Earth's Atmosphere
Air Pressure and Uneven Heating
Weather Forecasting
Severe Weather
Miscellaneous
100
The Earth's atmosphere is a mixture of ________ that surrounds the planet.
gases
100
The force exerted by air on a given area is known as ________________.
Air pressure
100
What is precipitation?
Any form of water that falls to Earth's surface from clouds (e.g. rain, snow, sleet, hail)
100
A _____________ is a narrow, spinning column of very fast-moving air.
tornado
100
Warm air ______ and cool air _______.
rises, sinks
200
The Earth's atmosphere is made up mostly of what two gases?
Nitrogen and oxygen
200
What tool is used to measure air pressure?
barometer
200
What does humidity refer to?
The amount of water vapor in the air.
200
A _________ is a snowstorm with strong winds and low temperatures.
blizzard
200
when two air masses meet, a ___________ forms.
front
300
What is the name of the layer of the atmosphere that is closest to Earth?
Troposphere
300
Does air pressure increase or decrease with altitude?
decrease
300
High pressure systems usually bring _________ weather. Low pressure systems usually bring _________ weather.
clear, sunny; cloudy, rainy
300
List three safety tips that are important to remember during a thunderstorm.
Various answers
300
What are jet streams?
A fast-moving global wind.
400
What does the root "tropo" mean?
Change
400
What part of Earth receives the most direct sunlight?
Near the equator
400
Describe the symbols used for warm fronts and cold fronts on a weather map.
warm front: red semicircles, cold front: blue triangles
400
A thunderstorm is formed when the air is humid or dry?
Humid
400
A sea breeze is a local wind that blows from ______ toward ________.
sea; land
500
Ozone protects living things from __________________.
radiation from the Sun.
500
Name two reasons why the Sun heats Earth's surface unevenly.
Earth's shape (sphere), tilt of the axis, how it moves (rotates and revolves), and the rate that different materials heat and cool.
500
Name four tools that meteorologists use when predicting weather. Explain what each tool measures.
barometer: air pressure, thermometer: air temperature, rain gauge: amount of precipitation, anemometer: wind speed, wind vane: wind direction, hygrometer: humidity.
500
List three characteristics of a hurricane.
Form over warm ocean waters, usually near the equator, also called typhoons and cyclones, most powerful storms on Earth, very large (up to 930 miles in diameter), strong winds (at least 74 mph).
500
What causes wind?
Differences in air pressure, which are caused by the Sun's uneven heating of Earth's surface.
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