Show:
Atmosphere Layers and Properties
Clouds
Causes of Weather
Weather Systems and Weather Prediction
Climate and Climate Change
100
What are the 2 most common gases in the Earth's atmosphere?
nitrogen and oxygen
100
Name a type of cloud that is made of ice crystals.
cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus
100
What is meteorology?
the study of atmospheric phenomenon (weather)
100
What is the name for the prevailing winds across most of the United States and what direction do they blow from/to?
prevailing westerlies-west to east
100
Approximately what percent of scientists who study climate agree that it is happening and is caused by humans?
97%
200
What is the hottest layer of the atmosphere?
thermosphere
200
What is a condensation nuclei? Give two examples.
a particle around which water droplets can condense to form clouds-smoke, dust, ice, salt
200
Why do we have different weather in different seasons of the year?
the Earth is tilted on it's axis and revolves around the sun, causing certain parts of the Earth to receive more or less sunlight at different times of the year
200
Which pressure system is associated with good weather and how is it represented on a weather map?
high pressure- letter H in the center sometimes surrounded by isobars
200
How do large bodies of water affect climates of land around them?
they have more stable climates (less variation and extremes)
300
What happens to air temperature in the troposphere as you go up in altitude?
it decreases (gets colder)
300
Name a mid-level altitude cloud.
altostratus, altocumulus
300
What two types of air masses affect weather in Virginia and the rest of the eastern coast of the U.S.?
maritime polar, maritime tropical
300
Why don't global winds travel in straight lines from areas of high to low pressure?
the Coriolis effect-the Earth is round and is spinning, causing winds to be deflected in a curved path
300
What are 3 consequences of climate change?
more extreme weather patterns, rising sea levels and flooding, droughts that can affect food sources, disappearance of habitats and extinction of species
400
In which layer of the atmosphere do weather balloons and jets fly?
stratosphere
400
What are the main things that must happen for clouds to form?
air masses rise and cool, causing water to condense around condensation nuclei
400
What does the Earth's shape (sphere) have to do with uneven heating of the Earth resulting in different weather?
since the Earth is a sphere, sunlight does not hit all parts of the Earth at the same angle, some parts it is more direct causing it to be warmer and some parts are less direct causing it to be colder
400
What type of weather can a cold front bring? How is a cold front symbolized on a weather map?
heavy precipitation and thunderstorms, cold air- blue line with "flags" on it
400
Refute the following statement "My town just had the largest snowfall on record in the past 100 years, so obviously global warming is a joke."
This person is confusing weather with climate-just because there is a spike in cold weather or snow for a few days does not mean that the annual temperatures around the globe are not rising.
500
What is a temperature inversion and why can it be bad?
in a small localized area the temperature increases with altitude-trapping denser cold air on the bottom, pollution can be trapped close to Earth
500
What is orographic lifting?
when an air mass is forced to rise over a topographic barrier (mountain)-clouds are formed and precipitation can occur
500
List the 5 main types of air masses (can use abbreviations).
cP, cT, mP, mT, A
500
What is the difference between digital and analog forecasts?
digital forecasts apply physical principles and math to predict the weather while analog forecasts compare current weather patterns to those of the past
500
What is the greenhouse effect? How do humans contribute to the greenhouse effect?
greenhouse gases trap radiation from the sun in the atmosphere causing the Earth to warm, the burning of fossil fuels by humans releases carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas