geog 209

Question 1

Air Pressure

Answer 1

Pressure is force applied per unit area
Density is mass per unit volume
Gas law (P=TpC)

Question 2

Vertical Comp of atmosphere

Answer 2

1.Troposphere
2.Stratosphere
3.Mesosphere
4.Thermosphere

Question 3

Energy 2 types

Answer 3

Changing internal energy requires ‘work’ & everything else.
Internal stored energy
Kinetic ( movement relative to centre of mass )
Potential ( Energy that holds bonds together)

Question 4

Energy transfer types

Answer 4

Conduction-when molecules collide and transfer heat
Convection heat by fluid ( water or air vertically)
Advection (by transport i.e. wind horizontally)
Radiation ( electromagnetic waves )

Question 5

Radiation laws

Answer 5

Radiant energy (electromagnetic radiation from sun)

Stefan boltzmann’s law (Proportional energy emitted to temp)

Weins law
3000(K)/T(K)

Kirchhoff’s Law
good absorbers are good emitters, and poor absorbers are poor emitters

Question 6

Earths radiative balance

Answer 6

• Earth emits long term radiation
• Water vapour condenses releasing heat
• Air in contact with earth gains energy
• Balance between incoming shortwave and emitted long wave

Question 7

Frost

Answer 7

Sources : inversion
Mitigation: wind, heat

Question 8

Saturation

Answer 8

• Evaporating and Condensing molecules are equal
• Impacted by temp ( easier with cold air)
• Water vapour required to saturate air at any temp

Question 9

Dew Point Definition

Answer 9

temperature to which the air would be cooled (with no change in water vapour or air pressure) for saturation to occur

Question 10

Measures of humidity

Answer 10

Absolute: mass of water vapour per volume of air
Specific (mass of water vapour per total mass of air (kg/g)
Saturation, Mixing, Vapour

Question 11

Pressure types

Answer 11

Partial pressure: total pressure inside a parcel due to molecule collisions
Vapour pressure: atmospheric pressure exerted by water vapour
Saturation vapour pressure: total pressure when saturation ( more temp needs more water for saturation)

Question 12

Formation of dew and frost

Answer 12

Dew
- Clear
- Cool ground
- Air at dew point
Frost
- White frost forms on freezing surface past dew point

Question 13

Fog

Answer 13

• Formed on condensation nuclei by cooling air below saturation point or by evaporation and mixing
• Maintained by new droplets forming
  Fog Types
• Mixing fog from two air pockets of different temps
• Upslope fog air rises cools and forms fog
• Advection fog Warm air moving over cold surface such as ocean
• Radiation fog (moist air with cold ground
  Fog Mitigation
• Warm fog

Question 14

Basic cloud types

Answer 14

Basic types of clouds
* Cirrus ( wispy)
* Stratus (layer)
* Cumulus (puffy)
* Nimbus (rain cloud)

Question 15

Cloud classifications

Answer 15

High clouds (Cirrus)
- Thin
- Ice
- Elevation

Middle clouds (Cirrostratus)
- Water droplets
- Puffer
- 1k thick or less
Nimbostratus - low clouds
- Blanket of clouds low down in atmosphere
- Can be one thick layer
-
Clouds with vertical development (cumulus)
- Fair weather
- Puffs of cotton
- Typical short duration
- Height changes

Lenticular clouds
* Air forced up creates cloud
* Flat and rounded like a ufo/saucer
* Created by air moving over cloud