MEA 130

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

The specific conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.

Question 2

What are the seven elements of weather?

Answer 2

Temperature, pressure, moisture, clouds, precipitation, wind, and visibility.

Question 3

Climate

Answer 3

“Average weather” or the mean conditions of the seven weather elements over a 30-year period of time.

Question 4

Temperature

Answer 4

The degree of hotness or coldness. Units are Fahrenheit (F), Celsius (C), and Kelvin (K).

Question 5

Pressure

Answer 5

The weight of the air above an area. Units are inches of mercury (Hg) or millibars (mb or mbar).

Question 6

Moisture

Answer 6

A measure of water content in the atmosphere. Measured in relative humidity (%) or dewpoint (F, C, K)

Question 7

Clouds

Answer 7

A visible mass of suspended water droplets and/or ice crystals. Measured in cloud type, cloud cover, and height.

Question 8

Precipitation

Answer 8

Any form of water falling to the surface of the Earth. Measured in precipitation type (rain, snow, ice) or amount (in, ft, m, etc.)

Question 9

Wind

Answer 9

Movement of the air. Measured in speed (mph, knots, m/s) or direction (quadrants, degrees). Direction is where the wind is coming FROM

Question 10

Visibility

Answer 10

The farthest distance one can see. Units are miles or kilometers.

Question 11

Troposphere

Answer 11

The lowest region of the atmosphere. Extends up to 11km above Earth. Almost all weather occurs in this layer. Temperature decreases.

Question 12

Tropopause

Answer 12

The boundary between the Troposphere and the Stratosphere. Temperature becomes constant.

Question 13

Stratosphere

Answer 13

In between the Troposphere and the Mesosphere. Extends from the Troposphere to about 50 km about Earth. Temperature increases.

Question 14

Stratopause

Answer 14

The boundary between the Stratosphere and the Mesosphere. Temperature becomes constant.

Question 15

Mesosphere

Answer 15

In between the Stratosphere and the Thermosphere. Extends from the Stratosphere to about 85km above Earth. Temperature decreases.

Question 16

Mesopause

Answer 16

The boundary between the Mesosphere and the Thermosphere. Temperature becomes constant.

Question 17

Thermosphere

Answer 17

The highest level of the atmosphere (that we’re studying). Extends from the Mesosphere to anywhere from 500km to 1000km above Earth. Temperature increases and plateaus.

Question 18

Meterology

Answer 18

The study of the atmosphere and its phenomena. Derived from the Greek word “meteoros”, meaning ‘high in the air’ or ‘anything seen in the sky’.

Question 19

Atmosphere

Answer 19

the thin, gaseous envelope that surrounds Earth. 99% of the atmosphere lies within 30km of the Earth’s surface.

Question 20

Permanent Gases

Answer 20

Gases that stay at a consistent concentration, regardless of location. Ex: Nitrogen.

Question 21

Variable Gases

Answer 21

Gases whose levels are affected by environmental factors. Ex: Carbon Dioxide levels fluctuate depending on sources from the Earth, like car exhaust fumes.

Question 22

Trace Gases/Semigases

Answer 22

Atmospheric gases with a very small concentration. Ex: Carbon Dioxide and Ozone.

Question 23

Source

Answer 23

A process that allows gas to enter the atmosphere. Ex: the decay of plant and animal material releases Nitrogen.

Question 24

Sink

Answer 24

A process that removes gas from the atmosphere. Ex: condensation, deposition, and precipitation.

Question 25

Greenhouse Gas

Answer 25

Any gas in the atmosphere that absorbs infrared radiation (any wavelength higher than 700nm).

Question 26

What are the most abundant Greenhouse Gases?

Answer 26

Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide, Methane, Ozone, and CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons).

Question 27

Are increased rates of ozone in the Troposphere good or bad?

Answer 27

Bad, they are harmful to humans. We want ozone gas to increase in the Stratosphere.

Question 28

What is the Ozone Hole?

Answer 28

Not an actual hole... it's simply the reduction of Stratospheric Ozone in the atmosphere.

Question 29

How much ozone can one atom of Chlorine destroy?

Answer 29

1 Cl atom destroys 100,000 Ozone molecules.

Question 30

Rawinsondes

Answer 30

Measures the vertical distribution of temperature, pressure, humidity, AND wind.

Question 31

Radiosondes

Answer 31

Measures the vertical distribution of temperature, pressure, and humidity.

Question 32

Density

Answer 32

The ratio of the mass of air atoms and molecules to the amount of space between them. p = mass/volume

Question 33

Air Pressure

Answer 33

The weight of the atmosphere above a given point. force/area, with force = mass * acceleration

Question 34

Average Lapse Rate

Answer 34

The rate at which the temperature (T) decreases through the layers of the atmosphere. This rate varies daily and seasonally.

Question 35

Mean Free Path

Answer 35

The average distance one molecule must travel before it encounters another molecule.

Question 36

Absolute Zero

Answer 36

The theoretical temperature at which all atoms and molecules stop moving. Measured in Kelvin.

Question 37

Sublimation

Answer 37

The change in matter from a solid to a vapor; completely skips the liquid state. Heat energy is taken from the environment.

Question 38

Deposition

Answer 38

The change in matter from a vapor to a solid; completely skips the liquid state. Heat energy is given to the environment.

Question 39

Latent Heat

Answer 39

The heat energy required to change the state of matter. Reappears as "sensible heat", which is the heat we can feel and measure.

Question 40

CONDUCTION

Answer 40

transfer of heat energy by molecular activity from one substance to another or within a substance. Always hot to cold. Air is a POOR conductor. (Example - cuddling.)

Question 41

CONVECTION

Answer 41

Transfer of heat by the mass movement of air in the VERTICAL direction. (Think about steam coming off of a pot... it flows upwards out of the water.)

Question 42

ADVECTION

Answer 42

Transfer of heat by the mass movement of air in the HORIZONTAL direction.

Question 43

RADIATION

Answer 43

The transfer of heat through the propagation of electromagnetic waves; only releases heat when striking an object. Occurs at the speed of light. (Example - lightning.)