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Planetary Atmosphere
Planetary Atmospheres and Climate: Earth, Mars, Venus, Titan
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is an atmosphere? | A layer of gas that surrounds a planet or moon. |
| What are the main components of Earth's atmosphere? | Molecular nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2). |
| How thick is Earth's atmosphere? | About 10 kilometers. |
| What effect does atmospheric pressure have on liquid water? | It determines whether liquid water can exist on the surface. |
| What happens to pressure and density as altitude increases? | Both pressure and density decrease with altitude. |
| What is the pressure at sea level in bars? | 1 bar, equivalent to 105 Newtons per square meter. |
| What is the greenhouse effect? | The process where visible light warms a planet's surface, and the atmosphere traps heat by absorbing infrared light. |
| Which gases are particularly good at absorbing infrared light? | Carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), and methane (CH4). |
| What factors contribute to a planet's average temperature? | The planet's overall reflectivity, distance from the Sun, and rotation rate. |
| How does a planet's distance from the Sun affect its temperature? | More distant planets usually receive less sunlight and are colder. |
| What is albedo? | The fraction of incoming sunlight that a planet reflects. |
| What would happen to Earth's temperature if it were more reflective? | It would go down. |
| What is the 'no greenhouse' temperature for Venus? | 510 degrees Celsius colder without the greenhouse effect. |
| What is the 'no greenhouse' temperature for Earth? | 31 degrees Celsius colder without the greenhouse effect. |
| What is the greenhouse warming effect on Mercury? | It has a day temperature of 425 degrees Celsius and a night temperature of -175 degrees Celsius. |
| What is the average surface temperature of Mars? | Approximately -56 degrees Celsius. |
| What creates wind and weather on a planet? | Differences in atmospheric pressure and temperature. |
| What is the role of atmospheres in planetary geology? | They control surface geology through processes like erosion. |
| What is the pressure on Venus compared to Earth's sea level pressure? | About 90 bar, equivalent to almost a kilometer of water. |
| How does the rotation rate of a planet affect its temperature? | It affects the temperature differences between day and night. |
| What is the significance of impact craters on planetary surfaces? | They reveal a surface's geological age. |
| What are the terrestrial planets? | Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. |
| What is the main reason for the different geological histories of terrestrial planets? | Variations in their atmospheres and geological processes. |
| What is the greenhouse effect's impact on Titan? | Titan has a thick atmosphere that contributes to its surface temperature. |
| What is the relationship between atmospheric properties and altitude? | Atmospheric properties such as pressure and temperature vary with altitude. |
| What would happen to Earth's temperature if it didn't have an atmosphere? | It would go down a lot (more than 10°C). |
| What is ionization in the context of atmospheric effects? | Ionization is the removal of an electron from an atom or molecule. |
| What happens during dissociation in the atmosphere? | Dissociation is the destruction of a molecule. |
| How does scattering affect light in the atmosphere? | Scattering changes the direction of a photon. |
| What occurs during absorption in the atmosphere? | A photon's energy is absorbed by atmospheric molecules. |
| What is the troposphere? | The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where temperature drops with altitude. |
| How is the troposphere warmed? | It is warmed by infrared light from the surface and convection. |
| What is the stratosphere? | The layer above the troposphere where temperature rises with altitude in the lower part. |
| What is the thermosphere? | The layer at about 100 kilometers altitude where temperature rises with altitude due to solar radiation. |
| What is the exosphere? | The highest layer of the atmosphere where it gradually fades into space. |
| What protects Earth from solar x-rays? | The atmosphere, specifically the thermosphere. |
| What protects Earth from solar UV rays? | The atmosphere, specifically the stratosphere. |
| What is Earth's magnetosphere? | The magnetic field that protects Earth from charged particles from the solar wind. |
| What causes auroras on Earth? | Charged particles from the solar wind energize the upper atmosphere near magnetic poles. |
| What was the composition of Earth's early atmosphere? | It had no oxygen, which only appeared in significant quantities about 2 billion years ago. |
| What is the difference between weather and climate? | Weather is the short-term variation of atmospheric conditions, while climate is the long-term average of weather. |
| What are global wind patterns at the equator? | Winds blow from East to West. |
| What is the Coriolis effect? | The deflection of moving objects on a rotating planet due to conservation of angular momentum. |
| How does the Coriolis effect influence storm circulation in the Northern Hemisphere? | Storms circulate counterclockwise in low-pressure regions. |
| What happens to air moving from the equator to the poles? | It moves closer to the axis of Earth's rotation and travels ahead of Earth's rotation. |
| What are Hadley cells? | Large circulation cells that develop due to heating at the equator and cooling at the poles. |
| What is a current cause of long-term climate change on Earth? | Changes in greenhouse gas levels. |
| What is not a current cause of long-term climate change on Earth? | A decrease in the orbital distance of Earth. |
| What is the role of atmospheric gases in varying properties with altitude? | They interact with sunlight differently at various altitudes. |
| What is the significance of the ozone layer in Earth's atmosphere? | It absorbs UV radiation, protecting life on Earth. |
| What is the relationship between temperature and altitude in the troposphere? | Temperature decreases with increasing altitude. |
| What phenomenon occurs due to the interaction of solar wind with Earth's magnetosphere? | Auroras are produced near the magnetic poles. |
| What is one factor that can cause long-term climate change? | Solar brightening |
| How has the brightness of the Sun changed over time? | The Sun gradually grows brighter, increasing sunlight warming the planets. |
| What was the Sun's brightness about 4 billion years ago? | About 70% of its present brightness. |
| What effect does a greater axial tilt have on seasons? | It creates more extreme seasons. |
| How does axial tilt affect the average energy received by Earth's surface? | It does not affect the annually-averaged energy. |
| What causes variations in Earth's axial tilt? | Small gravitational tugs from other bodies in the solar system. |
| What happens to a planet with higher reflectivity? | It tends to cool. |
| What is a potential consequence of expanding polar caps? | It can lead to a 'Snowball Earth' by reflecting more sunlight. |
| What happens to temperature when CO2 is released from rocks? | The temperature increases. |
| What is a 'runaway greenhouse' effect? | An extreme warming scenario, as seen on Venus. |
| What are the primary sources of atmospheric gas gain? | Outgassing, evaporation/sublimation, and impacts by particles and photons. |
| What are the primary losses of atmospheric gas? | Condensation, chemical reactions, and thermal escape. |
| Do the Moon and Mercury have any atmosphere? | Yes, they have extremely thin atmospheres. |
| What contributes to the thin atmospheres of the Moon and Mercury? | Gas from impacts and high temperatures that eject surface atoms. |
| What is found in permanently shadowed regions near the poles of the Moon and Mercury? | Water ice. |
| What is the current climate of Mars like? | Cold, dry, and frozen. |
| What extreme variations can Mars's axial tilt cause? | Significant climate changes. |
| What has happened to Mars's atmosphere over time? | Mars has lost most of its atmosphere. |
| What is the greenhouse effect on Venus? | A very strong greenhouse effect due to its thick carbon dioxide atmosphere. |
| What is the surface pressure of Venus compared to Earth? | 90 times that of Earth. |
| What type of clouds are present in Venus's atmosphere? | Reflective clouds containing droplets of sulfuric acid. |
| What geological evidence suggests the occurrence of a 'Snowball Earth'? | Geological evidence indicates past periods of extensive glaciation. |
| What role does the magnetic field play in Mars's atmospheric history? | It may have preserved the early Martian atmosphere. |
| What is the significance of the ellipticity of Mars's orbit? | It makes seasons more extreme in the southern hemisphere. |
| What can cause dust storms on Mars? | Seasonal winds. |
| What is the composition of the polar ice caps on Mars? | Primarily water ice and carbon dioxide ice. |
| What happens to carbon dioxide ice on Mars during summer? | It sublimates as summer approaches and condenses at the opposite pole. |
| What is the potential for liquid water on Mars today? | It may exist underground near sources of volcanic heat. |
| What is the main reason why Venus is hotter than Earth? | The greenhouse effect is much stronger on Venus than on Earth. |
| Why does Venus have so little water? | A runaway greenhouse effect caused water to escape into space. |
| What happens to water molecules in Venus's atmosphere? | H2O molecules are broken up by UV light, allowing H2 to escape to space. |
| What is Titan known for? | Titan is the only moon with a thick atmosphere. |
| What is the composition of Titan's atmosphere? | Titan's atmosphere is mostly nitrogen (N2) at a pressure of 1.5 bar. |
| What is the surface temperature of Titan? | -178°C. |
| What cycle on Titan is similar to Earth's hydrological cycle? | Titan has a 'hydrological' cycle involving methane. |
| What is the main reason Earth retained most of its outgassed water? | Earth's temperature remained cool enough for liquid oceans to form. |
| How does Earth's carbon dioxide cycle contribute to climate stability? | It acts as a thermostat by regulating atmospheric CO2 levels. |
| What human activities are impacting Earth's atmosphere? | Destruction of ozone, high rates of extinction, and greenhouse gas emissions. |
| What has been the trend in Earth's average temperature over the past 50 years? | Earth's average temperature has increased by 0.5°C. |
| What is the current trend in CO2 concentration? | CO2 concentration is rising rapidly and is the highest it's been in at least 500,000 years. |
| What are the expected consequences of global warming? | More intense storms, rising ocean levels, and uncertain effects on food production. |
| Why does Earth's atmosphere consist mostly of nitrogen and oxygen? | Most of Earth's carbon and oxygen is trapped in rocks, leaving nitrogen as the dominant gas. |
| What role do plants play in Earth's atmosphere? | Plants release oxygen from CO2 into the atmosphere. |
| What is the significance of ozone in the stratosphere? | Ozone absorbs ultraviolet light, protecting living organisms from harmful radiation. |
| What is a runaway greenhouse effect? | A runaway greenhouse effect occurs when a planet's atmosphere traps heat, preventing liquid water from existing. |
| What is the primary component of Venus's atmosphere? | Venus's atmosphere is composed of 96% carbon dioxide (CO2). |
| What is the pressure of Earth's atmosphere at sea level? | 1 bar. |
| What is the pressure of Venus's atmosphere? | 92 bar. |
| What is the pressure of Mars's atmosphere? | 0.006 bar. |
| What is the main reason Titan has a thick atmosphere? | Its size and temperature allow it to retain atmospheric gases. |
| What happens to carbon dioxide during the carbon dioxide cycle? | It dissolves in rainwater, erodes minerals, and is eventually subducted back into the mantle. |
| What is the effect of human-made CFCs on the atmosphere? | They destroy ozone, reducing protection from ultraviolet radiation. |
| What is the expected rise in sea level by 2100? | Expected to rise another 30 centimeters. |
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