unit 3 (atmosphere and weather)

Question 1

weather

Answer 1

the atmospheric conditions, along with short-term changes, of a certain place at a certain time

Question 2

air pressure

Answer 2

the force exerted by the weight and movement of air molecules

Question 3

humidity

Answer 3

the amount of water vapor in the air

Question 4

relative humidity

Answer 4

the water vapor present in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air could contain at that temperature

Question 5

dew point

Answer 5

the temperature at which air is saturated and condensation can occur

Question 6

high-pressure system

Answer 6

a large body of circulating air with high pressure at its center and lower pressure outside of the system

Question 7

low-pressure system

Answer 7

a large body of circulating air with low pressure at its center and higher pressure outside of the system

Question 8

air mass

Answer 8

large bodies of air that have uniform temperature, humidity, and pressure

Question 9

front

Answer 9

boundary between two air masses

Question 10

psychrometer

Answer 10

an instrument consisting of two thermometers which is used in the measurement of humidity

Question 11

wind

Answer 11

the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

Question 12

sea breeze

Answer 12

wind that blows from the sea to the land due to local temperature and pressure differences; usually occurs during the day

Question 13

ozone layer

Answer 13

layer of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone; absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation

Question 14

conduction

Answer 14

the direct transfer of heat from one substance to another substance that it is touching

Question 15

convection

Answer 15

the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas

Question 16

radiation

Answer 16

energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles.

Question 17

greenhouse effect

Answer 17

natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth’s atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases

Question 18

greenhouse gases

Answer 18

gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.

Question 19

Goldilocks Principle

Answer 19

Earth is just the right temperature for sustaining the presence of water

Question 20

ionosphere

Answer 20

the lower part of the thermosphere, where electrically charged particles called ions are found

Question 21

land breeze

Answer 21

a wind that blows from the land to the sea due to local temperature and pressure differences; usually occurs during the night

Question 22

mesosphere

Answer 22

The layer of Earth’s atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere

Question 23

stratosphere

Answer 23

the second-lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere.

Question 24

troposphere

Answer 24

the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, where weather occurs

Question 25

thermosphere

Answer 25

the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere.

Question 26

atmosphere

Answer 26

Thin layer of gases surrounding the Earth

Question 27

how thick is the atmosphere?

Answer 27

~700 km thick

Question 28

Why is the atmosphere important?

Answer 28

Insulation; contains oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water for life;
protects from meteors, and protects from sun rays

Question 29

What is the composition of elements in Earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 29

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and some other elements that are each less than 1%

Question 30

exosphere

Answer 30

outermost layer of atmosphere

Question 31

how was how Earth’s atmosphere formed and changed

Answer 31

was a ball of molten rock and cooled down then gasses were emitted and the atmosphere formed

Question 32

What is the primary source of energy on Earth?

Answer 32

sunlight

Question 33

What types of radiation does the atmosphere absorb?

Answer 33

ultraviolet and infared

Question 34

what absorbs Ultraviolet Light

Answer 34

Oxygen, ozone, and water vapor

Question 35

what absorbs Infrared Light

Answer 35

Water and carbon from the troposphere

Question 36

What percentages of the sun’s energy is absorbed and reflected?

Answer 36

70% absorbed (20% in the atmosphere, 50% on Earth’s surface)
30% reflected into space

Question 37

Which molecules contribute to the Greenhouse Effect?

Answer 37

Water vapor (H20)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Methane (CH4)

Question 38

thermal energy

Answer 38

conduction, convection, and radiation

Question 39

electromagnetic energy

Answer 39

waves on the spectrum (radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, x rays, and gamma rays