Unit 6 Flashcards
What is the atmosphere?
Thin blanket of gas
What would the earth look like without an atmosphere
Lifeless rock
Why are greenhouse gases essential to life on Earth?
Retain Heat
How much of the atmosphere is made of Nitrogen(N2)?
78%
How much of the atmosphere is made ofoxygen (O2)?
21%
How much of the atmosphere is made up of argon (A)?
1%
How much of the atmosphere is made of carbon Dioxide (CO2)?
.03%
How much of the atmosphere is made of nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2)?
99%. add 78 plus 21 equals 99
What is humidity?
Amount of water vapor in the atmosphere
What happens to air density as you increase elevation or altitude?
It decreases
What force keeps gas molecules pulled to Earth’s surface?
Gravity
What is atmospheric presure
The force of air molecules. you feel it in every dorection
Which is more dense: Warm or Cool air?
Cool air
Why does warm air rise?
Because it is less dense
Which of the following is the correct order of atmospheric layers based on temperature from the surface to outer space?
Tropsoehs, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere. exosphere
Where does the troposphere get its heat?
From the earths surface
What is the average temperature gradient in the troposphere?
Celsius
As you get farther from Earth’s surface in the troposphere, does the temperature increase or decrease?
Decrease
At what altitudes does the troposphere approximately exist?
10 km
At what altitudes does the stratosphere approximately exist?
50 km
Does temperature increase or decrease with increasing altitude in the stratosphere?
Increase
What does the ozone layer in the stratosphere do that greatly helps life on earth?
Absorbs uv rotation
At what altitudes does the mesosphere approximately exist?
50-80 km
Does temperature increase or decrease with increasing altitude in the meososphere?
decrese
Approximately how much of the atmosphere is below the mesosphere?
99/9%
At what altitudes does the thermosphere approximately exist?
85 km
Does temperature increase or decrease with increasing altitude in the thermosphere?
increase
What is ionosphere?
solar radiation that ionizes gas molecules
What is radiation?
energy that moves from one place in wave particles
Which of the following parts of visible light has the longest wavelength?
Reds
Which of the following parts of visible light has the shortest wavelength?
Violets
What is albedo?
The measure of reflection on an object
Which of the following would have the highest albedo?
Snow
What is temperture?
The measurement of how fast the atoms and materials are vibrating.
What is heat?
Measure if materials total energy
What is latent heat?
The heat required to change state
What is specific heat?
The heat required to raise temperature
Water has a very high specific heat. What does that mean?
Takes a lot of energy to increase it.
Warm air rising creates what kind of pressure zone on the ground?
High pressure
Cool air descending creates what kind of pressure zone on the ground?
low Pressure
What is the horizontal flow of air in the atmosphere called??
wind
What creates wind?
Uneven heating of the earths surface.
How does rising air create clouds?
Cool it down enough too 100 humidity, relative humidity
What creates local winds?
Small high and low pressure
Why does a local shoreline have a sea breeze during the day?
Land heats up fast than the ocean
Why does a local shoreline have a land breeze during the night?
The ocean heats up slower
What are monsoonal winds?
Large version of land breezes
What creates mouton and valley breezes?
Temperature differences
What are katabatibc winds?
Move up and down slopes
what is the result of a large amount of solar energy hitting the equator?
Creates a low pressure zone
Where does air that rises at the Equator go?
Move towards the pole at the top of the troposphere and delfects right
What is the Hadley Cell?
20-30 rises above the equator and moves around
Approximately what latitudes does the Hadley cell cover?
0 degrees to 20-30
What is Midlatitude (Ferrel) Cell?
Between 30-60 degrees N and S
Approximately what latitudes does the Midlatitude (Ferrel) Cell cover?
Next cycle from the Hadley cell 20-30 to 50-60
Polar cell?
Smallest cell where cold air decends
Approximately what latitudes does the Polar Cell cover?
60-70 degreee
What is the Coriolis Effect?
A parent deflection to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere
How does the Coriolis Effect impact movement of air on Earth’s surface?
the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere
What is the Polar Jet Stream and where is it?
In Between the polar 50-60 north and south latitude
