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8th Grade Science > Weather > Flashcards

Weather Flashcards

1
Q

the 5 big guiding principles of Meteorology:

A
  1. Hot air rises
  2. Rising air expands & cools
  3. As air rises, air pressure at the surface is lowered
  4. Air travels from high pressure to low pressure
  5. Cool air holds less moisture than warm air
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2
Q

Hot air is less ___ than cold air

A

dense

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3
Q

Add heat to gas and what 2 things happen?

A
  1. molecules move faster

2. molecules spread out

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4
Q

Wind forms as ___ pressure air moves to areas of ___ pressure

A

high; low

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5
Q

the layers of the Atmosphere: from the top, down

A 
Thermosphere
(550km from Earth)
Mesosphere
(80km from Earth)
Stratosphere
(50km from Earth)
Troposphere
(12km from Earth)
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6
Q

the layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that you live in

A

Troposphere

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7
Q

the coldest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere; lies directly below the uppermost layer

A

Mesosphere

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8
Q

the uppermost layer of the atmosphere

A

Thermosphere

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9
Q

the layer that contains most of the atmosphere’s ozone; above the layer that you live in

A

Stratosphere

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10
Q

Why does air pressure decrease as altitude increases?

A

Air pressure decreases as you go up because the majority of air is closest to the Earth’s surface due to gravity.

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11
Q

Explain why the temperature decreases & increases as you travel throughout the layers of the atmosphere.

A

The temp. decreases as you travel up in the troposphere b/c there is less air molecules the higher you go up.

The temp. increases in the stratosphere due to the ozone layer absorbing UV rays.

It decreases again in the mesosphere due to the few slow moving molecules.

It increases in the thermosphere due to the rapidly moving ions. Even though there are few air molecules, they are moving so rapidly that the temp. increases; however, it would still FEEL cold.

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12
Q

What gases is the atmosphere mainly composed of & what are their percents?

A

78% Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
1% Miscellaneous

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13
Q

Radiation:

A

the transfer of energy as ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES

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14
Q

Radiation moves energy through space in…

A

waves, heating the Earth’s surface

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15
Q

Through this method of heat transfer…

A

the earth recieves energy from the sun

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15
Q

The radiation absorbed by the land, water, and atmosphere is changed into…

A

thermal energy

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16
Q

50% of Radiation is…

A

absorbed by the Earth’s surface

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17
Q

25% of Radiation is…

A

scattered & reflected by clouds & air

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18
Q

20% of Radiation is…

A

absorbed by ozone, clouds, & atmosphere

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19
Q

5% of Radiation is…

A

reflected by the Earth’s surface (snow & pool/ocean water)

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20
Q

Conduction:

A

the transfer of thermal energy from one material to another by DIRECT CONTACT

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21
Q

Air is heated by conduction near…

A

the earth’s surface

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22
Q

Thermal energy ALWAYS moves from ___ to ___ areas

A

warm to cold areas

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23
Q

When air molecules come into contact with a warm surface…

A

thermal energy is transferred into the atmosphere

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24
Q

Where is air heated by conduction?

A

near the earth’s surface

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25
Q

Convection:

A

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

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26
Q

Convection currents are caused by…

A

the unequal heating of the atmosphere

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27
Q

Most thermal energy in the atmosphere moves by…

A

convection

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28
Q

What are the 4 steps in convection?

A
  1. Heated air becomes less dense & rises
  2. Air cools, becomes more dense & sinks
  3. As the cool air sinks, it pushes the warm air up
  4. The cool air is eventually heated again by the ground & again begins to rise
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29
Q

This continual process for convection creates a circular movement called a…

A

convection current

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30
Q

How are convection currents created?

A

by the uneven heating of the atmosphere

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31
Q

Air Pressure Demonstration: What were the 2 methods of heat transfer used to heat the water in the soda can?

A
  • Conduction (can was touching hot plate)

* Convection (convection currents when boiling the water)

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32
Q

Air Pressure Demonstration: As the water started to boil, which phase change was occuring?

A

Evaporation

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33
Q

Air Pressure Demonstration: Where was the GREATEST amount of air pressure?

A

Outside the can because it was a lower temperature than inside the can.

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34
Q

Air Pressure Demonstration: Where was the LEAST amount of air pressure?

A

Inside the can because it had a higher temperature than outside the can.

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35
Q

Air Pressure Demonstration: Explain why the can collapsed.

A

Air travels from high pressure to low pressure, so when the can became surrounded by the low pressure air that was above the cooler temp. water, more air went into the can, causing it to collapse.

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36
Q

What is wind?

A

moving air from high to low pressure

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37
Q

Winds are named by…

A

where they come from

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38
Q

How is wind created?

