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GEOL 1347 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is meteorology?

A

The science dealing with the atmosphere and its phenomena, including both weather and climate.

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2
Q

Define weather

A

The state of the atmosphere at any particular time and space

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3
Q

Define climate

A

Average weather over a longer period

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4
Q

What distinguishes weather from climate?

A

Weather is short term, what you get; Climate is long term, what you expect

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5
Q

What are the two key developments in meteorology during the 20th century?

A

The concept of air masses and fronts in the 1920s; numerical weather prediction (NWP) in the 1950s

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6
Q

What is the composition of earth’s first atmosphere?

A

Hydrogen and Helium

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7
Q

What gases contributed to earth’s second atmosphere?

A

Carbon dioxide, water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and ammonia

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8
Q

What are the primary components of earth’s current atmosphere?

A

Nitrogen, oxygen, and argon; with variable gases: water vapor and carbon dioxide

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9
Q

What is the most abundant variable gas in the atmosphere?

A

Water vapor

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10
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

The process where gases, particularly water vapor and carbon dioxide, absorb thermal energy emitted by earth, keeping the planet warm

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11
Q

What is albedo?

A

The fraction of solar energy reflected/ scattered away from a surface

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12
Q

What is the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level?

A

1013.25 mb or hPa

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13
Q

What is the temperature change rate in the troposphere?

A

Temperature decreases with height at a rate of 6.5 k/km

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14
Q

What is kinetic energy?

A

The energy an object has due to its motion

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15
Q

What is potential energy?

A

Stored energy that can be converted to other forms

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16
Q

Define specific heat capacity

A

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius

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17
Q

What is the difference between sensible heat and latent heat?

A

Sensible heat can be measured with a thermometer; latent heat is hidden until phase changes occur.

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18
Q

What is a common unit of power?

A

1 watt =1 joule per sec

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19
Q

What are the three methods of heat transfer?

A

Conduction, convection, and radiation

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20
Q

What is radiation?

A

Energy that travels through space at the speed of light, without requiring a medium

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21
Q

What law states that all objects emit radiation?

A

Law #1: all things with a temperature above absolute zero emit radiation

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22
Q

What is Wien’s law?

A

Higher temperature results in shorter wavelengths of emitted radiation.

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23
Q

What causes the earth’s seasons?

A

The tilt of the earth (23.5 degrees) affects sunlight distribution

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24
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

