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List the Variable or "Greenhouse" Gases
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Ozone (O3)
- Water Vapor
- +Particulates
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List the Permanent or "Constant" Gases of the atmosphere
- Nitrogen 78%
- Oxygen 21%
- Argon 0.93%
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99.9% of the gases (by volume) that comprise Earth's atmosphere is to be found in these two layers
Troposphere and Stratosphere
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Describe the Ozonosphere
Found in the Stratosphere, 10-30 mi. above the surface. It absorbs ultraviolet light.
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Describe the Ionosphere
40-250 mi. above surface. Isn't really a layer, but an electrified field of ions and free electrons. Absorbs cosmic, gamma and x-rays, and short wavelength ultraviolet radiation. "Aurora" lights are found in this region.
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List the factors that determine Earth's Radiation Budget
- Latitude
- Time of Day
- Time of Year
- Atmospheric Thickness
- The Transparency of the Atmosphere
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What percent of the world's water is in the atmosphere?
0.001%
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What is Orographic Rain?
Rain that is a product of condensation of water vapor in an air mass that rises over a mountain/hill.
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What are the diff types of clouds based on altitude?
- STRATO: low-level, below 2000 m.
- ALTO: middle-level, 2000-6000 m.
- CIRRO: high-level, above 6000 m.
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A Strato cloud is how high?
below 2000 meters
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An Alto cloud is how high?
2000-6000 meters
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A Cirro cloud is how high?
above 6000 meters
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What are the diff types of clouds based on shape?
- CIRRUS: highest and thin, feather-like
- STRATUS: horizontal, layered, uniform
- CUMULUS: vertical, sometimes look like cauliflowers
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A high-level cloud that is thin and feather-like.
Cirrus
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Horizontal, layered and uniform clouds are called:
Stratus
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Vertical clouds that sometimes look like cauliflowers are called:
Cumulus
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List the 4 uplift mechanisms that lead to condensation and associated precipitation?
- convectional precipitation
- frontal precipitation
- cyclonic (convergence) precipitation
- orographic precipitation
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What latitudinal zones receive higher annual rainfall, and why?
Equatorial zones b/c of high temps, high humidity and air instability.
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What is Relative Humidity?
the ratio between the amount of water vapor in the air and the water vapor capacity of the air, at a given temp.
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How is Relative Humidity expressed?
By % that says how close air is to saturation.
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What is Adiabatic Cooling?
It's the change in temp within a gas b/c of expansion.
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What is Adiabatic Heating?
It's the change in temp within a gas b/c of compression.
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What is Evapotranspiration?
Combined water loss to the atmosphere from ground & water surfaces by evaporation, and from plants by transpiration.
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A _______ is used to measure air pressure.
barometer
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What are the 2 basic types of air pressure systems?
- Low (cyclone) - convergent, ascending air
- High (anticyclone) - divergent, descending air
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Air pressure ______ with elevation.
decreases
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What are the 2 Horizontal Variations of air pressure?
- Thermal (determined by temperature)
- Dynamic/Mechanical (due to motions of the atmosphere)
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Define WIND.
The horizontal movement of air in response to differences in pressure.
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What are the basic wind patterns?
- Linear: pressure gradients & winds
- Circular: cyclones, anticyclones & winds
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What are the Wind Modifiers?
- Friction: effective up to about 1000 m. from surface - reduces speed
- Coriolis Effect: deflection due to rotation
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List the 3 factors that determine the Rate of Evaporation?
- temperature & available water
- relative humidity of surrounding air
- wind
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Evaporation contributes ___% of atmospheric water.
90%
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Transpiration contributes ___% of atmospheric water.
10%
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_________________ accounts for virtually all the water vapor in the air.
Evapotranspiration.
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The order of the Hydrologic Cycle:
Evapotranspiration > Water Vapors> Condensation> Cloud Formation> Precipitation> Evapotranspiration
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Define Dew Point
the critical temp at which the air is fully saturated - the cooling of air to below its dew point temp that brings about condensation that must precede any precipitation.
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Define Condensation
The process that changes water vapor into a liquid form.
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Define Rime
ice crystal formation on tree branches or airplane wings when supercooled droplets come in contact with the surface
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White Frost...
forms in below freezing temperatures when water vapor changes directly to the frozen state through the sublimation process
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Nimbo:
rain bearing clouds
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Which 3 conditions are necessary for precipitation to occur?
- moist air
- condensation nuclei
- uplift mechanism
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What is an air mass?
a large body of air with similar temp and/or humidity.
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Air masses are born in a _____ ______ where they acquire their temperature and moisture characteristics
source region
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Air Masses are classified by:
- Surface of Source Region - continental or maritime
- Latitudinal Extent of Source Region - Equatorial, Tropical, Polar or Cold Arctic
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___________ is the main reason for the heavy rainfall in the forests of the Equatorial region.
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
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List the diff types of Air Masses.
- continental arctic (cA)
- continental polar (cP)
- continental tropical (cT)
- maritime polar (mP)
- maritime tropical (mT)
- maritime arctic (mA)
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What are fronts?
boundaries that separate air masses. where they meet but do not mix.
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List the 4 types of fronts.
- occluded front
- warm front
- stationary front
- cold front
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Describe a COLD FRONT.
Cold air replaces warm. Steeper than a warm front. Faster. More violent weather.
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