Unit 1 Exam-from lecture notes

Meteorology

The study of weathers variables, the process that cause weather, and the interaction of the atmosphere with the Earth’s surface, ocean, and life

Climatology

The study of climate, including past climate conditions and possible climate changes in the future

Climate

The condition of the atmosphere over many years

Average High

30 year avg. high temperature for a given date and location

Record High

The highest temperature ever recorded for a given date and location

Weather

The condition of the atmosphere at any time and place

What does the earth’s atmosphere consist of?

Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Argon (1%)

Condensation

The process of changing water vapor into liquid water

Evaporation

The process of liquid water becoming water vapor

Latent Heat

Heat released during phase change

Benefits of Ozone

Absorbs incoming radiation, provides a natural shield for humans, plants & animals

Harmrful effects of ozone

Eye irritation, throat irritation, vegetation damage

What are aerosols?

Suspended solid and liquid particles in the air (some are man made)

What are pollutants?

Gasses and aerosols in concentration great enough to cause a nuisance or health hazard

Weight

The quantity of matter in an object

Density

The amount of mass in a given space (volume)

Pressure

The force of the atmosphere acting on an area

Force

The force of the atmosphere is the weight of the air, which is the mass of the air times the acceleration of gravity

Atmospheric pressure always decreases with height

Atmospheric pressure always decreases with height

How many layers of the atmosphere are there?

4

Lapse Rate

The rate at which temperature changes/decreases with height

Inversion

Where the temperature increases with height

Troposphere

1. First layer

2. Temperature decreases with height

3. Surface up 6-10 miles

4. Almost all weather happens here

5. 80% of the atmospheres mass

Stratosphere

1. Second layer

2. Temperature increases with height

3. Up to 31 miles

4. 99.9% of atmospheric mass resides below the stratopause (top part of straosphere)

Exosphere

1. Third layer

2. Temperature decreases with height

Thermosphere

1. Fourth layer

2. Temperature increases with height

Energy

Ability to do work on some form of matter

Potential Energy

Total amount of energy stored in any object determined how much work the object is capable of doing

First Law of Thermodynamics

1. Energy can neither be created or destroyed

2. Energy lost during one process is gained during another

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion

Internal Energy

The total energy (potential + kinetic) stored  in an object

Temperature

A measure of the average speed of the atoms and molecules

Heat

Energy in the process of being transferred form one object to another because of the temperature difference between them

Zeroth Law of Thermodynamics

Heat always flows from hot to cold

Heat Capacity

The ability of an object to store heat as it changes temperature

Specific Heat

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1g of that substance 1ºC

Latent Heat

The heat energy required to change a substance from one state to another (hidden heat)

Evaporation

Energetic H20 molecules leaves the liquid water on your skin after a shower

Condensation

Vapor molecules become less energetic and slow down, coming to rest on a (cooler) surface

Conduction

Molecule-to-molecule

Convection

Transfer by fluid motion (thunderstorm)

Radiaiton

Energy which travels in the form of waves, and is released when the waves are absorbed by an object

What are 3ways energy can be moved from one object to another?

Conduction

Convection

Radiation

Avection

Horizontal transfer of heat via mass movement of a fluid

What are the 2 properties of waves?

Wavelength & Amplitude

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Amount of radiation given off by the sun

Black body

A body which perfectly absorbs all incident radiation energy and perfectly emits the maximum radiation possible at a given temperature

When radiation interacts with an object it can be:

Absorbed, reflected, transmitted (ART)

Absorbed

The radiant energy ceases to be and goes into increasing the enrgy of the absorbing molecule

Reflected

The radiation passes through

Scattering

The deflection of light by very small particles

Reflection

When a surface re-directs all or a portion of the incident solar radiation

When does the astronomical summer start (summer solstice)?

June 21

When does astronomical fall start (autumnal equinox)?

September 22

When does astronomical winter start (winter solstice)?

December 21

When does astronomical spring start (vernal equinox)?

March 20

When are morning lows?

Around sunrise

When are daytime highs?

Late afternoon & evening

What are the controls of temperature?

Latitude, land & water distribution, ocean currents, elevation

What increases with elevation?

Air density

Mean daily temperature

Average of highest and lowest day’s temperatures

Average annual temperature

Average of 12 monthly temperatures