Atmosphere 2 (lecture 20) Flashcards

(42 cards)

1
Q

Phases of water on earth

A

water vapour (gas), liquid water (aerosol), and solid ice (aerosol)

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2
Q

Amount of water vapour in the atmosphere

A

0.3% to 4%

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3
Q

Dalton’s law of partial pressures

A

the pressures of a mixture of gases can be expressed as the sum of the partial pressures of all the components

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4
Q

Latent heat

A

the energy that is released/absorbed when water changes state

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5
Q

Saturation pressure

A

the partial pressure of water at saturation and represents the maximum amount of water vapour that air can hold at equilibrium at a particular temperature

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6
Q

relative humidity

A

the partial pressure of water divided by the saturation pressure

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7
Q

Condensation occurs when relative humidity is

A

100%

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8
Q

Adiabatic time-lapse rate

A

as air masses rise, the pressure falls and they cool at a constant rate of 10degrees per km

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9
Q

The adiabatic cooling of rising air causes condensation because

A

colder air has less capacity for moisture

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10
Q

Condenstation releases energy as ______

A

latent heat

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11
Q

Moist adiabatic lapse rate

A

6 degrees per km

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12
Q

moist adiabatic lapse rate is different from lapse rate due to

A

Adiabatic cooling of rising air causes condensation that releases energy as latent heat. This offsets adiabatic cooling

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13
Q

Condensation occurs when

A

water vapor forms liquid water or ice

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14
Q

The first nucleus of a new waterdrop or ice crystal required energy input called ______

A

nucleation energy

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15
Q

Nucleation is easier on a ____ surface

A

solid

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16
Q

Bergeron process

A

the process by which supercooled water droplets release vapour that condenses on ice crystals and clouds of water and ice forms

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17
Q

Below ___ degrees, water droplets are all ice in clouds

18
Q

The process of forming clouds

A
  1. air rises
  2. adiabatic cooling reduces the temperature of an air mass
  3. cooling air increases the relative humidity until condensation occurs
19
Q

4 basic ways air is forced to rise and cool to form clouds

A

density lifting, frontal lifting, orographic lifting, and convergence lifting

20
Q

Convergence lifting

A

occurs where masses of air collide forcing them to rise (such as at an island)

21
Q

Density lifting

A

occurs when warm and low-density air rises and expands

22
Q

Frontal lifting

A

occurs when the movement of air masses drives warm air over cold

23
Q

Orographic lifting

A

occurs where a mountain range forces air masses to rise and where dry ar descends down the other side of the mountain

24
Q

Cloud types

A

cumulus, stratus, and cirrus

25
Clouds are classified based on their:
shape and altitude/position, and sometimes: origin and the amount of possible rain/snow coming from them.
26
Cumulus clouds
have a flat base and a domed top that is typical of rising warm air. The flat base at the surface is where the water reaches its condensation point.
27
Cumulus clouds generally form at ____ altitudes
lower (2-6 km)
28
Stratus Clouds
form horizontally extensive flat layers, and are typical of frontal lifting where warm air spreads over cold.
29
Stratus clouds generally form at ____ altitudes
lower (2km)
30
Cirrus clouds
wispy, high altitude made of ice particles in the upper troposphere
31
Cirrus clouds generally form at ___ altitudes
high - above 6km in the troposphere
32
Names for higher elevation cumulus clouds
altocumulus and cirrocumulus
33
Names for higher elevation stratus clouds
altostratus, and cirrostratus
34
Cloud variants
cumulonimbus, nimbostratus, and stratocumulus
35
Cumulonimbus cloud variants
are associated with heavy rain and lightning. This cloud can hit the top of the troposphere as the release of latent heat during condensation allows air masses to rise.
36
Nimbostratus cloud variants
Stratus clouds that cover the entire sky, and are associated with heavy rain and snow
37
Stratocumulus cloud variants
Occurs when cumulus clouds emerge to form a semi-continuous layer in the atmosphere with little precipitation.
38
Solar radiation
the ultimate driving force of atmospheric circulation, weather, and climate, as well as ocean currents including deep circulation
39
Solar energy flux
the amount of energy in an electromagnetic wave that passes a perpendicular surface per unit time (measured in W/m^2)
40
Flux from the sun
1370 W/m^2
41
Solar flux is lower at the equator because
radiation hits at a higher angle, distributing energy over a wider area
42
Precession
determines which hemisphere points towards the sun at certain points in the orbit