| What is the main source of energy to the Earth’s atmosphere and in what form does this energy come to the Earth’s surface? |
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| Sun, energy in the form of solar radiation |
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| Know the order of the major bands of the EMR spectrum in order from smallest to largest wavelengths. |
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How is heat transferred in each of the following cases:
From the Sun to the Earth
From the Earth’s surface to the lower atmosphere
From the lower atmosphere to higher levels of the atmosphere |
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Radiation
Conduction
Convection |
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| What are the three most abundant permanent gasses in the atmosphere in order of their abundance? |
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| What are the three most common variable gasses in the atmosphere? |
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| Water vapor, Carbon Dioxide, Ozone |
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| Besides gas, what else is in the atmosphere? |
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| Know the four principal layers of the atmosphere, how these layers are defined, and the main characteristics of each. |
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Troposphere: bottom. T goes down w/ altitude. 11km, weather, 80% of atmosphere mass, 15 – (-50) degrees celsius, inherently unstable
Stratosphere: T goes up w/ altitude
Mesosphere: T goes down w/ altitude
Thermosphere: T goes up w/ altitude, absorb photons, up to 1500 degrees celsius, low heat content |
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| What are the four main physical characteristics of the atmosphere that are measured to define the weather? |
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Temperature
Pressure
Wind
Humidity |
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| What is the difference between temperature and heat? |
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Temperature: average kinetic energy of a body
Heat: total kinetic energy of the atoms in a body |
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| What does an isobar represent on a weather map? |
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| If you use a mercury barometer to measure pressure, for what three things must you correct? |
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Elevation
Temperature
Gravity |
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| The spacing of isobars on a weather map is a representation of what type of force? |
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| What do specific humidity, relative humidity, and dew point measure? |
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Humidity: measures the amount of moisture (water) in the air
Specific Humidity: the mass of water in the given mass of air
Dew Point: the temperature at which the air is at 100% relative humitidy |
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| What is the difference between sensible and latent heat? |
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Sensible: heat that changes temperature of the object
Latent: changes the phase of the object (no change in temperature) |
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| What are the three ways that air which is undersaturated with respect to water can become saturated? |
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Saturation: evaporation and condensation are equal
Add water
Mix cold air with warm moist air
Lower temperature to dew point |
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| What are the names of the two processes by which the temperature of air can change and how is each process defined? |
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Diabetic: removal or input of heat, common in forming fog
Adiabetic: no heat exchange, results from expansion or contraction, forms higher clouds |
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