Weather and Climate Flashcards
1
Q
Three Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
A
- Convection
- Conduction
- Radiation
2
Q
4 States of Matter
A
- solid
- liquid
- gas(vapor)
- plasma
3
Q
Latent Heat
A
is the energy released or absorbed by a substance(or a thermodynamic substance) during a phase change that occurs at constant temperature
4
Q
Discuss Latent Heat
A
- is of major meteorological processes. it is responsible for providing new energy to major storms and stretch their lifetime
- its a sort of energy reservoir
5
Q
Weather vs. Climate
time/length
A
- weather is short term
- climate is long term average weather
6
Q
Major components of dry air
A
nitrogen- 78.08%
oxygen-20.95%
Argon-0.93%
Carbon Dioxide-0.036%
7
Q
Minor Components
A
- water vapor
- ozone
- aerosol
- carbon dioxide
- methane
8
Q
Aerosols
A
- condensation of precipitation
- screen incoming radiation
9
Q
Ultra Violet
A
- screening effect of zone
- UV effects on life
10
Q
Troposphere
A
(0-16km)
- T increases with elevation 20 C to -60 C
- Heated by Earth’s surface(greenhouse effect)
11
Q
Stratosphere
A
(16-50 km)
- T increases with elevation
- ozone absorbs UV radiation
12
Q
Mesosphere
A
(50-80km)
-T decreases with elevation
13
Q
Thermosphere
A
(80-500 km)
-T increases due to absorption of radiation and solar wind
14
Q
Solar Insolation
A
- energy that reaches Earth’s surface
- less than that coming from Sun
- Radiation is electromagnetic
- Reflected by clouds, absorbed by
- Scattering causes blue sky
15
Q
Albedo
A
- surfaces reflecting solar energy
- high albedo reflects more solar energy
