Unit 5: Weather and Climate Warm ups

Question 1

what is the difference between weather and climate?

Answer 1

weather- short-term atmospheric conditions in a given place at a given time

climate- average weather conditions in a region over a long period of time

Question 2

what are the 4 spheres of influence on Earth

Answer 2

atmosphere-gasses

hydrosphere-water

geosphere- earth or ground

biosphere-life

Question 3

What is radiation

Answer 3

transfer of thermal energy from one material to another by electromagnetic waves

Question 4

How does most thermal energy in the atmosphere move

Answer 4

convection

Question 5

what causes air to move in the atmosphere

Answer 5

differences in pressure

air moves from high pressure to low pressure

Question 6

what role does air circulation play in cloud formation

Answer 6

Clouds form as a result of the water cycle as air rises and cools. it then condenses on dust and pollution particles in the sky to form clouds

Question 7

how is most weather driven?

Answer 7

by ocean currents

Question 8

Wladimir Koppen’s weather classification system tracked what three things?

Answer 8

temp

precipitation

native vegetation

Question 9

what were the 5 main climates that Koppen identified

Answer 9

tropical

dry

temperate

continental

polar/alpine

Question 10

What are some main factors that determine climate

Answer 10

latitude of location (areas closer to equator are warmer)

large bodies of water (weather more constant because of specific heat capacity)

altitude (mountainous areas are rainy or snowy)

buildings and concrete (when retaining solar energy, their temp increases)

Question 11

why is albedo an important factor when it comes to weather

Answer 11

Since albedo is the reflectivity of a surface, the more reflective a surface is, the less solar energy is absorbed and the more light energy that is reflected out to space

Question 12

What is a greenhouse gas and the greenhouse effect

Answer 12

Greenhouse Gas- a gas in the atmosphere that absorbs Earth’s outgoing IR.

Greenhouse effect- helps trap heat from the Sun, which keeps the temp. on Earth comfortable. A buildup in these gases can make it warmer than normal

Question 13

what is specific heat

Answer 13

amount of thermal energy needed to raise temp of 1 KG of a material by 1 degree celsius

Question 14

how is heat distributed on our planet

Answer 14

Through global winds

Question 15

what are the global wind belts and what are their names

Answer 15

patterns of wind around the globe in convection cells

polar easterlies
westerlies
trade winds

Question 16

how do jet streams impact weather

Answer 16

jet streams are narrow bands of high speed wind high in the troposphere that move from west to east.

They move cold air from the poles toward the tropics and warm air from the tropics toward the poles.

Question 17

what are low and high pressure systems

Answer 17

low pressure systems= systems of circulating air with low pressure at the center. (rising air )

high pressure systems= systems of circulating air with high pressure at the center (sinking air)

Question 18

what weather is typically associated with low pressure vs. high pressure

Answer 18

low= precipitation, rain, or snow because rising air forms clouds

high= clear skies, fair weather and dry because the H pressure is sinking

Question 19

what are air masses

Answer 19

large areas of air that have uniform temp. , humidity, and pressure

Question 20

what are the air mass classifications

Answer 20

air masses are classified by temp. and moisture

Arctic

CP (continental polar)
CT(continental tropical)
MT(maritime tropical)
MP(maritime polar)

Question 21

what are fronts

Answer 21

boundaries between two air masses

Question 22

How does wind transfer energy to form surface currents

Answer 22

there is friction generated by the wind. As wind drags across the war, it forces the water to move.

Question 23

what is a gyre and how are they different in the northern and southern hemispheres

Answer 23

gyre= large circular system of ocean currents.

Gyres in the northern hemisphere circle clockwise

Gyres in the southern hemisphere circle counterclockwise.

Question 24

what are the most destructive storms on earth

Answer 24

tropical cyclones

Question 25

how do tropical cyclones rotate

Answer 25

counterclockwise in northern hemisphere

clockwise in southern hemisphere

Question 26

what is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon

Answer 26

where it originates

Hurricane in Atlantic

Typhoons in Pacific

Question 27

what do hurricanes need to form

Answer 27

warm tropical water,

upper level winds

pre-existing weather system

Question 28

what is the eye of the storm

Answer 28

a calm and clear area with high air pressure

forms in the center of the storm

Question 29

what are the 2 most damaging parts of hurricanes

Answer 29

high speed winds
storm surge

Question 30

how do scientists collect data on hurricanes

Answer 30

Via satellites and pilots that fly specially equipped planes directly through storms.