Activity 1.2
1. Impact of a meteor/meteorite
2. Exposed to many more meteors out in space / no atmosphere to burn them up before
reaching the surface.
3. thermosphere
4. Absence of an atmosphere ...therefore no weather conditions such as wind and rain to
erode them.
Activity 1.3
1. Thermosphere 2. Stratosphere 3. Troposphere 4. Troposphere
5. Thermosphere 6. Stratosphere 7. Thermosphere 8. Stratosphere
9. Tropopause
10. Contains all the necessary gases for a variety of functions:
• Oxygen for respiration and combustion
• Nitrogen for plan processes and food production.
• Carbon Dioxide for photosynthesis
• Water vapour for weather processes
11. Create gaps in the ozone layer – allows the harsh rays of the sun (UV, gamma, X-rays)
reaching the earth’s surface – global warming results (higher temps on the surface, change in
climate with droughts and floods, loss of soil water, etc).
Activity 1.4
1. Stratosphere
2 Troposphere
3. Absorb and retain heat / radiation of the sun.
4. Temperature inversion occurs here as ozone absorbs heat radiated from the earth’s surface
and the sun’s rays.
5. 1 in oxygen but 3 oxygen atoms in an ozone molecule
,Activity 1.5
1. The depletion of ozone from a section of the ozone layer creates a gap or hole in the ozone
layer – known as an ozone hole.
2. solvent-cleaning products / refrigeration and air conditioning products / foam / aerosols and
other spray products
3. Allows the dangerous and harsh UV rays and other rays to enter and reach the surface. If the
ozone is not there to filter the sun’s rays such dangerous rays will harm the planet through
global warming.
4. There is a huge debate surrounding the causes of ozone depletion with one side (a group of
climate scientists) saying that ozone depletion is man-made through pollution, deforestation,
abuse of chemicals and so on, while the other side (mainly industrialists and the business
community) claiming that increases in planetary temperatures are cyclic in nature and that
man’s contribution to such temperatures is insignificant compared to nature in the form of
volcanoes. As no side is willing to accept blame for the destruction of the ozone, nothing is
being done to address this environmental challenge.
5. Life expectancy is the average age a person is expected to live (calculated at birth). This is
based on the biological and environmental conditions present. Ozone depletion can lead to
many illnesses (cancers, melanomas, cataracts, weakness of immune system, etc) and can
shorten one’s life span. Therefore people exposed to such harsh conditions (increases
exposure to all the dangerous sun’s rays) may not be expected to live as long as previously.
Activity 1.6
1. Terms
• Radiation
• Conduction
• Convection
2. Solar radiation is the emission of heat (radiant energy) by the sun. Earth radiation is the
emission of terrestrial radiation (by the earth). In one the sun gives off the heat, in the
other the earth gives off the heat.
3. Terrestrial or earth radiation – the sun’s rays passing through the atmosphere do so in the
form of short waves that pass quickly and do not allow much absorption by the air
particles. Insolation allows the earth’s surface to absorb the sun’s heat until it becomes
saturated and then the earth gives off the absorbed heat in the form of long waves which
remain in the atmosphere for longer periods of time allowing for more absorption and
heating.
4. Conduction – needs contact for transfer of heat to take place. Without contact, heat will not
be transferred.
, 5. Prevents the mixing of air in the pot with air from the surrounding air - retains heat in this
way. Similarly the ozone layer acts in a similar way. Allows heat to enter the atmosphere,
warming the atmosphere and prevents heated air from ‘escaping’ into upper atmosphere.
Warm atmosphere is essential to life.
Activity 1.7
1. a. Insolation refers to the emission of rays by the sun (incoming solar radiation) while
terrestrial radiation refers to the emission of heat by the earth’s surface.
b. Solar radiation
c. Consists of numerous rays (UV, gamma, X-rays, heat and light rays) approaching the earth
in short, fast-moving waves.
d. Dust, smoke and other air particles
e. Reflection and albedo – these processes ‘send’ the sun’s radiation back into space with
minimal absorption (much like a mirror).
f. + - 46%
g. long wave earth radiation
h. Cloud cover deflects the rising heat back towards the surface thereby increasing the temp
of the atmosphere below it.
i. Convection / Conduction
2. a. A – Conduction – slow loss of heat
B – Convection – more rapid loss of heat due to whole masses expanding.
b. The atmosphere is heated mainly through earth radiation – therefore the warmest layers
will be resting on the surface.
There is a greater density of air closer to the surface due to the force of gravity. More air
can absorb more heat.
Cloud cover, ozone, etc prevent the heat from escaping into the upper layers of the
atmosphere. By acting a blankets and trapping the heat closer to the surface we
experience higher temperatures here.
3. The atmosphere acts like a blanket to keep the heat from escaping – much like a
greenhouse or car’s windows that allows sun’s rays to enter and warm the air inside but
prevents it from escaping. This contributes to higher temperatures.
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