A

by differences in air pressure

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39
Q

Wind is generally caused by the uneven ___ of the Earth

A

uneven heating

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40
Q

___ sun rays = hotter temperatures

A

direct

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41
Q

___ sun rays = cooler temperatures

A

indirect

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42
Q

Air that is warm & less dense ___ and creates an area of ___ pressure.

A

Air that is warm & less dense rises and creates an area of low pressure.

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43
Q

Air that is cold & more dense ___ and creates an area of ___ pressure.

A

Air that is cold & more dense sinks and creates an area of high pressure.

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44
Q

There is a change in global air patterns approximately every ___.

A

30° latitude

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45
Q

What are convection cells?

A

the circular patterns of air movement caused by the rising & sinking of air

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46
Q

Global Winds:

A
  • are part of a pattern of air circulation that moves across the Earth
  • blow over longer distances in a specific direction
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47
Q

Local Winds:

A

• blow over short distances & can blow from any direction
• types: sea breeze, land breeze,
valley breeze, mountain breeze, etc.

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48
Q

Where are the Doldrums?

A

near the equator

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49
Q

Why is the air calm in the doldrums?

A

there is very little change in temperature

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50
Q

Doldrums - area of low pressure at the ___

A

Equator

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51
Q

Doldrums - very little wind there because of ___ rising air

A

warm

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52
Q

Doldrums - “doldrums” mean foolish because…

A

it would be foolish to sail in that region

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53
Q

Where are the trade winds?

A

above and below the equator

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54
Q

Above the equator the trade winds are steady ___ winds. Below the equator, the trade winds are steady ___ winds. (direction)

A

northeast; southeast

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55
Q

Trade Winds - between ___ & the equator

A

30° latitude

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56
Q

Trade Winds - early ___ used them to sail from Europe to the Americas

A

traders

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57
Q

Trade Winds - go from ___ to ___

A

east to west

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58
Q

The ___ ___ are another area of calm. The air is cooling & ___ here.

A

horse latitudes; sinking

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59
Q

Horse Latitudes - areas of ___ pressure caused by sinking air at ___ N & ___ S

A

high; 30°; 30°

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60
Q

Horse Latitudes - the winds are very ___

A

weak

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61
Q

Horse Latitudes - How was this area named?

A

Legend: ships carrying horses from Europe to America got stuck due to lack of wind & would throw horses overboard to save drinking water & make the ship lighter

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62
Q

Where are the Westerlies the prevailing wind?

A

over much of the middle and higher latitudes

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63
Q

Westerlies - wind belts found between ___ and ___ N & S latitude

A

30° & 60° N & S latitude

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64
Q

Westerlies - flow in the ___ direction of the trade winds (___ to ___)

A

opposite; west to east

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65
Q

Westerlies - bring most of ___ weather

A

our

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66
Q

What is the Polar Front?

A

where the warm air of the westerlies meets the cold air of the polar easterlies

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67
Q

This causes ___ weather in the region where the ___ prevail.

A

unstable weather; westerlies

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68
Q

Polar Easterlies - wind belts found in both hemispheres between the ___ and ___.

A

poles & 60° latitude

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69
Q

Polar Easterlies - named for the ___ and ___ they come from.

A

direction & area

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70
Q

Jet Streams - narrow belts of high ___ winds in the upper troposphere & lower stratosphere

A

speed

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71
Q

Jet Streams - ___ north and south

A

shift

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72
Q

Jet Streams - control the ___ & ___ of storms (inportant to meteorologists who track storms)

A

direction & movement

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73
Q

Jet Streams - pilots fly with the jet stream when possible to ___ time & fuel

74
Q

Coriolis Effect - ___ winds are affected by the coriolis effect

75
Q

Coriolis Effect - the apparent ___ of winds because of the Earth’s ___.

A

curving; rotation

76
Q

Coriolis Effect - winds in the Northern hemisphere appear to curve to the ___

77
Q

Coriolis Effect - winds in the Southern hemisphere appear to curve to the ___

78
Q

A convection current is an alternating cycle in which ___ air is constantly being replaced by ___ air

A

warmer; cooler

79
Q

Heat is released (energy is lost) in which phase changes?

A

condensation, freezing, deposition

80
Q

Heat is absorbed (energy is added) in which phase changes?

A

evaporation, melting, sublimation

81
Q

What is precipitation? What is the phase change?

A

rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls from the clouds onto the Earth’s surface; liquid to solid

82
Q

What is infiltration?

A

the movement of water into the ground due to the pull of gravity

83
Q

What is runoff?

A

water that flows across land & collects in rivers, streams, & eventually the ocean

84
Q

What is groundwater?