It allows earth’s surface to absorb more solar energy, causing warming

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25
What is the role of oceans in climate?
Oceans absorb and store carbon dioxide, influencing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
26
Name a primary source of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Burning fossil fuels
27
What role does photosynthesis play in carbon cycling?
It removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
28
What is the significance of aerosols?
Aerosols affect climate by interacting with radiation and forming clouds
29
What is a significant absorption feature of water vapor?
It is the strongest absorber of infrared radiation
30
How does cloud cover affect temperature at night?
Clouds trap heat, leading to warmer temps
31
What is the impact of volcanic eruptions on the atmosphere?
They release gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide, affecting atmospheric composition
32
What are the two types of ozone?
Good ozone, which absorbs uv radiation; bad ozone, which causes air pollution and smog
33
How does temp variation depend on latitude?
temperature generally decreases as latitude increases, leading to colder climates in polar regions
34
What is the difference between good and bad ozone?
Good ozone protects against UV radiation; Bad ozone contributes to smog
35
How does thermosphere temperature behave with altitude?
Temperature increases with height due to solar radiation absorption
36
What is the main driver of weather?
The uneven heating of the earth's surface
37
What is convection?
Heat transfer where warmer fluid rises and cooler fluid sinks
38
How do ocean currents affect temperatures?
Warm currents raise temperatures; cold currents lower temps
39
what happens to temperatures on cloudy days?
They tend to be cooler due to less direct sunlight
40
What is the primary function of the stratospheric ozone layer?
to absorb harmful UV radiation
41
How does Earth's tilt cause seasonal temperature variations?
It affects the angle and duration of sunlight received
42
What are some factors that affect local temperature variations?
Time of day, latitude, altitude, surface type, ocean currents, and cloud cover
43
What is the greenhouse effect's analogical representation?
It functions like a blanket, trapping heat in the atmosphere
44
What effect does water vapor have on global warming?
It amplifies the greenhouse effect by trapping more heat
45
What contributes to the long-term changes in climate?
Burning fossil fuels and other human activities
46
What is a significant consequence of increased atmospheric CO2?
It leads to global warming
47
How does evaporation impact temperature?
It absorbs heat, cooling the surrounding environment
48
What are the four laws of radiation?
1. All objects above absolute zero emit radiation. 2. Hotter objects emit radiation at higher intensities (Stefan-Boltzmann Law). 3. Higher temperatures lead to shorter wavelengths (Wien’s Law). 4. Good absorbers are also good emitters at specific wavelengths (Kirchhoff’s Law).
49
What are the layers of the atmosphere and how do temperatures change in each?
- Troposphere: Decreases with height. - Stratosphere: Increases with height due to ozone absorption. - Mesosphere: Decreases with height. - Thermosphere: Increases with height due to absorption of solar radiation.
50
What factors influence how much an object's temperature increases?
1. Amount of heat added (ΔQ). 2. Mass of the object (m). 3. Specific heat capacity of the substance (Cp). Formula: ΔT = ΔQ / (m × Cp).
51
How does Earth's tilt affect temperature during summer?
1. Longer daylight periods increase exposure to sunlight. 2. Higher solar angles reduce beam spreading. 3. Less atmospheric beam depletion concentrates sunlight.
52
What causes daily temperature variations?
1. Earth's rotation causes day-night cycles. 2. Heat is absorbed during the day and released at night.
53
Why does surface type affect local temperatures?
Different surfaces have varying heat capacities, influencing how much heat they can absorb and release. For example, water has a higher heat capacity than sand, so it heats and cools more slowly.
54
What is the relationship between temperature and molecule speed?
Temperature measures the average speed of molecules. Higher temperatures correspond to faster molecule speeds.
55
What is the difference between shortwave and longwave radiation?
- Shortwave radiation: Emitted by the Sun, includes visible light (peak at ~0.5 µm). - Longwave radiation: Emitted by Earth, primarily infrared (peak at ~10 µm).
56
How do clouds influence temperature during the day and night?
- Day: Clouds cool Earth by blocking sunlight. - Night: Clouds trap heat, keeping the surface warmer.
57
What are the feedback mechanisms in the enhanced greenhouse effect?
1. Water vapor feedback: Warming increases water vapor, which enhances the greenhouse effect. 2. Albedo feedback: Melting ice and snow reduces Earth's reflectivity, increasing heat absorption.
58
What determines whether sunlight is reflected or scattered?
- Reflection: Light is sent backward, like a mirror. - Scattering: Light is deflected in all directions by small particles or molecules.
59
What is Earth's albedo, and what does it mean?
Earth's average albedo is 30%, meaning 30% of incoming solar radiation is reflected or scattered back into space.
60
What are the primary sources of ozone depletion?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other human-made chemicals release chlorine, which destroys stratospheric ozone.
61
What is beam spreading and how does it affect solar energy?
Beam spreading occurs when sunlight strikes Earth at an angle, distributing energy over a larger area, and reducing intensity.
62
What is the specific heat capacity of water, and why is it important?
Water has a high specific heat capacity (4186 J/kg°C), allowing it to absorb and store large amounts of heat, moderating Earth's climate.
63
How does altitude affect temperature?
Temperature decreases with altitude in the troposphere at a rate of ~6.5 K/km. Higher altitudes generally have thinner air and lower temperatures.
64
What is the role of the thermosphere in absorbing solar radiation?
The thermosphere absorbs highly energetic solar radiation through residual oxygen, causing temperatures to increase with height in this layer.
65
What is latent heat, and how does it impact the atmosphere?
Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released during a phase change (e.g., evaporation or condensation). It plays a key role in driving atmospheric processes like cloud formation and weather systems.

GEOL 1347 (4 decks)

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