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weather and climate > Ch 1 vocab > Flashcards

Ch 1 vocab Flashcards

1
Q

atmosphere

A

life-giving blanket of air. In one way or another influences everything we see and hear (thermal regulator)

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2
Q

outgassing

A

the constant outpouring of gases from the interior of the earth (which came from the eruption of volcano) this provided a rich supply of water vapor which formed clouds

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3
Q

nitrogen

A

occupies about 78 percent of dry air

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4
Q

oxygen

A

occupies 21 percent of dry air

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5
Q

water vapor

A

Most significant variable gas in atmosphere. Water vapor can represent 4% of gases and all the way down to .1%

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6
Q

Carbon dioxide

A

is a natural component f the atmosphere and occupies a small perctenage of dry air. It comes from fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions and a few other things. Plants take CO2 out of the air during photosynthesis

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7
Q

ozone

A

majority of ozone (97) percent is found in the upper atomoshpere. It is formed naturally by oxygen atoms combining with oxygen molecules. It absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun

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8
Q

What are the permanent gases of the atmosphere?

A

Argon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Neon, Helium, Hydrogen Xenon

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9
Q

First processes of oxygen production

A

Photo-dissociation

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10
Q

Photo-dissociation

A

Process of sun splitting water vapor into hydrogen and oxygen. Because hydrogen is lighter, it escaped into space while oxygen stayed in the atmosphere

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11
Q

Second process of oxygen production

A

photosynthesis

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12
Q

photosynthesis

A

blue-green algae was the first organism to in the cycle. Led to a gradual build up in oxygen. Photo dissociation created water and the presence of sunlight on blue green algae created oxygen

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13
Q

permanent gases

A

gases that have remained relatively unchanged for the passed 250 million years

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14
Q

variable gases

A

gases that are affected by spacial and temporal variations (water vapor, carbon dioxide)

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15
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

This adds as a barrier to block some of the energy that is going toward the earth

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16
Q

What are the variable gases of the atmosphere?

A

water vapor, carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous-oxcide, ozone

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17
Q

Carbon Dioxide (Natural sources)

A

Deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, (sink is in the ocean)

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18
Q

Methane (Natural sources)

A

Natural wetlands, termites, planting of rice patties, cows burping, permafrost melting in the arctic regions

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19
Q

Nitrous Oxide (natural sources)

A

burning of fossil fuels, chemical industry, burning of forests. (sink is in upper atmosphere)

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20
Q

Air Density

A

determined by mass of atoms and molecules and the amount of space between them. Tells us how much matter is present in a specific volume area. It is greater at ground level than it is way up in the sky

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21
Q

Air Pressure

A

measures the weight of air

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22
Q

Heterosphere and Homosphere

A

Heterosphere- 80km-480km—permenant gases are not uniform

Homosphere- ground level to 80km–permenant gasses are uniform

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23
Q

Troposphere

A

contains pretty much all the water vapor, and active weather phenomena or taking place. Ground level to 18km

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24
Q

subsidence

A

when air is sinking over a region (causes anti cyclones)

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25
Q

Anti-cyclones

A

happens when air is sinking, which forces surface air density to increase and surface air pressure to rise

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26
Q

cyclones

A

If air is rising over a region, surface air density decreases and surface air pressure drops

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27
Q

convection

A

ascending air currents (causes cyclones)

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28
Q

Tropopause

A

boundary between trophosphere and stratosphere. (NOTconstant everywhere) (18km at equator, 8km at poles) Equator is higher because Strong convective movements push the Tropopause at a higher altitude above the ground.

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29
Q

Stratosphere

A
  • This is a warm layer. Contains most of the atmospheric ozone.
  • Absorbs UV light from the sun to act as a protection from UV hitting the earths surface.
  • Temperature increases with height. (because air is less dense and so it is exposed to higher levels of radiation)
  • Usually clear sky and high isolation
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30
Q

Normal Lapse rate for trophosphere temperature

A

3.5 degrees f. per 1000 ft.

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31
Q

Actual lapse rate (environmental lapse rate)

A

This differs from the normal lapse rate depending on what kind of weather is going on

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32
Q

Advective process

A

happens is stratosphere. (This is the jet stream) Located at the interference of troposphere and stratosphere

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33
Q

Sink for man made pollutants?

A

This occurs in the stratosphere.

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34
Q

What is the ionsphere and where is it located?

A

It is can electrified region. It is located in the lower region of the Mesosphere all the way through the thermosphere

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35
Q

What is ionization?

A

atoms and air molecules lose electrons because of the incoming sun energy. This creates aurora boreails.

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36
Q

When is ionization more active?

A

during periods of solar flares

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37
Q

what is the tropopause?

A

the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere.

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38
Q

Where is the altitude of maximum concentration of ozone?

A

In the Stratosphere about 23-25 km above ground

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39
Q

What is an isothermal layer?

A

An area of the atmosphere that does not change. This occurs in the lower Stratosphere.

