Layers
Climate Change
Air masses
Clouds
Structure
100
What layer of the atmosphere is the Ozone in?
In the Stratosphere
100
What is climate change?
Climate change refers to any long-term trends or shifts in climate over many decades.
100
How do cold fronts form?
Cold fronts form when cold dense air pushes underneath lighter warm air causing it to rise.
100
How do clouds form?
Clouds form when the invisible water vapor in the air condenses into visible water droplets or ice crystals.
100
What gas makes up 78% of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen
200
How thick is the thermosphere?
53mi (85km)
200
What are the harmful effects of climate change?
Hotter temperatures, an increase in droughts, and more severe storms are a short list.
200
What is an "air mass"?
An air mass is a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity and air pressure at any given height.
200
What does a cirrus cloud look like?
Cirrus clouds are short, detached, hair-like clouds found at high altitudes.
200
What are the three main gasses that make up the atmosphere?
Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon.
300
What layer of the atmosphere does weather occur?
The Troposphere.
300
What is the difference between global warming and climate change?
Global warming refers only to the Earth's rising surface temperature, while climate change includes warming and the “side effects” of warming.
300
How do warm fronts form?
A Warm Front forms when a relatively moist, warm air mass slides up and over a cold air mass.
300
What do Cumulus clouds look like?
Cumulus clouds are detached, individual, cauliflower-shaped clouds usually spotted in fair weather conditions.
300
What is an ion?
An electrically charged atom.
400
What causes temperature to rise in the thermosphere?
High energy ultraviolet radiation is absorbed in this layer.
400
How has climate changed in the past?
There is a great deal of evidence that the Earth’s climate has warmed over the past century, with recent years the warmest on record.
400
In the continental US, air masses are commonly moved by what?
The prevailing westerlies and jet streams.
400
What do Cirrostratus clouds look like?
Cirrostratus clouds are high, thin sheet-like thin clouds that usually cover the entire sky.
400
What is the ionosphere?
A sub-layer of the thermosphere containing ions.
500
Where is the aurora borealis located in the atmosphere?
In the Thermosphere.
500
How is climate likely to change in the future?
Earth’s future climate will depend on whether the world manages to slow or reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but warming is likely to continue.
500
Name the four major types of Air Masses in North America.
Maritime Tropical
Continental Tropical
Maritime Polar
Continental Polar
500
What do Altocumulus clouds look like?
The most common type of altocumulus, looking like flat-bottomed puffy clouds packed tightly together but separated by small rivers of sky.
500
What is the exosphere?
The sub-layer of the thermosphere where the atmosphere blends into space.