Exam 1 Flashcards
zero-dimensional climate model
A Zero-Dimensional Climate Model is a simple climate model that balances outgoing longwave
radiation with incoming shortwave radiation. Assumes a uniform Earth surface, neglecting
latitudinal and longitudinal heterogeneity, and simplifies the vertical structure of the atmosphere.
latent heat flux
Transfer of energy which results in a phase change
albedo
reflected radiation/incoming or incident radiation
greenhouse effect
The greenhouse effect refers to the heating of the Earth caused by greenhouse gases, which
absorb and re-radiate longwave radiation.
variable atmospheric gas
Gases present in amounts that vary greatly in abundance vertically, horizontally, and/or
seasonally. Water vapor and carbon dioxide are important variable gases.
most abundant element in atmost
nitrogen
smooth data?
reduce noise
where does temp decrease with height?
in troposphere
beam spreading is ___ at noon
minimum
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be…
inhospitable
free convection
convection driven by the buoyancy of warm air
forced convection
driven by an external force, like air pushed by mountains or blown by a fan
If the air is unsaturated, the wet bulb temperature of a sling psychrometer will be _____ than
the dry bulb temperature
lower
The largest energy transfer in the solar spectrum occurs in the:
visible
This is the only atmospheric variable that always decreases with distance above the ground
pressure
Ultimately, the buoyancy of a rising air parcel is dependent upon its:
rate of cooling relative to the surrounding air
All of the following are variable gases except:
A) Oxygen
B) Methane
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Water vapor
A oxygen
Vivid sunsets are caused by
rayleigh and mie scattering
Winnipeg, Canada, is located near latitude 50 °N and Austin, Texas, is located near 30 °N, but on
average Winnipeg receives slightly more surface solar radiation during the June solstice.
Describe two possible reasons for this apparent paradox in three sentences or less.
The period of daylight at Winnipeg is over two hours longer, which compensates for the lower
midday solar angle. In addition, the actual radiation received at the surface is a function of the
amount and distribution of absorbers and reflectors in the atmosphere, including water vapor,
clouds, and aerosols.
Annually averaged, the tropics ____ energy and the poles ____ energy
gain, lose
net radiation equation
surface shortwave radiation absorbed - net longwave radiation outgoing
Net radiation gets _____ from the _____ to the _____
distributed tropics to poles
evaporation carries energy in the form of…
latent heat
sensible heat
warming and advection of air
how to describe balancing energy budget
Annually averaged, the tropics gain energy and the poles lose energy. This figure describes the
distribution of net radiation (surface shortwave radiation absorbed - net longwave radiation
outgoing) from the tropics to the poles. Without this distribution, the tropics and poles would be
constantly warming and cooling, respectively.
weather
atmospheric phenomena on timescales of hours to months
climate
atmospheric phenomena on the time scales of months to millenia, long term average of weather
composition of atmosphere
mixture of gases, suspended particles, and liquid/solid water
permanent gases
prominent, constant, and evenly distributed across atmosphere. nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc.
variable gases
scarce but influential, not constant or evenly distributed in atmos. water vapor, carbon dioxide
water vapor
most abundant variable gas, lowest atmos, drives weather
carbon dioxide
trace gas increasing, important to energy balance
ozone
pollutant near surface but essential absorber of UV radiation in stratosphere (O3)
aerosols
any solid of liquid particle other than water that exists in the atmos
air density _____ with increasing altitude
decreases
pressure _____ with increasing altitude
decreases
vertical structure of atmos, bottom to top
tropo, strato, meso, thermo
electromag radiation
energy emited from Sun and transferred to Earth
Stefan-Boltzmann meaning
I = sigma t^4
double the temp, more than double the radiation
hotter objects radiate more energy
What heat spectrum part can we feel?
thermal infrared radiation
In a wave, higher energy is associated with:
shorter wavelength, higher amplitude
intensity of radiation optimized at:
90 degree angle of incidence
rayleigh scattering
atmos gases
mie scattering
particles in atmos bigger than wavelengths
nonselective scattering
particles much larger than incident radiation, all lengths scattered
500 mb
half of atmos below or above, constant pressure surface in troposphere
