ENVS 2270 Final: Exam Prep

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Environmental Sciences
• Course: ENVS 2270
• Professor: Kim Bolton

Document Summary

Climate: long-term changes in our environment that is usually expressed in averages. Global air circulation: d(cid:396)i(cid:448)e(cid:374) (cid:271)(cid:455) the su(cid:374)s heat a(cid:374)d (cid:271)(cid:455) the ea(cid:396)th"s (cid:396)otatio(cid:374). Atmosphere: very thick blanket of gases that is made up of several layers: troposphere: most gas occurs here. Where we live and breathe: stratosphere: jet planes can fly here, important because ozone layer lies here (ozone is gas with 3 oxygen molecules) and protects us from uv rays. Temperature increases in stratosphere due to the uv absorption: mesosphere: where meteors burn up. Temperature decrease here as there is little radiation absorption: thermosphere: some temperature increases here too as it also absorbs radiation. Where satellites orbit: composition of atmosphere: mostly nitrogen, followed by oxygen, then argon gas, and then trace gases (includes the co2, ch4, h2) Atmospheric circulation: the driving force is the sun, solar insulation is variable around the planet, measured in kwh/m2/day.