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;
19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Define the atmosphere
|
Mixture of invisible gases (molecules)
102.1.1 |
|
Describe the extent of the atmosphere, and its density and pressure variation with height
|
- depth of several hundred km, but satellite drag indicates at least 1500 km
- air becomes less dense, lighter, and less pressure with altitude - 50% by weight below 5.5 km, 75% below 11 km 102.1.2 |
|
Name the three properties of the atmosphere
|
- mobility
- can be compressed - can be expanded 102.1.3 |
|
Associate compression and expansion with density, temperature, and pressure changes
|
Compression:
- more dense, more friction, temp increases Expansion: - less dense, less friction, temp decreases 102.1.4 |
|
Given whether air is rising or descending, determine what changes in temperature, density, and pressure are occurring
|
Rising air:
- pressure decreases, air expands, density decreases, temps decrease Descending air: - pressure increases, air compresses, density increases, temps increase 102.1.5 |
|
Describe the position, temperature profile, average height, and seasonal variations of the troposphere, tropopause, and stratosphere
|
- layer closest to earth is troposphere
- temps decrease with height in troposphere - tropopause is boundary line between troposphere and stratosphere - height of tropopause average 11km, higher in summer than in winter, height 8km over poles while 18km over equator - temps in stratosphere may remain constant or raise with height 102.1.6 |
|
Define radiation as an energy transfer process
|
Sun's energy transferred to earth, and earth's energy transferred to atmosphere and back to space in the form of waves
102.2.1 |
|
Distinguish between absorption and reflection (with respect to heat transfer)
|
- with absorption, there is transfer of wave energy and heating occurs
- with reflection, there is no transfer of wave energy and no heating 102.2.2 |
|
Describe the effects of solar radiation on the earth's surface temperatures
|
- heated by the absorption of sun's short wave radiation
102.2.3 |
|
Describe the effects of terrestrial radiation on the earth's surface temperatures
|
- cooled by earth's emission of long wave radiation, which subsequently heats the lower atmosphere
102.2.3 |
|
Describe the roles of radiation, absorption, and reflection in heat transfer
|
- not all incoming radiation absorbed by earth. Some absorbed by upper levels of atmosphere, some reflected by cloud tops, part reflected by earth's surface
102.2.4 |
|
Describe the heat transfer process involved in daytime heating
|
Short wave radiation is absorbed by earth, re-emitted as long wave radiation, which is absorbed by atmosphere
102.2.5 |
|
Describe the heat transfer process involved in nighttime cooling
|
Incoming radiation is cut off but outgoing radiation from earth continues. As source of energy decreases, less is absorbed by atmosphere, and temps start to decrease
102.2.5 |
|
Describe the effect of cloud coverage on daytime heating
|
More reflection by cloud tops, less energy absorbed by earth, cooler temps
102.2.6 |
|
Describe the effects of cloud coverage on nighttime cooling
|
Clouds absorb outgoing long wave radiation and re-radiates back towards earth, warmer temps
102.2.6 |
|
With respect to the motion of the earth on it's axis and around the sun, define the terms rotation, revolution, and orbit
|
- the earth rotates on its axis (24 hours or 1 day)
- the earth revolves around the sun (365 days or 1 year) - the path the earth takes in its revolution around the sun is called an orbit 102.3.1 |
|
State and explain the causes of the diurnal and seasonal temperature cycles
|
Diurnal:
- day-night cycles caused by earth rotating on its axis Seasonal: - caused by revolution around the sun - earth is tilted on its axis, so seasonal variations determined by changes in relationship of earth's axis to the sun 102.3.2 |
|
State why water vapor is important as an atmospheric gas
|
- only gas that can change state between solid, liquid, and gas under normal atmospheric conditions
102.4.1 |
|
List the 2 points of importance of minute solid particles present in the atmosphere
|
- condensation and crystallization nuclei
- reduces visibility 102.4.2 |