meteorology- atmosphere

Question 1

The atmosphere is the envelope of ______ that surrounds the earth, travels with it through space, and __________ with it.
Air is the ________ of gases comprising the atmosphere.
____________ mixing maintains a high degree of constancy in the _________ of air.

Answer 1

gases
rotates
mixture
turbulent
composition

Question 2

Average values are:
Nitrogen __.__%
Oxygen __.__%
Argon _.__%
Carbon Dioxide _.__%

Answer 2

78.09
20.95
0.93
0.03

Question 3

What does the ozone absorb?

Answer 3

ultraviolet light

Question 4

How does carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere

Answer 4

animal exhalation and fuel combustion

Question 5

What is carbon dioxide balanced out by

Answer 5

plant absorption

Question 6

What is specific heat

Answer 6

the amount of heat required to change temperature.

Question 7

What is latent heat

Answer 7

the amount of heat required to change state.

Question 8

How do solid particles of dust, sand, smoke, salt, volcanic ash, meteoric debris (20 t/d) and bacteria also affect meteorological processes

Answer 8

by their effect on solar radiation and by providing hygroscopic nuclei for
condensation of water vapour.

Question 9

How are the subsections of the atmosphere measured

Answer 9

By a radiosonde

Question 10

What is a radiosonde

Answer 10

a lightweight instrument package and radio
transmitter carried aloft by balloon released from shore stations and ships.

Question 11

What does a radiosonde transmit

Answer 11

air temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity as they rise through the
atmosphere

Question 12

What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere

Answer 12

Troposphere

Question 13

Characteristics of the troposphere

Answer 13

Temperature decreases with altitude at approximately 6.5°C per km on average, from 15°C at the surface to -54°C.

There are wide local variations, and temperature increases with altitude under certain circumstances.

The troposphere contains approximately 75% of the mass of the atmosphere, and virtually all the water
vapour.

This is the layer in which atmospheric turbulence and weather phenomena occur.

Question 14

2nd layer of atmosphere

Answer 14

Tropopause

Question 15

Characteristics of the tropopause

Answer 15

The tropopause is the upper boundary of the troposphere.

It varies in altitude from approximately 8 km at the poles to approximately 18 km at the equator.
Due to the increase of temperature above this level, an inversion, turbulence is limited to the region
below the tropopause.

Question 16

3rd layer of the atmosphere

Answer 16

Stratosphere

Question 17

Characteristics of the stratosphere

Answer 17

In this layer temperature increases with altitude due to radiation absorption by ozone.

Ozone concentration is high in the stratosphere, the highest concentration being at approximately 22 km.

Question 18

4th layer of the atmosphere

Answer 18

Stratopause

Question 19

Characteristics of the stratopause

Answer 19

The stratopause is the upper boundary of the stratosphere at approximately 48 km.

The highest temperatures associated with radiation absorption by ozone occur at this level and may be
0°C.

Question 20

5th layer of the atmosphere

Answer 20

Mesosphere

Question 21

Characteristics of the mesosphere

Answer 21

The mesosphere is characterised by decreasing temperature with increasing altitude, to approximately
-92°C.

Noctilucent clouds, thought to be formed by ice crystals forming on meteoric dust, occur in this layer.

Question 22

6th layer of the atmosphere

Answer 22

Mesopause

Question 23

Characteristics of the mesopause

Answer 23

The mesopause is the upper boundary of the mesosphere, at approximately 80 km

Question 24

7th layer of the atmosphere

Answer 24

Thermosphere

Question 25

Characteristics of the thermosphere

Answer 25

The thermosphere contains extremely rarefied air in which temperature rises with altitude due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by oxygen. Phenomena such as aurorae due to ionization of the gases occur at altitudes up to 1000 km. The upper limit of the atmosphere is not easily defined.

Question 26

Radiation is

Answer 26

is the transfer of energy that can take place through space where no matter is present.

Question 27

Conduction is

Answer 27

is the transfer of energy directly from particle to particle through a substance.

Question 28

Convection is

Answer 28

is the transfer of energy by bulk movement in fluids.

Question 29

Thermal radiation is

Answer 29

is the transfer of energy by infrared waves.

Question 30

Latent heat is

Answer 30

is the energy involved in a change of state, between solid, liquid and vapour.

Question 31

The frequency of radiation from a body is related to

Answer 31

its surface temp

Question 32

The surface temperature of the sun is approximately

Answer 32

6000 K

Question 33

The surface temperature of the sun is approximately 6000K. The peak radiance at this temperature occurs at a wavelength of

Answer 33

483 nanometres (nm). (nano = 10-9 )

Question 34

The wavelength of solar radiation ranges from approximately

Answer 34

200 nm, X-rays, to 2000 nm, infrared.

Question 35

The band of visible light is from approximately

Answer 35

400 to 740 nm, violet to red.

Question 36

The Solar Constant is the amount of

Answer 36

energy reaching the upper atmosphere

Question 37

The solar constant is

Answer 37

the solar energy incident on unit area, in unit time, on a surface perpendicular to solar radiation.

Question 38

The majority of solar radiation lies in

Answer 38

the visible spectrum, with the next largest portion in the infrared. Components of the atmosphere selectively absorb radiation.

Question 39

Air is virtually _________ to radiation

Answer 39

Transparent

Question 40

Radiation is a ________ by substances in the atmosphere, increasing their ____________. Ozone absorbs approximately _% of solar radiation, principally ______ ______ light in the ____________. Water as vapour and droplets in clouds absorbs approximately __% of solar radiation in the ____________.

Answer 40

absorbed temperature 3 ultra violet stratosphere 15 troposphere

Question 41

Radiation striking clouds, earth and water is partially ______ into space. Approximately __% of solar radiation is reflected by _____ and _% by the surface.

Answer 41

reflected 21 clouds 4

Question 42

Radiation striking particles in the atmosphere is __________ in all directions. Approximately _% of solar radiation is scattered back into _____.

Answer 42

scattered 6 space

Question 43

Insolation is the radiation

Answer 43

reaching the surface and absorbed by land and water.

Question 44

Any body at a temperature above __________ ______radiates energy at a wavelength inversely proportional to its temperature.

Answer 44

absolute zero

Question 45

Overall solar radiation is matched by

Answer 45

reradiation to space and the earth's temperature remains approximately constant, although there are cyclic variations on various time scales.

Question 46

Energy is conducted from

Answer 46

land and water surfaces to air in contact with them.

Question 47

Air heated by conduction moves vertically due to its

Answer 47

reduced density in a convective cycle, carrying energy upward

Question 48

Air moving horizontally carries energy from

Answer 48

area to area

Question 49

Water vapour evaporating from bodies of water and from plants carries

Answer 49

latent heat energy into the atmosphere from the surface.

Question 50

Water vapour condensing into liquid water in the atmosphere releases

Answer 50

latent heat energy into the air.