Final 3 Flashcards
Approximately how much of the Earth is covered in water?
71%
Which hemisphere is known as the “Land Hemisphere”?
North Hemisphere
Which ocean is the largest?
Pacific
What is the maximum amount of water in the air normally? Up to__%
4
“Frontal wedging” in the atmosphere occurs on the plains when___
warm and cold air collide creating a front and warm air is forced upward.
The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is___
Nitrogen
Processes in which dust in the atmosphere is involved.
Reflection of solar energy. Optical phenomena such as red sky at sunset. Condensation and cloud formation.
50% of the gases making up the atmosphere are found below___
3 1/2mile (5.6km)
Earth receives energy from the sun in what way?
Radiation
The two most important heat-absorbing gases in the lower atmosphere are__
Water Vapor and Carbon Dioxide
A wintertime form of precipitation that consist of small ice particles is called__
Sleet
What is the water equivalent of snow accumulation?
10 inches of snow equals 1 inch of water
Which would NOT be associated with stable atmospheric conditions? 1. Widespread fog 2. Temperature inversion 3. Dreary overcast with light drizzle. 4 Afternoon Thunderstorms.
- Afternoon Thunderstorms
Deserts such as the Death Valley region of the US are examples of___
Rain shadow deserts
The change from gas to liquid is___
Condensation
To change water to gas, latent heat of vaporization must be absorbed by the water. This does not change the temperature, only the physical state. The amount of energy needed to change water to gas is___
600 calories
The term used to describe the convection of a solid directly to a gas, without passing through the liquid state.
Sublimation
The weight of a column of air above the surface at sea level is about___
14.7 lbs per square inch
The standard sea level pressure in inches of mercury is___
29.92 inches
The Mercurial barometer was invented by__
Torricelli
The force that generates wind is__
Pressure gradient force
Lines on a weather map connecting places of equal air pressure are called___
Isobars
Closely spaced isobars often indicate___
Strong winds
Widely spaced isobars often indicate___
Light winds
Upper air winds are__
generally faster than surface winds
Global wind and pressure patterns associated with low-pressure regions tend to have___
Ascending air. Convergent winds. and Ample precipitation.
Most of the US is situated in which zone of prevailing winds?
Westerlies
What is a Gyre?
A huge circular moving current that dominates the surface of the ocean.
What is the size of a typical raindrop?
2mm
The type of fog that forms as warm air moves over a cool surface is called___
Advection fog
An air mass from the Gulf of Mexico is labeled___
mT
On a weather map, ___ fronts are shown with a line with triangular points on one side.
Cold Front
The geologic term for flat-topped volcanic structures located on the floor of the deep ocean basin is a___
Guyot
Large air masses moving form the Gulf of Mexico into the central USA would be coded as___
mT
Properties of a large air mass.
1000 mi or more across. Similar temperatures at any given altitude. Similar moisture at any given altitude.
MOHS hardness mineral with a hardness of 3___
Calcite
The ion at the center of a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron is surrounded by___
Four oxygen ions
Obsidian exhibits a ___ texture.
Glassy
What property describes light reflecting off a mineral?
Luster
The tropopause is the boundary between ___ and ___.
Troposphere and stratosphere.
ozone is concentrated in the__
Stratosphere
The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are__
Radio
On average, how much of the sun’s energy that is intercepted by the earth is reflected back to space?
30%
The high cloud form that is best described as wispy sheets or thin layers that cover much or all of the sky(high, thin, and white) is termed___
Cirrus
The cloud form that consists of globular cloud masses that take on a billowy or “cauliflowerlike” structure and is associated with fair weather is called___
Cumulus
Thunder and lightning are associated with these clouds.
Cumulonimbus
This cloud may develop an “anvil head.”
Cumulonimbus
2 major gases.
Oxygen 21% and Nitrogen 78%
Tropsphere
Bottom layer (where we live) 3.5°f per 1000ft
Stratosphere
ABout 12-50 km
Mesosphere
about 50-80km
Thermosphere
No defined upper limit, gases moving at high speed.
Summer solstice
June 21-22
Winter solstice
December 21-22
Heat is measured in calories.
One calorie is defined as the heat necessary to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celcius.
Latent heat is also called __ or __ heat.
Stored and hidden
solid to liquid
80 calories
Liquid to gas
600 calories
Solid straight to gas (sublime)
680 calories
Air Masses: P, T, c, m
Polar - High altitudes, and cold.
Tropical - Low altitudes, and warm.
continental - Form over land, Dry.
maritime - Form over water, humid
What two cycles do glaciers belong to?
Hydrologic and rock
Two types of Glaciers.
Valley and ice sheets
Where do crevices form?
Uppermost brittle ice.
Zone of accumulation.
The area where glaciers form.
Zone of wastage.
Are where there is net loss due to melting.
Four types of moraines produced by glaciers.
Lateral, Medial, End, and Ground
Kettle:
A hole carved out by a glacier
Esker:
Ridges of sediment left by glacier
How long ago did the ice age start?
2-3 million years ago
Products of interior drainage in the basin and range landscape.
Alluvial Fans, Bajadas, Playas, Playa lake
Loess:
Deposit of windblown silt
What does the most erosional work in the desert?
Running water
