Block 2 Atmosphere Overview Flashcards
What gases make up the Earth’s atmosphere?
Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, and other gases 1%.
Water vapor may account for what percent of atmospheric gases?
4%
What is condensation?
Changing of water vapor into liquid water.
What is evaporation?
The process of liquid water becoming water vapor.
What does water vapor release when changing from a vapor to a liquid or solid?
Latent heat
What is temperature lapse rate?
The rate at which the air temperature decreases with height; 2 degrees Celsius every 1000 ft.
What is temperature inversion?
The occasion when the temperature increases with height.
What is the isothermal zone?
The region where air temperature remains constant with height.
What is the troposphere?
The region of circulating air extending upward from the earth’s surface to where the air stops becoming colder with height.
What is the Tropopause?
The boundary separating the troposphere from the stratosphere.
What is the stratosphere?
The ozone layer, where ozone absorbs energetic ultraviolet solar energy.
What is the stratopause?
The boundary near 50km, that separates the stratosphere and the mesosphere.
What is the Mesosphere?
Located a 55km, the mesosphere separates the stratosphere and thermosphere.
What is the mesopause?
The boundary that separates the mesosphere from the thermosphere.
What is the thermosphere
The “hot layer” above the mesosphere.
What are the 4 kinds of fronts?
Cold, warm, occluded, stationary.
What is a cold front?
When cold air overtakes and replaces warm air.
What hazards can accompany a cold front?
Turbulence, wind shear, thunderstorms, lightning, heavy rain showers, hail, icing, and possibly tornadoes.
What is a warm front?
The edge of an advancing warm air mass that overtakes and replaces cold air.
What hazards can accompany a warm front?
Low ceilings, poor visibility, freezing rain, or ice.
What is an occluded front?
An occurrence that displays characteristics of both a warm and cold front.
How does and occluded front form?
A cold front overtakes a warm front and lifts it completely from the ground so the line of contact is aloft.
What is a stationary front?
When a warm or cold front do not move. Weather on either side of this front remains the same until the front moves on.
What is the most noticeable property of air?
Mobility
