Mid-Term Review

Question 1

earths energy budget

Answer 1

25% reflected by clouds and particules
20% absorbed by particuls In the atmosphere
50% absorbed by earths surface (land and water)
5% reflected by land and sea surface

Question 2

albedo

Answer 2

the colour of a surface effects how much energy it will absord

-low albedo=dark surfaces absord more energy
-high albedo=light surfaces reflect energy

Question 3

hydrosphere

Answer 3

total amount of water on a planet

Question 4

how does the hydrosphere act as a heat sink

Answer 4

Water is a good heat sink and has a high heat capacity and so when the hydrosphere gets warm it holds a lot of heat and creates a heat sink compared to land that has a low heat capacity

Question 5

radiation

Answer 5

heat transferred to an object without direct contact

Question 6

conduction

Answer 6

heat being transferred from a object with higher temperature to an object with a lower temperature through direct physical contact

Question 7

convection

Answer 7

the transfer of thermal energy by vertical movement from one place to another

Question 8

greenhouse effect

Answer 8

Greenhouse effect is where the sun’s solar energy comes into the Earth’s atmosphere but the Earth’s atmosphere traps some of the gases in to keep the earth warm. this causes the troposphere to retain more heat than it would if the gases were not present causing the Earth’s atmosphere to act as a heat sink

Question 9

how are high-pressure systems formed

Answer 9

-An air mass cools over an ocean or a cold region on land as the air mass cools particles in the air lose kinetic energy in the air becomes denser the air mass contracts pulling down air from the upper troposphere and the added weight of extra air increases the atmospheric pressure -wind results in air moves from an area of high pressure to low pressure
-moves clockwise in the northern hemisphere

Question 10

how are low-pressure systems formed

Answer 10

-An air mass warms over land or water
-as the air mass warms particles in the air gain kinetic energy and the air becomes less dense expands and Rises
-the warm air cools as it rises producing clouds and precipitation
-wind moves counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere

Question 11

artic air mass

Answer 11

winter= bitter col, dry
summer= cold, dry

Question 12

continental polar

Answer 12

winter= very cold, dry
summer= cool, dry

Question 13

continental tropical

Answer 13

winter= warm, dry
summer= hot, dry

Question 14

maritime polar

Answer 14

winter= cold, humid
summer= cool, humid

Question 15

maritime tropical

Answer 15

winter= warm, humid
summer= hot, humid

Question 16

cold front

Answer 16

When cold, dense air displaces warm air, it forces the warm air, Which is less dense, up along a steep slope

Question 17

warm front

Answer 17

Advancing warm air displaces cold air along a warm front, which develops a gradual boundary slope

Question 18

stationary front

Answer 18

When two air masses meet but neither advances, the boundary between them stalls. the resulting stationary front often occurs between two modified air masses with small temperature and pressure differences. the air masses can continue moving parallel to the front

Question 19

occluded front

Answer 19

Sometimes a cold air mass moves so fast that it overtakes a warm front, forcing the warm air up. as the warm air is lifted, the advancing cold air mass collides with the cold air mass in front of the warm front (occludes means obstructed)

Question 20

thermometer

Answer 20

measures air temperature by the average kinetic energy of molecules in the air

Question 21

advection

Answer 21

the horizontal transfer of energy

Question 22

latent heat