Climate, Weather, and Atmosphere

Question 1

Put the layers of the atmosphere in order. Be sure to include the -pause’s

Answer 1

Troposphere, Tropopause, Stratosphere, Stratopause, Mesosphere, Mesopause, Thermosphere, Thermopause, Exosphere

Question 2

Identify the characteristics of each atmospheric layer.

Answer 2

TROPOSPHERE: It is where the weather occurs.
STRATOSPHERE: It contains the ozone layer.
MESOSPHERE: Layer above the stratosphere, ends at the mesopause.
THERMOSPHERE: It contains the ionosphere.
EXOSPHERE: It extends into outer space and is the transition from our atmosphere into space.

Question 3

Describe what an ozone molecule looks like.

Answer 3

Ozone molecules are oxygen molecules with an extra oxygen atom added onto them.

Question 4

Define convection. Explain how heat is transferred by convection.

Answer 4

Convection is the transfer of heat from one object to another through contact.

Question 5

Define conduction: Explain how heat is transferred by conduction.

Answer 5

Conduction is the transfer of heat by the collision of molecules

Question 6

Define radiation. Explain how heat is transferred by radiation.

Answer 6

Radiation is the transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves.

Question 7

Describe what happens to the temperature as you move from the troposphere to the exosphere. (Explain if the temperature increases or decreases).

Answer 7

TROPOSPHERE: Temperature decreases as you go up.
STRATOSPHERE: Temperature increases as you go up.
MESOSPHERE: Temperature decreases as you go up.
THERMOSPHERE: Temperature increases as you go up.
EXOSPHERE: Is very hard to measure the temperature because it is so thin.

Question 8

Define meteorology

Answer 8

Meteorology is the study of the atmospheric phenomena.

Question 9

Identify where the cold air masses originate from

Answer 9

They originate from the North.

Question 10

Identify where the warm air masses originate from.

Answer 10

They originate from the South.

Question 11

Tell me the characteristics of a Maritime Tropical air mass.

Answer 11

humid and warm, from the tropical seas.

Question 12

Tell me the characteristics of a Maritime Polar air mass.

Answer 12

humid and cold, from cold ocean waters

Question 13

Tell me the characteristics of a Continental Polar air mass

Answer 13

dry and cold, from land areas that have high latitudes

Question 14

Tell me the characteristics of a Continental Tropical air mass

Answer 14

dry and hot, comes from tropical land areas

Question 15

Tell me the characteristics of an Arctic air mass

Answer 15

dry and very cold, from ice-covered arctic regions

Question 16

Define weather

Answer 16

Short-term variations in the climate

Question 17

Describe the wind path. (Explain how it travels between warmer and cooler air)

Answer 17

IN A COLD FRONT: The warmer air travel up and over the cold air in opposite directions
IN A WARM FRONT: The warm air travels over the cool air and pushes in the direction it wasn’t going.

Question 18

Define air mass

Answer 18

A section of the troposphere that has the same weather throughout

Question 19

Define climate

Answer 19

Climate is what we use to describe the long-term weather patterns of an area.

Question 20

What is the weather map symbol for each of the following; Continental Polar, Continental Tropical, Maritime Polar, Maritime Tropical, arctic

Answer 20

cP, cT, mP, mT, cA

Question 21

Identify the data used to describe an area’s climate.

Answer 21

Daily high and low temperatures, amounts of rainfall, wind speed, wind direction, humidity, air pressure

Question 22

Describe what moist winds do as they approach a mountain and what happens to them when they come down the other side of the mountain.

Answer 22

As the air rises, it cools, causing precipitation. The air is now dry, and it warms as it comes down, resulting in desert conditions.

Question 23

Identify the characteristics of each climate zone; Tropical zone, Temperate zone, Polar zone

Answer 23

TROPICAL ZONE: Receives the most solar radiation, so it is usually warm year-round.
TEMPERATE ZONE: Moderate temperatures
POLAR ZONE: Usually very very cold

Question 24

Describe what happens to make the global climate warm up

Answer 24

There are more greenhouse gases that humans are creating that are going into and polluting our air.

Question 25

Describe each of the Koppen Classification System divisions; Tropical climate, dry climate, mild climate, continental climate, polar climate

Answer 25

TROPICAL CLIMATE: Year-round high temperatures,
DRY CLIMATE: The largest climactic zone, precipitation is low and vegetation is scarce
MILD CLIMATE: Warm and dry with cool and rainy winters.
CONTINETNAL CLIMATE: Can have rapid and unexpected changes in the precipitation.
POLAR CLIMATE: Always cold, no trees, with generally low precipitation.

Question 26

Describe a heat island

Answer 26

Occurs when places have lots of building and/or lots of asphalt and it makes the area warmer than the surrounding climates.

Question 27

Define precipitation

Answer 27

Rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground thanks to the water cycle.

Question 28

Define microclimate

Answer 28

An area that has a different climate than its surrounding area.

Question 29

Define temperature

Answer 29

The intensity of the heat or cold air outside air.

Question 30

How are climate and temperature different?

Answer 30

Climate often includes all the factors, such as wind speed, direction, etc., while temperature is just one factor