A

the water located within the rocks below the Earth’s surface

85
Q

What are glaciers? What is the phace change?

A

an enormous mass of moving ice; solid to liquid

86
Q

What is an example of perspiration? What is the phase change?

A

sweating; liquid to gas

87
Q

What is transpiration? What is the phase change?

A

the process by which plants release water vapor into the air through their leaves; liquid to gas

88
Q

What is wind?

A

moving air (moves high & low pressure)

89
Q

What is Humidity?

A

the amount of water vapor or moisture in the air

90
Q

As water evaporates, does the humidity of the air increase or decrease?

A

As water evaporates, the humidity of the air increases.

91
Q

What is Relative Humidity?

A

the amount of moisture the air contains compared with the maximum amount it can hold at that particular temperature

92
Q

How can the relative humidity become higher? (2 ways)

A
  1. more water vapor in the air at a particular temperature

2. lower temperature with a particular amount of water vapor in the air

93
Q

What is Condensation?

A

the change of state from a gas to a liquid

94
Q

What % relative humidity will there be condensation?

A

Condensation is when a gas changes to a liquid when the air is saturated with 100% relative humidity.

95
Q

What is Dew Point?

A

the temperature at which air must cool to be completely saturated

96
Q

How is there condensation on a glass with ice in it?

A

the ice in a glass of water causes the air surrounding the glass to cool to its dew point, making the relative humidity 100% & causing condenstion to form

97
Q

What is Saturated?

A

when air holds all the water it can at a given temperature

98
Q

What is the relative humidity of saturated air?

A

Saturated air has a relative humidity of 100%

99
Q

How is relative humidity found using a Psychrometer?

A

by taking the difference between the Dry-Bulb temperature and the Wet-Bulb temperature. then a chart is used to find the relative humidity.

100
Q

What happens to relative humidity as air temperature increases?

A

relative humidity decreases as air temperature increases

101
Q

What is a River?

A

a large natural stream of water flowing in a definite course that empties into an ocean, lake, or another body of water

102
Q

What are Tributaries?

A

smaller streams or rivers that flow into bigger ones

103
Q

What is a Watershed?

A

the land drained by a river system - the main river & tributaries are within it

104
Q

What are Wetlands?

A

the area around the mouth of a river tht has fertile soil and marsh, freshwater, and saltwater habitats

105
Q

What is a Delta?

A

a fan shaped deposit of sediment where a river slows down as it reaches a large body of water

106
Q

What is an Ocean?

A

a large body of salt watet

107
Q

What is Sediment?

A

sand/minerals

108
Q

Why are river systems & the water cycle classified as CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS? Tell the difference between open & closed systems.

A

River systems & the water cycle are both classified as closed loop systems because neither of them are dependent on things outside of their system. In the river system & water cycle, water flows continuously & the systems are never-ending. They don’t need, for example, a human to continue the cycle by moving water from 1 place to another. An open loop system is dependent on outside factors to continue it’s cycle.

109
Q

What are the basic ingredients for weather?

A

temperature, pressure, volume, density

110
Q

What do all weather events have in common?

111
Q

Altitude: Stratus Cloud

A

below 6,500 ft (low)

112
Q

Composition: Stratus Cloud

A

water droplets

113
Q

What they look like: Stratus Cloud

A

grey clouds that cover the entire sky; layered

114
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Stratus Cloud

A

drizzle (very light rain)

115
Q

Altitude: Nimbostratus Cloud

A

below 6,500 ft (low)

116
Q

Composition: Nimbostratus Cloud

A

water droplets

117
Q

What they look like: Nimbostratus Cloud

A

dark grey; wet-looking; layered

118
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Nimbostratus Cloud

A

continuously falling rain or snow (light to moderate)

119
Q

Altitude: Stratocumulus Cloud

A

below 6,500 ft (low)

120
Q

Composition: Stratocumulus Cloud

A

water droplets

121
Q

What they look like: Stratocumulus Cloud

A

low lumpy clouds; usually some blue sky in between

122
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Stratocumulus Cloud

A

can become nimbostratus

123
Q

Altitude: Altocumulus Cloud

A

6,500 - 18,000 ft (middle)

124
Q

Composition: Altocumulus Cloud

A

water droplets

125
Q

What they look like: Altocumulus Cloud

A

grey puffy masses; sometimes in waves or bands

126
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Altocumulus Cloud

A

indicates possible thunderstorms by late afternoon

127
Q

Altitude: Altostratus Cloud

A

6,500 - 18,000 ft (middle)

128
Q

Composition: Altostratus Cloud

A

water droplets & ice crystals

129
Q

What they look like: Altostratus Cloud

A

layered across the sky; bumpy

130
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Altostratus Cloud

A

often form ahead of storms with continuous precipitation

131
Q

Altitude: Cirrus Cloud

A

above 18,000 ft (high)

