1.1 Flashcards
major link b/w oceans and continents
atmosphere
lowest layer of atmosphere; all weather occcurs
troposphere
extends from the top of the troposphere
stratosphere
most meteors burn-up
mesosphere
many satellites
thermosphere
outermost layer
exosphere
not a distinct layer; series of regions
ionosphere
layers of atmosphere
troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere
exosphere
ionosphere
both a major catalyst and a balancing factor of atmosphere processes
water vapor content
amount of water vapor in atmosphere
humidity
mass of water vapor in a unit volume of air
absolute humidity
mass of water vapor compared to the total mass of air parcel
specific humidity
represents amount of water in air in percentage
relative humidity
has the ability to change from one state of matter to another
water vapor
aka latent energy or heat of transformation; energy released or absorbed by a body or thermodynamic system
latent heat
land is heated more rapidly than sea
insolation
air that descends because it is cool
high-pressure system
warm air rises and draws air inward toward the center of low pressure
low-pressure system
tops are rounded, puffy, and a brilliant white when sunlit. while their bottoms are flat and relatively dark.
cumulus clouds
hang low in the sky as flat, featureless, uniform layer of grayish cloud. resembles fog.
stratus clouds
occur in patches with blue sky visible in b/w; honeycomb apperance
stratocumulus clouds
white or gray patches; sheep backs; mackerel skies
altocumulus clouds
cover the sky in a dark gray layer; quintessential rain cloud
nimbostratus clouds
bluish-gray sheets
altostratus clouds
ice crystals; cloudlets
cirrocumulus clouds
“curl of hair”
cirrus
transparent whitish clouds; halo (ring or circle of light)
cirrostratus clouds
types of clouds
cirrostratus
cirrus
cirrocumulus
altostratus
altocumulus
stratus
stratocumulus
cumulus
nimbostratus
cumulonimbus
“cauliflower”
cumulonimbus clouds
phenomenon that causes fluids, like water and air, to curve as they travel accross or above Earth’s surface
coriolis effect
best known for his work on the supplementary forces that are detected in a rotatong frame of reference
gaspard-gustave de coriolis
cells
polar cell
mid-latitude cell
hadley cell
prevailing winds from west to east
westerlies/anti trades
prevailing winds from east to west
easterlies
located at about 30° N and S of equator; calm winds and little precipitation
horse latitudes
