Chapter 1 Mats Flashcards
WIN!
whats the diameter of the earth (mi)
7,900 mi
diameter of earth (km)
12,750 km
how long is orbit of geostationary satellite?
one day
length of orbit of polar orbiting weather satellites
100 minutes
do noctilucent clouds influence the weather
no
where are the clouds that influence the weather
troposphere
how can we see high altitude clouds
reflection of light from the sun (illuminates)
why is there a thickness difference in the tropopause, depending on your location on earth?
earth’s rotation
weather
atmospheric state at a given time and place
climate
generalization of weather conditions
what determines climate
all weather data for a specific region
can climate data predict the weather
no!
hypothesis
proposed explanation for some phenomenon
theory
well tested and widely accepted view that explains certain facts/observation
what are two functions of the atmosphere?
- provides air we breathe
2. protects from sun’s UV rays
hydrosphere
evaporating mass that goes from oceans to atmosphere
lithosphere
the ground
biosphere
life
nitrogen abundance %
78%
oxygen %
21%
argon %
1%
where is the ozone concentration
stratosphere
distance from sun
93 million miles
what is atmospheric pressure
the weight above of the air above
atm pressure unit of measure
millibar (mb)
in regards to pressure, what happens with an increase in altitude?
rate of pressure decreases
where are the majority of earth’s gases present?
earth’s surface
what are the 4 layers divided by?
temperature
trosphere
where we live
-avg temps dec w/ inc in alt.
environmental lapse rate
temperature decrease in the tropopause
-“normal lapse rate”
how high up is the tropopause
12 km
what is above the tropopause
stratosphere
stratosphere
higher temperatures due to ozone concentration (absorbs UV)
where is there a temperature inversion, and why?
stratosphere, b/c cold air lies below warm air
whats above the stratosphere
mesosphere
mesosphere
temps decrease with inc in alt. until mesopause
- cold
- hasn’t been explored much
mesopause height
80 km
stratopause height
50 km
whats above mesopause pause
thermosphere
thermosphere
temperatures increase, no top boundary
-tiny fraction of earth’s mass
temperature definition
avg. speed at which molecules move
ionosphere
has auroras
what powers earth’s system
the sun
heat from earth’s core
shape of earth
oblate spheroid
what’re the three constant gases
nitrogen, oxygen, argon
pressure formula
force/area supporting the force
area of sphere
4pir^2
how to find F from C
9/5(temp of C) + 32 degrees
F boiling/freezing
212, 32
C boiling/freezing
100, 0
how to find K from C
C + 273
where do F and C meet
-40 degrees
speed of light
300 million m/s
speed formula
wavelength*frequency
what is the perfect emitter
a blackbody
if its a good emitter, then its a good____
absorber
where is the sun
on the main sequence
Stephan boatsman law
E=esigmaabs temp^4
- e is emissivity, blackbody 1
- e ranges from 0 to 1
