Exam 1

Question 1

Wavelength

Answer 1

distance between wave crests/troughs

Question 2

frequency

Answer 2

wave crests that pass a point per second

Question 3

blackbody

Answer 3

absorbs and emits all energy

Question 4

Wiens displacement law

Answer 4

max wavelength = c/T(K)

Question 5

Stefan Boltzmann Law

Answer 5

E ~ T(K)^4

Question 6

Inverse square law

Answer 6

E ~ 1/R^2 (r = distance from sun)

Question 7

Solar constant

Answer 7

solar radiation on atmosphere, perpendicular to beam; ~1.97 cal per cm^3 per min

Question 8

Callendar effect

Answer 8

theory that climate can be changed by enhancing natural greenhouse gasses

Question 9

pyranometer

Answer 9

measures intensity of solar radiation

Question 10

visible light on electromagnetic spectrum

Answer 10

0.40-0.70um

Question 11

2nd law of thermodynamics

Answer 11

heat flows toward lower temperature

Question 12

bowen ratio

Answer 12

sensible heating/latent heating

Question 13

global heat transfer

Answer 13

poleward

Question 14

thermohaline circulation

Answer 14

density driven movement of oceans

Question 15

cold air advection

Answer 15

horizontal movement cold air to warm area

Question 16

c to f

Answer 16

(c x 9/5) +32

Question 17

btu to cal to joule

Answer 17

1 btu = 251.9 cal = 1055 J

Question 18

Daltons Law

Answer 18

P(total) = P1 + P2 + . . .

Question 19

avg sea level air pressure

Answer 19

1.0 kg/cm^2 or 14.7lb/in^2

Question 20

mb to hPa to Pa

Answer 20

1mb = 1hPa = 100Pa

Question 21

half of atmospheres mass below

Answer 21

5500m

Question 22

500mb surface

Answer 22

where half of the atmosphere is above and below, lower in colder air

Question 23

densest air mass

Answer 23

cold and dry

Question 24

high pressure weather

Answer 24

usually fair weather, sinking columns, anticyclone, clockwise and diverging winds

Question 25

low pressure weather

Answer 25

usually stormy, rising columns, cyclone, counterclockwise and converging winds

Question 26

ideal gas law

Answer 26

PV = nRT

Question 27

expansional cooling

Answer 27

air expands and temp drops

Question 28

compressional heating

Answer 28

pressure increases and temp rises

Question 29

adiabatic process

Answer 29

air changes temp based on altitude and volume, not on heat exchange with surroundings

Question 30

percent N2 and O2

Answer 30

78.08 and 20.95

Question 31

order of atmospheric layers

Answer 31

tropo, strato, meso, iono

Question 32

radiosondes

Answer 32

balloons that measure temp, dew pt, and pressure