ch 6 Flashcards
Why is it colder in winter than in summer?
When the Northern or Southern Hemisphere of Earth is tilted away from the sun it is winter because that part of Earth receives less direct energy from the sun.
The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the __________.
albedo
why is albedo greatest near the poles?
snow and ice are more reflective than soil, vegetation, or water.
Weather (short-term conditions of air temperature, wind speed/direction, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure) occurs because __________.
Earth’s surface is heated unevenly by the Sun
When areas of Earth’s surface are heated more than surrounding areas, the air above the heated areas expands, rises, and eventually cools. The cooling causes moisture in the air to condense, resulting in clouds and/or precipitation. Air moving across the surface of Earth to replace the rising air is what causes wind.
The intensity of solar radiation received at lower latitudes (near the equator) compared to higher latitudes (near the poles) is:
greater
what is the most abundant greenhouse gas that also influences air density
water vapor
the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere
tropopause
troposphere
lowermost portion of Earth’s atmosphere where most weather occurs
component with the greatest concentration in the Earth’s atmosphere
Nitrogen (N^2)
rising and sinking air masses moving in a circular fashion
convection cell
The two most abundant components of dry air are:
nitrogen and oxygen
In the troposphere, air temperatures generally:
decrease with increasing altitude above Earth’s surface.
The two factors that are most important in determining the density of air are:
temperature and water vapor content
statements about the movement of Earth’s atmosphere
the movement of air within the atmospheric convection cells generates the Earth’s major wind belts. a column of cool, dense air produces high pressure at the Earth’s surface. a column of warm, less dense air produces low pressure at the Earth’s surface. cool air is denser than warm air so it tends to sink toward the Earth’s surface.
What type of air would have the lowest density?
warm moist air
A person experiences a popping feeling in their ears during the takeoff or landing of an airplane or while driving on steep mountain roads due to changes in the ________ of the atmosphere.
pressure
Which of the following will cause the highest air pressure at the surface?
a column of cool dense air
true statements about the physical properties of the atmosphere
Air always moves from high-pressure regions toward low-pressure regions.
Low pressure at the surface is associated with rising air (movement away from the surface).
The air temperature is warmer near Earth’s surface than in the upper part of the troposphere.
Warm air holds more water vapor than cool air.
true statements about the transfer of heat on Earth
Water vapor in the air carries latent heat with it, which is released in other areas.Air currents move warmer air from the tropics to higher latitudes.
Ocean currents move warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes.
The apparent deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude) as they move from one latitude to another is called the:
Coriolis effect
Winds blowing out of the north toward the south in the southern hemisphere will appear to:
be deflected toward the east
The Coriolis effect is due to changes in the ________ of Earth with latitude.
velocity
Which of the following statements about the Coriolis effect is correct?
The magnitude of the Coriolis effect depends on how long the object is in motion.
The Trade Winds are one type of prevailing wind pattern. How many other types of prevailing winds are there among earth’s global wind patterns?
2
What is the air that sinks at latitudes of 30 degrees north and south like?
this air is cool and dry
What term is used to describe the effect on air movement produced by Earth’s rotation?
Coriolis effect
Why does wind between the equator and 30 degrees south come out of the southeast?
Cooled air moves north toward the equator and is deflected toward the west by the Coriolis effect.
In which direction would winds move at the poles if Earth rotated in the opposite direction?
Wind near the north pole would move to the northeast, and the wind near the south pole would move to the southeast.
Which way would wind travel in the region between 30 and 60 degrees latitude if Earth stopped rotating?
south in the Southern Hemisphere and north in the Northern Hemisphere
Why does air tend to rise in equatorial regions?
Equatorial regions receive more direct sunlight than other areas.
After an unfortunate mishap at sea, you find yourself adrift somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Thankfully, you have some basic knowledge of ideal atmospheric circulation and its influence on climate. Assuming the current weather represents the average climate, where are you if you are experiencing dry, cloudless skies and strong winds coming from the northwest?
Just south of 30∘S latitude
