Question 1
The compositions of Earth's Atmosphere
nitrogen (around 78%), oxygen (around 21%), and argon (around 0.9%), with trace amounts of other gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor making up the remaining percentage.
what is relative humidity
a measure of the water vapor content of air
what are the differences between high, middle, and low clouds
High clouds are the highest in the sky, typically found above 20,000 feet, and are usually thin and wispy, composed mostly of ice crystals; middle clouds sit at a mid-level altitude, around 6,500 to 23,000 feet, and can be made of both water droplets and ice crystals; low clouds are closest to the ground, below 6,500 feet, and are usually composed of water droplets, often appearing as a thick layer or sheet across the sky
what are the four types of fronts
cold fronts, warm fronts, stationary fronts, and occluded fronts
what are the three stages of thunderstorm formation
What are the five layers of the atmosphere
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
what is saturation
the state where air is holding the maximum amount of water vapor it can at a specific temperature and pressure
explain the water cycle
the continuous movement of water between the Earth's atmosphere and surface
what is the difference between high and low pressure systems
A high pressure system is an area where air is sinking and spreading outward, typically resulting in clear skies and light winds, while a low pressure system is an area where air is rising and converging inward, usually leading to cloudy skies, precipitation, and stronger winds
explain the formation of a cyclone
A cyclone forms when warm, moist air over a tropical ocean rises, creating a low-pressure area that draws in surrounding air, which then begins to rotate due to the Coriolis force, resulting in a swirling pattern of winds around the low-pressure center
what is the greenhouse effect
a natural process that warms the Earth's surface by trapping heat from the sun in the atmosphere
what is dew point
the temperature the air needs to be cooled to (at constant pressure) in order to achieve a relative humidity (RH) of 100%
what is the difference between weather and climate
Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions at a specific time, like temperature, rain, and wind on a given day, while climate is the average weather pattern over a long period in a particular area, usually measured over decades, giving a more stable picture of what the weather is typically like in that region
what four instruments are used to gather information about earths atmosphere
thermometer (temperature), barometer (air pressure), hygrometer (humidity), and anemometer (wind speed)
explain the stages of a formation of a cyclone
Tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical storm, and full-fledged tropical cyclone
what are the two ways temperature is measured
Celsius and Fahrenheit scales
what is orographic lifting
the process by which air is forced to rise over elevated terrain, such as mountains or hills, causing changes to the airflow
what is the coriolis effect
circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere
what is the difference between short term and long term forecasts
A "short term weather forecast" refers to a prediction for the near future, usually within a few days, and is generally considered more accurate than a "long term weather forecast" which predicts weather patterns over a longer period like weeks or months, often with less precision due to the increased uncertainty in atmospheric conditions over a longer timeframe
what are the three hazards of a hurricane
The primary hazards from tropical cyclones (which include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes) are storm surge flooding, inland flooding from heavy rains, destructive winds, tornadoes, and high surf and rip currents
what is temperature inversion
a weather phenomenon where a layer of warmer air sits above a layer of cooler air, essentially reversing the normal pattern of decreasing temperature with increasing altitude in the atmosphere
what are the ten types of clouds
explain polar easterlies and westerlies
Polar easterlies are cold, dry winds that blow from the east near the poles, originating from high-pressure areas at the North and South Poles, while westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from the west in the middle latitudes, typically between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, moving towards the poles
what are the four types of thunderstorms
single-cell, multi-cell, squall line (also called multi-cell line) and supercell.
explain the difference between a cold and heat wave
A "heat wave" refers to a prolonged period of abnormally high temperatures, while a "cold wave" is a sustained period of unusually low temperatures