Meterology 2 Flashcards
What are climate elements?
Climate elements are the measurable variables that define the state of the atmosphere over a region.
What are the primary climate elements?
The primary climate elements include temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, air pressure, and solar radiation.
What does temperature measure?
Temperature measures the heat energy in the atmosphere, influencing weather patterns and climate zones.
What is precipitation?
Precipitation includes rain, snow, hail, and other forms of water falling from the atmosphere.
What does humidity refer to?
Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air, affecting comfort and weather systems.
What is wind?
Wind is the horizontal movement of air, critical in heat and moisture transfer.
What is air pressure?
Air pressure is the weight of the air above a location, influencing weather changes and storm development.
What is solar radiation?
Solar radiation is the energy received from the sun, driving atmospheric and oceanic processes.
What are climate factors?
Climate factors are the external or underlying forces that influence the climate of a region over long periods.
What are examples of climate factors?
Examples include latitude, altitude, proximity to water bodies, ocean currents, topography, and vegetation.
These factors shape the overall climate but are not directly measurable as elements.
What is the role of climate elements?
Climate elements describe the state of the atmosphere and are used to calculate averages and variations to classify climates.
What is the difference between weather and climate phenomena?
Weather phenomena are short-term atmospheric events, while climate phenomena are long-term patterns or anomalies in climate.
What are examples of weather phenomena?
Examples include thunderstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and blizzards.
What are examples of climate phenomena?
Examples include El Niño, La Niña, monsoons, and global warming.
How do weather and climate phenomena differ?
Weather phenomena are transient and local, while climate phenomena are broader and represent patterns over time.
What is a summary of climate elements, factors, and phenomena?
Climate elements are specific, measurable variables of the atmosphere; climate factors are the underlying forces that determine a region’s climate; weather is short-term and local, while climate phenomena are long-term and global.
What is the Earth’s energy balance?
The equilibrium between the energy received from the Sun and the energy radiated back into space.
What is solar radiation?
Energy emitted by the Sun in the form of shortwave radiation (visible light, UV rays, etc.).
What percentage of incoming solar radiation is reflected back into space?
About 30% is reflected back into space by clouds, atmospheric particles, and the Earth’s surface.
What happens to the remaining solar radiation?
The remaining 70% is absorbed by the atmosphere, oceans, and land, warming the Earth.
How does the Earth release absorbed energy?
The Earth releases the absorbed energy as longwave infrared radiation (heat) back into space.
What must happen for the Earth’s climate to remain stable?
The energy absorbed must equal the energy emitted.
What occurs if the Earth absorbs more energy than it emits?
The Earth warms up, leading to global warming.
What occurs if the Earth emits more energy than it absorbs?
The Earth cools down, leading to global cooling.
What is the greenhouse effect?
A natural process where certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space.
How do greenhouse gases work?
They absorb infrared radiation re-emitted by the Earth and re-radiate heat in all directions, trapping heat in the atmosphere.
What would the Earth’s average temperature be without the natural greenhouse effect?
Around -18°C, which is too cold to support life.
What is the Earth’s average temperature with the greenhouse effect?
A comfortable 15°C.
What causes the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes release excess greenhouse gases.
What are the impacts of the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, sea-level rise, and more extreme weather events.
Why is understanding the greenhouse effect critical?
It explains the ongoing climate change crisis and the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the effect of latitude on temperature?
Latitude determines how directly sunlight strikes the Earth. At the equator, the Sun’s rays hit more directly, resulting in higher temperatures year-round. Near the poles, the Sun’s rays strike at a lower angle, leading to cooler temperatures.
Tropical regions are hot, while polar regions remain cold.
How does altitude affect temperature?
Temperature decreases with an increase in altitude because the atmosphere becomes thinner and holds less heat at higher elevations. On average, temperature drops by about 6.5°C per 1,000 meters.
Even in tropical regions like the Andes or Himalayas, high-altitude locations experience cold temperatures.
What is the impact of distance from oceans on temperature?
Oceans heat up and cool down more slowly than land. Coastal regions have moderate temperatures due to the ocean’s influence, while inland areas experience extreme temperatures.
Coastal cities like San Francisco have mild climates, whereas inland cities like New Delhi experience extreme heat and cold.
How do ocean currents influence temperature?
Ocean currents distribute heat across the planet. Warm currents increase temperatures in coastal regions, while cold currents lower temperatures in coastal areas.
Western Europe has milder winters than other areas at the same latitude due to the Gulf Stream.
What role do prevailing winds play in temperature?
Winds transport air masses with specific temperatures and moisture. Winds from oceans bring cooler, wetter air, while winds from deserts bring hot, dry air.
Westerly winds in Europe bring moderate air from the Atlantic Ocean, while winds from the Sahara Desert heat up parts of North Africa.
How does cloud cover affect temperature?
Clouds act as a natural insulator. During the day, clouds reflect sunlight, keeping temperatures lower. At night, clouds trap heat, keeping temperatures higher.
