test 1 meteorology Flashcards
ozone
A molecule of oxygen containing three oxygen Atoms
three oxygen Adams bonded together they protect us from about 99% of harmful rays from the sun it absorbs it
troposphere
The lower most layer of the atmosphere it is generally characterized by a decrease in temperature with height
closest to surface
where weather happens
stratosphere
The layer of the atmosphere immediately above the troposphere characterized by increasing temperatures with high altitude due to the concentration of ozone
Second layer
where aircraft fly
Mesosphere
The layer of the atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere and characterized by decreasing temperatures with height
where meteors burn up and the third layer
thermosphere
The region of the atmosphere immediately above the meso sphere and characterized by increasing temperatures due to absorption and very short wave solar energy by oxygen
fourth layer
find space shuttles and Aurora’s
Summer solstice
The solstice that occurs on June 21 or 22nd in the northern hemisphere and on December 21 or 22nd in the southern hemisphere
winter solstice
The solstice that occurs on December 21 or 22nd in the northern hemisphere and on June 21 or 22nd in the southern hemisphere
Autumnal equinox
The equinox that occurs on September 22 or 23rd in the northern hemisphere and on March 21 or 22nd in the southern hemisphere
Spring equinox
The equinox that occurs on March 21 or 22nd in the northern hemisphere
heat
thermal energy transferred from one object to another
temperature
A measure of the average Kinetic energy of individual Atoms or molecules in a substance
conduction
The transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity energy is transferred through collisions from one molecule to another
two objects are in direct contact
requires a medium
convection
The transfer of heat by the movement of the mass or substance it can take place only in fluids
two objects are not in direct contact and it requires a medium
radiation
The transfer of energy(heat) through space thru space by electromagnetic waves
does not require a medium
reflection
The process whereby light bounces back from an object at the same angle at which it encounters a surface and with the same intensity
scattering
The redirecting of light by small particles and gas molecules in the atmosphere the result is more light rays with weaker intensity
greenhouse effect
The heating of earths surface and atmosphere from solar radiation been absorbed and emitted by the atmosphere mainly by water vapor and carbon dioxide
Albedo
The fraction of total radiation that’s reflected back by a surface
isotherm
A line connecting points of equal temperature
precipitation
any form of water that falls from a cloud
sublimation
The conversion of a solid directly to a gas without passing through the liquid state
deposition
The process by which an agent of erosion loses energy and drops the sediment its carrying/process by which water vapor is change directly to a solid without becoming a liquid
gas to solid
skip liquid
humidity
A general term referring to water vapor in the air but not to liquid droplets of fog cloud or rain
relative humidity
The ratio of the airs water vapor content to its water vapor capacity
dew point
The temperature to which air has to be cooled in order to reach saturation
condensation nuclei
tiny bits of particulate matter that serves as surfaces on which water vapor condenses
cirrus
One of three basic cloud forms – also one of three high cloud types, thin, delicate ice crystal clouds often appearing as they all like patches or thin, wispy fibers
cumulus
One of three basic cloud forms name given to one of the clouds of vertical development, Billowy individual cloud masses with flat bases(often)
stratus
One of the three basic cloud forms, sheets or layers that cover much for all of the sky
weather
The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place it is the short term condition of the atmosphere
climate
observations of weather over a long period of time it is the long-term average of weather conditions and extremes
atmosphere
A blanket of gases surrounding the earth it is composed of air which is many gases
The atmosphere blanks as you travel away from the earth
thins
what gases are in the air
nitrogen/78% oxygen/21% and argon carbon dioxide and water vapor
water vapor
source of all clouds and precipitation
increases w/ temp
most important gas in the atmosphere
exosphere
fifth layer
thin atmosphere
region where atoms escape into space and where satellites orbit Earth
what is almost all of the earth energy that comes from the sun called
radiant energy
most reaches the atmosphere and is then reflected back to space but some energy is absorbed by the earth and spread through the atmosphere
as much energy comes in earth
is the amount of energy that leaves because heat is balanced
thermometer
instrument that measures temperature water freezes at 0°C or 32°F and water boils at 100°C or 212°F
why do temperatures vary
altitude
geographic position
or land heats and cools more rapidly than water
melting
going from solid to liquid
freezing
going from a liquid to a solid
evaporation
liquid to gas
condensation
gas to liquid
sublimation
solid to gas
skip liquid
psychrometer
instrument used to measure relative humidity there is wet bulb and dry bulb
dew
water that condenses on a solid surface
cloud shaped depends on
Air movement
horizontal is layers
vertical is piles
cumulonimbus
large cloud that produces very strong thunderstorms
drizzle
find drops less than 0.5 mm diameter
raindrops
larger drops that are .5 mm 5 mm diameter
Snow
Falls in clumps of six sided crystals
rain gauge
instrument used to measure the amount of rainfall
acid precipitation
acid jobs that fall to the ground they contain nitrate and sulfate particles that come from the burning of fossil fuel’s and volcanoes it is considered secondary pollution
