Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

APES w/ Citron > Climate & atmosphere > Flashcards

Climate & atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

Weather

A

Local, short-term conditions in an area; time scale of seconds to days

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Climate

A

Average weather in an area over a long period of time; defined by temperature & percipitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

6 factors that affect the distribution of heat and precipitation

A

unequal heating of the Earth, atmospheric covection currents, the rotation of the Earth, Earth’s orbit around the sun on a tilted axis, ocean currents, topography

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Which of the following is the description of a region’s climate?

A. The amount of rainfall that an area receives over a period of 1 year
B. The average precipitation over a 1-2 year time period
C. The average high temperature of a region
D. The average temperature and precipitation over several decades
E. The average temperature and rainfall over a period of 1-2 years

A

D

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

The atmosphere is 78% nitrogen but it is in a form we are unable to utilize. Describe how we are able to convert nitrogen gas (N2) into a more useable form.

A

There are bacteria in the soil that can take the nitrogen present in air and turn it into ammonia or nitrate. These forms of nitrogen can be absorbed by plants. After plants absorb them, using them for genes and other uses for nitrogen, they get eaten by animals. Those animals then inherit some of that nitrogen, which they can use for themselves. We get nitrogen by eating plants and animals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Why does the density of air vary throughout the atmosphere?

A

Earth’s gravity pulls the molecules toward the Earth’s surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which layer of the atmosphere is most of Earth’s air mass found in?

A

The troposphere; has 75-80% of all the air mass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Troposphere

A

The layer of atmosphere closest to the Earth’s surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which layer of the atmosphere does most of the weather we experience occur in?

A

The troposphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the layers of the atmosphere based on?

A

Differences in temperature as altitude increases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Why is the troposphere warmer at sea level?

A

Because of radiation from earth and objects on it

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Stratosphere

A

The layer with high concentration of ozon; also known as the ozone layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why is the ozone layer essential to life?

A

It protects us from deadly UV rays from the sun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Mesosphere

A

Above the stratosphere; coldest layer of the atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Thermosphere

A

Layer above the mesosphere; sometimes broken down into ionsphere (an area of highly charged particles where auroras occur) and ionsphere (most satellites orbit here)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Pause

Transition between atmosphere layers

A

transitions (e.g. troposphere to stratosphere: tropopause)

17
Q

Is there a pause after the thermosphere?

A

No, it transitions into space so no pause

18
Q

In which level of the atmosphere does weather occur?

A. Troposphere
B. Stratosphere
C. Mesosphere
D. Thermosphere
E. Exosphere

A

A

19
Q

Which level of the atmosphere is the densest?

A. Troposphere
B. Stratosphere
C. Mesosphere
D. Thermosphere
E. Exosphere

A

A

20
Q

What best describes the density of the atmosphere?

A. It increases as you increase in altitude
B. It decreases as you increase in altitude
C. It maintains a constant level throughout the atmosphere
D. It shows fluctuations up and down as you move through the layers of the atmosphere
E. It does not change

A

B

21
Q

What is the importance of the ozone layer?

A. It plays an important role in the greenhouse effect.
B. It reflects solar gamma reaction that would otherwise reach Earth’s surface.
C. It acts as an insulator for the earth and helps to maintain a livable temperature.
D. It absorbs incoming UV rays.
E. It reflects incoming heat back into space.

A

D

22
Q

What region of the earth does the sun hit at the most direct angle?

A. North Pole (90° N) D. 30°-60° S
B. South Pole (90° S) E. Equator (0°)
C. 30°-60° N

A

E

23
Q

Why does sunlight hit the Earth at a perpendicular angle at the equator

A

Because of Earth’s spherical shape

24
Q

Which of the following is not true about the sun’s energy heating the ea

A. The sun’s rays hit the earth at different angles depending on the latitude.
B. The sun’s rays are concentrated over a smaller surface area at the equator than they are in higher latitudes.
C. The polar regions reflect more sunlight than the tropical regions.
D. The sun’s rays are more strongly reflected in the lower latitude regions.
E. The unequal heating helps to determine an area’s climate.

A

B

25
Q
A
25
Q

Why are tropical regions near the equator hot, polar regions are cold, and temperate regions are inbetween?

A

Because the sun’s rays unequally heat up different regions

26
Q

Albedo

A

“We will discuss this later”

I’ll add this card in when he actually teaches this

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ORIGINAL DOC, NOT MY FAULT

27
Q

What is Earth’s tilt?

A

23.5° on its axis

28
Q

Spring equinox

A

First day of spring; equator gets most direct sunlight and is in “neutral” position

29
Q

Autumn equinox

A

First day of Autumn; same neutral position as spring equinox but on the other side

30
Q

The primary cause of Earth’s seasons is the

  1. Constant tilt of Earth’s rotational axis with respect to the plane of its orbit around the Sun
  2. Changing distance of Earth from the Sun at different times of the year
  3. Periodic wobbling of Earth on its axis of rotation
  4. Changing relative positions of Earth, its Moon and the Sun
  5. Periodic changes in solar energy output
A

1

31
Q

What latitude receives the most direct sunlight throughout the year?

A. 90° N
B. 30°-60° N
C. 0°
D. 30°-60° S
E. 90° S

A

C

32
Q

How do the oceans regulate Earth’s climate?

A

By absorbing and releasing heat to the atmosphere and surface circulation (due to wind pushing on the surface of the water and density differences between water masses)

33
Q

Thermohaline circulation

A

fresher water moves along the surface and colder, saltier water moves deep beneath the surface

34
Q

What is one major role that these gyres play in global climate?

A. Currents redistribute heat from the North to the South
B. Currents redistribute heat from the Equator to Northern latitudes
C. Drive global wind patterns in the Northern hemisphere
D. Contribute to the Coriolis effect
E. Currents redistribute tropical moisture

A

B

35
Q

When the rain shadow effect is occurring, which side of the mountain tends to receive more rain?
A. Windward side
B. Leeward side
C. Top of the mountain
D. Foot of the mountain
E. Side of the mountain that does not face the ocean

A

E

36
Q

Which of the following statements explains the rain shadow effect?

A. Mountains force air to rise; air cools and releases moisture as it rises.
B. The atmosphere gets denser as elevation increases, causing snow to fall.
C. Temperatures are higher on one side of a mountain than the other.
D. Wind patterns cause precipitation
E. Lush vegetation on one side of a mountain causes it to rain more on this side

A

A

APES w/ Citron (6 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions