28 Flashcards
Troposphere
A layer extending an average of 12 km above Earths surface.
Temperature Inversion
Occurs when altitude and the air become stable
Greenhouse effect
A natural process in which certain gases in the atmosphere warm a planet as they absorb and emit infrared radiation.
How are the layer of the Earth divided?
By their composition and temperature.
What gas makes up the majority of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen 78%
What gas makes up the second majority of the atmosphere?
21%
What is the remaining 1% of the atmosphere?
Trace gases (Water Vapor, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Ozone, Neon, Methane, Nitrogen oxides)
The majority of the 1% is Argon.
Within the troposphere does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
The temperature decreases.
How many layers of the atmosphere are there?
5 layers.
What are the names of the atmospheric layers starting from the closest to the surface to the furthest from the surface,
Troposphere, stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere.
Which layer is the ozone layer found in?
The stratosphere.
Within the stratosphere does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
It increases.
Within the mesoosphere does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
It increases in the higher level of the mesosphere but decreases in the lower level of the mesosphere.
Do the thermosphere and exosphere impact weather?
No they do not affect weather.
Where does 100% of solar radiation come from?
The Sun
What percent of solar radiation is absorbed by the earths surface?
50%
What percent of solar radiation is reflected back by land and sea surface
5%
What percent of solar radiation is absorbed by particles in the atmosphere?
20%
What percent of solar radiation is reflected by clouds and other particles in the atmosphere?
25%
What are the three basic cloud types?
Cumulus, Cirrus, and Stratus clouds.
Describe Stratus clouds.
Layered, sheet like clouds.
Describe Cumulus clouds.
Puffy in appearance.
Describe Cirrus clouds.
Wispy high-altitude clouds.
Jet Stream
A narrow band of fast moving, high-altitude air.
Coriolis Effect
The apparent deflection of an object due to Earth’s rotation.
Air Mass
A large volume of air with uniform moisture and temperature throughout.
Weather Front
Zones in which air masses can interact.
How many jet streams are there in the world?
Four jet streams.
How many pressure systems are there?
Two, the high and low pressure systems.
What is a low pressure systems also known as?
A low.
Which direction does a low rotate?
Counterclockwise.
What are some results of a low pressure system?
Air rises, clouds form, and percipitation is formed.
What is a high pressure system also known as?
A high.
Which direction does a high rotate?
Clockwise.
What are some results of a high pressure system?
Causes air to sink, which results in clear skies.
Where do highs flow from?
From the center
What are the four weather fronts?
Cold front, warm front, stationary front, and occluded front.
How are cold fronts created?
Cold air forces warm air in a fast and chaotic manner.
How are cold fronts represented on a weather forecast?
Blue triangles.
How are warm fronts created?
Warm air rises gently above cold air.
How are warm fronts represented?
Red half circles.
How are stationary fronts created?
Cold and warm air masses meet and neither advance.
Maritime Climate
A climate strongly affected by the ocean.
Continental Climate
A climate not affected by the ocean.
Sea Breeze
A breeze that blows from over the water towards land.
Define Climate.
A long term average of weather conditions.
Define weather.
The day to day outdoor conditions.
What are the 5 spheres that make up the Earth’s system?
Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere, and Hydrosphere.
What is Atmosphere?
The air around us.
What is Biosphere?
Everything organic and living.
What is Hydrosphere?
Every body of liguid water.
What is Cryosphere?
All frozen water.
What is lithosphere?
Earth’s outermost layer.
What is the primary factor that influences climate at any given location?
Latitude.
Where is solar radiation most intense?
The equator.
At what degree do the suns rays hit the tropical zones?
90 degrees.
At which degree does the sun’s rays hit the temperate zones?
45 degrees.
At which degree does the sun’s rays hit the polar zones?
30 degrees.
Which zone is Lamar, Colorado located in?
Temmperate.
What other factors determine climate?
Precipitation, mountains, and water.
What are the windward side conditions like?
Cool and wet. Much vegetation.
What are the conditions like on the leeward side?
Warm and dry. Little vegetation.
What is a land breeze?
Where wind blows from land to sea overnight.
Which climate zone and and vegetation does Lamar, Colorado have?
Warm and semi arid. Grassland.
Global Warming
An increase in the average temperature Earth’s near surface air and oceans.
El Nino
The warming of the Pacific Ocean off of western South America.
Occurs every 3 to 10 years.
La Nina
Occurs when trade winds in the pacific are unusually strong and water is colder than usual.
What are two changes that Earth’s climate undergoes?
Seasonal and Long-term changes.
How do seasonal changes occur?
How Earth revolves around the Sun.
Which hemisphere experiences summer?
The side that is tilted towards the Sun.
What was the period called when most of the Earth’s surface was covered in ice?
Ice Age.
How long ago did the world climate reach its current pattern?
3,000 years ago.
What are some factors that can affect climate change?
A change in orbit, tilt, & Earth-Sun distance.
How can humans impact climate change?
Energy consumption, deforestation, industrial and agricultural practices.
What is deforestation?
The clearing of large areas of forest land.
How does deforestation affect climate change?
Deforestation removes carbon dioxide meaning more CO_2 causing temperatures to rise.
