Weather How It Impacts Our Lives Flashcards

1
Q

What is the atmosphere

A

A thin layer of gases that surrounds the earth

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2
Q

What is the atmosphere made up of

A

78 percent nitrogen 21 percent oxygen and 1 percent random gases

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3
Q

What does the atmosphere do

A

It insulates the earth from extreme temperatures

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4
Q

How thick is the earth’s atmosphere

A

480km thick

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5
Q

Troposphere

A

The bottom layer of the atmosphere
Weather and clouds r found
Temp generally decreases as the altitude increases

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6
Q

Stratosphere

A

2nd layer
Extends from 17km to 50km
Ozone layer is located here

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7
Q

Solar energy

A

Energy from the sun
Earth’s main source of heat
Energy that travels form the sun through space is solar radation

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8
Q

Latitude

A

The angular distance north or south of the equater

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9
Q

Near the equator (lower latitude)

A

Sun’s rays heat a small area
Sun’s rays travel through less atmosphere so don’t loose much heat

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10
Q

Away from the equator (higher latitude)

A

Sun’s rays r more spread out
Colder

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11
Q

Wind

A

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

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12
Q

Trade winds

A

Air movements towards the equator
Warm, steady breezes that blow almost continuously

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13
Q

The doldrum

A

Areas near the equator where is little to no wind

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14
Q

The prevailing westerlies

A

Prevailing winds form the west to the east in the middle latitudes between 30° and 60°

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15
Q

The horse latitudes

A

Found at 30° North and South of the equator. Weak and encourage clear skies

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16
Q

The polar easterlies

A

Dry, cold prevailing winds that blow from the east.

17
Q

Where are the polar easterlies found

A

Between 60° and 90° North and South latitude that blow from the poles and are deflected towards the east

18
Q

Warm currents

A

Currents flowing from the equator
Raise the temp of the water to which they flow
Help to keep harbours in higher latitude free from ice

19
Q

Cold currents

A

Flow from areas in high latitudes towards the equator
Lower the temp of the water to which they flow. increase the possibility of ice in higher latitude harbours

20
Q

Air masses

A

Large moving pockets of air that have similar temperature, pressure and moisture throughout

21
Q

Size of air masses

A

Large, stretching 1,500 km across the landscape

22
Q

Warm air masses

A

Carry warm moisture or water vapor than cold air masses

23
Q

Polar maritime

A

Air masses from the north-west Atlantic that bring cold, wet air and showery conditions

24
Q

Arctic

A

Air masses from the North Pole bring cold weather conditions

25
Polar continental
Air masses from north-east Europe bring dry, cold and frosty nights and heavy snowfall in winter
26
Tropical continental
Air masses from the Sahara bring dry, sunny weather
27
Tropical maritime
Air masses from the south-west bring rain all year round
28
Isobars
Lines drawn on a weather map connecting places of equal atmospheric pressure Closer they are, stronger the wind will be
29
Warm fronts
Occurs when a warm air mass approach a cold air mass. As the warm air rises, it cools and condenses to form dark, rain-bearing clouds
30
Cold fronts
Occurs when a cold air mass pushes in and replaces a warm air mass. Warm air rises, cools and condensation takes place. Heavy rain fall
31
Occluded front
Occur at the point where a _cold front takes over a warm front_ or the other way around. Brings changeable weather