meteorology/atmosphere Flashcards
what is meteorology?
the scientific study of the atmosphere and atmospheric phenomena; the study of weather and climate
what are the gases that make up the atmosphere?
nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21%, others (carbon dioxide, argon, all others) 1%
what are the variable components of the atmosphere?
water vapor, aerosols, ozone
what does water vapor do for the atmosphere?
-source of precipitation
-absorbs heat
-can transport latent heat from one region to another
what do aerosols do for the atmosphere?
-fine suspeneded particles and/or liquid droplets
-act as a surfaces on which water vapor can condense
-absorb, reflect, and scatter incoming solar radiation
what does the ozone do for the atmosphere?
O3
-absorbs UV
what are the 4 atmospheric layers based on temperature?
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
what is the troposphere?
temperature decreases with an increase in altitude
what is the stratosphere?
temperatures increase in the stratosphere because it is in this layer that the atmosphere’s ozone is concentrated
what is the mesosphere?
-temperatures decrease with altitude
-least explored regions of atmosphere
-cannot be reached by balloons, nor is it accessible to satellites
what is the thermosphere?
-has no well-defined upper limit
-temperatures increase with altitude
what changes with altitude?
air pressure
