LECTURE 2.1: Hydrology (The Atmosphere)

Question 1

It is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and short term forecasting

Answer 1

Meteorology

Question 2

These are observable weather events which illuminate and are explained by the science of meteorology

Answer 2

Meteorological Phenomena

Question 3

Refers to the gases surrounding a star or planetary body held in place by gravity

Answer 3

Atmosphere

Question 4

What is the composition of earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 4

21% - Oxygen
78% - Nitrogen
0.09% - Argon
0.03% - Carbon Dioxide
0.07% - Trace Substances

Question 5

What are the trace substances in the atmosphere?

Answer 5

Neon
Helium
Methane
Water Vapor
Krypton
Hydrogen
Xenon
Ozone

Question 6

What are the different layers of the earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 6

Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere

Question 7

• the lowest layer and closest to the Earth’s surface
• contains approximately 75% of the Earth’s atmosphere
• about 99% of the total atmospheric water vapors and aerosols are presebt

Answer 7

Troposphere

Question 8

• found to be the high-temperature region and the temperature decrease along with increased altitude

Answer 8

Troposphere

Question 9

The outer membrane of the troposphere is called?

Answer 9

Tropopause

Question 10

What happens when the temperature rises, the density is low

Answer 10

Troposphere Expansion

Question 11

What happens when there is a decrease in temperature, the density is high

Answer 11

Troposphere contraction

Question 12

• the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere
• the significance of this region is the presence of an ozone layer
• the temperature increases along with an increase in altitude
• atmospheric condition is stable

Answer 12

Stratosphere

Question 13

The outermost region of tge stratosphere is called?

Answer 13

Stratopause

Question 14

It is a special kind of cloud found in tye lower layer of the stratosphere

Answer 14

Nacrose

Question 15

• the coldest region of the Earth’s atmosphere is found in the mesosphere
• a few weather condutions like a particular type of cloud formed here
• also known for the destructive region for meteors

Answer 15

Mesosphere

Question 16

It is the outermost region of the mesosphere

Answer 16

Mesopause

Question 17

This is a type of cloud formed in the layer of mesosphere

Answer 17

Polar mesospheric noctilucent cloud

Question 18

• the height of this layer varies due to increased solar activities
• temperature may reach 1500 degrees celsius yet, due to the least number of atoms, the heat energy remains
• auroras are also seen in this sphere specifically in the ionosphere
• hydrogen and helium ions are present in the outer layer of this sphere

Answer 18

Thermosphere

Question 19

This is where the international space station is located

Answer 19

Thermosphere

Question 20

• the outermost layer of the atmosphere that directly connects with space
• atoms and molecules are present in this region and move extremely fast
• a very thin layer of air is present in this layer

Answer 20

Exosphere

Question 21

It is the condition of the atmosphere in one place during a short period of time

Answer 21

Weather

Question 22

It is a weather pattern typical for an area over a long period of time

Answer 22

Climate

Question 23

It is the ability of the atmosphere to retain its position and determines the motion of air particles

Answer 23

Atmospheric Stability

Question 24

These are the types of Atmospheric Stability

Answer 24

Stable
Unstable
Neutral

Question 25

This refers to the volume of air, large enough to contain a great number of molecules, but small enough so hat energy (heat) and mass (air molecules) are nearly constant within boundaries

Answer 25

Air Parcel

Question 26

It means no exchange of energy with the outside environment

Answer 26

Adiabatic

Question 27

These are two types of Adiabatic Process

Answer 27

Adiabatic Cooling Adiabatic Warming

Question 28

The rate of atmosphere decrease of the rising dry air parcel, it is usually 9.8 degrees centigrade per kilometer. Dry condensed less when going and latent heat of evaporation is less compared to normal lapse rate, hence temperature decrease is more with altitude.

Answer 28

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

Question 29

The global average tropospheric lapse rate is 6.5 K/km-1, which is stable dry lifting

Answer 29

Dry Stability

Question 30

The rate of temperature decrease of the rising humid air parcel, it is usually 4.5 degrees cebtigrade per kilometer. The latent heat evaporation is released more when air goes up, hence temperature decrease is less of rising air and creates stability

Answer 30

Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate

Question 31

These are types of Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate

Answer 31

Absolutely Stable Absolutely Unstable Conditionally Unstable

Question 32

The atmosphere is said to be in this condition if the environmental lapse rate is less than the moist adiabatic lapse rate

Answer 32

Absolutely Stable

Question 33

The atmosphere is said to be in this condition if the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate

Answer 33

Absolutely unstable

Question 34

The atmosphere is said to be in this condition if the environmental lapse rate is between the moist and dry adiabatic lapse rate

Answer 34

Conditionally Unstable

Question 35

Variables influencing the Atmosphere

Answer 35

Temperature Pressure Humidity Cloudiness Winds

Question 36

Different types of instruments

Answer 36

Thermometer Hygrometer Barometer Anemometer Wind Vane

Question 37

It is an instrument used to measure the air temperature

Answer 37

Thermometer

Question 38

It is an instrument used to measure the humidity of the air

Answer 38

Hygrometer

Question 39

It is an instrument used tomeasure air pressure

Answer 39

Barometer

Question 40

It is an instrument used to measure wind speed

Answer 40

Anemometer

Question 41

It is an instrument used to determine the direction from which air is moving and usually mounted at the highest peak on the roof

Answer 41

Wind Vane