GEO_Vocab_GP4_Atmosphere Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

cumulus clouds

A

big, white, puffy cloudswith flat bottoms. When they get saturated they get dark and can produce thunderstorms (cumulonimbus clounds)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

alto

A

prefix for clouds that form at middle altitudes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

A circular movement of air caused by the continual process of rising and falling air.

A

Convection current

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

differences in air pressure; the greater the air pressure difference the stronger the wind.

A

wind created by

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

occurs when cold and warm air meet and stay fairly still. Weather can be similar to that of a warm front

A

stationary front

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Ozone layer

A

This absorbs UV light and protects the Earth. Part of the stratosphere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

hail

A

lumps of ice which form in layers high up in the air; the ice will fall towards the ground until an updraft brings it higher where it will freeze, then fall again and repeat the process many times

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

thin feathery clouds made of ice that form at high altitudes.

A

cirrus clouds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

warm front

A

occurs when warm air mass slowly moves ofer and replaces cold air creating drizzly precipitation and warm weathe rafter it has passed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Convection

A

Transfer of thermal energy by the circulation of a fluid (air or liquid)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

fossil fuels

A

petroleum, coal, natural gas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

global warming

A

throughout history humans have burned fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, natural gas) which release carbon dioxide into the air. This increase in greeenhouse gases has caused the Earth’s climate to warm at a rate faster than ever before. This warming of the earth is called _____ _____.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The layer that is 16-50 km in altitude and is very thin except for the upper portion which contains a large amount of ozone.

A

Stratosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Transfer of energy from one thing to another by direct contact.

A

Conduction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

a stratus cloud that is formed when water vapor condenses near the ground

A

fog

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

weather

A

the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place. Formed and defined by many different characteristics such as temperature, hunidity, precipitation and air pressure.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

fog

A

a stratus cloud that is formed when water vapor condenses near the ground

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place. Formed and defined by many different characteristics such as temperature, hunidity, precipitation and air pressure.

A

weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

freezing rain; the liquid water droplets freeze as they fall to Earth

A

sleet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

strato

A

prefix for clouds that form at low altitudes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

big, white, puffy cloudswith flat bottoms. When they get saturated they get dark and can produce thunderstorms (cumulonimbus clounds)

A

cumulus clouds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Greenhouse Effect

A

This occurs when the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap thermal energy and keep the planet warm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The layer closest to the earth’s surface from 0-16km in altitude. It contains about 90% of the atmosphere’s air. CO2, water vapor, clouds, air pollution and weather all reside in this layer.

A

Troposphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

This absorbs UV light and protects the Earth. Part of the stratosphere.

A

Ozone layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Conduction

A

Transfer of energy from one thing to another by direct contact.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

snow

A

the most common form of solid precipitation; it is made up of ice crystals when water freezes very quickly.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

The layer from 50-80km and is a cold, thin layer with heavy winds.

A

Mesosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

throughout history humans have burned fossil fuels (petroleum, coal, natural gas) which release carbon dioxide into the air. This increase in greeenhouse gases has caused the Earth’s climate to warm at a rate faster than ever before. This warming of the earth is called _____ _____.

A

global warming

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

thunderstorms

A

cumulonimbus clouds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

The height of an object above the Earth’s surface

A

Altitude

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

occurs when cold air displaces warm air, pushing it up and often creating thunderstorms , rain or snow, followed by cold weather

A

cold front

23
Q

cold front

A

occurs when cold air displaces warm air, pushing it up and often creating thunderstorms , rain or snow, followed by cold weather

24
Q

This occurs when the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap thermal energy and keep the planet warm.

A

Greenhouse Effect

26
Q

Radiation

A

Transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.

28
Q

move across the entire Earth in specific directions.

A

global winds

29
Q

Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane

A

greenhouse gases

30
Q

Transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves.

A

Radiation

31
Q

sleet

A

freezing rain; the liquid water droplets freeze as they fall to Earth

32
Q

Transfer of thermal energy by the circulation of a fluid (air or liquid)

A

Convection

33
Q

front

A

the boundary formed when two air masses with different characteristics collide

35
Q

stationary front

A

occurs when cold and warm air meet and stay fairly still. Weather can be similar to that of a warm front

36
Q

prefix for clouds that form at high altitudes

A

cirro

37
Q

cirrus clouds

A

thin feathery clouds made of ice that form at high altitudes.

38
Q

liquid precipitation

A

rain

40
Q

petroleum, coal, natural gas

A

fossil fuels

41
Q

Thermosphere

A

Highest layer from 80-600 km, and is a thin layer with a high temperature.

42
Q

prefix for clouds that form at low altitudes

A

strato

43
Q

cirro

A

prefix for clouds that form at high altitudes

44
Q

local winds

A

move short distances and can blow in any direction

46
Q

rain

A

liquid precipitation

47
Q

global winds

A

move across the entire Earth in specific directions.

48
Q

Convection current

A

A circular movement of air caused by the continual process of rising and falling air.

49
Q

lumps of ice which form in layers high up in the air; the ice will fall towards the ground until an updraft brings it higher where it will freeze, then fall again and repeat the process many times

A

hail

50
Q

form in layers and cover wide areas.

A

stratus clouds

52
Q

cumulonimbus clouds

A

thunderstorms

54
Q

the most common form of solid precipitation; it is made up of ice crystals when water freezes very quickly.

A

snow

55
Q

occluded front

A

occurs when a cold fron overtakes a wanr front forcing the warm air up. This type of front bring cold temperatures and a lot of precipitation.

56
Q

Stratosphere

A

The layer that is 16-50 km in altitude and is very thin except for the upper portion which contains a large amount of ozone.

57
Q

Troposphere

A

The layer closest to the earth’s surface from 0-16km in altitude. It contains about 90% of the atmosphere’s air. CO2, water vapor, clouds, air pollution and weather all reside in this layer.

58
Q

prefix for clouds that form at middle altitudes

A

alto

59
Q

Ionosphere

A

Upper part of the mesosphere and the lower part of the thermosphere make up this layer. This layer absorbs x-rays and gamma rays. This energy can create ions which make colorful displays called auroras.

60
Q

occurs when a cold fron overtakes a wanr front forcing the warm air up. This type of front bring cold temperatures and a lot of precipitation.

A

occluded front

61
Q

Atmosphere

A

A mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth

62
Q

a large body of air with a similar temperature and humidity throughout; characteristics depend on where they form

A

air mass

62
Q

the boundary formed when two air masses with different characteristics collide

A

front

64
Q

move short distances and can blow in any direction

A

local winds

65
Q

A mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth

A

Atmosphere

67
Q

Altitude

A

The height of an object above the Earth’s surface

68
Q

Highest layer from 80-600 km, and is a thin layer with a high temperature.

A

Thermosphere

69
Q

wind created by

A

differences in air pressure; the greater the air pressure difference the stronger the wind.

70
Q

stratus clouds

A

form in layers and cover wide areas.

71
Q

occurs when warm air mass slowly moves ofer and replaces cold air creating drizzly precipitation and warm weathe rafter it has passed

A

warm front

72
Q

Mesosphere

A

The layer from 50-80km and is a cold, thin layer with heavy winds.

74
Q

Upper part of the mesosphere and the lower part of the thermosphere make up this layer. This layer absorbs x-rays and gamma rays. This energy can create ions which make colorful displays called auroras.

A

Ionosphere

75
Q

air mass

A

a large body of air with a similar temperature and humidity throughout; characteristics depend on where they form

76
Q

greenhouse gases

A

Carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane