Show:
Atmosphere Layers and Properties
Weather Predictions
Causes of Weather
Weather Systems
Climate and Climate Change
100
What are the 2 most important jobs of the atmosphere?
Protection- from meteors/UV light

Trapping- of gasses needed for life and heat

100
What type of weather happens at a cold front?
Violent storms, heavy and intense precipitation


100
What is the difference between weather and climate?
the study of atmospheric phenomenon at a particular place at a particular time- weather


The average weather over a long period of time- climate

100
What is the name of the tool that measures air pressure?  The tool that measures wind?
1.  Barometer

2.  Anemometer

100
What is climate change/ global warming?
The gradual increase in Earth's average temperature that most scientists agree is caused by human behavior
200
What layer of the atmosphere is where weather occurs?
troposphere
200
What type of weather should be expected after a cold front? 
Cooler temperatures, clear skies
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
What are 3 factors that shape climate?
Latitude

Distance from Water

Elevation

Global Winds

Ocean Currents

Topography

300
What happens to air temperature in the troposphere as you go up in altitude?
it decreases (gets colder)
300
What type of weather occurs at a warm front?  What type of weather should be expected afterwards?
Slow and steady precipitation

After- warmer temperatures and more humid air

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
What happens to the air pressure as you go up in the atmosphere?
It decreases
400
What are the main things that must happen for clouds to form?
air masses rise and cool, causing water vapor to condense and form coulds
400
What are 3 processes that ensure water is cycled in Earth's system?

Evaporation-heats water from surface causing it to rise into the atmosphere

Condensation- cools water vapor and form clouds

Precipitation- water falls back to surface to be reused

400
What causes wind?  Where does air move?  What needs to be present for strong winds?
Differences in air pressure

Moves from high to low pressure

Bigger the difference in pressure- stronger the winds

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 are the 3 methods of heat transfer and how do you see each one take place in the formation of our weather?
Conduction- air masses touch ground/water and absorb heat

Convection- warm air rises, cool air falls, creating weather

Radiation- sun sends heat to earth in waves

500
What are two differences between high and low pressure systems?
High Pressure Systems- air moves outward, clear skies, fair weather, associated with warm fronts, symbolized by a H


Low Pressure Systems- air moves inward, cloudy skies, storms, precipitation, symbolized by L, associated with cold fronts

500
List the 4 main types of air masses (can use abbreviations).
cP- Continental Polar

cT- Continental Tropical

mP- Maritime Polar

 mT- Maritime Tropical

500
What is the difference between land and water in terms of heating? 
Water- absorbs heat slower, reflects more, keeps area from experiencing large differences in temperature between day and night because it is able to hold heat longer


Land- absorbs heat faster, reflects less, big differences between day and night because of inability to hold onto heat 

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