Unit 1 Flashcards
What gas makes up 78% of the air
Nitrogen
What is weather
The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place
How does a thermometer work
The Liquids and solids will expand when heated
What is a meteorologist
People Who study the daily weather and forecast
99% of the weight in the atmosphere is found with in how many miles
The first 20 miles or 32 km Off the surface
What percent of the suns energy is absorbed by earths surface
51%
How much of the suns energy is absorbed by the atmosphere
19%
How much of the songs energy is reflected back into space
30%
Which way do Isotherms over the land bend during the winter
Tward the poles
What’s chart would you use to see if there is a danger of frost bite
A wind chill chart
Beufort scale
This is a scale that determines how fast the wind blows from your observations on land or water
Why and when do temperature of inversions happen
They happen because of conduction and on clear dry nights when the temperature drops quickly
When are temperature inversion destroyed
Late morning
When is the sun hottest, when is the earth hottest, why are these different
The sun is hottest around noon however the hottest time of day is around 3 or 4 o’clock. This is because the ground is still not at its hottest
Define temprature range
The difference between the highest and lowest temperatures of the day
Why does the stratosphere’s temperature rise with altitude
This is because of the presence of ozone
Describe the troposphere
This is the lowest layer nearest to the surface this is where gases that are essential to life are this is where weather occurs in temperature increases an increase in altitude This is because the gases absorb very little of the incoming solar radiation instead the ground absorbs this radiation and then heat the tropospheric air by conduction and convection
Describe the stratosphere
This layer is found around 31 miles from the surface it is clear dry with study winds very few weather changes this is where jet Aircrafts fly temperature increases with altitude because ozone is heated by radiation from the sun which is warmer than the rest of the air and sits above the denser cooler air
Describe the mesosphere
This is a layer that is 51 miles high temperature decreases with an increase of altitude the ionosphere begins here and stretches a poured into the Thermosphere the top portion is known as the meso paws were temperature stays constant
Describe thermosphere
Reaches from the meso paws to 310 miles high temperature increases with an increase in altitude this is due to nitrogen and oxygen atoms here absorbing solar energy
Describe the ionosphere
Directions from the lower mesosphere to the top of the thermosphere Ions or charged atomic particles are concentrated in this region this is where radio waves are transmitted
What are the two greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide and water vapor
What causes excess carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere
The burning of fossil fuel’s
Describe the green house affect
Greenhouse gases let in the sun‘s UV rays which are longer wavelengths and do not let out this earth infrared energy which is a shorter wavelength Causing the earth to heat up
What can we do to stop emitting access carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
Stop burning fossil feels and example of this would be using alternative energy sources
What can we do to reduce the current amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Plant more trees
What are the three ways heat is transferred in the atmosphere
Conduction convection and radiation
Name the four reasons why water warms more slowly than land
The first reason is because the suns rays penetrate deeper into the water also water spread the heat more easily also some energy is used in evaporation lastly water needs more energy to rise itself 1°
What does a falling barometer mean
Rainy weather, more clouds stronger winds Warmer. This is because warm air is more spread out causing it to be less dense which also causes the air pressure to go down. Since it is warmer this means more evaporation which means more clouds and more precipitation
What is an anemometer
This is a device that measures wind speed
Wind vane
This is a device that measures wind direction
Describe why the hottest temperatures can be found as high as 30° North l
This is because land heats up faster than water
Describe why seabreezes forms
This is because during the day the land heats up faster than the water causing high pressure over the water and low pressure over the land and since when does from high-pressure to low-pressure the wind blows from the sea onto the land
Describe how local winds form
This is because at night the land temperature drops Faster than the water causing high pressure over the land and low pressure of the water and since wind blows from high-pressure to low-pressure the wind blows from Atlanta to the sea
Why does air at the poles sink
This is because it is cold causing the air to be high pressure
What are the standard sea level pressure’s in both millibars and inches
101.3 to millibars and 29.92 inches
Barograph
This is an instrument that measures and records air pressure on a graph
Due to the Coriolis effect which way does the wind turn in the northern hemisphere
Right
Due to the Coriolis affect which way does the wind turn in the southern hemisphere
To the left
Describe the Coriolis effect
Because of earths rotation when’s that blow long distances turn slightly to the right in the northern hemisphere and slightly to the left in the southern hemisphere
Describe pressure and what causes air pressure
Pressure is force per unit area. Air pressure is created because of the weight of the molecules above
Which way does air pressure push
Equally in all directions
How Wide are isobars on a map
930 miles or 1500 km wide
Describe isobars
Lines on a map that Connect places with the same air pressure
Describe isotherms
Lines on a map that connect places with the same temperature
What are the main two reasons why air pressure changes
Temperature and humidity
Describe doldrums/ITCZ
This is the low pressure equator belt with hot humid air that slowly rises
Describe the horse latitudes or subtropical highs
High pressure belts with dry air in little wind at 30° latitude
Describe the polar highs
Very cold and are at 90° latitude and are high pressure
Describe the prevailing southwesterlies
These are the winds that blow from 30° 60° in the northern hemisphere
Describe the prevailing north westerlies
This is a wind that blows from 30° to 60° in the southern hemisphere between the horse latitudes and the sub polar Lows
Where are the sub polar Lows
These are a low pressure belt found at 60°
Describe the north and south east trades
These are winds that blow from 30° 0° or between horse latitudes and the doldrums
Describe the polar easterlies
These are winds that blow from 90° to 60°
What are the two things we do that Contribute to climate change
Burn fossil fuel’s and use CFCs
