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HDSO Meteorology > Chapter 16: The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, & Temperate > Flashcards

Chapter 16: The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, & Temperate Flashcards

1
Q

Weather, what is it?

A
  • Occurs over a short period of time
  • Constantly changing
  • Refers to state of atmosphere
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2
Q

Climate, what is it?

A
  • Occurs over a long period of time

* Composite of weather conditions over many years

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3
Q

Regularly measured properties of weather and climate?

A
  • temp
  • humidity
  • cloudiness
  • precipitation
  • air pressure
  • wind speed and direction
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4
Q

The atmosphere is made up of what components?

A
  • Nitrogen -78%
  • Oxygen -21%
  • Argon and other gases- .93%
  • Carbon Dioxide -.036%
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5
Q

Three components is the air

A

1) Water vapor
2) Aerosols
3) Ozone

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6
Q

What is water vapor?

A
  • Varies considerably
  • 4% of air’s volume
  • Forms cloud and precipitation
  • Absorbs heat energy from Earth
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7
Q

What is aerosols?

A
  • Tiny sold and liquid particles (dust, pollen, ect)
  • Particles reflect sunlight
  • Helps to color sunrises and sunsets
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8
Q

What is an ozone?

A
  • Form of oxygen that combines 3 oxygen atoms into each molecule
  • Absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from sun
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9
Q

Explain Pressure Changes

A
  • Pressure is the weight of the air
  • Average sea level pressure about 14.7 pounds per square inch
  • Pressure decreases with altitude (90% found within 10 miles of Earth’s surface)
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10
Q

What is a Radiosonde?

A

an instrument carried aloft, by a weather balloon to gather and transmit meteorological data

*balloon expands as it rises/ pressure decreases / when popped sends parachute down and then it is tracked on a GPS

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11
Q

The layers of the atmosphere is based on what?

A

temperature

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12
Q

What is the Troposphere?

A
  • The bottom layer of the atmosphere
  • Temp decrease w/ altitude called environmental lapse rate
  • The outer boundary is called the “tropopause”
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13
Q

What is the Stratosphere?

A
  • Between 12 km to 50 km above earth. aka below middle
  • Temp increases here where the ozone layer is concentrated
  • Outer boundary is called the stratopause
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14
Q

What is the Mesosphere?

A
  • Between 50 km to 80 km above earth. aka middle
  • Temp decreases steadily; coldest temps occur here
  • Outer boundary called mesopause
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15
Q

What is the Thermosphere?

A
  • does not have well-defined upper limit.
  • gases are moving at high speeds
  • temp starts to increase dot to high energy solar radiation. aka highest part
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16
Q

Two motions of the Earth

A

1) Rotation-
Earth fully rotates on axis every 24hrs
Produces daily cycle of day & night

2) Revolution-
Movement of earth on orbit around the sun.
1 revolution/ year

17
Q

Why do we experience seasons on earth?

A

Because of the tilt of the Earth axis!

Happens when the sun hits the earth

18
Q

A result of Earth’s changing orientation to the Sun is what?

A

Seasons!
The Earth’s axis is at
23.5 degrees

19
Q

When does the Summer Solstice happen for us?

A
  • June 21, most hours of daylight
  • **Earth is tilted on angle towards the sun
  • Suns vertical rays are located at the Tropic of Cancer
20
Q

When does the Winter Solstice happen for us?

A
  • December 21, fewest hours of daylight
  • Earth is tilted away from the sun
  • Suns vertical rays are located at the Tropic of Capricorn
21
Q

When does the Fall (Autumnal) equinox and Spring (Vernal) equinox happen for us?

A

FALL September 21
SPRING March 21

  • Days and nights are equal
  • Suns vertical rays are located at the equator
22
Q

Three mechanisms of heat transfer

A

1) Conduction: transfer of heat through molecular activity
2) Convection: transfer of heat through mass movement
3) Radiation: doesn’t need a medium to travel. This is how heat from the Sun reaches our planet.

23
Q

Possible effects when radiation strikes and object

A

1) Reflection (% of radiation reflected)
2) Scattering
3) Absorption

24
Q

What is reflection?

A

the process of when light bounces back from an object at the same angle and intensity, which it hit the surface

25
Q

What is scattering?

A

produces a larger number of weaker rays that travel in different directions

26
Q

Atmospheric Heating

A

1) Short-wave solar radiation pass through the atmosphere & partially absorbed
2) Radiation from Earth’s surface:
A. Earth re-radiates radiation
B. Longer wavelength terrestrial radiation is absorbed by carbon dioxide& water vapor
C. Greenhouse gases re-radiate some energy back toward earth, trapping heat in lower atmosphere

27
Q

What is the most important control of temperature?

A

solar radiation

28
Q

Variations in temperatures are greatest when?

A

They are greatest when over land

HDSO Meteorology (6 decks)

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