Layers of the Atmosphere
In which atmospheric layer does weather occur, including clouds and precipitation?
Troposphere
What is the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level in millibars (mb)?
1013.25 mb
What is the primary source of heat energy that drives Earth's weather and climate?
The Sun
Which gas makes up the majority of Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen
(N2)
What is the process by which water vapor changes into liquid water or ice crystals in the atmosphere?
Condensation
How does the temperature of the atmosphere change from the bottom to the top of the troposphere?
It gets colder with increasing altitude
When ascending to higher altitudes in the atmosphere, how does air pressure change?
Decreases
Which process of heat transfer occurs in the atmosphere when warm air rises and cold air sinks?
Convection
The six major greenhouse gasses are Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapor, Ozone, Nitrous Oxide, CFCs, and...
Methane
What is the term for the process by which rainwater soaks into the ground and becomes groundwater?
Infiltration
In which layer is the ozone layer is found?
Stratosphere
What instrument is used to measure atmospheric pressure?
Barometer
What process of heat transfer allows the ground to warm the air directly above it?
Condution
What is the main reason Venus has the hottest surface temperature of the inner planets?
Dense Atmosphere with
96.5% Carbon Dioxide
What is the name of the land area that drains to a common body of water, such as a stream, lake, bay, or even the ocean?
Watershed
What is the boundary that separates the troposphere from the stratosphere called?
Tropopause
What is the term for areas of low pressure where air rises and can result in cloudy and stormy weather?
Low-Pressure Systems
or Cyclones
Shortwave radiation from the Sun reaching Earth is predominantly what type of electromagnetic radiation?
Visible
What is the trend in tropospheric carbon dioxide concentration since the Industrial Revolution (mid-1800s)?
Increasing
What is the term for excessive rainfall that does not soak into the ground and must be dealt with by urban areas?
Stormwater
How does the temperature of the atmosphere change from the bottom to the top of the stratosphere?
It gets warmer with increasing altitude
When air pressure is high, what type of weather is generally expected?
Clear and fair weather
Longwave radiation emitted by the Earth is what type of electromagnetic radiation?
Infrared
What is the current (August 2023) concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
420 ppm
(0.042%)
Arlington deals with its stormwater in a separate system than its sewage pipes. What is this system called?
Sanitary Sewer OVerflow (SSO)