chapter 22 Flashcards
the atmosphere consists of …
about 78% Nitrogen & 21% oxygen, plus other gases
almost all weather occurs in the…
troposphere
troposphere
t(~0-10km) he lowest layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature decreases at a constant rate as altitude increases (~6C/km). It is the densest layer of the atmosphere.
temperature inversion
the atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air near earths surface.
Stratosphere
(~10-50km) the upper layer of the atmosphere which lies immediately above the troposphere.
Stratosphere gets warmer with increasing altitude.
T @10km = ~-55C. T@50km =~ 0C. No water vapor => few clouds and no storms.
The ozone layer is warmer because…
ozone molecules capture sun heat.
mesosphere
(50-80km) the coldest layer of the atmosphere, between the stratosphere and the mesopause.
T@ 80km = -80C.
thermosphere
(80-480km) the uppermost layer of the atmosphere, in which temperature increases as altitude increases. Main gases are still nitrogen and oxygen but the molecules are very far apart.
ionosphere
lower thermosphere & upper mesosphere region where the solar energy is absorbed and make the area ionized. Makes radio waves bounce off.
aurora borealis
the aurora in the northern hemisphere.
aurora australis
the aurora in the southern hemisphere.
water cycle
the continuous movement of water from the ocean to the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean: evaporation>condensation>precipitation> transpiration + evaporation…
transpiration
the process by which plants release water vapor into the air through stomata
precipitation
any of the form of water that falls to the earth’s surface from the clouds
humidity
the amount of water vapor in the air.
function of temperature – hotter air has greater water capacity.
so 85% humidity means that it has 85% of its water capacity filled. at 100% humidity air is saturated.
dew point
the temperature at which air, or gas, begins to condense to liquid.
barometric pressure
the pressure due to the weight of the atmosphere. falling air pressure indicates that a large air mass is leaving the area.
movement of air from high—pressure area to low-pressure area is called..
wind.
differences in air pressure create winds.
Coriolis Effect
the curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to earths rotation, cuz a point on the equator moves faster than points on lattitudes either north or south of the equator. as such earth’s rotation affects the direction of winds.
Air mass
a large body of air where temperature and moisture content are similar throughout.
front
the boundary between air masses of different densities and usually different temperatures.
Stationary front
occurs when air masses meet but neither is displaced.
warm front
a warm air mass moves above a slower cold air mass
cold front
a cold air mass moves quickly under a warm air mass, causing the warm air mass to rise rapidly.
Tornadoes
high-speed rotating winds that form around rising warm air.
hurricanes
large storm systems that have high-speed winds and very low pressures. Powered by the energy released as water vapor condenses to form clouds. the eye of the hurricane is very calm.
topography
the configuration of a land surface, including its relief.
climate
the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.
latitude
a geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth’s surface.
longitude
a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth’s surface.
