Lesson 1 The Atmosphere Around You
What is the second most abundant gas that makes up 21 percent of the atmosphere?
Oxygen
What is it called when the temperature at which condensation begins.
dew point
What is the difference between an air mass and a front?
air mass is a huge body of air and a front is when air masses collide.
What is a meteorologist and what are their important duties?
a scientist who studies and predicts weather patterns
What are the four natural disasters that are considered severe weather?
winter storm, thunderstorm, hurricane, tornado
Why is the atmosphere heated unequally by the sun?
The tilt of Earth's axis
What is a psychrometer and what is its purpose?
A psychrometer is a device for measuring humidity.
What types of air masses affect the weather in North America?
maritime tropical, maritime polar, continental polar, continental tropical
What weather technology carries instruments for collecting weather data high into the atmosphere where human observation is not feasible?
weather balloons
When should you go to a safe area and stay away from windows and doors in a house?
tornado
Atmosphere
What are the four forms of precipitation that fall from clouds?
mist, drizzle, rain, droplet
What are the four types of air masses and where are they located?
maritime tropical, maritime polar, continental tropical, continental polar
What weather technology orbits high above Earth collecting data as well as images of Earth’s surface and atmosphere?
weather satellite
What is the difference between a storm and a thunderstorm?
a storm is a disturbance in the atmosphere but a thunderstorm is a localized storm bringing rain, thunder and lightning.
How does altitude affect air pressure?
As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.
Besides the sun, what force helps move water molecules through the water cycle?
gravity
What are the four types of fronts?
warm, cold, occluded, stationary
What are the four types of weather technology and what are they used for?
weather balloons, automated weather stations, weather satellites, computer forecasts
When does a cyclone become a hurricane?
Order the layers of the atmosphere in the correct order from the highest to lowest.
Thermosphere, Mesosphere, Stratosphere, Troposphere
What is relative humidity?
the amount of water vapor present in air expressed as a percentage of the amount needed for saturation at the same temperature
How do cyclones and anticyclones differ?
cyclone spins counterclockwise causing precipitation. Anticyclone spins clockwise with dry air.
What is the difference between isobars and isotherms alike?
isobars are air pressure and isotherms are temperature
Explain the difference between a storm “watch” and a storm “warning”.
a "watch" is when the conditions for a storm to form. a "warning" is when severe weather is approaching and to take shelter now.