Atmospheric Layers
This layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer.
Stratosphere
The process by which the sun's energy heats the Earth's surface.
Radiation (solar radiation heating Earth’s surface).
Name the type of wind that is influenced by Earth's rotation.
Trade winds (and in general, prevailing winds) shaped by Earth’s rotation; the Coriolis effect influences all large-scale winds.
This is a violent weather event characterized by a rotating column of air.
Tornado.
The term for moisture that evaporates from the ocean.
Water vapor.
The layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth where weather occurs.
Troposphere
What causes local wind systems to form?
Land heats up faster than water.
What causes local wind systems to form?
Uneven heating of Earth’s surface creates pressure differences; air moves from high to low pressure (e.g., sea and land breezes).
What is a weather front?
A boundary between two air masses with different temperatures and humidity (cold, warm, stationary, or occluded).
Identify one impact of ocean evaporation on local weather patterns.
Increased humidity and cloud formation, which can lead to fog, showers, or heavier precipitation downwind of warm ocean areas.
Compare the composition of the troposphere and stratosphere.
Troposphere: mostly nitrogen (~78%) and oxygen (~21%), plus variable water vapor and aerosols; Stratosphere: similar N2/O2 but very dry, with higher ozone concentration.
Describe an experiment to show how air heats up compared to water.
Place equal volumes of air (in a sealed, clear bottle with a thermometer) and water (in a similar bottle) under a lamp; measure temperature every 2 minutes. The air heats and cools faster, water changes more slowly.
Explain the Coriolis effect on global wind patterns.
Coriolis effect deflects moving air: to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, creating curved global wind belts.
How do high-pressure systems affect weather conditions?
High-pressure systems bring sinking air, clearer skies, lighter winds, and drier, more stable weather.
Explain how hurricanes gain energy from ocean water.
Over warm ocean (≥26.5°C/80°F), evaporation and condensation release latent heat, lowering central pressure and strengthening the storm—feedback intensifies the hurricane.
Identify one greenhouse gas and its effect on Earth's temperature.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) — traps outgoing heat, warming Earth (the greenhouse effect). Others: methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O).
Explain why the poles receive less solar energy than the equator.
The poles get sunlight at a low angle, spreading energy over a larger area and passing through more atmosphere; long polar nights further reduce input.
How do mountain ranges affect local wind systems?
Mountain's block and channel winds, causing rain shadows, valley and mountain breezes, and strong downslope winds (foehn/Chinook).
Explain the formation of a thunderstorm.
Warm, moist air rises; cools and condenses into cumulonimbus clouds; updrafts and downdrafts form; lightning, thunder, heavy rain, and possible hail develop.
What role do trade winds play in the movement of hurricanes?
Trade winds (easterlies) steer tropical systems westward across the Atlantic and Pacific in low latitudes.
Explain how the ozone layer protects life on Earth.
Ozone absorbs most harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, reducing DNA damage, skin cancer, and harm to ecosystems.
How does the angle of sunlight affect the heating of Earth's surface?
Higher Sun angle concentrates energy on a smaller area, increasing heating; lower angles spread energy, decreasing heating.
Describe a model that demonstrates global wind circulation.
Three-cell model per hemisphere (Hadley, Ferrel, Polar cells) showing rising air at the equator, sinking at ~30°, subpolar lows at ~60°, and polar highs—producing trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies.
Describe the conditions necessary for a tornado to form.
Strong wind shear, instability (warm, moist surface air beneath cooler air aloft), a lifting mechanism (front or dryline), and a rotating mesocyclone within a severe thunderstorm.
Analyze the effect of ocean currents on global weather systems.
Ocean currents redistribute heat—warm currents (e.g., western boundary currents) warm air and intensify storms; cold currents stabilize air and suppress convection—shaping regional climates and storm tracks globally.