Atmosphere & Air
About what percentage of Earth's atmosphere is oxygen?
What is 21%?
What process changes liquid water into water vapor?
What is evaporation?
What instrument uses wet-bulb and dry-bulb thermometers to determine relative humidity?
What is a psychrometer?
What is a large body of air with similar temperature and humidity called?
What is an air mass?
What type of pressure is found at the center of a cyclone?
What is low pressure?
What happens to air pressure as altitude increases?
What is air pressure decreases?
What process changes water vapor into tiny liquid water droplets?
What is condensation?
What term describes the percentage of water vapor in the air compared with the maximum amount the air can hold at that temperature?
What is relative humidity?
What do we call the boundary where two different air masses meet?
What is a front?
What is a funnel-shaped cloud that reaches Earth's surface?
What is a tornado?
Which layer of the atmosphere gets colder as altitude increases?
What is the troposphere?
Rain, snow, sleet, and hail are all examples of what?
What is precipitation?
A psychrometer's two thermometers have nearly identical readings. Does this indicate high or low humidity?
What is high humidity?
At this type of front, cold air pushes underneath a warm air mass.
What is a cold front?
What is a long period with little or no precipitation called?
What is a drought?
Which layer of the atmosphere gets warmer as altitude increases?
What is the stratosphere?
What is the main source of energy that powers the water cycle?
What is the Sun?
Which would most likely produce nearly identical psychrometer readings: an Arizona desert or a Florida beach?
What is a Florida beach?
At this type of front, warm air rises over a colder air mass.
What is a warm front?
What do we call a scientist who studies and predicts weather?
What is a meteorologist?
Earth's tilt causes the Sun's energy to strike different areas at different angles. What effect does this have on the atmosphere?
What is unequal heating of the atmosphere?
Name the three main water-cycle processes emphasized in this unit.
What are evaporation, condensation, and precipitation?
For snow to form, approximately what temperature must the cloud and surrounding air reach?
What is 0°C (32°F) or below?
Which front is more likely to bring quick storms followed by cooler temperatures?
What is a cold front?
In the Northern Hemisphere, which direction do winds rotate around a cyclone, and does the air generally rise or sink?
What is counterclockwise and upward/rising?