Midterm 1 Atmosphere

Question 1

Atmosphere settles toward ______ – decreasing air pressure with altitude

Answer 1

ground

Question 2

Atmosphere divided into layers based on ______ trend with altitude (cooling through troposphere,
warming through stratosphere)

Answer 2

temperature

Question 3

5 Rules of the Atmosphere -

1) Warm air is less _____ than cold air

2) Air flows from ____ to ____ pressure (at the same height)

3) Warm air can hold ____ water vapor than cold air

4) Rising air  ____  cools  RH (relative humidity) increases  clouds/rain at 100% relative humidity

5) Sinking air  ____  warms  RH decreases  dry/sunny

Answer 3

1) Warm air is less dense than cold air

2) Air flows from high to low pressure (at the same height)

3) Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air

4) Rising air  expands  cools  RH (relative humidity) increases  clouds/rain at 100% relative humidity

5) Sinking air  compresses  warms  RH decreases  dry/sunny

Question 4

Coriolis force:

Deflects to right in Northern Hemisphere, left in Southern Hemisphere

Answer 4

Due to earth spinning beneath moving air/water.

Question 5

Atmospheric circulation patterns:
Hadley Circulation – wet rising air near equator, dry sinking air near 30° latitude
Dry, descending air near poles
Fronts (warm tropical air collides with and rises over cold polar air) and storms in mid-latitudes
Know general pressure and wind belts on earth