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136 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Atmosphere
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The mixture of gases tht surrounds the Earth.
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Layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs.
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Troposphere
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What is the Ozone Layer?
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The layer of the atmosphere tht contains the higher concentrationof ozone than the rest of the atmosphere.It is part of the stratosphere and protects the Earth by abosorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
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What is the Thermosphere?
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Very hot layer extends from 80 km above the earth to 550 km above the arth.
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What is the Ionosphere?
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Part of the thermosphere.It is the layer where northern lights occur.
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What is the Exosphere?
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The outermost layer of the atmosphere 550 km above the Earth. Phone calls and TV pictures often reach us via sattelites that orbit the earth at this layer.
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What are Northern Lights and where do they occur?
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Also called Aurora Borealis these beautiful lights are caused by particles from the sun that enter the the ionosphere near the north pole. These particles strike oxygen and nitrogen atoms causing them to glow.
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What is the stratosphere?
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The 2nd layer closest to the Earth it extends 12-50 km above the Earth. This is where the ozone layer exists.
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What is acid rain?
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Type of air pollution.Rain that is more acidic than normal, caused by the release of sulfure dioxide and nitrogen dioxide molecules into the air. It can also come in the form of snow, sleet or fog. It negatively affects life on earth by damaging plants and other nurients important to life on Earth.
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What are cholorfluorocarbons (CFC's)
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CFC's group of gases usedin aerosol cans, fire extinguishers and other things. Many nations have banned the use of CFC's because their use has caused a hole to develop in the ozone layer. This hole was harmful to life on Earth because the ozone layer protects life from harmful radiation. Banning the use of CFC's will allow the ozone layer to gradually recover.
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What is the greenhouse effect?
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The trapping of heat near the Earth's surface.
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What is temperature inverstion?
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Condition in which a layer of warm air traps polluted air close to the Earth's surface.
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What is ozone?
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A form of oxygen that has 3 oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of the usual two. It is a toxic form of oxygen. It is the major chemical found in smog whih is a form of air pollution.
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What is Weather?
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The condition of the Earth's atmosphere in a particular time and place.
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Smog
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A type of air pollution with ozone that is caused by automobile emmissions it causes a brown haze to appear in the air. It can cause lung problems and is harmful to people with asthma.
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Electromagnetic waves
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This is aform of energy that travels through space. These waves are classified according to wavelength or distance between the waves.
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Radiation
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Energy that comes directly from the sun. Most of this energy comes to us as visible light. This consist of all the colors tht you see in a rainbow from red to purple.
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Ultraviolet radiation
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is radiation that comes in short wavelengths. Sunburn is caused by ultraviolet rations. This type of radiation can also cause skin cancer and eye damage.
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Infrared radiation
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Comes fromlonger waves and is not visible. However, it can be felt s heat.
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Energy in the atmosphere
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Befoer the sun's rays can reach the earth surface they must pass through the atmospehre. SOme radiationis absorbed by the atmosphere and some is reflected back. This process is called scattering and tends to be more in the violet than the red wavelength. Hence in daylight the sky is blue.
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Radiation on earth
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Some energy that is not absorbed by the atmosphere and is not reflected back reaches the earth's surface.
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Conduction
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Some of the heat that reaches the earth is trnsfered to other non liquid substances. this process is called conduction. This is what happens when your feet get hot walking on the beach. Heat that arrived onthe beach as radiation is conducted back to the sole of your feet.
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Convection
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Some heat is transferred through liquids (the ocean for example) this process allows heat that has radiated on to the earth to move from place to place throught he liquid. This is the process that allows clouds to form through condensation of the liquid.
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Condensation
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The process by which a gas such as water vapor changes to a liquid such as water.
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Heat transfer in the troposphere
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Radiation, conduction and convection work together to heat the troposphere. The sun warms the earth through radiation. Some of that heat warms the air a few meter up through conduction. When air near the ground is heated the molecules speed up. Because they have more energy the molecules move fster and the air becomes less dense.It rises andheats the upward portions of the troposphere through convection.
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Wind
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The horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Winds are caused by differences in air pressure.
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Anemometer
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The tool used by metereologists to measure wind speed.
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Local Winds
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winds that blow over short distances. Theyare caused by unequal heating of the earth's surface within a small erea.
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Land Breezes
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A type of local wind that occurs at night. land cools more quickly than water at night and the air over water rises sothat land air moves over the ocean totake its place. Land breezes therefore are the night time movement of air from land to ocean.
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Ocean Breezes
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During the day, warm air on land rises and cool air from the water moves in it's place. This is the reverse of land breezes.
