Science Quiz 5-5-24

• Atmosphere


  A blanket of air surrounding the earth or another planet
• Composition of the atmosphere


  • 78% nitrogen
  • 21% oxygen
  • 1% other gases
• Layers of the atmosphere


  • Exosphere
  • Thermosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Troposphere
• Troposphere


  • The atmosphere that touches the surface of the earth
  • Contains most of the water vapor
  • Where all the weather occurs, also called the zone of weather
  • Air temperature decreases as you go higher
• Tropopause


  Separates the troposphere and stratosphere
• Stratosphere


  • Second layer
  • Contains the ozone layer that shields us from harmful radiation
  • Temperature rises with increasing altitude
• Stratopause


  Separates the stratosphere and mesosphere
• Mesosphere


  • The coldest layer of the atmosphere
  • Where meteoroids and comets are destroyed by friction
  • Temperature decreases as altitude increases
• Mesopause


  Separates the mesosphere and thermosphere
• Thermosphere


  • The hottest layer of the atmosphere due to absorption of energy from the sun
  • Temperature increases as altitude increases
• Ionosphere


  • The active part of the atmosphere that depends on the sun's energy
  • Where auroras (Northern and Southern Lights) occur
• Ions


  Electrically charged atoms that produce different colored lights when they collide
• Exosphere


  • The outermost layer of the atmosphere
  • Merges with the emptiness of outer space
  • Where spacecraft and satellites travel
  • Contains hydrogen and helium
• Global warming is a phenomenon in which the average surface temperature of the Earth's surface increases
• Causes of global warming

  • Halocarbons (2%)
  • Nitrous Oxide (8%)
  • CO2 from deforestation (16%)
  • CO2 from fossil fuels (58%)
• Climate change


  Includes both global warming driven by human emissions and resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns
• Monsoon


  Prevailing seasonal wind that blows in a particular direction
• Types of monsoons


  • Northeast monsoon
  • Southwest monsoon
• Northeast monsoon (amihan)


  • Originates from the eastern part
  • Brings cold and dry weather
  • Causes cirrus clouds and light rains
• Southwest monsoon (habagat)


  • Originates from the west/southern part
  • Brings warm and humid weather
  • Causes cumulus clouds and rainy weather
• Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)


  A low pressure zone where the northeast and southwest trade winds meet, also known as the doldrums
• Land breeze


  Cool air from above the land moving towards the water at night
• Sea breeze


  Cool air from above the water moving towards the land