Climate & atmosphere

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

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

Question 3

6 factors that affect the distribution of heat and precipitation

Answer 3

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

Question 4

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

Answer 4

D

Question 5

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.

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Why does the density of air vary throughout the atmosphere?

Answer 6

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

Question 7

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

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Troposphere

Answer 8

The layer of atmosphere closest to the Earth’s surface

Question 9

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

Answer 9

The troposphere

Question 10

What are the layers of the atmosphere based on?

Answer 10

Differences in temperature as altitude increases

Question 11

Why is the troposphere warmer at sea level?

Answer 11

Because of radiation from earth and objects on it

Question 12

Stratosphere

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Why is the ozone layer essential to life?

Answer 13

It protects us from deadly UV rays from the sun

Question 14

Mesosphere

Answer 14

Above the stratosphere; coldest layer of the atmosphere

Question 15

Thermosphere

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Pause

Transition between atmosphere layers

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Is there a pause after the thermosphere?

Answer 17

No, it transitions into space so no pause

Question 18

In which level of the atmosphere does weather occur?

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

Answer 18

A

Question 19

Which level of the atmosphere is the densest?

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

Answer 19

A

Question 20

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

Answer 20

B

Question 21

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.

Answer 21

D

Question 22

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

Answer 22

E

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Because of Earth’s spherical shape

Question 24

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.

Answer 24

B

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Because the sun's rays unequally heat up different regions

Question 26

Albedo

Answer 26

"We will discuss this later" | I'll add this card in when he actually teaches this ## Footnote THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS ON THE ORIGINAL DOC, NOT MY FAULT

Question 27

What is Earth's tilt?

Answer 27

23.5° on its axis

Question 28

Spring equinox

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Autumn equinox

Answer 29

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

Question 30

# 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

Answer 30

1

Question 31

# 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

Answer 31

C

Question 32

How do the oceans regulate Earth's climate?

Answer 32

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)

Question 33

Thermohaline circulation

Answer 33

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

Question 34

# 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

Answer 34

B

Question 35

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

Answer 35

E

Question 36

# 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

Answer 36

A