Science Flashcards Test #3
_______- a layer of gases surrounding the earth
Atmosphere
the atmosphere is composed of a mixture of _______ water and other liquids and microscopic particles of solids
Gases
Many ______ are in the atmosphere
Gases
Makes up 78%
Nitrogen
Makes up 21%
Oxygen
is responsible for clouds and precipitation
Water vapor
______ _________ keeps the earth warm and is used by plants to make food
Carbon Dioxide
_______ solids such as dust, salt, pollen, and tiny acid droplets in the atmosphere
aerosols
the atmosphere is divided into _______
Layers
__________ from the earth’s surface to about 10 km
troposphere
__________ contains most clouds and weather
troposphere
Most of the tropospheres ______ is from the earth
Heat
The temperature cools to about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer of _________
Altitude
__________ from about ten km to 50 km above the earth’s surface this layer contains ozone that absorbs most of the sun’s ultraviolet rays
Stratosphere
_________ layers include the mesosphere thermosphere and the exosphere
Upper
the coldest layer with little ozone
mesosphere
warms as it filters out X-rays and gamma rays from the sun
troposphere
contains few atoms and extends into space without a clear boundary
Exosphere/ionosphere
makes up 70% of the earth’s surface
water
________ _________ - water is in constant motion
Water cycle
____ Provides the energy for the water cycle
sun
water on the surface absorbs heat and ___________ entering the atmosphere
evaporates
water vapor changes back into liquids
condensation
clouds of water become heavy and water falls to the earth in ________
precipitation
the cycle _______ itself continually
repeats
_________ clouds form between 2000 and 8000 m in altitude
middle
most middle clouds are _______
Layered
Middle clouds have the _______ prefix
alto
middle clouds produce light ________
participation
wispy high level clouds
cirrus
high layered clouds that can cover the sky
cirrostratus
known as thunderstorm clouds produce heavy precipitation
cumulonimbus
______ - falling water in the form of rain sleet snow and hail
precipitation
_____________ - air moving from one temperature or pressure area to another
Wind
______ ________- deflected air moves to the right in the northern hemisphere and the left in the southern hemisphere
Coriolis effect
_________ ______ - include trade winds near the equator the westerlies from about 30 degrees to 60 degrees latitude north and south of the equator
surface winds
band of strong winds near the top of the troposphere at the northern and southern boundary
Jet streams
the atmosphere condition in terms of temperature air pressure cloud cover wind speed and humidity
weather
a measure of how fast air molecules are moving
temperature
when molecules are moving rapidly temperature is ______
High
Celsius and farenhight thermometers measure air _____________
Temperature
energy is _________ between fast-moving molecules and slow-moving molecules
transferred
transfer of energy when molecules collide
Conduction
occurs when warm air rises and cold air sinks
Convection
air weight that varies over earth’s surface
atmospheric pressure
warmer air is less dense and exerts _____ pressure
Less
Colder air is dense and exerts ______ pressure
more
the amount of water vapor in the air
Humidity
affects how much moister is in the air
temperature
when air is holding as much water vapor as it can
dew point
a measure of the amount of water vapor present compared to the amount that could be held at a specific temperature
Relative Humidity
Form when air rises cools to its dewpoint and becomes saturated
Clouds
______ clouds form at 2000 m or less in altitude
low
puffy clouds form when air currents rise and carry moisture
cumulus
layered gray sheets that cover the entire sky
stratus
low dark thick layers that hide the sun
Nimbostratus
_________ __________ large body of air that develops over particular regions
Air mass
Boundary’s between different air masses
Front
cold air masses push under warm air masses can cuase a narrow band of violent storms/ temperature drop
Cold front
warm air slides up over the cold air mass widespread precipitation
warm front
warm air mass and cold air mass meet but nether advances
stationary front
fast moving cold front overpower slow moving warm front of vice versa ; cloudy weather with precipitation`
occluded front
______ pressure : air sinks and spreds away from the high pressure center moister can not rise.
high
_____ pressure air rises and cool forming clouds and precipitation
low
_______ weather - cause strong winds and heavy precipitation can threaten the property of life
severe
__________ __________ develop from cumulonimbus clouds that form along cold fronts can have strong winds dangerous hail lightning and thunder
thunderstorms
___________- violent whirling wind that moves in narrow path
tornado
large storms that begins in a area of low pressure over tropical oceans
hurricane
the ________ ____________ _________ monitor weather and issued watches when severe weather is a potential threat and warnings when severe weather is an actual threat
National weather services
