Chapter 28 Flashcards
A layer extending an average of 12 km above Earth’s surface
Troposphere
Occurs when air temperature increases with altitude and the air becomes stable
temperature inversion
A natural process in which certain gases in the atmosphere warm a planet as they absorbed and emit infrared radiation
Greenhouse effect
How are the atmospheres layers divided?
Differences in composition and temperature
What gas makes up the majority of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen (78%)
What gas makes up 21% of the atmosphere?
Oxygen
What is the remaining one percent of gases?
Trace gases the majority is Argon
In the troposphere layer, does temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
Decreases
How many layers are there within the Earth’s atmosphere?
5
What are the names of the atmospheric layers closest to Earth’s surface to farthest to Earth’s surface?
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
What layer is the O-zone layer found in?
Stratosphere
Within the mesosphere does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
Does the thermosphere and the exosphere effect weather?
No
How much solar radiation is absorbed by earth’s surface?
50%
How much solar radiation is reflected off of earth’s surface?
5%
How much solar radiation is absorbed by particles in the atmosphere?
20%
How much solar radiation is reflected off of the particles in the atmosphere?
25%
What are the three basic cloud types?
Stratus, cumulus, and cirrus
Describe stratus clouds.
Layered, sheet-like clouds
Describe cumulus clouds.
Puffy
Describe cirrus clouds.
wispy, high altitude
What are the steps of the water cycle?
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, transpiration
A narrow band of fast-moving, high altitude air.
Jet stream
The apparent deflection of an object due to Earth’s rotation.
Coriolis effect
A large volume of air with uniform moisture and temperature throughout.
Air mass
Where air masses interact in zones.
Weather fronts
How many Jet streams are there?
4
How many pressure systems are there?
2
What is a low pressure system also known as?
a Low (L)
Which way does the air flow for a low pressure system?
counterclockwise
What are some results of a low pressure system?
Cloud formation and precipitation
What is a high pressure system known as?
High (H)
Which way does a high pressure system rotate?
Clockwise
What is the result of a high pressure system?
Clear skies
What are the four weather fronts?
Cold front, warm front, stationary front, occluded front
How is a cold front created?
Cold air forces warm air upward
How is a cold front represented on a weather forecast?
Blue triangles
How are warm fronts created?
Warm air rises gently above cold air
How are warm fronts represented on a weather forecast?
Red half-circles
How are stationary fronts created?
Cold and warm air masses meet and can last for days
How are stationary fronts represented on a weather forecast?
Red half-circles on top and blue triangles on bottom
How are occluded fronts created?
Fast moving cold front overtakes a slow warm front
How are occluded fronts represented on a weather forecast?
Purple half-circles and triangles on top
A climate that is strongly affected by an ocean.
Maritime climate
A climate that is not directly affected by an ocean.
Continental climate
A breeze that blows from over the water toward land in the afternoon, when the land is warmer then the water.
sea breeze
What is climate?
Long-term average of weather conditions
What is weather?
The day to day outside conditions
What are the five spheres that make up the Earth’s system?
Atmosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Cryosphere
What is the Atmosphere?
Air around us
What is the Biosphere?
Everything organic
What is the Hydrosphere?
Liquid water
What is the Cryosphere?
Frozen water
What is the Lithosphere?
Earth’s outermost layer
What is the primary factor that influences climate at any given location?
Latitude
Where is solar radiation the most intense on Earth’s surface?
The equator
At what angle do the sun’s rays hit the tropical zone?
90 degrees
At what angle does the sun’s rays hit the temperate zone?
45 degrees
At what angle do the sun’s rays hit the polar zones?
30 degrees
What other factors determine climate?
Precipitation, mountains, bodies of water
On the windward side, what are the conditions like?
Cool and wet, lots of vegetation
On the leeward side, what are the conditions like?
Warm and dry, little to no vegetation
What is land breeze?
The wind comes from the land to the water at night
What type of climate zone and vegetation does Lamar have?
Warm, semi-arid climate
Grassland vegetation
An increase in the average temperatures of Earth’s near-surface air and oceans
global warming
The warming of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of western South America that occurs every 3 to 10 years
El Nino
When trade winds in the Pacific are unusually strong and surface water is colder than normal
La Nina
What are the two changes that Earths climate undergoes?
Seasonal and long-term
How do seasonal changes occur?
As the Earth revolves around the Sun
When we are in summer time, are we closer or farther away from the sun?
Closer
Which hemisphere experiences summer?
The hemisphere tilting toward the sun
What was the period of time called where most of the Earth was covered in ice?
The ice age
How long ago did the Earths climate reach its current pattern?
3,000 years ago
What are some factors that can effect climate change?
Change in Earth’s axis
Shape of the orbit
distance from the sun
What are some human factors that can change climate?
Energy consumption
Deforestation
Industrial and agricultural practice
What is deforestation?
Clearing of large areas of forest land
