Atmosphere
What is smog?
Air pollution that makes many cities appear hazy.
Which atmospheric layer affects radio communication on Earth?
the ionosphere
In which layer does most weather occur?
the troposphere
Where does freezing rain actually freeze?
When the raindrop hits a solid object.
What are nimbus clouds
Large clouds, often dark, usually multi-layered clouds, typically bring heavy rain and storms.
Why is nitrogen in the atmosphere important?
It dilutes oxygen to a level appropriate for life.
Which layer protects Earth from solar flares?
the magnetosphere - it is Earth's protective layer
How does wind blow?
From areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
What are some characteristics of warm temperature/weather vs cold temperature/weather.
higher temperature = less density and the air can hold more moisture, evaporation happens faster.
lower temperature = more density and the air can hold less moisture, evaporation happens slower.
What is fog?
A type of thin cloud that develops in large areas close to the ground.
In the carbon cycle, from where do plants get their carbon?
the atmosphere
Which layer produces beautiful auroras?
The magnetosphere
What energy type can harness energy from the atmosphere?
wind energy
Wind farms don't produce chemical pollutants but can have adverse effects on the environment around them.
What is frost?
It is frozen dew. It can form on the ground or on other objects.
What are stratus clouds?
flat layers, or sheets of clouds, low level in the atmosphere
What type of atoms make up the ozone? How many of those atoms are in each molecule?
oxygen atoms
oxygen in the ozone is made of 3 oxygen atoms. The air we breathe is made of 2 oxygen atoms.
When is solar energy the most concentrated on Earth's surface?
When the rays come from straight overhead
What is meteorology?
The scientific study of the atmosphere.
What are some interesting facts about snowflakes?
They are much smaller than a raindrop, they contain much less water than a raindrop, each snowflake is unique, each snowflake has 6 sides, snowflakes can vary greatly in size, snowflakes can merge as they fall to make larger snowflakes
What are cumulous clouds?
Soft, puffy clouds. Usually a sign of good weather.
Where is the hole in the ozone layer located?
Would more than 21% oxygen in the atmosphere make it better for breathing?
No, humans need just the right amount of oxygen for breathing. Too much is not always better for life.
What is a barometer?
A scientific instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure
How does hail form?
Ice crystals fall from clouds, get caught in an updraft, return to the cloud, clash with more ice crystals to form a bigger crystal, fall again, get caught in an updraft, and the process repeats until the crystals are too heavy for the updraft and they fall to earth.
What are cirrus clouds?
Wispy curls of clouds, very white, high in the atmosphere, made of ice crystals