Proccess Module _ Test 1

Question 1

2 types of radiation

Answer 1

Shortwave (K) and Longwave (L)

Question 2

Longwave radiation

Answer 2

Low frequency, low energy
Earth emits, 5-25 um

Question 3

Shortwave Radiation

Answer 3

High frequency, high energy
Emitted by sun , <2 um
visible light makes up 45%

Question 4

Stefan Boltzman Equation

Answer 4

E=oT^4

Question 5

Weins Law

Answer 5

max wavelength

Question 6

Spectral Plot

Answer 6

shows how much energy is being produced at each wavelength.
- can calculate total energy by adding area under the curve.

Question 7

2 controls on shortwave radiation

Answer 7

• Large-scale : lattitude, axial tilt, seasons
• Local scale : time of day, slope, albedo

Question 8

Clouds affect on planetary warming

Answer 8

Low Clouds: cooling
- reflect large amounts of solar radiation back but do little to change L up b/c their tops are relatively warm (low)
High Clouds: warming
- reflect some K, reduce L up b/c tops are cold(high) thus trap energy in earths system.

Question 9

Pressure

Answer 9

force per unit area

Question 10

Force

Answer 10

mass x acceleration

Question 11

where does atm pressure come from ?

Answer 11

F(column air) = m (column air) x g
- must consider the mass of column of air above a pt, does not have to be the surface

Question 12

Density

Answer 12

increases toward surfaces

Question 13

surface air pressure

Answer 13

weight of air in the column above unit area

Question 14

Distribution of Pressure with elevation

Answer 14

very strong vertical gradient
P drops 500 hPa(mb) in less than 10 km

Question 15

What is the atm made of

Answer 15

O2 - 21%
N2 - 78%
Ar - small
Water vapour - variable gas (GHG)
- relative proportions are very consistent w/in the atm

Question 16

What is avg. sea level pressure?

Answer 16

101326 Pa
1013.26 hPa
1013.26 mb
Or
101326 N/m2

Question 17

Horizontal distribution of Pressure?

Answer 17

Pressure varies over horizontal space
P is a function of T (PV=T)
- variations in T result in changes in P
“static relationship”
Horizontal pressure gradients are much smaller than vertical

Question 18

Isobars

Answer 18

black lines on a chart
connects points of equal mean sea level Pressure

Question 19

Gradient

Answer 19

an amount of change over an amount of distance
(series of lines on a chart)
gradient = rate of change = delta P/delta T

Question 20

Pressure Gradient Force

Answer 20

force that pushes air into motion
if delta P is large, PGF large
= gradient
occurs over equator - air moves from H to L

Question 21

Coriolis Force

Answer 21

deflects winds to the right in the N.hem, to the left in the S. Hem
0 at equator
1 at N pole, -1 at S pole
balance results in winds flowing parallel to isobars

Question 22

Geostropic Flow

Answer 22

winds flowing parallel to isobars due to the balance btw the Coriolis and PGF

Question 23

Equation for Coriolis

Answer 23

CF= V2 *U * sin0

Question 24

Friction Force

Answer 24

• not a true force
  acts to reduce velocity near the surface
• weakens Coriolis causing cross isobaric flow

Question 25

Cross isobaric Flow

Answer 25

at the surface winds never line up with isobars due to friction weakening Coriolis force

Question 26

Pressure - Temper/ density Relationship

Answer 26

P level is higher in warmer atm

Question 27

Tropical Cyclone

Answer 27

very circular
depends on water for power source (never form over land)
occur from june-dec in atlantic

Question 28

Formation of tropical cyclone

Answer 28

need warm sea surface T,
dont occur at the equator b/c no Coriolis force
move E to W because moving around Large H pressure zones

Question 29

Why is all weather in the Troposphere

Answer 29

because T decreases with height, creating an unstable atm

Answer 30

stable atm= temperature inversion