Cloudy nights in tropical regions are warmer than clear nights.
What is surface albedo and its effect on temperature?
Albedo refers to the reflectivity of a surface. Light-colored surfaces reflect more sunlight, resulting in lower temperatures, while dark-colored surfaces absorb more sunlight, increasing temperatures.
Snow-covered regions stay cooler, while urban areas with dark asphalt surfaces tend to heat up more.
How does vegetation influence temperature?
Vegetation influences temperature by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing moisture through transpiration, which cools the air. Deforestation reduces this cooling effect, increasing local temperatures.
Forested areas have cooler microclimates compared to urban areas with little vegetation.
What is the urban heat island effect?
Urban areas generate and retain more heat due to buildings, roads, and vehicles, causing the urban heat island effect, resulting in cities being warmer than surrounding rural areas.
Cities like New York or Tokyo are noticeably warmer than nearby countryside areas.
How do seasons and Earth’s tilt affect temperature?
The Earth’s axial tilt causes seasons, influencing the angle and duration of sunlight. During summer, the hemisphere tilted toward the Sun receives more direct sunlight, leading to higher temperatures, while winter results in lower temperatures.
Northern Hemisphere experiences summer in June and winter in December.
What is the atmosphere?
The atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the Earth, held by gravity.
How many main layers is the atmosphere divided into?
The atmosphere is divided into five main layers.
What is the Troposphere?
The Troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, extending up to ~8-18 km, and contains 80% of the atmosphere’s mass and nearly all weather phenomena.
What happens to temperature in the Troposphere with altitude?
Temperature decreases with altitude at an average rate of 6.5°C per 1,000 meters.
What is the Stratosphere?
The Stratosphere lies above the Troposphere, extending from ~18 km to ~50 km, and contains the ozone layer.
What is the function of the ozone layer?
The ozone layer absorbs harmful UV radiation.
What happens to temperature in the Stratosphere with altitude?
Temperature increases with altitude due to ozone absorbing solar radiation.
What is the Mesosphere?
The Mesosphere extends from ~50 km to ~80 km and is the coldest layer of the atmosphere.
What is the Thermosphere?
The Thermosphere extends from ~80 km to ~500 km, where temperature increases with altitude due to absorption of high-energy solar radiation.
What is the Exosphere?
The Exosphere is the outermost layer of the atmosphere, gradually merging into space, with extremely thin air.
What is the composition of the atmosphere?
The atmosphere is composed of a mixture of gases, particles, and water vapor.
What is the percentage of Nitrogen in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen (N₂) makes up 78% of the atmosphere.
What is the percentage of Oxygen in the atmosphere?
Oxygen (O₂) makes up 21% of the atmosphere.
What is the percentage of Argon in the atmosphere?
Argon (Ar) makes up 0.93% of the atmosphere.
What is the percentage of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere?
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) makes up 0.04% of the atmosphere.
What are trace gases in the atmosphere?
Trace gases make up ~0.03% of the atmosphere (e.g., Neon, Helium, Methane).
What is the variation of Water Vapor in the atmosphere?
Water Vapor varies from 0% to 4% in the atmosphere.
What is the temperature profile of the Troposphere?
In the Troposphere, temperature decreases with altitude due to heating from the Earth’s surface.
What is the temperature profile of the Stratosphere?
In the Stratosphere, temperature increases with altitude due to the ozone layer absorbing UV radiation.
What is the role of ozone in the atmosphere?
Ozone (( O_3 )) acts as both a protector and a hazard depending on its location.
What is stratospheric ozone commonly referred to as?
Stratospheric ozone is often referred to as the ‘ozone layer.’
What is the significance of the ozone layer?
The ozone layer is crucial for sustaining life on Earth by absorbing harmful UV-B and UV-C radiation.
What health issues can arise without the ozone layer?
Without the ozone layer, harmful UV rays can cause skin cancer, cataracts, and other health issues.
How does ozone maintain climate stability?
Ozone regulates the energy input from the Sun by filtering UV radiation, contributing to Earth’s overall energy balance.
What threatens stratospheric ozone?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other pollutants deplete ozone, creating ozone holes.
What international agreement addresses ozone depletion?
The Montreal Protocol aims to phase out ozone-depleting substances.
What is tropospheric ozone considered?
Tropospheric ozone is considered a pollutant and poses significant risks to health and the environment.
How is tropospheric ozone formed?
Tropospheric ozone forms when pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react in sunlight.
What are the health impacts of tropospheric ozone?
Tropospheric ozone can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, throat irritation, and aggravation of lung diseases.
What environmental impacts does tropospheric ozone have?
Tropospheric ozone damages vegetation, inhibits photosynthesis, and contributes to climate change as a greenhouse gas.
What are the economic costs associated with tropospheric ozone?
Economic costs include reduced agricultural productivity and increased healthcare costs.
