Chapter 28 Flashcards
a layer extending an average of 12km above Earth’s surface is called a what?
troposphere
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 absorb and emit infared radiation
the greenhouse effect
how are the atmospheric layers divided?
the difference in composition and texture
what gas makes up the majority of the atmosphere?
nitrogen; 78%
which gas is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
oxygen; 21%
what is the remaining 1% in the atmosphere made up of?
trace gases (the majority is Argon)
within the troposphere, does temperature increase of decrease with altitude?
it decreases
how many layers are there in the atmosphere?
five
what are the names of the layers? (closest to farthest from the surface of Earth)
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
which layer is the ozone layer found in?
the statosphere
within the stratosphere, does temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
it increases
within the mesosphere, does temperature increase or decrease with altitude?
the lower mesosphere decreases, the higher mesosphere increases
do the thermosphere and the exosphere effect weather?
no lol
where does 100% of solar radiation come from?
the sun
what percent of solar radiation is absorbed by Earth’s surface?
50%
what percent of solar radiation is reflected off of Earth’s surface?
5%
what percent of solar radiation is absorbed by particles in the atmosphere?
20%
what percent of solar radiation is reflected back by clouds and other particles?
25%
what are the three cloud types?
stratus, cumulus, and cirrus
explain stratus clouds
layered, sheet-like clouds associated with rain
explain cumulus clouds
puffy in shape and occur in fair weather
explain cirrus clouds
wispy, high altitude
what is the process in which water leaves the atmosphere and eventually comes back to Earth?
the water cycle
what are the stages in the water cycle?
precipitation, runoff, infiltration, transpiration, evaportation, and condensation
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
what are the zones in which air masses interact called?
weather fronts
how many jet streams are there in the world?
four
how many pressure systems are there? what are they?
two, the low and high pressure system
what are low pressure systems also known as?
a low
which direction does a low rotate?
counter clockwise
what are some results of a low pressure system?
air rises, causing cloud formation and precipitation
what is a high pressure system known as?
a high
which direction does a high pressure systen rotate?
clockwise
what is a result of a high pressure system?
air sinks, resulting in clear skies
what the four weather fronts?
cold, warm, stationary, and occluded
how are cold fronts created?
when cold air forces cold air upward in a fast and chaotic manner
how are cold fronts represented in weather forecasts?
with blue triangles
how are warm fronts created?
when warm air gently rises above cool air?
how are warm fronts represented in weather forecasts?
with red semi-circles
how are stationary fronts created?
when cold and warm air masses meet and neither front advances
how are stationary fronts represented in weather forecasts?
a combination of alternating red semicircles and blue triangles on bottom and top
how are occluded fronts formed?
when a fast moving cold front overtakes a slow warm front
how are occluded fronts represented in weather forecasts?
alternating purple semicircles and triangles on top
a climate that is strongly affected by an ocean
a maritime climate
a climate that is not directly affected by an ocean
a continental climate
what blows from over the water toward land in the after noon, when the land is warmer than the water
a sea breeze
what is climate?
the long term average of weather conditions
what is weather?
the day to day tempereatures, rain, snow, etc, that describe the day
what are the five spheres that make up earth’s system?
atmosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and the biosphere
what is the atmosphere?
the air around us
what is the biosphere
everything organic
what is the hydrosphere?
liquid water
what is the cryosphere?
frozen water in snow, ice, and glaciers
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 most intense on earth’s surface?
the equator
at what angle do the sun rays hit the tropical zones on earth?
90 degrees
at which angle do sun rays hit earth in the temperate zones?
45 degrees
what angle do the sun rays hit the polar zones on earth?
30 degrees
which zone is lamar, colorado located in?
temperate zone
what other factors determine climate?
precipitation, mountains, and water
what is the windward side conditions like?
the air is cool and wet, and lots of vegetation
what are the conditions like on the leeward side?
the air is dry and warm, and there is little to no vegetation
what is it called when the wind blows from the land to the water at night?
a land breeze
which climate zone and which type of vegetation does lamar, colorado have?
the climate zone is warm and semi arid, and the vegetation is grassland
an increase in in the average temperatures of earth’s near-surface air and ocean is called what?
global warming
the warming of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of western South America that occurs every 3 to 10 years is called what?
el nino
when trade winds in the Pacific are unusaully strong and surface water is colder than normal
la nina
what are two changes that earth’s climate unndergo?
seasonal and longterm changes
how do seasonal changes occur?
how earth revolves around the sun
which hemisphere experieces summer?
the hemisphere that is tiltes towards the sun
what was the period called when earth’s surface was covered in a sheet of ice?
ice age
how long ago did the world’s climate reach its currect pattert?
about 3000 years ago
what are some factors that can cause climate change?
a change in earth’s tilt, a change in earth’s orbit shape, and a change of distance from the earth to the sun
how can humans impact climate change?
energy comsumption, deforestation, and industrial and agricultural practices
what is deforestation?
the clearing of large areas of forest land
how does deforestation affect climate?
it takes away trees that turn carbon dioxide into oxygen
