Earth Science 11 Learning Guide – Unit 9
Name: _______________________
9-1 Atmospheric Composition and Heating
1. List the gases of the atmosphere and their percentage composition.
2. Complete this diagram by labeling the layers of the atmosphere.
3. Consult the diagram in the lesson and complete the following table.
• Write the range of height in the second column
• Write the temperature range in the second column.
• List 2 key features iof the layer in the third column.
Layers
Range of Temperature Features
height
Range
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
a) Which two layers’ temperature increase as you go higher up into the
atmosphere?
b) Which two decrease?
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4. What factor separate one layer from the other?
5. Besides the distinct layers, the atmosphere also features the ionosphere
and ozone layer. Complete this table about these two features.
Feature
Ionosphere
Height Range
Why is it important?
Ozone layer
6. What layer of the atmosphere do humans live in?
7. Why is the air pressure highest near the Earth’s surface?
8. Use this chart to explain what happens to the sun’s energy once it enters
the Earth’s atmosphere
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9. A wavelength is defined as the distance from one peak to the next. Use
this to definition to answer the questions below this diagram
Put A in the space if the statements refers to wavelength A or B if it refers
to wavelength B
a) _____is the longer wavelength
b) _____wavelength of heat energy coming in from the sun.
c) _____wavelength of energy released by the earth’s surface.
d) _____wavelength of energy heating the atmosphere.
e) _____wavelength of energy trapped by carbon dioxide and water
molecule.
f) _____wavelength of energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface.
g) _____responsible for global wind and weather patterns.
h) _____helps maintain current temperature on Earth.
i) _____is reemitted back into space
10. Carbon dioxide and water vapors are two Greenhouse Gases. How do
they contribute to heating the earth?
11. In a previous unit you learned that fossil fuels include gas and oil. When
these are burned to generate energy, they release water molecule and
carbon dioxide. In a paragraph explain where these fuels are used
extensively and why their use is upsetting the temperature balance
created by the Greenhouse Effect.
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12. Look up the term “carbon footprint” and give an explanation of what it
means.
13. List three things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint?
9-2 Water Vapour in the Air
14. How is latent heat created in the atmosphere?
15. Explain the difference between absolute humidity and relative humidity?
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Use this picture to answer questions #16 to #18.
This picture shows 5 sample of air in the atmosphere. Each sample contains 0.5
liter of air. The black dots represents water vapour in the sample. Sample A is
the maximum capacity of the air.
16. Assuming the samples are taken from the same location
a. complete the first row of the table below using the formula
b. Complete the second row of the table bellowing using the formula,
assuming Sample A is at maximum
" 100%
!
Sample
Absolute
humidity
A
B
C
D
E
Relative
humidity
17. Fill in the blank at the start of each statement with A, B, C, D, E
a. _____ Sample is saturated
b. _____ Comparing Sample C and Sample E, which is mostly likely from
cold air
c. _____ Comparing Sample B and sample D, which is mostly from the
equator
d. _____ Sample cannot absorb more water molecule
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18. Explain which sample of air from the previous question will likely condense
from the air.
19. A psychrometer is read and the following pairs of numbers were found.
a) Complete the table by filling in the last column with the relative
humidity for each pair.
Dry bulb
Relative humidity
Wet bulb
Temperature Temperature
1)
8
12
2)
16
24
3)
30
30
b) Which air mass is the driest?
c) Explain how the wet bulb in the 3rd pair can read the same as the dry
bulb.
20. There is a basic relationship between air pressure, air volume and
temperature. Complete this table with the terms Increase or Decrease
Pressure
Volume
Temperature
Increase
Decrease
Decrease
21. How does rising air cause cloud formation?
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22. Air pressure reading for an air mass is taken for a period of time and
recorded as shown.
a) Explain whether the air mass is rising into the atmosphere or dropping
further down from time A to C.
b) Explain whether the air mass expands or contracts between Time C and
E.
c) In which time frame is the temperature dropping? Explain why.
d) Why is there likely to be precipitation between time C and time E?
e) Which time frame is likely to have good weather? Explain your answer.
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23. Explain why you would feel hotter on a humid day at 24 C than on a dry
day at 28 C.
9-3 Global Wind Patterns and Air Masses
24. Why are the polar regions colder than the equatorial regions?
25. Describe how convections cells are formed in the atmosphere.
26. What is the Coriolis Effect?
27. What directions do hurricanes and low pressure cells circulate in the
Northern Hemisphere?
28. Why is the troposphere thicker at the equator than the poles?
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29. This is a simplified diagram of the earth.
• Draw the direction the
earth rotates.
• Draw the direction of the
Coriolis force for the
Northern Atmosphere.
• Label the equator and
Horse Latitude.
• Sketch in the Ferrel cells,
Hadley cells, Polar cells
in the correct location
and with the correct
direction of air flow.
• Name and sketch the
direction of the wind in
each of the region.
30. How do winds form?
31. You may need a map of Canada for this question.
Beside each Canadian city in the table identify the type of air mass that
would affect it.
Use the code mT, cT, mP, cP, cA
Location
Tofino
Yellowknife
Saskatoon
Alert Bay
Type of air mass
32. Consult an atlas and find an international city that could have the following
air mass affecting it.
Air mass
City
mT
cT
mP
cP
cA
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