132
Q

Composition: Cirrus Cloud

A

ice crystals

133
Q

What they look like: Cirrus Cloud

A

thin; wispy

134
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Cirrus Cloud

A

fair, pleasant weather

135
Q

Altitude: Cirrostratus Cloud

A

above 18,000 ft (high)

136
Q

Composition: Cirrostratus Cloud

A

ice crystals

137
Q

What they look like: Cirrostratus Cloud

A

thin; sheet-like; can see the sun/moon through clouds (halo around moon)

138
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Cirrostratus Cloud

A

predicts rain or snow within 12-24 hours

139
Q

Altitude: Cirrocumulus Cloud

A

above 18,000 ft (high)

140
Q

Composition: Cirrocumulus Cloud

A

ice crystals

141
Q

What they look like: Cirrocumulus Cloud

A

small, rounded white puffs

142
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Cirrocumulus Cloud

A

fair, but cold weather

143
Q

Altitude: Cumulus Cloud

A

below 6,500 ft (vertically developed)

144
Q

Composition: Cumulus Cloud

A

water droplets

145
Q

What they look like: Cumulus Cloud

A

puffy clouds; look like cottonballs

146
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Cumulus Cloud

A

fair weather

147
Q

Altitude: Cumulonimbus Cloud

A

6,000 - 50,000 ft (vertically developed)

148
Q

Composition: Cumulonimbus Cloud

A

water droplets & ice

149
Q

What they look like: Cumulonimbus Cloud

A

towering, dark clouds

150
Q

Weather/Precipitation: Cumulonimbus Cloud

A

heavy rain; thunderstorms; hail; tornadoes

151
Q

If you were outside for a day & were looking at the clouds fro time to time, what would you see that would indicate precipitation was on the way?

A

the clouds would become darker & their altitudes would become lower

152
Q

What is an air mass?

A

a large body of air that has similar temperature & moisture throughout the whole air mass

153
Q

What is a front?

A

sharp transition zone

154
Q

Where do air masses form?

A

the land or the sea

155
Q

What is a Maritime air mass?

A

an air mass that forms over water; it is wet/moist

156
Q

What is a Continental air mass?

A

an air mass that forms over land; it is dry

157
Q

What is a Polar air mass?

A

an air mass that forms over polar regions; it is cold

158
Q

What is a Tropical air mass?

A

an air mass that develops over the Tropics; it is warm/hot

159
Q

Describe the maritime Tropical (mT) air mass.

A

warm & moist

160
Q

Describe the continental Tropical (cT) air mass.

161
Q

Describe the maritime Polar (mP) air mass.

A

cold & showery (wet; precipitation)

162
Q

Describe the continental Polar (cP) air mass.

A

cold & dry

163
Q

What is a front?

A

a front is a boundary between 2 different air masses

164
Q

All of the ___ & ___ is the same behind the front

A

moisture & air temperature

165
Q

How does a cold front form?

A

the cold air mass moves under a warm air mass & moves the less dense warm air out

166
Q

Weather: As the cold front passes there is a sudden drop in…

A

temperature

167
Q

Weather: As the cold front passes there is heavy…

A

precipitation

168
Q

Weather: As the cold front passes there is a sharp drop in…

169
Q

Weather: As the cold front passes there are shifting/increased…

170
Q

After the cold front passes, what is the weather like?

A
  1. colder temperatures
  2. decrease in precipitation
  3. lowered humidity
171
Q

How does a warm front form?

A

a warm air mass meets & overrides a cold air mass

172
Q

Weather: As the warm front passes temperature…

A

steadily increases

173
Q

Weather: As the warm front passes there is light…

A

precipitation over a large area

174
Q

Weather: As the warm front passes there is minimal change in…

175
Q

After the warm front passes, what is the weather like?

A
  1. temperature becomes warmer
  2. no precipitation
  3. usually nice weather
176
Q

How does a stationary front form?

A

a cold front meets a warm front and stalls - no movement

177
Q

Weather: As the stationary front passes there is similar weather as a…

A

warm front

178
Q

Weather: As the stationary front passes there is little…

A

precipitation

179
Q

Weather: As the stationary front passes the weather may last…

A

over several days

180
Q

How does an occluded front form?

A

the cold air mass from the cold front meets the cool air that was ahead of the warm front. the warm air rises as these air masses come together

181
Q

Type of Weather for an Occluded Front: mature…

A

storm development

182
Q

Type of Weather for an Occluded Front: weather similar to a…

A

cold front

8th Grade Science (7 decks)

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