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40
Q

Advection

A

Strong horizontal winds (the jetstream) located at the interference of the troposphere and stratosphere

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41
Q

Order of the atmosphere

A
  1. Troposphere (0-18 km)
  2. Stratosphere (18-50 km)
  3. Mesosphere (50-80 km)
  4. Thermosphere (80-480 km)
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42
Q

homosphere vs heterosphere

A

Homosphere: 0 to 80 km and the concentration of permanent gases is uniform
Heterosphere: 80-480 km and the concentration of permanent gases is not uniform

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43
Q

Where is air density the greatest in the atmosphere?

A

at ground level

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44
Q

climatology

A

This deals more with analyzing long term climatic developments. Viewing trends and stuff like that

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45
Q

meteorology

A

focuses on weather processes and forecasting

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46
Q

descriptive climatology

A

x

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47
Q

quantitative climatology

A

a way in which weather elements can be measured and quanified from one day to the next. Allows statistical assessment of that region

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48
Q

barometer

A

invented in 1643 by Evangelista Torricelli air pressure

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49
Q

anemometer

A

1450 by Leon Batista Alberti wind speed

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50
Q

hygrometer

A

invented in 1400 by Leonardo da Vinci humidity

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51
Q

psychrometer

A

invented in 1825 by Ferdinand August humidity

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52
Q

What is the 30 year climatic normal?

A

A measure of a particular ten years by comparing it to the 30 years before that to see if those ten years were “above” or “below” the normal

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53
Q

first two weather instruments?

A

rain gauge and wind vale

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54
Q

regional climatology and koppen’s classification system

A

These both came from climatic normal. (Regional climatology has to do with the 6 groups in Missouri that are separated from each other.

55
Q

Polar Front Theory

A

Proposed that the main inflow into a cyclone was concentrated along two lines of air
convergence, one ahead of the low and another trailing behind the low.

56
Q

Which improvements to weather maps are connected to the polar front theory?

A

Norwegian cyclone model

57
Q

what is a radiosonde and what is it used for?

A

it is a balloon thing. As the radiosonde rises, sensors measure vertical profiles of
pressure, temperature, and
relative humidity. Dew point and wind flow informations can be estimated

58
Q

What is the purpose of using

radar in weather and climate?

A

to determine the movement of storms, the areas of heavy precipitations and their distance from the radar

59
Q

infra-red images

A

cold clouds (high clouds) are represented by white color. warm clouds (low clouds) are represented by grayish color

60
Q

water vapor images

A

white images indicate moisture while darker areas indicate little or no moisture

61
Q

visual images

A

This covers smoke from forest fires, pollution, clouds, water etc.

62
Q

climatic database. composed of:

A
  1. ) surface-based observations (weather stations)
  2. ) upper air data (radiosonde)
  3. ) Satellite observations (wide areal coverage of the globe)
63
Q

First order weather station

A

specialized climatic measurements.

64
Q

Second order weather station

A

This is the most common and is where temperature, rainfall, and humidity are calculated

65
Q

Satellite data (3rd in climatic database)

A

This is a satellite that orbits the earth and is key for areas like the ocean and polar regions where there are no other ways to find out the weather.

66
Q

Geo-stationary satellites

A

These orbit the earth and the same rate that the earth spins so they are always in the same spot

67
Q

polar orbiting satellites

A

These provide much more detailed pictures because they are closer to the earth. can take photos of the polar regions

68
Q

climate system

A

five major components: the atmosphere,

the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the land surface and the biosphere

69
Q

Energy exchanges

A

This has to do with the net radioactive budget between the earths surface and the atmosphere. (Deforestation is an example) and this can lead to regional climate change

70
Q

Mass exchanges

A

This is the availability of water vapor in the atmosphere, and the return in the form of precipitation to the ground

71
Q

climatic modeling (role)

A

to predict the effects of change and interactions within the climate system

72
Q

key issue in climate system

A

When it is disturbed, and altercation in mass and energy takes place

73
Q

energy

A

ability to do work on some form of matter

74
Q

internal energy

A

determines how much work an object is capable of doing

75
Q

Potential energy

A

represents the ability to do work

76
Q

Kinetic Energy

A

a moving substance possesses energy of motion (in weather this can be wind and temperature)

77
Q

Heat Energy

A

This is a type of kinetic energy where atoms and molecules are colliding with one another

78
Q

Radiant energy

A

This is energy that is generated by the sun (short wave radiation)

79
Q

specific heat

A

defined as The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius. (if there were one gram of water on the stove, it would take 1 calorie to raise it a degree Therefore, the specific heat of water is 1)

80
Q

Latent heat

A

This is the heat energy required to change a substance from one state to another (liquid to gas, etc.)

81
Q

Conduction

A

Refers to the transfer of heat from molecule to molecule (Heat flowing along a stick will eventually burn hand)

82
Q

Convection

A

Refers to the vertical transfer of heat by the mass movement of air

83
Q

Radiation

A

the energy that is emitted from the sun. This energy travels in the form of waves. (electromagnetic waves)

84
Q

Electromagnetic waves

A

waves that have electro and magnetic waves. (Radiant energy is an example)

85
Q

What kind of waves does the earth give off? The sun?

