Proccess Module _ Test 1 Flashcards

1
Q

2 types of radiation

A

Shortwave (K) and Longwave (L)

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2
Q

Longwave radiation

A

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

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3
Q

Shortwave Radiation

A

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

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4
Q

Stefan Boltzman Equation

A

E=oT^4

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5
Q

Weins Law

A

max wavelength

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6
Q

Spectral Plot

A

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

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7
Q

2 controls on shortwave radiation

A
  • Large-scale : lattitude, axial tilt, seasons
  • Local scale : time of day, slope, albedo
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8
Q

Clouds affect on planetary warming

A

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.

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9
Q

Pressure

A

force per unit area

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10
Q

Force

A

mass x acceleration

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11
Q

where does atm pressure come from ?

A

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

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12
Q

Density

A

increases toward surfaces

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13
Q

surface air pressure

A

weight of air in the column above unit area

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14
Q

Distribution of Pressure with elevation

A

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

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15
Q

What is the atm made of

A

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

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16
Q

What is avg. sea level pressure?

A

101326 Pa
1013.26 hPa
1013.26 mb
Or
101326 N/m2

17
Q

Horizontal distribution of Pressure?

A

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

18
Q

Isobars

A

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

19
Q

Gradient

A

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

20
Q

Pressure Gradient Force

A

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

21
Q

Coriolis Force

A

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

22
Q

Geostropic Flow

A

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

23
Q

Equation for Coriolis

A

CF= V2 *U * sin0

24
Q

Friction Force

A
  • not a true force
    acts to reduce velocity near the surface
  • weakens Coriolis causing cross isobaric flow
25
Cross isobaric Flow
at the surface winds never line up with isobars due to friction weakening Coriolis force
26
Pressure - Temper/ density Relationship
P level is higher in warmer atm
27
Tropical Cyclone
very circular depends on water for power source (never form over land) occur from june-dec in atlantic
28
Formation of tropical cyclone
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
29
Why is all weather in the Troposphere
because T decreases with height, creating an unstable atm
30
stable atm= temperature inversion