Question

Answers and Solutions to odd-numbered exercises are in appendix 7 1. What atmospheric factors interact to produce weather? 'Heat energy, wind, air pressure, and moisture 2. If heat energy is one of the atmospheric factors causing weather, what generates heat energy? 3. The Sun's energy that is absorbed by the surface of Earth is later released as what? infored Rays 4. What absorbs the energy released by the surface of the Earth? 5. If there were no greenhouse effect, how hot would the surface of the Earth be? 6. What would happen if there were too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? 7. Why do equatorial regions receive more of the Sun's energy than other regions? 8. Why does air pressure vary from place to place? 9. What is the height of mercury in the mercury barometer used for? 10. What do changes in the level of the mercury column in the mercury barometer indicate?

Answer 1

1) Yes, heat energy by solar heating, air pressure and atmospheric moisture interact with each other to produce weather of a region.

2) The main force for the atmospheric heat energy is the solar heating.

3) Energy from the sun comes in visible range i.e. in shortwave radiation and goes back to the atmosphere as longwave radiation or in infrared range.

4) Greenhouse gases mostly absorb the heat energy emitted by earth's surface. Some are also get absorbed by clouds.

5) If there were no greenhouse gases then the atmospheric temperature would be - 18 degreesC. Just imagine it is minus 18 degreesC. Now the global temperature is around 15 degreesC because of the greenhouse gas presence. So little bit of greenhouse gases is needed to us. But as we know too much of anything is bad so excess of greenhouse gases makes the environment to become hotter.

6) If the atmosphere will have lot of CO2 concentration then the global temperature will rise sharply because of high greenhouse effect.

7) In equatorial regions we found the sunlight falls at 90 degrees to the ground or the direct sunlight falls there. So the heat energy is more there. Whereas at poles the sunlight falls at inclined manner so we find less heating there.

8) Air pressure dependant on the relative temperature of that region. If the temperature is more then low pressure will get created and if temperature is less then high pressure.