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Global winds
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winds that blow steadily from a specific direction over long distances.
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Monsoons
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A process similar to land and sea breezes but that occurs over very large area. Instead of a night/day cycle these follow a winter/summer cycle.
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Global convection currents
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Temperature differences between the equator and the pools produce giant convectionscurrents in the atmosphere. The movement of air between the equator and the poles is what produces global winds.
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The coriolis effect
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The rotation of the earth causes global winds to bend and curve insntead of blowing straight out. In the northern hemisphere global winds blow towrds the righ. In the South, winds bend toward the left.
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The three types of global winds
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Easterlies, Westerlies and Trade winds.
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Easterlies
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Blow from the east toward the west.
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Westerlies
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Blow from the weast toward the east.
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Tradewinds
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Blow from the poles toward the equator.
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Horse Latitudes
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About 30 degrees north and south of the equator the winds calm down and wind moves very little. The name is derived from the fact that horses on boats caught in those latitudes 10's of years ago had to be thrown overboard in order to have the ships move.
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Doldrums
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At the equator winds are so weak that sail boats could not move.
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Jet stream
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Bands ofhigh speed winds about 10 kilometers above the earth. They blow West to East at speeds of 200- 400km an hour. Airplanes traveling towards the east tend to move faster than airplanes moving form the east to the west because jet streams tend to help West to east airplanes and hinder East to west airplanes.
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Evaporation
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The pocess by which surface molecules of liquid such as water absorb enough energy to change to a gas state such as water vapor. This is caused by heating of surface water and by plants whose water has reached the leaves.
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Humidity
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is the measure of water vapor in the air. The % of water in the air is called relative humidity.
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Psychrometer
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Measures relative humidity.
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Clouds
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are formed when water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or water crystal.
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Condensation
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The process by which a gas such as water vapor changes back into a liquid.
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Dew Point
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The temperature at which condsation begins.
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Cirrus clouds
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High clouds (10 K) above the earth are made of ice crystals.
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Cummulus clouds
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Middle clouds look like cotton balls and are often associated with storms when they are high up (cummulonimbus) and fair weather when they are low.
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Stratus clouds
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flat layer low clouds that speadout over large areas. They tend to cover the sky and are assocated with rain and snow.
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Precipitation
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The process of water falling back down to earth from clouds
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Rain
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Liquid precipitation
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Sleet
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Frozen rain drops
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Hail
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Large round pellets of ice.
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Snow
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Shen water vapor in a cloud is converted directly into ice crystals.
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Rain gauges
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Precipitation is measured by rain gauges.
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Air Masses
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A huge body of air with similar temperature, pressure and humidity throughout.
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Maritime Air Mass
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Air mass that forms over water.
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Tropical Air Mass
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Air mass that forms in the tropics (aproximately 23 degrees North and South of the equator)
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Continental Air Mass
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Air mass that forms over land.
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Martime Tropical
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Air mass that forms over water in the tropics.These air masses are hot and humid.
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Maritime Polar
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Air mass that forms over water in the North Pacific or North Atlantic oceans. These air masses are cool, humid and often bring fog and rain.
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Continental Tropical
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Hot dry masses that form over land in the tropics. These tend to be smaller that other land masses.
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Continental Polar
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Large masses that form in Northern Canada and Alaska they bring cool or cold air.
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Front
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When two air masses bump into each other they form a front.
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Cold Front
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When rapidly moving cold air runs into slow moving warm air mass and the cold air slides under the warm air. This often brings rain and snow if thereis a lot of water vapor in the air. Otherwise they result in cool cloud covered weather.
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Warm Front
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When a rapidly moving warm air front runs into a slow moving cold air front and moves over the cold air front. THis often results in fogg or reain. If the air is dry then the result is scattered clouds.
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Stationary Front
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When two air masses meet but neither is stronger or faster than the other.THere is in this case a standoff between them that results in rain, snow or fog as the warm air condenses.
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Occluded Front
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When a warm air mass is "sandwiched" between two cold air masses. As the warm air cools it may result in rain.
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Cyclone
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A swirling center of a low air pressure area. Often results in storms.
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Anticyclone
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A high pressure cente of dry air. Ofent results in fair weather.
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Storm
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A violent disturbance in the atmosphere
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Thunderstorm
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A storm that forms in a large cummulonimbus cloud and is often accompanied by thunder and lightning.
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Lightning
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During a thunderstorm areas of positive and negative electicla charges build up. Lightnign is the sudden spark of these charges.
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Thunderstorm safety
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During a thunderstorm avid large open areas and do not touch metal object as they can conduct electricity and you can get a strong electric shock.
