Meteorology Flashcards
Layer of gas that surrounds the Earth and is kept in place by gravity
Atmosphere
Allows life on Earth to exist, providing the air we need to breathe, and also protects us from the sun’s radiation
Atmosphere
5 main layers of the atmosphere:
- Exosphere
- Thermosphere
- Mesosphere
- Stratosphere
- Troposphere
Dry air is made up of approximately X% ____, X% ____, and the remaining X% including ____, ____ ____, and a few other gases
78% Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
Remaining 1% including argon, carbon dioxide, and a few other gases
Layer of atmosphere that is 700 to 10,000 km / 440 to 6,200 miles away
Exosphere
Layer of atmosphere that is 80 to 700 km / 50 to 440 miles away
Thermosphere
Layer of atmosphere that is 50 to 80 km / 31 to 50 miles away
Mesosphere
Layer of atmosphere that is 12 to 50 km / 7 to 31 miles away
Stratosphere
Layer of atmosphere that is 0 to 12 km / 0 to 7 miles away
Troposphere
Uppermost layer of the atmosphere
Exosphere
Layer of atmosphere that merges with empty space
Exosphere (empty space where there is no atmosphere whatsoever)
Layer of atmosphere where molecules of gas are so far apart that they may be miles away from each other
Exosphere
Layer of atmosphere that is far out, but not the furthest
Thermosphere
Layer of atmosphere where the International Space Station exists
Thermosphere
Temperatures at this layer of atmosphere are extreme, as hot as 1,500°C / 2,700°F
Thermosphere
Molecules of gas in this layer of atmosphere are so far apart (miles away from each other) that the extreme temperatures would feel cold
Thermosphere
Layer of atmosphere where meteors burn up, making them visible to the naked eye
Mesosphere
Temperatures at this layer of atmosphere get as cold as -85°C (-120°F)
Mesosphere
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
Mesophere
Few clouds form here due to lack of weather patterns
Stratosphere
Atmosphere layer that is the highest altitude in which jet airplanes can fly
Statosphere
Lowest atmospheric layer, extending from the surface of the Earth to about 7 miles
Troposphere
Layer of atmosphere where clouds and other weather patterns form, and temperatures are generally stable
Troposphere
3 main types of clouds:
- Stratus
- Cumulus
- Cirrus
Clouds that are lowest to the ground (and can actually be at ground level, fog)
Stratus Clouds
Clouds that are broad and generally flat, covering large areas
Stratus Clouds
When you see dark clouds of this type, you can expect rain
Stratus
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
Clouds that are generally flat on the bottom but look like big puffs of cotton on top
Cumulus Clouds
Clouds that exist at very high altitudes, approximately 20,000 ft or more
Cirrus Clouds
Clouds that are wispy and thin
Cirrus Clouds
End result of this weather front is often precipitation in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail
Warm Front
Though there might be some precipitation right before this weather front moves through, there is usually no rain accompanying it
Cold Front
You know when this type of weather front comes through because of the sudden drop in temperature
Cold Front
The movement of water on Earth and includes all forms of water
The Hydrologic Cycle
All forms of water:
- Solid
- Liquid
- Vapor or gas
When the air maximizes the amount of condensed water it can hold, it rains. Snow, hail, and sleet are also forms of this
Precipitation
Process where some rain water will end up in underground aquifers
Infiltration
After it rains, some of the water starts to evaporate but most of it will ___ ________ __ ______ and ___
run downhill to streams and lakes
Process when water vaporizes
Evaporation
When water vaporizes directly from plant life, i.e., leaves
Transpiration
When vaporized water goes up and forms clouds
Condensation
