Atmospheric constituents controlled by - answer✔geologic, biological, and anthropogenic
Geologic Control - answer✔Early atmosphere consists of CO2 and CH4. Start of anerobic life.
Age of bacteria. 2.3 billion years of CO2 and CH4 abrupt change in atmospheric conditions.
Biological Control - answer✔Oxygen appearance and start of aerobic life. Thermal conditions
caused by variation of CO2 change. Gaia Hypothesis.
James Lovelock - answer✔Proposed the Gaia Hypothesis in 1970s to explain the interaction of
climate with biology.
Gaia Hypothesis - answer✔Suns output of energy increased as time went on which caused the
switch from anaerobic or aerobic conditions. Initial solar output produced greenhouse effect
and greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4). Life has controlled the atmosphere.
Anthropogenic Control - answer✔Photosynthesis occurred. CO2 is released from the air. Dead
plants turn into CO2 form through oxidation process. But some plant material turn into fossil
fuels.
Photosynthesis - answer✔Plants take CO2 in the atmosphere and create plant material like long
carbon chains.
Fossil Fuels - answer✔Such as coal and oil are made from dead plant. Geologic pressure
converts the plant material into fossil fuels. Stored under the earth and rapid release of this is
what causes smog, acid rain, and global warming.
Coal - answer✔First anthropogenic modification of the atmosphere.Industrialization of China
was when coal was used to forge steel. Britian invented steam engine with coal during the
industrial revolution. Spread to the industrialization of the Northeastern US.
Atmosphere Composition - answer✔Matter can appear in solid liquid or gas.
Gas Atmosphere - answer✔Most common phase in the atmosphere. Consists of permanent and
variable gases.
Liquid Atmosphere - answer✔clouds
Solid atmosphere - answer✔particulate matter.
Permanent Gases - answer✔Gases with fixed percentages and those that are variable in their
concentrations. Dynamic and not static equilibrium.
Static Equilibirum - answer✔Produced when there are no creation and destruction processes.
Variable Gases - answer✔Referred to as greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases - answer✔An Atmospheric constituent that traps outgoing terrestrial
radiation. Re-radiation to the earth causes the temperature to rise and the earth to warm up.
Natural Greenhouse effect - answer✔The radiation emited back to the surface causes the earth
to warm up more then usual. The gases that cause this are water vapour, CO2, CH4, N2O, O3,
and CFCs.
Strato - answer✔layered clouds, Greater horizonatal extent than vertical extent
Cumulo - answer✔Puffy clouds, similar horizontal and vertical extent
Nimbo - answer✔rain clouds
Cirro - answer✔high level clouds (above 7km)
Alto . - answer✔mid level clouds, between 2 km and 7 km
thermometer - answer✔Invented in late 16th century. Was a liquid-in glass thermometer.
Temperature changes were assesses using expansion of the fluid.
Captain Robert Fitzroy - answer✔Standarized thermometer so that measurements that
geograpical displaced can be compared.
Electric Thermometer - answer✔Electric resistance is a function of temperature and this is used
in the thermometer.
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