Meteorology Flashcards

1
Q

Layer of gas that surrounds the Earth and is kept in place by gravity

A

Atmosphere

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2
Q

Allows life on Earth to exist, providing the air we need to breathe, and also protects us from the sun’s radiation

A

Atmosphere

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3
Q

5 main layers of the atmosphere:

A
  • Exosphere
  • Thermosphere
  • Mesosphere
  • Stratosphere
  • Troposphere
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4
Q

Dry air is made up of approximately X% ____, X% ____, and the remaining X% including ____, ____ ____, and a few other gases

A

78% Nitrogen

21% Oxygen

Remaining 1% including argon, carbon dioxide, and a few other gases

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5
Q

Layer of atmosphere that is 700 to 10,000 km / 440 to 6,200 miles away

A

Exosphere

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6
Q

Layer of atmosphere that is 80 to 700 km / 50 to 440 miles away

A

Thermosphere

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7
Q

Layer of atmosphere that is 50 to 80 km / 31 to 50 miles away

A

Mesosphere

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8
Q

Layer of atmosphere that is 12 to 50 km / 7 to 31 miles away

A

Stratosphere

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9
Q

Layer of atmosphere that is 0 to 12 km / 0 to 7 miles away

A

Troposphere

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10
Q

Uppermost layer of the atmosphere

A

Exosphere

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11
Q

Layer of atmosphere that merges with empty space

A

Exosphere (empty space where there is no atmosphere whatsoever)

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12
Q

Layer of atmosphere where molecules of gas are so far apart that they may be miles away from each other

A

Exosphere

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13
Q

Layer of atmosphere that is far out, but not the furthest

A

Thermosphere

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14
Q

Layer of atmosphere where the International Space Station exists

A

Thermosphere

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15
Q

Temperatures at this layer of atmosphere are extreme, as hot as 1,500°C / 2,700°F

A

Thermosphere

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16
Q

Molecules of gas in this layer of atmosphere are so far apart (miles away from each other) that the extreme temperatures would feel cold

A

Thermosphere

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17
Q

Layer of atmosphere where meteors burn up, making them visible to the naked eye

A

Mesosphere

18
Q

Temperatures at this layer of atmosphere get as cold as -85°C (-120°F)

A

Mesosphere

19
Q

Clouds can form at this layer of atmosphere but they are very difficult to see and require the sun to be at just the right angle, typically around sunrise or sunset

20
Q

Few clouds form here due to lack of weather patterns

A

Stratosphere

21
Q

Atmosphere layer that is the highest altitude in which jet airplanes can fly

A

Statosphere

22
Q

Lowest atmospheric layer, extending from the surface of the Earth to about 7 miles

A

Troposphere

23
Q

Layer of atmosphere where clouds and other weather patterns form, and temperatures are generally stable

A

Troposphere

24
Q

3 main types of clouds:

A
  • Stratus
  • Cumulus
  • Cirrus
25
Clouds that are lowest to the ground (and can actually be at ground level, fog)
Stratus Clouds
26
Clouds that are broad and generally flat, covering large areas
Stratus Clouds
27
When you see dark clouds of this type, you can expect rain
Stratus
28
Clouds that are in-between the lower and higher clouds of the 3 main cloud types and can also turn dark when rain is coming
Cumulus Clouds
29
Clouds that are generally flat on the bottom but look like big puffs of cotton on top
Cumulus Clouds
30
Clouds that exist at very high altitudes, approximately 20,000 ft or more
Cirrus Clouds
31
Clouds that are wispy and thin
Cirrus Clouds
32
End result of this weather front is often precipitation in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail
Warm Front
33
Though there might be some precipitation right before this weather front moves through, there is usually no rain accompanying it
Cold Front
34
You know when this type of weather front comes through because of the sudden drop in temperature
Cold Front
35
The movement of water on Earth and includes all forms of water
The Hydrologic Cycle
36
All forms of water:
- Solid - Liquid - Vapor or gas
37
When the air maximizes the amount of condensed water it can hold, it rains. Snow, hail, and sleet are also forms of this
Precipitation
38
Process where some rain water will end up in underground aquifers
Infiltration
39
After it rains, some of the water starts to evaporate but most of it will ___ ________ __ ______ and ___
run downhill to streams and lakes
40
Process when water vaporizes
Evaporation
41
When water vaporizes directly from plant life, i.e., leaves
Transpiration
42
When vaporized water goes up and forms clouds
Condensation