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Spring 2023 > MEA 130 > Flashcards

MEA 130 Flashcards

1
Q

Weather

A

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

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2
Q

What are the seven elements of weather?

A

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

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3
Q

Climate

A

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

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4
Q

Temperature

A

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

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5
Q

Pressure

A

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

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6
Q

Moisture

A

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

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7
Q

Clouds

A

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

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8
Q

Precipitation

A

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

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9
Q

Wind

A

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

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10
Q

Visibility

A

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

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11
Q

Troposphere

A

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

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12
Q

Tropopause

A

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

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13
Q

Stratosphere

A

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

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14
Q

Stratopause

A

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

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15
Q

Mesosphere

A

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

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16
Q

Mesopause

A

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

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17
Q

Thermosphere

A

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.

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18
Q

Meterology

A

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’.

19
Q

Atmosphere

A

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

20
Q

Permanent Gases

A

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

21
Q

Variable Gases

A

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

22
Q

Trace Gases/Semigases

A

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

23
Q

Source

A

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

24
Q

Sink

A

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

25
Q

Greenhouse Gas

A

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

26
Q

What are the most abundant Greenhouse Gases?

A

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

27
Q

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

A

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

28
Q

What is the Ozone Hole?

A

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

29
Q

How much ozone can one atom of Chlorine destroy?

A

1 Cl atom destroys 100,000 Ozone molecules.

30
Q

Rawinsondes

A

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

31
Q

Radiosondes

A

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

32
Q

Density

A

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

33
Q

Air Pressure

A

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

34
Q

Average Lapse Rate

A

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

35
Q

Mean Free Path

A

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

36
Q

Absolute Zero

A

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

37
Q

Sublimation

A

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

38
Q

Deposition

A

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

39
Q

Latent Heat

A

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

40
Q

CONDUCTION

A

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.)

41
Q

CONVECTION

A

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.)

42
Q

ADVECTION

A

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

43
Q

RADIATION

A

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.)

Spring 2023 (2 decks)

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