GE CLST M1B Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Coriolis Force, Oil Sludge, Stratopause
30 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
99. 99% of earth"s atmosphere is contained within the first 100 km. Relative humidity: the amount of water vapor a certain volume of air can hold at a given temperature. Major atmospheric constituents (o2, n2, ar) do not cause greenhouse gases. Climate is controlled by trace atmospheric components. Atmospheric opacity: as incoming solar and outgoing terrestrial thermal radiation passes through the atmosphere, some of it is absorbed by atmospheric components. Relative humidity: amount of water vapor a certain volume of air can hold at a given temperature. Troposphere: lower atmosphere; temperature decreases with height; air is heated from below. Tropopause: very cold and acts a trap for water vapor that is confined. Stratosphere: layer above the troposphere; temperature increases with height; source of heat is formation of ozone; ozone layer absorbs uv radiation that is harmful. Mesosphere: above the stratopause; temperature starts decreasing with height again; meteors are observed here; extremely cold and dry.
