Chapter 22 and 23 - Water and the Atmosphere Flashcards
Radiation
The form in which energy travels from the sun to the Earth
Describe Cumulus Clouds
fluffy, feather like, look like cotton balls, indicate fair weather
Clouds, snow, or hail form when temperature reaches its ________________________.
Saturation Point
What has a higher albedo, snow or asphalt? Why?
Snow because it reflects more radiation
What are prevailing westerlies?
Prevailing winds that blow through the lower 48 states
Are Greenhouse Gases good or bad? Why or why not?
Good. They keep the Earth warm.
What type of clouds are layered and often cover much of the sky?
Stratus
The process by which gases hold in heat by the atmosphere
Greenhouse Effect
Psychrometer
Instrument used to measure relative humidity and uses two identical thermometers
What does the Coriolis Effect do to the Earth?
Earth’s rotation makes wind seem to curve
What is the driving force behind the weather on Earth?
The sun.
Jet Streams
narrow bands of high speed winds that blow in the upper atmosphere
Where does conduction take place in the Earth’s atmosphere?
between Earth’s surface and the air directly above it
What type of clouds produce thunderstorms?
Nimbostratus
What is a difference between breezes and global winds?
unequal heat within a small area
What is radiation?
fog that forms because of nightly cooling because of heat lost from the ground
Condensation Nuclei
Present in order for clouds or any type of precipitation to form
What have humans done to the atmosphere to contribute to its composition?
polluted the atmosphere with CO2
What does NIMBUS mean?
rain producing
What have fossil fuels done to the atmosphere?
Changed the levels of CO2
Global Winds
Winds that blow from a specific period over long distances
Makes up all the forms of radiation that come from the sun
Electromagnetic Wave
Barometer
used to measure atmospheric pressure
What is the name of the curved path that moving objects take due to the Earth’s rotation?
Coriolis Effect
Latent Heat
When heat is absorbed or released during a phase change
Adiabatic Cooling
When temperature in air mass decreases and the air rises and expands
Why does the sky look blue?
Scattering
What type of pressure means rain will be coming soon?
Low Pressure
What do Cumulus Clouds look like?
cotton balls
What type of cloud makes ice crystals?
Cirrus
Cirrus
Clouds that make ice crystals and are the highest in the sky
Why do Cirrus clouds make ice crystals?
Because they are the highest clouds in the sky
What makes up the complete range of electromagnetic waves?
Electromagnetic Spectrum
What is it called when dry ice turns into a gas?
Sublimation
Why is the temperature different in Alaska than it is in Australia?
angle the sunlight hits at each location, how close each location is to the equator, how high the latitude is in each area
What would happen if energy was not trapped in the atmosphere on Earth?
Living organisms would not survive. It would be too cold at night.
