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26 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Angle of Insolation |
The angle at which sunlight strikes Earth's surface |
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Atmosphere |
The air that surrounds Earth |
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Troposphere |
The layer closet to Earth's surface. the narrowest layer.(8-18 km or 5-11 miles thick). Contains most of the air in the atmosphere. all of life on Earth exists here. All moisture, clouds, rain, snow and thunderstorms form here. |
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Air pressure |
the force put on a given area by the weight of the air above it. |
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Weather |
What the lower atmosphere(troposphere) is like at any given place and time. |
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Barometer |
an instrument use to measure air pressure. |
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why are the areas around the North and South Poles colder than areas near the equator? |
The sun's rays hit Earth's surface at a low angle. the strength of the rays is much weaker at this angle. |
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Winter in the Northern Hemisphere is colder than summer because |
the Northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. |
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when the sun is lower in the sky, as when the sun first rises and when it sets, shadows cast by objects are longer than at midday because |
the angle of insolation is less before and after noon. |
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when do dark-colored surfaces get hotter than light-colored surfaces? |
Darker colors absorb more heat than light colors. |
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what is texture? |
how smooth or rough a surface is. |
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How does texture affect the temperature of objects? |
Rough surfaces tend to get hotter in sunlight than smooth surfaces. |
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The same amount of light energy will heat land to a higher temperature that it will heat water.why? |
The air above the land is warmed by the land. the water remains cooler than the land because it takes longer to warm than the land. |
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How high does the Earth's atmosphere reach? |
From Earth's surface to the edge of space. |
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How does the temperature in the troposphere change with altitude? |
The temperature decreases as the altitude increases. |
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Describe the troposphere |
Closest to Earth's surface. Narrowest layer(5-11 mi. thick) but contains most of the air in atmosphere. All life on Earth exists here. All moisture found here(clouds,rain,snow,thunderstorm) above this layer the air gradually things out to the near emptiness of space w/no exact upper boundary. |
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What is air? |
The mixture of gases( water, vapor and dust particles). It is made up mostly of nitrogen and oxygen. |
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What is water vapor? |
A gas. The amount in the air will vary. |
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What are clouds and fog? |
Liquid or solid water |
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What are molecules? |
are the smallest pieces that a substance can be broken into without changing what the substance is. Molecules have mass.
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Where is normal air pressure greatest? |
at sea level |
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Why is air pressure less as you go higher in altitude? |
because amount of air above is less, as altitude increases, the pressure exerted by the air is less.( gravity's pull is less when farther away from earth). |
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What instrument is used to measure temperature? |
Thermometer |
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What instrument is used to measure air pressure? |
Barometer |
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How do temperatures on Earth depend on angles of insolation? |
the sun's rays strike the Earth directly when the angle is greatest, therefore creating warmer temperatures.When the angle at the Sun's rays (angle of insolation) is less, temperatures are colder. |
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List factors that affect temperature of places on Earth: |
Seasons, Time of Day, Latitude, Distance from bodies of water, Angle of Insolation, Plants, Altitude, (clouds blocking sun?). |