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PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AS > ATMOSPHERE AND WEATHER DEFINITIONS > Flashcards

ATMOSPHERE AND WEATHER DEFINITIONS Flashcards

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1
Q

Weather

A

Describes the conditions in the troposphere and the air around us at a particular moment
- Short term atmospheric conditions of a place
- Only occurs in troposphere

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2
Q

Insolation

A

Incoming solar radiation

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3
Q

Longwave radiation

A

the radiation released from the earth (1), usually during
night time (1), readily absorbed by atmospheric gases (1)

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4
Q

Energy budget

A

The amount of energy entering a system, the amount leaving it and the transfer of energy within the system

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5
Q

Radiation

A

The emission of electromagnetic waves such as X ray, short and
long wave; as the sun is a very hot body, radiating at a temperature of about
5700C, most of its radiation is in the form of very short wavelength such as
ultraviolet and visible light

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6
Q

Convection

A

The transfer of heat by the movement of a gas or liquid

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7
Q

Conduction

A

The transfer of heat by contact

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8
Q

Albedo

A

The % of solar radiation that is reflected back to space, by the earths surface

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9
Q

Sensible heat transfer

A

Occurs when heat energy is transferred by direct
conduction or convection. It refers to the movement of parcels of air into and out of an area

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10
Q

Latent heat transfer

A

Heat energy absorbed or released by a substance during a change in its physical state that occurs without changing its temperature

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11
Q

Winds

A

Moving air masses – large bodies of air which are almost uniform
horizontally in temperature add moisture characteristics

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12
Q

Coriolis effect

A

The deflection of winds because of the rotation of the earth. Winds are deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere and the left in the
southern hemisphere.

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13
Q

Intertropical convergence zone

A

The thermal equator (ITCZ)

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14
Q

Jet stream

A

A strong flowing ribbon of air that flows around out planet high up in the atmosphere, around the level of the tropopause

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15
Q

Humidity

A

Refers to how moist the air is due to the water vapour it contains

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16
Q

Absolute humidity

A

The mass of water vapour which is present in the air at any one time

17
Q

Relative humidity

A

The amount (%) of water vapour in the air compared to that which can be held at a particular tempertaure with 100% relative humidity being saturated

18
Q

Condensation

A

When the temperature drops below the dew point, this drop in temperature causes the excess water vapour to condense into water droplets

19
Q

Dew point

A

The temperature at which the air is saturated with water molecules

20
Q

Conduction cooling

A

Moist air coming into contact with a cold object whose temperature is below the dew point of the air

21
Q

Radiation cooling

A

Air loses heat to space by long-wave radiation from clouds and gases in the atmosphere

22
Q

Expansion cooling

A

Air rises, expands and then cools causing the temperature of the air to drop and condensation to occur

23
Q

Precipitation

A

Moisture deposited on the earth’s surface in the form of a gas, solid or liquid

24
Q

Adiabatic

A

The rising and sinking of air

25
Q

Stratus

A

Layer clouds that form when there is little verticale uplift but it is over a wide area

26
Q

Cumulus

A

More vertical but isolated uplift resulting in heaped clouds with flat
bases and globular upper surfaces

27
Q

Cirrus

A

Where condensation occurs at very high levels, forming wispy clouds made of ice

28
Q

Evaporation

A

The change of state of water to a gas by the addition of heat

29
Q

Sublimation

A

The change of a solid into water vapour without going through the liquid state. It can also act in reverse.

30
Q

Melting

A

Change of state from solid to liquid

31
Q

Reflected solar radiation

A

The energy from the sun as shortwave radiation that is not absorbed but reflected by the surfaces

32
Q

Meteorology

A

Study of the atmosphere

33
Q

Climate

A

Long term atmospheric conditions of a particular place

34
Q

Atmosphere

A

An area of transparent gases surrounding the earth
-500-100km above earths surface

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AS (3 decks)

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