contains most of the atmosphere's mass and is where weather patterns and human activities primarily take place.
What do gases in Earth's atmosphere exert on everything?
Gases in Earth's atmosphere exert pressure on everything due to their weight and the force of gravity. This atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude, meaning that it's higher at sea level and decreases as you go higher up. Atmospheric pressure is essential for sustaining life on Earth.
Which climate zone receives the highest insolation?
The equatorial region near the equator receives the highest insolation due to the direct angle of the sun's rays. This region receives a higher amount of solar energy compared to other areas on Earth.
Most water vapor enters Earth's atmosphere by the processes of?
Most water vapor enters Earth's atmosphere through the processes of evaporation from bodies of water like oceans, lakes, and rivers, as well as transpiration from plants. Evaporation involves the conversion of liquid water into a gaseous state, while transpiration is the release of water vapor from plant leaves.
What is the lower atmosphere like at a given time?
The lower atmosphere is the layer closest to the Earth's surface and contains the majority of the air we breathe. It is composed of various gases like nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Weather phenomena such as clouds, precipitation, and winds occur in this region.
What is so special about nitrogen in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen makes up approximately 80% of Earth's atmosphere as Diatomic Nitrogen. This is two Nitrogen atoms that are bonded together with three covalent bonds (i.e a triple bond). However there will be many other compounds in the atmosphere that contain nitrogen, but will be nowhere near as prevelant as Diatomic Nitrogen.
How long ago did the atmosphere on earth have the most carbon dioxide?
The atmosphere on Earth had the most carbon dioxide around 300 million years ago during the Carboniferous period. This period is known for high levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide which supported the growth of lush forests and high oxygen levels.
How does air affect earths atmosphere?
Air is composed of several gases, including nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, that make up Earth's atmosphere. These gases interact with each other and with the planet's surface to regulate temperature and weather patterns. Air also plays a crucial role in supporting life by providing oxygen for respiration and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
What effects did Mount Vesuvius have on the environment including the atmosphere and the climate?
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD caused widespread destruction to the surrounding environment, including blackened skies, ash fall, and the burial of nearby towns like Pompeii and Herculaneum. The volcanic gases and ash released during the eruption had short-term effects on the atmosphere, leading to cooling temperatures and reduced sunlight. However, the long-term climatic impact of the eruption was limited due to the relatively small size of the event in terms of global volcanic activity.
Which two processes keep the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere stable?
Photosynthesis in plants absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, while respiration from animals and decomposition of organic matter releases it back. These two processes work in balance to keep the concentration of CO2 relatively stable in the atmosphere.
