General Knowledge Flashcards
What percentage of molecules make up the atmosphere?
78% nitrogen
20% oxygen
2% carbon dioxide and other gases
What factors effect the behaviour of a parcel of air?
Air pressure
Air temperature
The volume of the parcel of air
What is the high concentration of gas that exists 50km above the surface of the Earth
Ozone layer
What is the role of the ozone layer?
The ozone layer absorbs lots of solar radiation
What is terrestrial radiation
The solar radiation that radiates back from the surface, heating lower levels.
What happens to temperature as altitude increases?
The lapse rate is temperature decreasing at a constant rate of 2 degrees celsius per 1000’
What ways are heat transferred?
Radiation - the hotter it is the shorter the wavelength
Absorbtion - different surfaces will absorb varying amounts of heat
Conduction - energy passed between bodies by contact
Convection/thermals - air is heated by the earth, the air expands and rises
What is latent heat?
It is the heat required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapour, or a liquid into a vapour, without change of temperature.
What is advection?
It is the horizontal motion of air.
Cold air replaces warm air that has risen.
How far from the Earth’s surface does the troposphere extend?
Between 8-18kms. 8kms above both poles and 18kms above the equatorial ring.
What happens to temperature as you pass into the tropopause?
Temperature stops decreasing and stabilises.
How does temperature change in the stratosphere?
Temperature increases with altitude.
How does temperature change in the stratopause?
Temperature remains constant.
How does temperature change in the mesosphere?
Temperature decreases as altitude increases.
How does temperature change in the mesopause?
Temperature remains constant.
How does temperature change in the thermosphere?
Temperature increases with altitude.
How is heat transferred to the lower layers of the atmosphere?
Through conduction
What type of heat transfer is responsible for most weather phenomena?
Convection.
What direction does rising air move?
Poleward.
What direction do trade winds come from in the southern hemisphere?
SE
What cell of air sinks as it moves toward the equator and rises as it approaches the poles?
The ferrel cell or mid-latitude cell.
Where are weather phenomena most likely to occur (between which cells)?
Above the equator between the two opposing hadley/tropical cells.
Between the polar and ferrel/mid-latitude cells.
