Composition
What is an atmosphere?
A bubble of gas surrounding Earth's surface.
In which atmospheric layer does most weather occur?
Troposphere
How does temperature change with altitude in the troposphere?
Colder temperatures at higher altitudes.
Energy travels from the Sun to Earth's atmosphere and surface through a process called ______________.
Radiation
The point at which clouds begin to form is known as the ____________.
lifted condensation level
LCL
Name the most and second-most abundant gases in the atmosphere.
1) Nitrogen
2) Oxygen
What is the outermost layer in the atmosphere?
Exosphere
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the highest concentration of gases?
Tropsphere
What is conduction in the atmosphere?
Transfer of energy by collision of particles.
What are condensation nuclei?
Small particles in the atmosphere around which clouds form.
Describe trace gases.
Gases that make up >1% of the atmosphere.
Alt: Gases other than nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere.
Name the atmosphere's layers in order from closest to the surface to farthest.
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere
Why does the mesosphere experience a decrease in temperature with increased altitude?
There is no longer any concentrated ozone that retains heat, so it gets colder.
Differentiate between heat and temperature.
(Scientific answers only)
Temperature is the measure of kinetic energy in particles. Heat is the transfer of energy due to a difference in temperature.
How do middle clouds compare to high clouds?
Middle clouds: made of mixture, liquid and ice crystals; usually layered.
High clouds: made of ice crystals; thin and wispy
What function do water vapor and CO2 have in the atmosphere?
They help regulate the absorption of energy in the atmosphere.
Alt: They help regulate energy/temperature in the atmosphere.
Explain why, in the stratosphere, does temperature increase with higher altitude.
Stratosphere contains concentrated ozone, which absorbs radiation, thereby heating up.
The thermosphere can reach temperatures as high as 1000 oC, but you wouldn't feel it if you were up there. Why is this?
The particles of gas are so far away, they could not transfer their heat to you.
Describe the relation between
1) Temperature and air pressure
2) Temperature and air density
Temperature and pressure are directly proportional (as T increases, P increases)
Temperature and density are indirectly proportional (as T increases, D decreases)
What is latent heat and how does it affect the atmosphere?
Energy stored in water vapor molecules.
When water vapor condenses, latent heat is released, warming the surrounding air.
What is the chemical symbol for ozone gas and what does it do in our atmosphere?
O3
Ozone protects us from harmful radiation from the sun.
In what layer would you most likely find hydrogen and helium gas? Explain why. (Must answer both parts for points)
Exosphere, because H and He are less dense than other gases, they easily float tot he top of the atmosphere.
Which energy transfer process is responsible for heating the air directly above Earth's surface? Explain.
Conduction. The particles in the surface collide with the air particles directly above the ground, transferring energy and warming the air.
Describe the process of convection. Explain how it transfers energy in the atmosphere.
Energy transfer through flow of a heated substance. Air warms up near surface, becomes less dense, rises. Cools down at high altitudes, condenses, sinks back down. Repeat.
Clouds can form via convection currents and orographic lifting. Explain these two processes and how they form clouds.
Convection current: warm, less dense air rises, water vapor condenses forming a cloud
Orographic Lifting: air mass pushes up the side of a mountain, goes to higher altitude, cools and condenses into cloud