Flashcards
Atmosphere/Weather/Climate
Flashcards do conjunto (52)
- 1WeatherShort-term tropospheric phenomena
- 2ClimateLong-term atmospheric phenomena
- 3Nitrogen78.08%
- 4Oxygen20.95%
- 5Argon0.93%
- 6Troposphere-decreasing temp with height
-warmed at base by long wave radiation - 7Tropopause15-18km at equator
incorporates the jet streams
marks coldest level in lower atmosphere - 8Stratosphereextends up to about 50-60km
temperature increases with altitude
contains the ozone layer - 9Radiational cooling processesair in contact with the surface cools at night
- 10Advective fogswarm air blows across a cold surface
- 11Frontal fogsOccurs as a warm front passes after it has been raining
- 12Upslope fogswind blows air upslope
- 13Steam fogsIn very cold weather steam rises off water
- 14StratopauseKnown from the reflection of sound from loud explosions by temperature inversion
- 15MesosphereCools with altitude and is therefore the coldest level in the atmosphere
- 16Noctilucent cloudsmeteoritic dust coated with glaze of ice
- 17Thermospheretemperature increases upwards
auroral displays - 18InsolationEarth receives short-wave solar radiation
- 19HeatEarth emits long wavelength radiation
- 20How is heat energy transferred from sun to earth?-radiation through space
-radiation through atmosphere - 21How is heat energy transferred from earth to atmosphere?-conduction
-convection
-radiation
-evaporation - 22Conductiondirect contact of molecules
- 23Convectionmovement of a group of molecules
e.g. hotter molecules expand, become less dense and rise - 24Radiationno substance involved
e.g. sunlight through a window - 25Evaporationconduction and convection
- 26What are the variations in temperature between the tropics and poles and why?-Tropics are hot and poles are cold
-Energy moves from tropics to poles - 27How does energy move from the tropics to the poles?-movement accomplished by ocean and air currents
- 28Why are variations in temperature non-uniform?Non-uniform temperature gradient caused by irregular land-sea distribution
- 29How do oceans store heat?-radiation penetrates further in water
-water has a high specific heat capacity
-greater volume of water warmed than land - 30What is air pressure?cumulative force of all the molecules colliding with a unit surface in contact with the air
- 31What 3 factors does pressure depend on?-mass of molecules
-pull of gravity
-kinetic molecular activity - 32What is convergence?there may be excess air
- 33What is divergence?air may be whisked away faster than the supply from aloft
- 34Why do air masses speed up or slow down?-may intersect or leave the jet stream
-may be pushed by other air masses
-may acquire energy from ground heating - 35What do air pressure variations cause?weather
- 36What 3 factors contribute to the stability of an air mass?-pressure
-temperature
-air density - 37Why are rainforests wet?-high temperatures promote evaporation
-air always humid, ground wet - 38What is the distribution of water vapour at the mid-latitudes?-precipitation is abundant
-air fluctuates between humid and dry - 39What is meant by vapour pressure?pressure exerted by the water vapour component of the air alone
- 40What is meant by mixing ratio?mass of water vapour per mass of dry air
- 41What is meant by saturation vapour pressure?vapour pressure when an equilibrium is established once condensation is equal to evaporation
- 42What is relative humidity proportional to?vapour pressure
- 43What is relative humidity inversely proportional to?saturation vapour pressure
- 44List 3 reasons for high pressure conditions.-Colder air is denser and tends to sink increasing surface pressure
-In winter, large landmasses cool more rapidly
-Cool ocean currents keep air cool and dense - 45List 3 reasons for low pressure conditions.-Warm air is less dense, causing it to rise
-In summer, land heats faster than oceans
-Low pressure systems such as hurricanes - 46What is a ridge?a long, high point
- 47What is a trough?a valley with high pressure on at least 3 sides
- 48What is a pressure col?high pressure, low pressure etc...
- 49What does the point on the wind symbol show?-where the wind is coming from
- 50What are the average pressure values?950-1050 mb
- 51What do the points represent on fronts?-the direction the front is moving
- 52What direction does the wind blow around a high pressure?clockwise