ATOC 181 Study Guide - Final Guide: Ice Pellets, Centrifugal Force, Funnel Cloud

• School: McGill University
• Department: Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
• Course: ATOC 181
• Professor: Daniel Kirshbaum

Document Summary

Temperature initially isothermal (constant) then increased with height up to ~50 km. Temperature decreases with height up to ~80 km. Homosphere: well mixed lower atmosphere: 8% n2, 21% o2. H2o ranges from -4% (0 in poles, 4 in tropics) Aerosol particles: suspended tiny soil, salt, ash particles. Pollutants: sulphur, nitrogen oxides & hydrocarbons trace amounts of co2, o3 & other gases. Importance of ozone, carbon dioxide & water vapour. Ozone (o3: 97% in upper atmosphere where it forms naturally, shields earth from ultraviolet radiation, at surface, primary ingredient in photochemical smog irritates eyes/throat, damages vegetation layer being depleted near poles by chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs) from spray cans/refrigerants. Carbon dioxide (co2: used by plants for photosynthesis to produce oxygen, absorbs portion of earth"s outgoing radiation & radiates it back to earth (greenhouse gas, concentration increasing rapidly. Gases & clouds absorb radiation emitted by earth & reradiate it towards earth. Mass: the amount of matter/material in the sample volume (kg)