Geol 1350 1st EditionExam # 1 Study GuideCh.1Earths tilt 23.5 degreesMars- no atmosphere, can’t breathe, you will explode, freezing, contains lots of carbon dioxideVenus- lots of atmosphere, you will crush thereJune 21st- 24 hours of daylight (summer)Winter- 24 hours of nightDry air heavier than humid wet airHalf of the atmosphere is below 5.5 km altitudeCloser to atmosphere than to GalvestonMost important elements of space (solar nebula)- hydrogen and heliumWater came from volcanoes it used to be lavaMost carbon dioxide is in water and it cools the earth because of photochemicalMost oxygen comes from soil-nitrogen comes from soil b/c of fertilizers5% oxygen in atmosphereYou can compress air not water- pressure decreases with increase in height In air 78% is nitrogen and 21% is oxygen.99% of earth’s atmosphere -Permanent gases are nitrogen and oxygen, the rest are trace gases (noble gases) and the most important are water vapor (very important greenhouse gas and increases in concentration 25 % each year), carbon dioxide, and ozoneTroposphere-decreases with heightStratosphere-increases with height, ozone belongs here and protects us from uv radiationMesosphere-decreases with height boring layerThermosphere-increases with heightCh.2Energy- potential energy, it goes upKinetic energy- ½(mass)(velocity)^2Internal energy-potential plus kinetic energyCommonly used scales-Fahrenheit(180 parts -32f-212f),Celsius (100 parts-0c-100c),kelvin (abs zero)Heat transfer is due to temperature differencesWater has higher heat capacity (depends on specific heat) than dry airLatent heat- (important source of atmospheric energy) hidden heat until changes occur (water vapor is an important medium in order for latent heat to occur)Conduction-creates heat, conducts heat, occurs on surface, air is poor conductor of heat in atmosphereConvection- transports and transfers heat through air, vertical motionAdvection-wind, horizontal motionRadiation-transfers through photon (particle of energy no mass or electrical charge indefinite lifetime), bodies above 0k emitted radiationEvaporation is a cooling process and condensation is a warming processElectromagnetic wave-transfers energy (short wavelength, high frequency high radiation visa versa)Sun 5785k-earth 288k Terrestrial-earth w/ atmosphere -19c and with atmosphere +15c=34c (greenhouse effect)Albedo- % of radiation returning from a given surface compared to the amount of radiation initially striking that surface, higher % of albedo in snowCh.3The earths tilt 23.5 is the reason for seasonsUnequal heating due the earths tiltThe earths sun is right above equator twice a year (fall and spring)23.5 south lat. In winter sun is right above 23.5 north lat. (Houston) in summer the sun is right above66.5=90-23.5=24 hrs of daylight summer june 21Fall 6 months of light in Antarctica then 6 months of nightWater=high heat capacitySolstice=24 hrs of light or darknessEquinox=12 hrs of night and 12 of daySun rays most intense at noonMax temp is in afternoonHeating degree 65f-daily mean tempCooling degree-daily mean temp-65fNocturnal radiation inversion-temp increases with height near earths surface at