Chapter 36, Earth's Atmosphere and Hydrosphere Video Solutions, Pathways to Astronomy

Problem 1

How does the mass of hydrogen in the ocean's $\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$ compare with the total mass of the Earth's atmosphere? The ocean's mass is about $1.4 \times 10^{21} \mathrm{kg}$, which you can assume is entirely water for this problem. The atmosphere's mass is about $5.1 \times 10^{18} \mathrm{kg}$ (Note: Hydrogen has an atomic mass of 1 , whereas oxygen has an atomic mass of $16 .$)

Prashant Bana

Numerade Educator

01:31

Problem 2

It is estimated that there are about $3.6 \times 10^{16} \mathrm{kg}$ of carbon (C) dissolved in the oceans. If all that combined with oxygen (O) to form carbon dioxide $\left(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\right),$ how much mass would it be? What percentage of the Earth's atmospheric oxygen would that be? (Note: Carbon has an atomic mass of $12,$ whereas oxygen has an atomic mass of $16 .$ )

David Collins

Numerade Educator

01:46

Problem 3

Geologists estimate that the Grand Canyon was created primarily during a period of about 3 million years. Given its current depth of about $1.6 \mathrm{km}(1 \mathrm{mile}),$ on average how many centimeters deeper did the canyon become each year during this time period?

Danielle Leedy

Numerade Educator

01:31

Problem 4

The colors in the Aurora Borealis are due to the interactions between electrons and atoms or molecules in the atmosphere. At low densities, collisions with oxygen produce light at $630 \mathrm{nm}$. At higher densities, collisions with oxygen atoms produce light at $558 \mathrm{nm}$, and collisions with nitrogen molecules produce light at $428 \mathrm{nm}$. What colors do we associate with these wavelengths? Examine Fig. $36.5 \mathrm{A}$ and describe what is producing the aurora seen there.

Wan Deng

Numerade Educator

01:15

Problem 5

Antarctica holds about $3 \times 10^{19} \mathrm{kg}$ of ice. If all of that ice melted and entered the oceans, approximately how much would sea level rise? Use the fact that the total mass of oceans $=1.4 \times 10^{21}$ $\mathrm{kg},$ while the average depth of the oceans would be $2.7 \mathrm{km}$ if they covered the entire Earth.

David Collins

Numerade Educator

02:25

Problem 6

As ocean water warms, the water expands in volume by about $0.014 \%$ per $1^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ rise in temperature. This thermal expansion is small, but it contributes a significant part of the recent rise in sea level. The average depth of the oceans today is 3800 meters. How much has the water risen over the last century due to the $0.6^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ rise in ocean temperature? If the temperature rose by $20^{\circ} \mathrm{C},$ how much would sea level rise?

Dading Chen

Numerade Educator

01:39

Problem 7

Air moving along with the surface of the Earth takes 24 hours to circle the Earth's axis. At a latitude of $60^{\circ},$ the air is $3183 \mathrm{km}$ from the axis and its path around the axis is $20,000 \mathrm{km}$ long. Calculate its speed in kph. Air at a latitude of $61^{\circ}$ is $3086 \mathrm{km}$ from the axis following a path around the axis that is $19,392 \mathrm{km}$ long. Suppose now that a mass of air at $60^{\circ}$ latitude moves to $61^{\circ}$ latitude. Use the principle of conservation of angular momentum (Unit 20.3 ) to estimate how fast air must move around the Earth's axis at the smaller radius there. How fast is this relative to stationary air at this location?

Dharmendra Jain

Numerade Educator