Earth Science d2l questions final

Question 1

What are the major differences between a hurricane and a tornado?

Answer 1

Hurricane- requires warm tropical oceans, and low pressure. Tornadoes- Cold front produces super cells, extreme pressure gradients

Question 2

How do tornadoes form?

Answer 2

Cold front produces super cells, extreme pressure gradients

Question 3

How do thunderstorms form?

Answer 3

Cold front produces super cells, latent heat, updrafts, warm humid air rises to 15km

Question 4

What causes lightning?

Answer 4

Strong updrafts, strong downdrafts, the up and down drafts pass each other friction happens, they cause electrostatic charges to separate

Question 5

What is climate and how is it characterized?

Answer 5

Climate- the average weather experienced by a region. Influenced by solar radiation, topography, water

Question 6

What are the 4 layers of the atmosphere, and what distinguishes each layer?

Answer 6

Troposphere- most dense, weather systems, temp goes down. Stratosphere- ozone layer, temp heats up. Mesosphere-middle, temp goes down. Thermosphere- upper atmosphere, temp heats up

Question 7

What are the three physical states of water and what determines the state that water is in?

Answer 7

Solid, Liquid, Gas. The temp

Question 8

Why does water have a major influence on weather and climate?

Answer 8

Because they can’t function without water.

Question 9

What is relative humidity, and what determines how much water vapor air can hold?

Answer 9

The amount of water in air relative to the maximum amount of water the air could hold. How hot or cold the air is

Question 10

What is the difference between high and low pressure, and what type of weather is associated with each?

Answer 10

High- cold dry air sinks and compresses, rotates clockwise, nice weather. Low- warm moist air rises and expands, rotates counter clock wise, cloudy

Question 11

Why does the wind blow?

Answer 11

Air moves from high to low pressure. Widely spaced circles from the west

Question 12

Which way do weather systems track across North America, and what is the name of the regional storm system that mixes cold dry air from the north with warm moist air from the south?

Answer 12

Track from west to east, they track because of westerly, trade winds

Question 13

Which produces more precipitation and why - a cold front or a warm front?

Answer 13

cold front, moves faster

Question 14

Why is the earth heated unevenly?

Answer 14

Tilt of the Earth’s axis

Question 15

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Answer 15

Climate- the average weather experienced by a region. Weather- condition of the atmosphere in a particular area

Question 16

What factors influence temperature on earth?

Answer 16

Proximity to H20, Latitude, evolution

Question 17

What is the atmosphere and what is it composed of?

Answer 17

Thin envelope of air that surrounds the earth. Composed of nitrogen, oxygen

Question 18

Why isn’t our atmosphere blown away from solar winds?

Answer 18

The magnetic field protects us

Question 19

Where does the sun’s energy come from?

Answer 19

Nuclear fusion

Question 20

What causes seasonality on Earth, and why is seasonality more extreme in the northern hemisphere?

Answer 20

Tilt of the Earth’s axis, because we are not by the equator

Question 21

What is the difference in the position of the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon during a new moon and a full moon?

Answer 21

The new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the earth and sun. At a full moon, the earth, moon, and sun are in approximate alignment.

Question 22

What is solar insulation and how is it important to the seasons?

Answer 22

Duration of sunlight, amount of energy the sun gives off

Question 23

Why do certain layers in the atmosphere show increasing temperature with increasing elevation?

Answer 23

Stratosphere temp increases because the ozone molecules absorb UV radiation.

Question 24

In what climate zone does Fargo/Moorhead lie?

Answer 24

Wet phase