Meteorology

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Atmosphere

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Atmosphere

Question 3

5 main layers of the atmosphere:

Answer 3

• Exosphere
• Thermosphere
• Mesosphere
• Stratosphere
• Troposphere

Question 4

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

Answer 4

78% Nitrogen

21% Oxygen

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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Exosphere

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Thermosphere

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Mesosphere

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Stratosphere

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Troposphere

Question 10

Uppermost layer of the atmosphere

Answer 10

Exosphere

Question 11

Layer of atmosphere that merges with empty space

Answer 11

Exosphere (empty space where there is no atmosphere whatsoever)

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Exosphere

Question 13

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

Answer 13

Thermosphere

Question 14

Layer of atmosphere where the International Space Station exists

Answer 14

Thermosphere

Question 15

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

Answer 15

Thermosphere

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Thermosphere

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Mesosphere

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Mesosphere

Question 19

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

Answer 19

Mesophere

Question 20

Few clouds form here due to lack of weather patterns

Answer 20

Stratosphere

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Statosphere

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Troposphere

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Troposphere

Question 24

3 main types of clouds:

Answer 24

• Stratus
• Cumulus
• Cirrus

Question 25

Clouds that are lowest to the ground (and can actually be at ground level, fog)

Answer 25

Stratus Clouds

Question 26

Clouds that are broad and generally flat, covering large areas

Answer 26

Stratus Clouds

Question 27

When you see dark clouds of this type, you can expect rain

Answer 27

Stratus

Question 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

Answer 28

Cumulus Clouds

Question 29

Clouds that are generally flat on the bottom but look like big puffs of cotton on top

Answer 29

Cumulus Clouds

Question 30

Clouds that exist at very high altitudes, approximately 20,000 ft or more

Answer 30

Cirrus Clouds

Question 31

Clouds that are wispy and thin

Answer 31

Cirrus Clouds

Question 32

End result of this weather front is often precipitation in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail

Answer 32

Warm Front

Question 33

Though there might be some precipitation right before this weather front moves through, there is usually no rain accompanying it

Answer 33

Cold Front

Question 34

You know when this type of weather front comes through because of the sudden drop in temperature

Answer 34

Cold Front

Question 35

The movement of water on Earth and includes all forms of water

Answer 35

The Hydrologic Cycle

Question 36

All forms of water:

Answer 36

• Solid
• Liquid
• Vapor or gas

Question 37

When the air maximizes the amount of condensed water it can hold, it rains. Snow, hail, and sleet are also forms of this

Answer 37

Precipitation

Question 38

Process where some rain water will end up in underground aquifers

Answer 38

Infiltration

Question 39

After it rains, some of the water starts to evaporate but most of it will ___ ________ __ ______ and ___

Answer 39

run downhill to streams and lakes

Question 40

Process when water vaporizes

Answer 40

Evaporation

Question 41

When water vaporizes directly from plant life, i.e., leaves

Answer 41

Transpiration

Question 42

When vaporized water goes up and forms clouds

Answer 42

Condensation