6.1

• Outline the inputs in the atmosphere as a system

  • Water
  • Co2,So4 and NO2 from combustion
  • NH4 from livestock
  • Volcanic ash
  • Solar radiation
  • Oxygen through photosynthesis
  • CO2 from respiration
  • Aerosols
• Outline the outputs in the atmosphere as a system

  • Precipitation
  • Solar radiation
  • Oxygen for respiration
  • CO2 for photosynthesis
• State the main constituents of the atmosphere

  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, argon, water vapour and other trace gases
• State how human activities impact atmospheric composition

  • By altering inputs and outputs of atmospheric system
  • Cause changes in concentration of atmospheric gases
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  State which layers of the atmosphere most reactions connected to living systems occur

  • Troposphere (0-10km above sea level): most weather occurs here
  • Stratosphere (10-50km above sea level)
• State where most clouds form

  • Troposphere

   
• Outline the role of clouds in the albedo effect of the planet

  • Albedo effect is a measure of how much Sun's energy is reflected back into space
  • More water vapour in atmosphere means more cloud formation
  • More clouds increases albedo of earth

   

   
• Define the greenhouse effect

  Describes increase in Earth's average temperature
• Describes how the greenhouse effect works

  • Earth receives warmth from sun
  • Most heat energy passes through atmosphere, while small amount is reflected back into space
  • Without greenhouse effect, radiation from sun would be changed to heat & be lost to space
• Outline the role of greenhouse gasses

  • Maintain mean global temperature
  • Normal & necessary condition for life on earth
• Outline the albedo of different clouds

  • Albedo of low thick clouds such as stratocumulus is 90%
  • Albedo of high thin clouds such as cirrus is low as 10%
• Outline the role of albedo effect from clouds in regulating global average temperature

  • Lower the albedo, more radiation from sun that gets absorbed by planet
  • Causes temperatures to rise
  • Higher albedo, earth is more reflective, more radiation is returned to space & planet cools

   

   
• Outline the greenhouse effect

  • Heating of earth caused by rise in temperature
  • Occur as greenhouse gases allow incoming sunlight to pass through but trap heat radiated from earth's surface
  • Without these gases, earth would be colder
• Outline the role of greenhouse gasses

  • Some dangerous thermal radiation reflected
  • Some heat makes it throguht to heat earth
  • Heat rises back to atmosphere but most of it gets trapped by greenhouse gases
  • Remains in earth's atmosphere causing it to heat up.