Atmosphere

Question 1

Insolation

Answer 1

Incoming solar radiation, Earth’s main source of energy.

Question 2

The sun strikes earth at a perpendicular angle at the

Answer 2

equator, making it travel less distance.

Question 3

Less solar energy reaches the ____ and ___ regions than the tropics

Answer 3

mid-latitude and polar

Question 4

The sun’s energy is distributed over a larger ____ at the poles

Answer 4

surface area

Question 5

Albedo

Answer 5

The percentage of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface (Average of earth = 30%)

Question 6

The higher the albedo, the

Answer 6

more solar energy reflected and less absorbed

Question 7

Earth is tilted at a __ angle

Answer 7

23.5 degree

Question 8

The sun’s rays strike earth’s equator directly during the

Answer 8

March and September Equinox

Question 9

On June Solstice (21st) the sun is

Answer 9

directly above tropic of cancer (23.5 degrees north) - northern hemisphere experiences most daylight

Question 10

On December solstice (21) the sun is

Answer 10

directly above tropic of Capricon (23.5 degrees south) - northern hemisphere experiences shortest day.

Question 11

Earth’s atmosphere is mainly

Answer 11

nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%)

Question 12

Layers closest to earth have

Answer 12

Higher density due to gravity, with more air pressure.

Question 13

Troposphere

Answer 13

Closest to earth, extends 10 miles.

Question 14

Stratosphere

Answer 14

Second layer, roughly 10 -31 miles above Earth’s surface.

Question 15

The troposphere experiences a great deal of

Answer 15

circulation of liquids and gases… where weather occurs.

Question 16

Ozone

Answer 16

Pale blue gas composed of molecules made up of three oxygen atoms.

Question 17

Ozone (in stratosphere) will absorb

Answer 17

UV radiation, convert to infrared, which is released as heat.

Question 18

Mesosphere

Answer 18

Extends 31-53 miles, where mentors burn up.

Question 19

Thermosphere

Answer 19

extends 53-375 miles, blocks harmful X-ray radiation and some UV radiation, much warmer.

Question 20

Polar lights are located in the

Answer 20

Thermosphere, where charged gas molecules glow from solar energy.

Question 21

Exosphere

Answer 21

Outermost layer. Satellites.

Question 22

The four air properties include

Answer 22

Density, saturation point, latent heat release, adiabatic heating and cooling.

Question 23

Density air property

Answer 23

Warm air rises (lower density from atmospheric pressure) and cool air sinks.

Question 24

Water vapor capacity air property

Answer 24

Warm air holds more water vapor - when temperature falls, saturation point decreases (water vapor condenses, clouds, precipitates).

Question 25

Saturation point

Answer 25

the most water vapor held in air at given temperature is saturation point.

Question 26

Adiabatic cooling

Answer 26

Cooling effect of reduced pressure on air as it rises higher in the atmosphere and expands

Question 27

Adiabatic heating

Answer 27

Heating effect of increased pressure on air as it sinks toward the surface of Earth and decreases in volume.

Question 28

Energy is released during condensation of water vapor, increasing the temperature of air.

Answer 28

Latent heat release

Question 29

When ozone in troposphere it is a

Answer 29

pollutant. It’s harmful!

Question 30

When ozone in stratosphere it is

Answer 30

critical protection for the planet

Question 31

What are the driving forces behind the weather + climate.

Answer 31

Uneven heating and heat transfer (albedo)

Question 32

Weather

Answer 32

The short-term conditions of the atmosphere in a local area, which include temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, and wind speed.

Question 33

Climate

Answer 33

The average weather that occurs in a given region over a long period of time. (30+ years)

Question 34

Since more air holds more water it has

Answer 34

more precipitation and humidity

Question 35

Hardly Cells warm air rises at equator, falls as precipitation (rainforests).

Answer 35

Dry cold air sinks then warms creating deserts at 30 degrees.

Question 36

Polar Cells

Answer 36

Cold air falls, and rises as it moves south to 60 degrees.

Question 37

Since seasons are NOT created by unequal heating, they are caused by

Answer 37

Earth’s tilt at 23.5 degrees. If tilted toward the sun, experiencing summer. Tilted away, experiences winter.

Question 38

The winds of the world are produced by a combination

Answer 38

atmospheric convection currents/cells and the Coriolis effect.

Question 39

The vast majority of ozone (O3) is found in a thin layer due to a lack of circulation in which of the following atmospheric layers?

Answer 39

Stratoshere

Question 40

The earth’s tilt causes areas at different times of the years (as we go around the sun) to receive

Answer 40

infrared (solar) radiation at different intensities

Question 41

Temperature change in adiabatic heating occurs due to

Answer 41

a pressure increase

Question 42

Latent heat release will ___ temperature

Answer 42

increase

Question 43

Coriolis effect is responsible for

Answer 43

deflection of atmospheric currents. Wind is pushed west towards middle and east further north and south.

Question 44

Atmospheric convection currents caused by Hadley cells because

Question 45

ITCZ stands for

Answer 45

Intertropical convergence zone - branches of Hadley cells converge here.