Module 1&2 (Introduction to Weather and Climate and Earth’s Atmosphere)

What are the differences between weather and climate?

Weather is short-term, current changes quickly, and can vary over a small area

Climate is long-term, changes slowly over time, stays the same over a larger region.

What variables define weather?

temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, precipitation, and cloud cover

What are the four most abundant gases in the Earth’s atmosphere?

Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide. 

What are examples of sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO₂₎?

Sources: Burning fossil fuels, volcanic eruptions, animal respiration 

Sinks: Oceans, forests, soil, plants

What has happened to atmospheric concentrations of CO2 from 1958 to present?

Rose Dramatically, exponentially

What is the definition of air density? How does it usually change as one goes up in the atmosphere?

Air density is the number of air molecules per unit volume.

As it goes up, the density of the air is less, thinner air, less air molecules.

What is the definition of air pressure? How does it usually change as one goes up in the atmosphere?

Air pressure is the amount of force exerted over an area. With air pressure being highest closest to the surface and decreasing rapidly with increasing height.

What meteorological instrument is used to measure air pressure?

barometer

what are the four atmospheric layers (based on the vertical profile of temperature)?

Thermosphere

Mesosphere

Stratosphere

Troposphere

How does wind blow around low pressure at the surface in the Northern Hemisphere? What about high pressure?

Low pressure region, air rises counterclockwise

High pressure region, air sinks clockwise