Earth Science H Sem 1 Final

Front 1

what is deposition? give an example.

Back 1

deposition: the conversion of vapor directly to a solid, without passing through the liquid state.
-example: window frost

Front 2

what is the dry adiabatic rate?

Back 2

when gas travels upward, there are fewer gas molecules (less pressure) so it expands and cools adiabatically.
-applies only to unsaturated air

Front 3

low clouds (height)

Back 3

-2000 meters or -6500 feet

Front 4

middle clouds (height)

Back 4

2000-6000 meters or 6500 to 20,000 feet

Front 5

stratus

Back 5

-sheets or layers
-cover much of sky
-no distinct individual clouds

Front 6

high clouds, characteristics

Back 6

-cirrus(thin, delicate)
-cirrostratus(fluffy masses)
-cirrocumulus (flat layers)
-can warn of impending stormy weather.
-made up of ice crystals

Front 7

what is needed in order for clouds to form?

Back 7

tiny particles and dust called condensation nuclei

Front 8

When does the air cool by the dry adiabatic rate and at what point does the air begin to cool by the wet adiabatic rate?

Back 8

the air cools by the dry adiabatic rate until the condensation point, but above that point, the air cools by the wet adiabatic rate.

Front 9

what is condensation? what must happen for this to occur? What is it's role in the atmosphere?

Back 9

-process by which water vapor changes to a liquid state.
-the amount of energy released must equal the amount absorbed during evaporation.
-transfers great quantities of heat from tropical locations to polar locations.

Front 10

what is sublimation? give an example.

Back 10

the conversion of a solid directly to a gas, without passing through a liquid state.
example: dry ice

Front 11

give an example of an adiabatic temp change

Back 11

pumping a bicycle tire, the pump becomes warmed. This is caused by the work done on air to compress it.

Front 12

What is radiation? what are the restrictions on it? What is it's role in the atmosphere?

Back 12

form of heat transfer by which solar energy reaches earth also known as electromagnetic spectrum.
does not need a medium

Front 13

middle clouds, characteristics

Back 13

-altocumulus(globular masses, large and dense)
-altostratus (white sheet, sun/moon = bright spot)

Front 14

how are clouds classified?

Back 14

on the basis of their form and height.

Front 15

what happens when energy is used to compress air?

Back 15

the motion of the gas molecules increase and therefore the temp begins to rise.

Front 16

what is an adiabatic temperature change?

Back 16

-temp change when air is compressed or (allowed to) expand(ed).

Front 17

low clouds, characteristics

Back 17

-stratus (fog-like layer that can produce precip)
-stratocumulus (stratus clouds with long rolls)
-nimbostratus (stratus who is the chief producer of rain)

Front 18

what are the differences between the heating of land and of water?

Back 18

Land: heats more rapidly than water and cools more rapidly and to lower temperatures than water. (specific heat is greater for water, water is transparent, water mixes the heat, and more evaporation from water than land)

Front 19

What makes the air saturated?

Back 19

the steady increase in vapor pressure in the air above forces more and more of the molecules to return to a/the liquid. Eventually the number of vapor molecules returning to the surface will balance the number leaving, and the air is said to be saturated.

Front 20

what is saturation? What is vapor pressure?

Back 20

the max possible quantity of water vapor that the air can hold at any given temp. and pressure.
-vapor pressure: the part of the total atmospheric pressure that can be attributed to the water vapor content.

Front 21

What is conduction? what are the restrictions on it? what is it's role in the atmosphere?

Back 21

the transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity- heat transfered by collision of molecules.
Only certain substances are good conductors.
important only between the Earth's surface and the air directly in contact with the surface.

Front 22

what is convection? what are the restrictions on it? what is it's role in the atmosphere?

Back 22

the transfer of heat by mass movement or circulation within a substance
can only occur in fluids
responsible for redistribution of heat between hot and equatorial regions and the frigid poles.

Front 23

Cirrus

Back 23

-high
-white
-thin
-can occur as patches or sheets
-feathery appearance

Front 24

what is latent heat? give an example

Back 24

heat energy that is not associated with a temp. change-add heat to a container of ice water. Although heat is continually being added, the temp remains the same until all the ice is melted.

Front 25

how can saturation be prevented?

Back 25

if more heat is added to the container, the temp of the water will increase, and more water will evaporate before a balance is reached.

Front 26

What is the difference between the leeward and windward locations?

Back 26

leeward: experiences continental temps b/c wind does not carry the ocean's influence onto the shore
windward: experiences the full influence of the ocean- cool summers and mild winters

Front 27

what's a low? what's a high?

Back 27

low: cyclone, center of low pressure
-blow inward an counterclockwise around a low in N.H.
high:anticyclone, center of high pressure
-blow outward and clockwise around a high in N.H.

Front 28

why is altitude considered a temperature control?

Back 28

-the higher you go, the cooler it gets.
-usually snow up high, so it reflects the sun's rays and therefore is cooler.

Front 29

what is relative humidity?

Back 29

the ratio of the air's actual water vapor content to it's potential water vapor capacity at a given temp.

Front 30

what is specific humidity?

Back 30

a measure of the actual quantity of water vapor in a given mass of air.
(weight of water vapor/weight of chosen mass of air)

Front 31

what are the two ways relative humidity can be changed?

Back 31

1.if moisture is added or subtracted
2.different air temp.

Front 32

how is dew/fog formed?

Back 32

near Earth's surface heat is exchanged between the ground and the air above, but during the evening hours the surface radiates the heat away, and the surface and adjacent air cool rapidly, dew/fog is formed.

Front 33

what is the generalized effect on temp concerning relative humidity?

Back 33

when the water vapor content of air remains at a constant level, a decrease in air temp results in an increase in relative humidity, and an increase in temp. causes a decrease in relative humidity.

Front 34

what is evaporation? What results in a cooling effect?

Back 34

converting a liquid into a gas.
-during evaporation, it is the higher temp (faster moving) molecules that escape the surface and as a result, the average temp is reduced.

Front 35

why is cloud cover and albedo considered a temperature control?

Back 35

cloud have a high albedo (reflect most light)
during day with clouds, cooler b/c the clouds reflect the rays back into space before they hit earth.
during night with clouds it is warmer b/c the clouds hold the heat in near the Earth's surface.

Front 36

what is the wet adiabatic rate?

Back 36

if air rises high enough, it will cool sufficently to reach the dew point and can condense.
from the point along it's ascent, latent heat of condensation is released...cooling the air. Although the air will continue to cool after the condensation begins, the latent heat works against the adiabatic process and reduces the rate at which it cools.

Front 37

high clouds (height)

Back 37

above 6000 meters or 20,000 feet

Front 38

cumulus

Back 38

-globular, individual masses
-flat base
-rising domes or towers
-cauliflower structure

Front 39

what is a calorie?

Back 39

the amount of heat required to raise the temp of 1 gram of water 1 degree C.