Earth Science Exam 3

Questions from exam 3 on the final

Weather

- state of atmosphere at specific given time or place

Climate

- description of aggregate weather conditions

What drives weather patterns

- unequal heating

Rotation

- spinning of earth on axis

Revolution

- movement in orbit around sun

Three mechanisms of heat transfer

- conduction: transfer of heat through matter molecular activity
- convection: mass movement or circulation within substance
- radiation: transfer of heat through space by electromagnetic waves

Greenhouse effect

- atmosphere heated from ground up

Climate change

- increase in greenhouse gases being released

Ozone depletion

- occurred worldwide, some decreases locally
- pollution (CFC's)
- increase risk of skin cancer

Fog

- low lying cloud

Condensation level

- the height at which the relative humidity of an air parcel will reach 100%

Four mechanisms that cause air to rise

- orographic lifting: elevated terrains act as barriers to flow of air
- frontal wedging: warmer, less dense air forced over cooler, denser air
- convergence: pileup of horizontal air flows result in upward movement
- localized convective lifting: rising of small pockets of hot air

Three cloud classifications

- cirrus
- cumulus
- stratus

Cumulonimbus

- dense, towering vertical cloud
- storms

Wind

- air moves horizontally
- high to low pressure
- greater the pressure distance, stronger the winds

Friction

- only affects winds close to earth's surface
- affects wind speed and direction

(low) cyclones

- centers of low pressure
- winds blow inward, counterclockwise

(high) anticyclones

- centers of high pressure
- winds blow outward, clockwise

Different types of front

- warm front: warm air occupies territory formerly covered by cool air
- cold front: dense cold air moves to areas occupied by warm air
- stationary front: position of front does not move
- occluded front: active cold front overtakes warm front

Mid latitude cyclones

- primary weather producers for eastern US
- very large
- associated with cold front
- bring rain, changes in temperature, clouds, winds, tornadoes

Funnel cloud

- rotating storm that never touches the ground

Tornado

- violent windstorms take form of rotation column or air extends downward from cumulonimbus cloud
- rated depending on their size and strength, which cannot be measured
- measured using intensity scale (Enhanced Fujita)

Dust devil

- strong, well formed, relatively long lived whirlwind

Fire whirl

- fire acquires vorcicity and forms tornado-like verticality oriented rotating column of air

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

- how hurricanes are ranked based on their wind speeds

Hurricane

- associated with a low
- slow down on land
- intensity depends on strength of storm and shape of seafloor