What is essential for balancing ozone’s role in the stratosphere?
Protecting the ozone layer through regulations on pollutants like CFCs is critical.
What measures can control harmful ozone in the troposphere?
Controlling harmful ozone involves reducing vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and promoting cleaner energy sources.
What is the conclusion regarding ozone’s dual role?
Ozone is a life-saving shield in the stratosphere but a health and environmental threat in the troposphere.
What is smog?
Smog is a type of air pollution that occurs when pollutants accumulate in the atmosphere.
What are the two main types of smog?
The two main types of smog are winter smog (classical smog) and summer smog (photochemical smog).
What causes winter smog?
Winter smog occurs in cold weather and is caused by the burning of fossil fuels, releasing pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter (PM).
What phenomenon contributes to the formation of winter smog?
Temperature inversion contributes to the formation of winter smog by trapping cooler air near the Earth’s surface under a layer of warmer air.
What are the characteristics of winter smog?
Winter smog is a mixture of smoke, fog, and sulfur-based pollutants, commonly found in cities with heavy coal burning.
What are the health effects of winter smog?
Winter smog irritates the respiratory system, exacerbates lung diseases, and can lead to long-term respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
What causes summer smog?
Summer smog occurs in warm, sunny weather when pollutants react with sunlight, primarily from vehicle emissions and industrial activity.
What pollutants are involved in summer smog?
Summer smog is primarily caused by nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that produce ozone (O₃) through photochemical reactions.
What are the characteristics of summer smog?
Summer smog is brownish in color and contains high levels of ground-level ozone, commonly found in cities with high traffic and strong sunlight.
What are the health effects of summer smog?
Summer smog can cause respiratory problems, aggravate lung diseases, irritate the eyes, and lead to long-term damage to lung function.
What are the main pollutants of winter smog?
The main pollutants of winter smog are sulfur dioxide (SO₂), particulate matter (PM), and carbon monoxide (CO).
What are the main pollutants of summer smog?
The main pollutants of summer smog are nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ozone (O₃).
What weather conditions are associated with winter smog?
Winter smog is associated with cold, humid conditions.
What weather conditions are associated with summer smog?
Summer smog is associated with hot, sunny conditions.
What is a common example of winter smog?
A common example of winter smog is London smog.
What is a common example of summer smog?
A common example of summer smog is Los Angeles smog.
What is the conclusion regarding winter and summer smog?
Winter smog is caused by fossil fuel burning in cold conditions, while summer smog results from photochemical reactions with sunlight. Both types severely impact human health.
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is a continuous, natural process through which water moves through the Earth’s atmosphere, surface, and subsurface.
What is evaporation?
Evaporation is the process where the Sun heats water from oceans, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies, converting it into water vapor.
It transports water into the atmosphere.
What is transpiration?
Transpiration is the release of water vapor from plants’ leaves during photosynthesis.
It contributes to atmospheric moisture.
What is condensation?
Condensation occurs when water vapor rises, cools, and condenses into tiny droplets, forming clouds.
It begins the process of returning water to the Earth’s surface.
What is precipitation?
Precipitation is when cloud droplets combine and grow heavy, falling as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
It returns water to the Earth’s surface.
What is runoff?
Runoff is the flow of water over the Earth’s surface, moving through rivers and streams into larger water bodies like lakes and oceans.
It transports water back to the ocean and maintains river systems.
What are infiltration and percolation?
Infiltration and percolation refer to the process where water seeps into the ground, replenishing soil moisture and underground aquifers.
It provides groundwater for drinking and irrigation.
What is groundwater flow?
Groundwater flow is the movement of water stored in underground reservoirs that eventually reaches the surface through springs or seeps into oceans.
What is water balance?
Water balance is the relationship between the input, output, and storage of water in a specific system, such as a watershed or region.
What are the inputs in water balance?
Inputs primarily consist of precipitation, such as rain and snow.
What are the outputs in water balance?
Outputs include evaporation, transpiration, runoff, and groundwater discharge.
These processes represent water leaving the system.
What is water storage in water balance?
Water is temporarily stored in reservoirs like surface water (lakes, rivers), groundwater (aquifers), and snow and ice.
What is the water balance equation?
The water balance equation is represented as P = E + Q + ∆S, where P is precipitation, E is evapotranspiration, Q is runoff, and ∆S is change in water storage.
Why is the water cycle important?
The water cycle sustains life by ensuring a continuous supply of freshwater for drinking, agriculture, and industry.
How does the water cycle affect ecosystems?
It maintains habitats and supports plant and animal life.
What role does the water cycle play in climate regulation?
The water cycle helps balance Earth’s temperature by transferring heat through evaporation and precipitation.
How does understanding water balance aid in resource management?
Understanding water balance helps in predicting droughts, floods, and managing water resources effectively.
What does the water cycle and water balance highlight?
Together, they highlight the importance of conserving and managing water resources for ecological and human needs.