YOU
Name the TWO elements that make up MOST of our atmosphere.
Nitrogen & Oxygen
Condensation is a phase that causes a gas/vapor to change into a _______ which then leads to some form of precipitation.
liquid
Describe the troposphere.
layer closest to Earth and is where our weather occurs
What is a jet stream?
band of high speed winds
The atmosphere layer that proctects us from meteroids:
mesopshere
Which front occurs when cold air hits warm air & has a symbol made up of only triangles
COLD Front
The amount of water vapor in the air is known as:
humidity
What is hail?
A form of precipitation that are ice pellets, larger than 5mm. Forms from being tossed and turned up in the clouds. Ice layers get added, becomes heavy and falls to ground.
One MAJOR way that our atmosphere protects us is:
from too much solar radiation
Oxygen is essential for _____.
Nitrogen is essential for ____.
1) breathing
2) plant growth
What is a weather satellite?
a device sent out to collect data as it orbits the Earth (mostly collects info on storm development for us)
Becuase air particles are close together at low altitudes, we experience ______ air pressure.
high
the layer of gases that surrounds Earth
atmosphere
Air particles _______ ________ at higher altitudes causing low air pressure.
spread apart
Describe the phase change during evaporation.
Water goes from liquid phase (such as a pond or puddle) to a gas/vapor, moving up into the air.
The SECOND way in which our atmosphere protects us:
helps stablize temperature for life
How is it possible to travel a bit faster on a plane going from CA to NY vs. going from NY to CA?
If the plane is in the jet stream (which generally flows in a W --> E direction due to Earth's rotation) it will travel faster.
When warm and cold air meet & neither can move, we call it a ______ front. (Think tug of war where both side have = strength)
stationary
Name 3 things that a meterologist studies.
temperature, wind, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, jet streams, ocean currents , etc :)
This front is when warm air takes over cold air & its symbol contains only semi-circles.
WARM Front
What is an OCCLUDED front and what is its symbol?
When warm air gets caught between 2 cold air masses, symbol pattern is triangle, semi-circle, triangle, semi-circle......repeating
This is a specific tool used to measure humidity:
psychrometer
The force created by the collision of air molecules is:
air pressure
This process occurs when the tiny holes in leaves (called stomata) allow for liquid water to escape and be converted/changed into a gas/vapor.
transpiration
What is the difference between the terms Maritime and Continental when referring to air masses?
Martime means the air mass formed over water (think mari = sea, or marines- focus on special tasks in water)
Continental means air mass formed over land (continent = land)