Exam 1 Flashcards
Wavelength
distance between wave crests/troughs
frequency
wave crests that pass a point per second
blackbody
absorbs and emits all energy
Wiens displacement law
max wavelength = c/T(K)
Stefan Boltzmann Law
E ~ T(K)^4
Inverse square law
E ~ 1/R^2 (r = distance from sun)
Solar constant
solar radiation on atmosphere, perpendicular to beam; ~1.97 cal per cm^3 per min
Callendar effect
theory that climate can be changed by enhancing natural greenhouse gasses
pyranometer
measures intensity of solar radiation
visible light on electromagnetic spectrum
0.40-0.70um
2nd law of thermodynamics
heat flows toward lower temperature
bowen ratio
sensible heating/latent heating
global heat transfer
poleward
thermohaline circulation
density driven movement of oceans
cold air advection
horizontal movement cold air to warm area
c to f
(c x 9/5) +32
btu to cal to joule
1 btu = 251.9 cal = 1055 J
Daltons Law
P(total) = P1 + P2 + . . .
avg sea level air pressure
1.0 kg/cm^2 or 14.7lb/in^2
mb to hPa to Pa
1mb = 1hPa = 100Pa
half of atmospheres mass below
5500m
500mb surface
where half of the atmosphere is above and below, lower in colder air
densest air mass
cold and dry
high pressure weather
usually fair weather, sinking columns, anticyclone, clockwise and diverging winds
low pressure weather
usually stormy, rising columns, cyclone, counterclockwise and converging winds
ideal gas law
PV = nRT
expansional cooling
air expands and temp drops
compressional heating
pressure increases and temp rises
adiabatic process
air changes temp based on altitude and volume, not on heat exchange with surroundings
percent N2 and O2
78.08 and 20.95
order of atmospheric layers
tropo, strato, meso, iono
radiosondes
balloons that measure temp, dew pt, and pressure
