LAB FINAL Flashcards by Madison Grano

Temperate Conversions

1.8x C + 32 = F
(F-32)/1.8 = C
C + 273 = K
K - 273 = C

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Temperate Scales

Kelvin: science
Celsius : world besides America
Fahrenheit : America

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Lines of Latitude

Tropic of Cancer: 23.5 north
Equator: 0
Tropic of Capricorn: 23.5 south

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Lines of Longitude

Prime Meridian: runs through Greenwich England at 0
International Date Line: 180

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Solstices

Summer: June 21st, sun is the farther east position from the earth
Winter: December 21st, sun is the closest position from earth

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Equinox’s

Spring: March 20, suns declination 0 at equator
Fall: September 22, suns declination 0 at equator

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How to calculate angel of incidence (AOI)

The angle at which the suns rays strike the earth
Formula: AOI = 90 -|Lp +/- Ls|

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Latitude of position (where you are)

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Latitude of sun at the specified date

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Add if…

Opposing hemispheres

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Subtract if…

Same hemisphere

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Always positive and never greater than…

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Stefan Boltzmann Law

The total radiant heat energy emitted from a surface is proportional to the fourth power of its absolute temperature

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Weins Law

The wavelength of the radiation an object emits is inversely proportional to its temp.
Hotter objects give off more light than cooler objects

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Properties of longwave radiation

Infrared light, less energy, heat is termites by the Earth, measured using IR thermometers

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Properties of shortwave radiation

Visible light, lots of energy, heat is emitted by the sun, measured using solar radiation sensors

Albedo

The amount of radiation a surface reflects
High albedo: surface reflects the majority of the radiation; absorbs less
Low albedo: surface reflects a small amount of radiation; absorbs more

Scatterplots

Shows the relationship between two variables
Must include: points, axel labels, units, constant scale on each axis, title n legend

Dew Point

The temp at which a volume of air must be cooled to become saturated with water vapor
More stable than RH

Relative Humidity

A ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the max amount of water possible
Temp and RH have an inverse relationship

Latent heat

The energy stored/released as water changes states

How to measure/find RH

Sling psychrometer
Dry bulb: atmospheric temp
Wet bulb: dew point temp

Types of fronts

Warm, cold, stationary, and occluded

Weather associated with high and low pressure

High pressure: fair weather
Low pressure: stormy weather

How air flows around areas of high and low pressure

High pressure: clockwise in Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in Southern Low pressure: counterclockwise in Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in Southern

Land and sea breezes

Land: during night, wind blows from land to ocean Sea: during day, wind blows from ocean to land

Airflow over mountains

Moist air roses up windward, dry air descends down leeward Warm at bottom of mountain and cold at top, goes warm cold warm

What is a tornado?

- A rapidly spinning vortex of air that extends from the base of a cumulonimbus cloud to the ground; need moisture, mesocyclonic cloud, wind shear, unstable atmosphere - most common in Great Plains and southeastern US, tornado ally and dixie ally - Enhanced Fujita Scale

Watch vs Warning vs Emergency

Watch = conditions are favorable Warning = tornado has been spotted Emergency = violent tornado with threat to life

Koppen Climate Classification System

A: Tropical B: Arid; desert + dry C: Temp mid-latitude; coastal, mild winter D: Harsh mid-latitude; inland, severe winter E: Polar; cold + dry; low precipitation H: Highland; mountain areas

Climographs

A graphical representation of a regions climate by month Uses temp and precipitation Temp is line, precipitation is bars

Climate v Weather

Climate: long-term, large area Weather: short term, small area

Positive and Negative Temp Anomalies

Positive: warmer than average Negative: colder than average

Problems w long term temp data

Instruments improve Collection methods change Weather station location Land use and land cover near weather stations

Dendrochronology

The study of dating annual growth on tree rings Tree rings samples collected using increment borers Width of tree ring tells about environment, wildfires, insect attacks, lightning strikes for that year

Earlywood v Latewood

Earlywood: light colored layer that grows in spring Latewood: dark colored layer that grows in late summer

Permanent Atmospheric Gasses

Nitrogen Oxygen Argon

Variable Atmospheric Gasses

Water vapor Carbon dioxide

Ozone: absorbs most of the suns harmful UV rays

The Greenhouse Effect: process that warms the earths surface