Atmosphere & Layers
What gas makes up the majority of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen
What gas makes up the 2nd largest portion of the atmosphere?
Oxygen
What is conduction?
Heat transfer through direct contact
What is the Coriolis Effect and what does it cause?
The apparent deflection of moving air due to Earth’s rotation; causes winds to curve
What are the four types of Fronts?
Cold front, warm front, stationary front, occluded front
What percentage does Nitrogen make up?
About 78%
What is the second largest portion’s percentage?
About 21%
What is convection?
Heat transfer through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases)
What tool do we use to measure air pressure?
Barometer
What is weather?
The short-term condition of the atmosphere at a specific time and place
What are the major layers of the atmosphere?
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere
What is the rest of the atmosphere composed of?
Trace gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases
What is radiation?
Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves (no medium needed)
What is an Isobar?
A line on a weather map connecting areas of equal air pressure
What is climate?
The long-term average of weather patterns in a region
What layer contains almost ALL weather events?
Troposphere
What is the Ozone Layer and where is it found?
A layer of ozone gas that absorbs harmful UV radiation; located in the Stratosphere
Where does the energy come from to power the water cycle?
The Sun
What are the major wind systems and how does air move in them?
Global wind belts (trade winds, westerlies, polar easterlies); air moves from high to low pressure
What are the different parts of a Hurricane?
Eye, eyewall, and rainbands
What happens to temperature as we go up the layers of the atmosphere?
It changes depending on the layer (generally decreases in the troposphere, increases in the stratosphere, etc.)
Why are there pauses in-between some of the major layers of the atmosphere?
They are called “pauses” where temperature stops changing and then reverses direction between layers
Why is the water cycle considered a cycle?
Because water continuously moves through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation in a repeating loop
How are winds caused? What winds are responsible for weather moving across the United States?
Winds are caused by differences in air pressure; the prevailing westerlies move weather across the U.S.
What conditions need to be present for a tornado to form?
Warm moist air, cool dry air, wind shear, and instability in the atmosphere