Weether Theory

Question 1

Atmosphere composition

Answer 1

78% N2
21% O2
Argon/ co2/ others

Question 2

Levels of atmosphere

Answer 2

Troposphere 0-20000
Stratosphere 20000 - 160000
Mesosphere 160000-280000
Thermosphere 350 miles

Question 3

Temperature and pressure lapse rate

Answer 3

Temp 2 degrees c per 1000 ft

Pressure 1 inch per 1000 ft

Question 4

Coriolanus force directs air

Answer 4

To the right in northern hemisphere

To the left in Southern Hemisphere

Question 5

Standard atmosphere

Answer 5

29.92 or 1013.2mb or 14.7 lb/in^2

Question 6

Wind flows from

Answer 6

High pressure to low pressure

Question 7

High pressure air rotates:

Low pressure air rotates

Answer 7

Clockwise away from the center

Counter clockwise toward the center

Question 8

Sea breeze

Land breeze

Answer 8

Cool air from over water that moves over land heats up and cycles back to the water

Cool air over land that moves over water heats up and cycles back to land.

Question 9

Temp inversions

Answer 9

Shallow smooth layers stable close to the ground. Temp increases to top of inversion. Top acts as a lid trapping weather and pollutants below. If humidity is high you can get reduced visibility in the later. Formed on cool clear nights when the ground cools the surface air faster than the rest.

Question 10

How much water can the air hold

Answer 10

20 degrees f doubles the airs capacity.

Question 11

What happens when the temp is reduced to the dew point?

Answer 11

The air is completely saturated and moisture begins to condense out of the air

Question 12

Radiation fog

Answer 12

Usually formed in low lying areas like mountain valleys.
Occurs when ground cools rapidly due to terrestrial radiation and the surrounding air reaches its dew point.

< 20 ft thick it’s ground fog

Question 13

Advection fog

Answer 13

When warm moist air moves over a cold surface. Requires wind to form up to 15kts. Common in costal areas where sea breezes can blow the air over cooler land masses.

Question 14

Upslope dog

Answer 14

Moist stable air forced up sloping land “mountains”

Question 15

Steam fog/ sea fog

Answer 15

Cold dry air moves over warm water water evaporates causing steam of fog

Question 16

What do you need to have clouds form?

Answer 16

Water vapor, condensation nuclei, as well as method by which the air can be cooled.

When the air cools and reaches the saturation point it changes to a visible state.

Question 17

Low clouds

Answer 17

0-6500

Stratus - heaped or piled clouds, stratocumulus - formed in layers,
nimbostratus - rain clouds

Question 18

Middle clouds

Answer 18

6500-20000

Altostratus - middle layered, altocumulus - middle heaped

Question 19

High clouds

Answer 19

20000 - up

Cirrus - ringlets, fibrous clouds, cirrostratus - high layers,
cirrocumulus - high heaped clouds

Question 20

Freezing rain

Answer 20

Freezes as it falls through a temperature inversion

Question 21

Air masses
Continental polar
Maritime polar
Continental tropical
Maritime tropical 
Arctic

Answer 21

Continental polar: cool dry air
Maritime polar:
Maritime tropical: warm moist air
Continental tropical: