Atmosphere
What are the two gases that make up most of the Atmosphere?
nitrogen and oxygen
Which layer of the atmosphere would you expect to find weather in?
troposphere
Iowa is temperate year round and has had a pattern of less extreme winters and more extreme summers. Does this describe climate or weather better?
climate (long term)
What are violent down winds called?
downbursts
What is the difference between a flood and a drought?
flood = more rain
drought = less rain
How many oxygen atoms make up an ozone molecule (Earth's sunscreen)?
3
The process of water turning from a gas to a liquid is called...
condensation
A Geostationary Satellite monitors one area to create a short-term forecast. Meanwhile, a Polar-orbiting satellite orbits the entire globe to help create long-term forecasts. Which would produce more accurate forecasts?
A Geostationary Satellite because short-term forecasts are more accurate
There are strong winds blowing an ice crystal up and down in a cumulonimbus cloud. Ice continues to build up. What does this end up forming?
Hail
A weather event is classified as an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. What kind of event is this?
tornado
If you climb a mountain what would happen to the air pressure?
it would decrease
wind moves from ________ pressure to _______ pressure
Meteorologists look at a diagram that uses symbols to show the weather at a specific location at a specific time. What is this diagram called?
station model
What kind of electricity causes lightning?
static electricity
What does a funnel cloud have to do to become a tornado?
touch the ground
Draw an image that represents the transfer of thermal energy (radiation, convection, conduction)
radiation: waves (flames under pot)
conduction: touching (handle of pot)
convection: movement (water in the pot)
In orographic lifting, clouds form when moist winds
rise over a Topographic barrier (like mountains)
A satellite takes an image that shows the movement of a warm air mass across the United States. What kind of imagery did it use?
thermal energy
When air sinks it causes a high pressure system where air spirals outward from the center. Would this system form a thunderstorm?
no; storms are caused by low pressure systems
What was one cause of the dust bowl?
over farming, lack of crop rotation, and severe drought
What are the layers of the atmosphere?
The process of cloud droplets colliding to form larger drops that eventually fall as precipitation
coalescence
What do the different types of air masses (maritime, continental, Arctic) form over?
maritime = water
continental = land
Arctic = ice/glaciers
What are the three conditions needed for thunderstorm formation?
abundant moisture, something to lift the air, and an unstable atmosphere
Why do hurricanes dissipate over land or cold water?
they get their energy from warm water