Biomes
This is the largest biome, and is also sometimes called coniferous forests.
Taiga
Meteorologists make future predictions about the weather that are called what?
Forecasts
When cold are sinks, it creates this type of atmospheric pressure.
High-pressure center
The coldest is the mesosphere. The hottest is the thermosphere.
This is the measure of how much solar energy Earth's surface reflects.
Albedo
The long-term record of weather patterns for a region is called what?
Climate
Someone who studies the weather is called what?
Meteorologist
What are the two main causes of wind?
What are the two most abundant gases that make up Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%)
Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide are all considered what type of gases in our atmosphere?
Greenhouse gases
What are the 5 factors that affect the climate of a region?
1) latitude, 2) precipitation, 3) elevation,
4) topography, and 5) distance from large bodies of water
What is the oldest type of barometer and why do we not use that kind anymore?
The mercury barometer is the oldest type and we no longer use this type of barometer to measure atmospheric pressure because mercury is toxic to humans.
Describe the difference between the appearance of cumulus and stratus clouds.
Cumulus clouds are tall, puffy, white, and are created when the air over land is heated.
Stratus clouds look like gray fog that has not reached the ground.
Name the 5 main layers of the atmosphere in the correct order, starting from Earth's surface.
1) troposphere 2) stratosphere 3) mesosphere 4) thermosphere 5) exosphere
Describe the greenhouse effect. (Use the terms temperature and greenhouse gases in your answer.)
Earth's average global temperatures are warming because greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are trapping heat energy from the sun that is reflecting from Earth's surface.
What are the names of Earth's 6 major biomes?
The instrument used to measure wind speed and direction is called what?
Anemometer
Condensed water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere are called what?
Clouds
This is the layer where weather occurs.
Troposphere
The process of more parts of Earth becoming cities is called what?
Urbanization
These biomes are found near the equator, have high annual rainfall, and have a high biodiversity.
Tropical rainforests
What are the 5 variables that affect the weather?
1) Temperature, 2) pressure, 3) wind,
4) water vapor, and 5) precipitation
These types of clouds are actually ice crystals high up in the troposphere, and are sometimes called "mare's tails" when curved from wind.
Cirrus clouds
As altitude increases throughout the atmosphere, what does atmospheric pressure do? Why?
Atmospheric pressure decreases because air molecules are less tightly packed/less dense as you rise in altitude in Earth's atmosphere.
Give at least two reasons why global climate change is considered an issue for humans and other living organisms.
Warming temperatures
Decreasing ice coverage at the poles
Rising sea levels
Increased water vapor in the atmosphere (more precipitation/more severe weather)