Transcript
Homework 2: Chapter 2 Peter Hogan
Read Chapter 2: Solar Energy, Seasons, and the Atmosphere and view the Chapter 2 lectures (found under Course Documents). Answer the following questions.
The following are short essay questions – please fully answer each question in complete sentences. The answers should be longer than just a few sentences to fully address the question (I am looking for complete paragraph answers).
1. Briefly describe the relationship among these concepts: Universe, Milky Way Galaxy, Solar System, Sun, Earth, and Moon.
All of these concepts are related because they work together to provide functionality for themselves and life. The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains our universe. The universe contains our solar system. From there, our earth is in this solar system. Then, the sun and moon provides light, energy, and warmth for earth and other planets.
2. How does the Sun produce such tremendous quantities of energy?
Producing energy is a process that begins at the core of the sun, since it is the hottest part of the sun. The core is so hot and pressed together those large amounts of hydrogen atoms coming together. It begins the process of nuclear fusion, in which hydrogen atoms become helium. Nuclear fusion then creates volumes among volumes of energy that offshoot from the sun and other places. That energy will weaken as it gets closer to earth's atmosphere. After all this, it will make it to earth's surface and form sunlight, which is a mixture of radiate light and heat.
3. Describe the various segments of the electromagnetic spectrum, from the shortest to longest wavelength. What are the main wavelengths produced by the Sun? Which wavelengths does Earth radiate to space?
There are several different wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum that produces radiation, which is traveling energy that spreads out as it goes. Radio waves are let out by the stars and gases of space. Microwaves send signals from space to earth for us to study nearby galaxies Infrared light gives us information about dust and stars. Visible light is the kind that the human eye can detect. Ultraviolet light comes from the Sun and are what "Hot" objects is space produce. X-rays comes from hot gases in the universe. The smallest wave and the one that produces the most energy are gamma rays. The sun mainly produces ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelengths. Earth radiates microwaves, visible light and ultraviolet waves to space.
4. The concept of seasonality refers to what specific phenomena?
Seasonality is referring to both how the sun's position changes based on how it is above the horizon and when the lengths of days changes at various times of the year. This are characteristics of seasonal variations, which happens when the angle between the sun and horizon changes. This depends on the various angles that the sun can be during the day. This can also vary on the physical location of the sun at a given time (ie. the Sun moving between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.)
5. List the five physical factors that operate together to produce seasons.
The five factors that work together to produce seasons are revolution, rotation, tilt, axial parallelism, and sphericity.
6. Describe seasonal conditions at each of the four key seasonal anniversary dates during the year. What are the solstices and equinoxes, and what is the sun’s declination at these times?
In the winter, its cold the majority of the time, while it is cold in the winter. The fall and spring are more moderate in terms of temperature fluctuations. Solstices happen twice a year, on June 21 and December 21, meaning how the sun's declination is. Equinoxes are when time elapses during the two crossings of the Sun on the equator. During solstices, declination is in the far north of the Tropic of Cancer. Declination is at 23.5 degrees north at equinox.
7. What is air? Where did the components in Earth’s present atmosphere originate?
Air is a non-visible assortment of gases that surrounds the Earth. It contains oxygen and nitrogen, which most living things need to survive. Earth's present atmosphere probably originated from additions to the asteroid belt between certain planets. The atmosphere also came from vapors and gasses left over from the earth's interior. Gasses may have included hydrogen, water vapor, methane, and carbon oxides.
8. Describe the overall temperature profile of the atmosphere and list the four layers defined by temperature.
The temperature profile is a way of organizing the various layers of the atmosphere. One classification revolves around the atmosphere's vertical distribution and temperature variations. The profile is based on layers, with the highest and lowest layers as the troposphere and in between is the stratosphere, the mesosphere, and the thermosphere. Each layer is identical everywhere, but vary in different time and places. The layers are thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, and troposphere.
9. What are the two overall primary functional layers of the atmosphere and what does each do?
The two primary functional layers of the atmosphere are Ionosphere and Ozonosphere. The Ionosphere functions as the outer layer and runs through the thermosphere into the mesosphere. It attracts cosmic, gamma, X-rays, and shorter wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation. It is called Ionosphere, because this process causes positive reactions among ions. The Ozonosphere contains high levels of ozone, which is a very reactive oxygen molecule containing three oxygen atoms. This absorbs less ultraviolet radiation and that energy becomes heat energy that is best for the earth, because it protects us from the Sun's harmful rays.
10. Describe the two divisions of the atmosphere on the basis of composition.
The two divisions of the atmosphere are the Heterosphere, the outer atmosphere and the Homosphere. The Heterosphere is 50 miles going outwards towards Earth and its gasses are sorted by gravity. The Homosphere reaches from the surface 50 miles and gases are sorted evenly.
11. The EPA has determined that the Clean Air Act provided health, welfare, ecological, and economic benefits 42 times greater than its costs. In 2010 alone, estimated benefits over costs were at a ratio of 4:1. Do you think this is significant? Should this be part of the debate about future weakening or strengthening of the Clean Air Act? In your opinion, why is the public generally unaware of these details? What are the difficulties in informing the public?
Yes, I think this is significant, because it shows that the benefits of the Clean Air Act outweigh the cost. This will hopefully show people how important clean air is if we keep all the benefits, but lower the costs. Therefore, this is significant and should be a part of the debate to strengthen the Clean Air Act in the future. The public is probably generally unaware of this, probably because of ignorance and not caring about the subject. It can be difficult to inform the public if they generally don't pay attention to the news or if the media isn't doing a good enough job of finding the right outlets to get the news across.