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Tornadoes
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A destructive storm. It is a rapidly whirling funnel shaped cloud that reaches down and touches the earth surface. Winds can reach 480 km per hour. Tornadoes are formed in heavy cummulonimbus couds and are more likely in summer and spring over flat areas such as the Great Plains region of the US which is called tornado alley.
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Hurricane
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Hurricanes form over warm water in Augus, September or October. A hurricn gets its energy from the warm, humid air at the ocean's surface. Hurricane winds can be as stong as 320 km an hour and can last for days. A hurrican has a calm area at it's center called the "eye". When the eye passes over an area the sky may clear. Once the eye passes, the winds return but blow in opposite direction.
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Hurrican damage
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Hurricanes bring high waves and severe flooding as well as wind damage.
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Storm surge
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A dome of water that sweeps across the coast where a hurricane lands.
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Hurricane safety
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It is best to evacuate and leave the area of a hurricane.
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Winter storms
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Tornadoes and Hurricanes tend to occur in spring and summer. In winter the snow storms are more likely. Lake effect snow is snow that comes from water gathered over lakes by dry air masses. If caught in a snow storm it is best to try to find shelter from the wind.
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Flood
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When so much water pours into a stream or river that it overflows its banks. A flash flood is one that is sudden and violent and occurs within minutes or hours of a storm.
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Metereologist
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A scientist who studies, forecasts and reports on the weather
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Weather forecasting
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Is done using weather balloons ladden with instruments or with sattelites watching weather conditions. Computer forecasting is done when computer process the information gathered from satelites and weather balloons.
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El Nino
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A warm water even that occurs in the Pacific ocearn near the tropics. It occurs every 2-7 years. El Nino often brings without heavy rains in CA and Peru, tornadoes in FL and droughts in Asia and Brazil.
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Weather Service Maps
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Weather maps drawn from information collected by the National Weather Service sy obrt 300 local weather stations.
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Storm
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A violent disturbance in the atmosphere
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Thunderstorm
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A storm that forms in a large cummulonimbus cloud and is often accompanied by thunder and lightning.
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Lightning
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During a thunderstorm areas of positive and negative electicla charges build up. Lightnign is the sudden spark of these charges.
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Thunderstorm safety
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During a thunderstorm avid large open areas and do not touch metal object as they can conduct electricity and you can get a strong electric shock.
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Tornadoes
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A destructive storm. It is a rapidly whirling funnel shaped cloud that reaches down and touches the earth surface. Winds can reach 480 km per hour. Tornadoes are formed in heavy cummulonimbus couds and are more likely in summer and spring over flat areas such as the Great Plains region of the US which is called tornado alley.
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Hurricane
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Hurricanes form over warm water in Augus, September or October. A hurricn gets its energy from the warm, humid air at the ocean's surface. Hurricane winds can be as stong as 320 km an hour and can last for days. A hurrican has a calm area at it's center called the "eye". When the eye passes over an area the sky may clear. Once the eye passes, the winds return but blow in opposite direction.
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Hurrican damage
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Hurricanes bring high waves and severe flooding as well as wind damage.
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Storm surge
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A dome of water that sweeps across the coast where a hurricane lands.
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Hurricane safety
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It is best to evacuate and leave the area of a hurricane.
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Winter storms
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Tornadoes and Hurricanes tend to occur in spring and summer. In winter the snow storms are more likely. Lake effect snow is snow that comes from water gathered over lakes by dry air masses. If caught in a snow storm it is best to try to find shelter from the wind.
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Flood
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When so much water pours into a stream or river that it overflows its banks. A flash flood is one that is sudden and violent and occurs within minutes or hours of a storm.
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Metereologist
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A scientist who studies, forecasts and reports on the weather
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Weather forecasting
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Is done using weather balloons ladden with instruments or with sattelites watching weather conditions. Computer forecasting is done when computer process the information gathered from satelites and weather balloons.
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El Nino
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A warm water even that occurs in the Pacific ocearn near the tropics. It occurs every 2-7 years. El Nino often brings without heavy rains in CA and Peru, tornadoes in FL and droughts in Asia and Brazil.
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Weather Service Maps
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Weather maps drawn from information collected by the National Weather Service sy obrt 300 local weather stations.
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Reading weather maps
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To read a weather map you need to know the symbols for low and high pressure for air masses and for fronts.
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Low and high pressure on a map
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are indicated by a large L or large H
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Air masses on a map
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are drawn inside lines that are called isobars or isotherms
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Isobars
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indicate areas of similar air pressure
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Isotherms
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indicate areas of similar temperature.
