Ch 28 Flashcards
A layer extending an average of 12 km above Earth’s surface
Troposphere
Occurs when air temperature increases with altitude and the air becomes stable
Temperature Inversion
A natural process in which certain gases in the atmosphere warm a planet as they absorb and emit infrared radiation
Greenhouse Effect
How are the atmospheric layers divided?
The difference in composition and temperature
What gas makes up the majority of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen, 78%
What gas makes up 21% in the atmosphere?
Oxygen
What is the remaining 1% of the atmosphere made up of?
Trace Gases (majority is Argon)
Within the Troposphere, does temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
Temperature Decreases
How many layers are there in the Atmosphere?
5 Layers
What are the names of the atmosphere layers, starting from Earth’s surface, then going up?
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere
Which layer is the Ozone Layer found in?
Stratosphere
Within the Stratosphere, does temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
Increases
Does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude in the Mesosphere?
Lower Level, Decreases, Higher Level, Increases
Do the Thermosphere and Exosphere impact the weather?
No
Where does 100% of solar radiation come from?
The Sun
What percent of solar radiation is absorbed by Earth’s surface?
50%
What percent of solar radiation is reflected off of Earth’s surface?
5%
What percent of solar radiation is absorbed by particles in the atmosphere?
20%
What percentage of solar radiation, is reflected by particles in the atmosphere?
25%
What are the three basic cloud types?
Stratus, Cumulus, and Cirrus
Describe Stratus Clouds
Layered, sheet-like clouds
Describe Cumulus Clouds
Puffy clouds
Describe Cirrus Clouds
Wispy clouds in high altitude
What is the process called where water leaves the Earth, and comes back into land
The Water Cycle
What are all the steps of the Water Cycle?
Evaporation, Transpiration, Infiltration, Runoff, Precipitation, and Condensation
A narrow band of fast-moving, high altitude air
Jet Streams
The apparent deflection of an object due to Earth’s rotation
Coriolis Effect
A large volume of air with uniform moisture and temperature throughout
Air Mass
Air masses that interact with zones
Weather Fronts
How many jet streams are there in the world?
4
How many Pressure Systems are there?
2
What is a Low Pressure System also called?
A Low (L)
Which direction does a Low rotate?
Counterclockwise
What are some results of a Low-Pressure System?
Air rises, causing cloud formation and precipitation
What is a High-Pressure System also known as?
A High (H)
Which direction does a High-Pressure System rotate?
Clockwise
What is a result of a High-Pressure System?
The air sinks, creating clear skies
What are the 4 Weather Fronts?
Cold, Warm, Stationary, and Occluded
How are Cold Fronts created?
Cold air forces warm air upward in a fast and chaotic manner
How are Cold Fronts represented on a weather forecast?
Blue Triangles
How are Warm Fronts created?
Warm air rises gently above cold air
How are Warm Fronts represented on a weather forecast?
Red semi-circles
How are Stationary Fronts created?
Cold and Warm air masses meet and neither front advances
How are Stationary Fronts represented on a weather forecast?
Red Semi-Circles and Blue Triangles Alternating (Bottom and Top)
How are Occluded Fronts created?
A fast-moving cold front overtakes a slow-moving warm front
How are Occluded Fronts represented on a weather forecast?
Alternating Purple Triangles and Semi-Circles (On Top)
A climate that is strongly affected by an ocean
Maritime Climate
A climate that is not directly affected by an ocean
Continental Climate
Breeze that blows from over the water toward land in the afternoon, when the land is warmer than the water
Sea Breeze
Long-term average of weather conditions
Climate
Day to day outside conditions
Weather
What are the five spheres that make up Earth’s system?
Atmosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere, and Lithosphere
What is the Atmosphere?
The air around us
What is the Biosphere?
Everything organic
What is the Hydrosphere?
Liquid water
What is the Cryosphere?
Frozen water in snow, ice, and glaciers
What is the Lithosphere?
Earth’s outermost layer
What is the primary factor that influences climate at any given location?
Latitude
Where is solar radiation most intense on Earth’s surface?
The Equator
At what degrees, do the sun rays hit the Tropical Zones?
90 Degrees
At which angle, do the Sun rays hit Earth in the Temperate Zones?
45 Degrees
At which angle, do the Sun rays hit the Polar Zones?
30 Degrees
Which zone is Lamar, Colorado located in?
Temperate Zone
What other factors determine climate?
Precipitation, Mountains, and Water
What is the windward side conditions like?
Cool and Wet, with lots of vegetation
What are the conditions like on the leeward side?
The air is warm and dry, and little to no vegetation
What is a land breeze?
Where wind blows from the land to the water, at nighttime
Which climate zone and type of vegetation, does Lamar, Colorado have?
Warm and Semi-Arid, and Grassland
An increase in the average temperatures of Earth’s near-surface air and ocean
Global Warming
The warming of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of western South America that occurs every 3 to 10 years
El Nino
Trade winds in the Pacific are unusually strong and surface is colder than normal
La Nina
What are two changes that Earth’s climate undergoes?
Seasonal and Long-Term Changes
How do seasonal changes occur?
How Earth revolves around the Sun
Which hemisphere experiences Summer?
The Hemisphere tilted towards the Sun
Are we closer or farther to the Sun when we are in Summer?
Farther
What was the period of time called, when most of Earth’s surface was covered in ice?
Ice Age
About how long ago, did the world’s climate get to current state?
3,000 years ago
What are some factors that can cause climate change?
A change in Earth’s tilt, a change in the shape of Earth’s orbit, and the distance from the Sun
How can Humans cause climate change?
Energy Consumption, Deforestation, Industrial Practices, and Agricultural Practices
What is Deforestation?
The clearing of large areas of forest land
How does Deforestation affect Climate Change?
When trees are removed, more Carbon dioxide is released, heating the air
A round, three-dimensional object, the surface of which is the same distance from the center in all directions
Sphere
An elongated, closed curve with two foci
Ellipse
Is it Earth a perfect sphere?
No, the diameter around the Equator is longer than the diameter from Pole to Pole
What are some ancient observations that proves Earth is a sphere?
Any object that falls, falls straight down, the Earth’s shadow on the Moon during the Lunar Eclipse is curved, and people in different parts of the Earth see different stars above their horizons
