Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
35 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
atmospheres
|
layers of gases that extend beyond a planets surface
|
|
|
5 Layers of atmosphere
|
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere - Mesosphere - Thermosphere - Exopshere |
|
|
the bottom layer of the atmosphere
|
troposphere
|
|
|
the top layer of the atmosphere
|
exosphere
|
|
|
What two gases make up most of earth's atmosphere?
|
Oxygen and nitrogen
|
|
|
What is insolation?
|
the amount of solar radiation that an area recieves
|
|
|
do locations at higher latitudes recieve more insolation?
|
no, locations at a higher latitude recieve less insolation.
|
|
|
what happens to the solar radiation that arrives on earth?
|
some is reflected back by dust and clouds, some is absorbed.
then, convection transfers the thermal energy throughout the atmosphere. |
|
|
What is albedo?
|
The amount of solar radiation reflected by a surface.
|
|
|
How does conduction transfer heat in Earth's atmosphere?
|
Conduction transfers heat from Earth's surface to the atmosphere by transfering heat in the lowest part of the troposphere. The ground transfers heat to particles in air directly above. Then the particles in air heated by Earth's surface collide with particles in the lowest level of the troposphere and the air temperature increases.
|
|
|
What is weather?
|
The condition of the atmosphere at a certain place and time.
|
|
|
What is atmospheric pressure?
|
Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the mass of air above any point on Earth's surface.
|
|
|
What measures atmospheric pressure?
|
A barometer
|
|
|
What is the relationship between altitude and density?
|
As altitude goes up, air density goes up.
|
|
|
What is humidity?
|
the measurement of water vapour in the air
|
|
|
What happens when there is more water vapour in air?
|
It is lighter.
|
|
|
What's the relationship between temperature and airs capacity to hold water?
|
As airs temperature goes up, its capacity to hold water vapour increases.
|
|
|
Relative humidity?
|
Compares the amount of water vapour in the air to the amount it could hold.
|
|
|
What is an air mass?
|
This is a parcel of air with similar temperature and humidity throughout.
|
|
|
What causes wind?
|
It is air moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.
|
|
|
When does a high pressure system form?
List the steps. |
- A high pressure system forms when an air mass cools over an ocean or a cold region on land.
- As the air mass cools, particles in the air lose kinetic energy and the air becomes denser. - The air mass then contracts and draws in surrounding air from the upper troposphere. - The added weight of the extra air increases air pressure. - Earths rotation makes the wind flow clockwise around the high pressure centre. - As the high air pressure sinks it becomes warmer and drier, often bringing clear skies. |
|
|
What happens in a low pressure system?
|
- Air warms and becomes less dense
- the air mass expands and rises - the air pressure at the surface decreases and draws in air from areas of high prsesure creating wind - water vapour condenses as air cools, bringing wet weather |
|
|
What are prevailing winds?
|
Winds that are typical for a certain region.
|
|
|
What are some some characteristics that affect winds?
|
oceans, mountains and lakes
|
|
|
What are sea breezes?
|
Local winds that are caused by the different rates at which land and water respond to heating and cooling.
|
|
|
What causes an onshore breeze?
|
During the day, land heats up faster than water.
Land radiates heat, which warms air at the surface. Warm air rises, replaced by cool air drawn in from the water - The resulting wind causes onshore breeze. |
|
|
What causes an offshore breeze?
|
- During the night, land cools down faster than the nearby water.
- the somewhat warm air over the water rises. - that draws in cool air from over the land. |
|
|
What is the coriolis effect?
|
A change in the direction of moving air, water, or objects due to earth's rotation.
|
|
|
What are the 3 major wind systems?
|
the trade winds, prevailing easterlies and polar easterlies.
|
|
|
Where do jet streams occur?
|
On the stratosphere
|
|
|
How does the coriolis effect affect winds?
|
It makes them swerve right in the northern hemisphere and left in the southern.
|
|
|
What is a front?
|
The boundary between two air masses.
|
|
|
What will an approaching front bring?
|
a change in weather.
|
|
|
When does a warm front result?
|
A warm front results when warm air replaces cold air.
|
|
|
When do thunderstorms occur?
|
They occur when water vapour in rising warm air condenses, releasing thermal energy. Then, this energy further heats up the air, which continues to rise.
|