A

Earth: long wave radiation
Sun: short wave radiation

86
Q

The sun and earth radiation distribution

A

44% between .4 and .7 micrometers
49% total inferred
7% UV

87
Q

Plancks Law

A

States that a wavelength from a body depends on the temperature of that emitting body. (sun v earth example. the sun emits much shorter wave lengths because it is so much hotter)

88
Q

Wein’s law

A

this law determines at which wavelength the radiation intensity is maximized. (Maximum peak emission of the sun is .48 which gives us a blue sky)

89
Q

Stephan-Boltzmann’s Law

A

This law determines the total amount of energy emitted by a radiating body. The total energy of a body is temperature raised to the fourth power

90
Q

Black body

A

an object that absorbs almost all of the energy (and later emits that energy) These surface have a very low albedo rate. (reflection rate)

91
Q

Why is the atmosphere a selective absorbor of the atmosphere?

A

Because it absorbs some wavelengths from the sun, and is transparent to others.

92
Q

Gases transparent to short wave radiation

A

water vapor and carbon dioxide

93
Q

Which gases absorb UV rays?

A

Oxygen and ozone

94
Q

atmospheric window

A

the bandwidth between 8 and 11 um where LW (IR) radiation emitted from the surface escapes upward through the atmosphere and out into space

95
Q

When the atmospheric window is open what is maximized?

A

Radiational cooling because the warm air from the earth is going up into the atmosphere

96
Q

Transparency

A

The ability of the atmosphere to allow isolation to reach the surface

97
Q

what is isolation

A

Isolation is the SW radiation coming from the sun

98
Q

Isolation is affected by what three factors?

A

Absorption, Reflection, Scattering

99
Q

Absorption

A

a process of isolation (SW radiation) being taken and absorbed by atmosphere. This causes the earth to heat up. Takes place in the air and clouds.

100
Q

What is scattering?

A

this takes place because of gas molecules and and particles in the sky that forces sunlight to disperse in many different directions

101
Q

diffuse reflection (Upward scatter)

A

energy might be lost to the earth’s system (because its being reflected)

102
Q

diffuse radiation (downward scatter)

A

energy absorbed by the surface

103
Q

Direct shortwave radiation

A

goes through the atmosphere untouched and unaltered

104
Q

Diffuse shortwave radiation

A

goes through clouds or is affected by scattering s

105
Q

Net SW radiation budget equation

A

K*= (Q+q) (1-a)

106
Q

vertical movement from air

A

transport of sensible heat from ground up. (conduction an convection)

107
Q

Earth-Atmosphere energy balance comprises two important components..what are they?

A

net radiative budget (radiative transfers) and (non-radiative transfers) which are vertical heat transfers

108
Q

non-radiative transfers

A

these consist of convection and latent heat transfers

109
Q

radiative transfers

A

Exchange of SW and LW transfers from the earth’s surface and to the atmosphere

110
Q

solar output

A

Nuclear reactions within the core of the sun produce energy

111
Q

photosphere

A

Radiant energy that reaches the earth is emitted from here

112
Q

What is solar Lumunosity?

A

The amount of energy the sun radiates into space per second

113
Q

Solar constant

A

This refers to the average average insolation received at the top of the atmosphere when the earth is at its average distance from the sun

114
Q

What are sunspots

A

Slightly cooler regions of the suns photosphere

115
Q

How are sunspots created?

A

Intense magnetic storms on the surface of the sun

116
Q

What is the sunspot cycle?

A

follows a periodicity of 11 years.

117
Q

Maunder minimum

A

this is a prolonged period of time when low temperatures that are associated with low sunspot activity (the ice age)

118
Q

Rotation

A

earths spinning rotation on its own axis. (occurs over a period 23 hrs 56 min)

119
Q

Revolution

A

The earth moving around the sun over a period of 365.25 days

120
Q

Aphelion

A

distance between sun and earth in the summer

121
Q

perihelion

A

distance between sun and earth in the winter

122
Q

sub polar point

A

point on earths surface where the sun is directly overhea (usually around noon)

123
Q

declination of the sun

A

latitude of sub polar point at noon

124
Q

spring equinox

A

all parts of the earth get 12 hours of daylight and nighttime

125
Q

winter equinox

A

north gets zero sunlight while south gets all sunlight

126
Q

What does day length directly depend on (2 things)

A

Latitude and revolution of planet earth around the sun

127
Q

what region of the earth is receiving the highest amount of insulation at the summer solstice? the lowest?

A

The north pole is the highest and equator the lowest at the summer solstice

128
Q

What parts of the earth receive annual surplus energy? what about deficit of energy?

A

Tropical regions= surplus

Polar regions=deficit

129
Q

Four reasons why water heats and cools more slowly than land

A
  1. transparency
  2. specific heat
  3. mixing processes
  4. evaporation
130
Q

annual thermal amplitude

A

The difference between month with the highest monthly average temp and the month with the lowest average temp.

131
Q

isotherms in summer vs winter

A

in summer they bend toward the poles while in the winter they bend toward the equator

132
Q

growing degree-days

A

This is a guide to agriculture planting. Approximates when plants should be harvested and planted

133
Q

Cooling degree-days

A

These are helpful in indicating when buildings should have the ac on as opposed to the heat

weather and climate (3 decks)

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