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Fronts on a map
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are indicated by various symbols Cold fronts are blue triangles facing the direction the front is moving. Warm fronts are red semi circles facing the direciton the front is moving. Stationary fronts are indicated by alternating blue triangles and red semi circles facing in opposite direction and occluded fron is indicated by a purple triangle surrounded by two purple semi triangles all facing the same direction.
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The butterfly effect
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The theory that a small event such as the flapping of a butterfly wing can have a larger effect in the weather later. This explains why weather forecasting is so tricky.
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Climate
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this is the average year after year conditions in an area. This is different from weather in tht it does not refer to conditions in the atmosphere at a particular place or time. Temperature and precipitation are the main factors of climate.
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Climate region
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A large area wtih similar climate conditions throughout.
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Temperature and climate
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Temperature is mainly influenced by latitude,altitude and distance from oceans.
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Latitude and climate
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Climate is influenced by latitude in that the earth is divided into three distinct latitude or climate zones. Tropical, polar and temperate.
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Tropical zone
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refers to areas that are locatd 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator. They receive direct sunlight throughout the year and tend to be warm.
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Polar zone
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referes to areas that are located 66.5 to 90 degrees from the equator and tend to recive less sunlight and have cold climates.
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Temperate zones
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are between the tropical and polar regions from 23.5 to 66.5 degrees from the equator. The sun's rays hit more directly in summer than winter and thus this zone gets warm summer and cold winters.
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Altitude and climate
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The higher an area is the colder it gets. In fact Mt Kilimanjaro is in a tropical zone but at it's peak the temperature is low. Temperature tends to decrease 6.5 degrees celsious for every 1 kilometer of increase in altitude.
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Distance from large bodies of water and climate
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The nearby presence of oceans moderate (make less extreme) the temperatures of nearby lands. Therefore continental climates thend ot have more extreme tempertures than marine climates.
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Ocean currents
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are streams of water in oceans that move in regular patterns (think of them as rivers in the ocean. They can cool or warm the air above them. For example the Gulf stream which starts in Mexico drifts toward the North Atlantic and tends to give Ireland and Southern England a mild wet climate despite their high altitudes.
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Factors that affect precipitation
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are prevailing winds and the presence of mountains
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Prevailing winds
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In an area that is close to the ocean there should be a lot of rain. However if prevailing winds don't bring clouds over an erea (such as the sahara) there will be no rain.
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Mountain ranges.
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A mountain range in the way of prevailing winds can influence precipitation. As winds blow toward a mountain it forces the warm air to rise over the mountain. As the air cools and water condenses, it forms clouds and precipitatin occurs on the other side or downwind (leeward) of the mountain.
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Microclimate
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A small area with specific climate conditions.
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Climate classification
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Climates are classified according to temperature and precipitation.
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Tropical wet
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refers to climates near the tropics that produce a lot of rain such as rain forests.
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Tropical wet and dry
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refers to climates near the tropics that produce less rain such as tropical grasslands called savannas.
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Dry Climates
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Are areas with little or no rain. Arid refers to areas such as desert where less than 25 cm of rain falls per year and semi arid refers to regions where some rain falls (enough for grass to grow) but not much. THey tend to occur at the edges of deserts such as the great plains of the US.
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Temperate climates
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include marine west coast mediterenean and humid subtropical.
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Temperate continental
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refers to climate that occurs on continents in the Northern hemisperhe these include humid continental and subartic climates.
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Polar climates
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tend to be very cold and iclude the ice caps of Greenland a nd Antarica. Tundra is a climate region that extends through Northern Alaska, Canada and Russia. It is very cold and summers are very short.
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Highland climates
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refers to the climate in lower slopes of mountains or elevated areas in tropical climate. These areas tend to be colder than there surrounding areas.
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Climate over time changes
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possibly due to changes in the earth's position, changes in the sun's output or even continental movement.
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Ice age
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period of glacial episodes in the earth's history.
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Sun spots
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dark cooler regions on the sun tend to increase and decrease in 11 year cycles. This affects the sun's output and thus our climate.
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Global warming
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Over the last 120 years the earth has experienced an increase of 0.5 degrees Celsius in the troposphere. The causes of global warming are being studied and some tha scientist have discussed are the grenhouse effect, or natural variations in climate.
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Greenhouse effect
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The increase of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that results from human activity.
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Ozone depletion
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Chemicals produced by humans have been damaging the ozone layer in the stratosphere. The negative effect of this is that we get less protection agains harmful radiation. CFC or chlorofluorocabons are thought to be most responsible for this. CFS have been banned in the US and many but not all countries.
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