Meter quiz 1

What is weather?

The condition of the atmosphere at any particular time and place

What is climate?

as an area long-term weather patterns

. What are the most abundant gases in the atmosphere?

• Nitrogen (N₂): Approximately 78% of the atmosphere.

• Oxygen (O₂): About 21% of the atmosphere.

• Argon (Ar): About 0.93% of the atmosphere.

• Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) : About 0.04% of the atmosphere. 

What are the permanent and variable gases in the atmosphere?

• Permanent gases have stable and consistent concentrations in the atmosphere.

  • Examples include nitrogen, oxygen, and argon.

• Variable gases exist in smaller and more fluctuating amounts, with concentrations changing due to natural processes and human activities.

  • Examples include carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and ozone. 

How does atmospheric pressure change with altitude

Atmospheric pressure decreases as altitude increases. The layers of air in the atmosphere are held close to the Earth's surface by the force of gravity, pushing down on the surface, and the upper layers of air push down on the lower layers, resulting in greater air pressure closer to the surface. 

Conduction

is the flow of heat from a region of high temperature to a region of low temperature through a solid material.

Convection

s the movement of particles through a substance, transporting heat energy from hotter areas to cooler areas

Radiation

is heat energy transported through waves or particles, and does not require a physical object to pass through.

Advection

refers to the horizontal transfer of heat through the atmosphere by the movement of air or other fluids.

Convergence

refers to a situation where there is a net inflow of air into a region. 

How do various temperature scales differ?

• celsius has 100 degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water, with 0 degrees Celsius as the freezing point.

• Fahrenheit has 180 degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water, with 32 degrees Fahrenheit as the freezing point.

• Kelvin has 100 degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water, similar to Celsius, but its zero point is at absolute zero (the coldest possible temperature), and the freezing point of water is 273 Kelvin. 

How do the radiation types (visible, ultraviolet, infrared) differ in energy/wavelength?

• Ultraviolet radiation has shorter wavelengths (10 nm to 380 nm) and carries more energy than visible light.

• Visible light has wavelengths that the human eye can perceive (around 400 nm to 700 nm).

• Infrared radiation has longer wavelengths (750 nm to 1 mm) and carries less energy than visible light, but can be felt as heat. 

During phase changes, how do temperature and latent heat chang

During phase changes (like melting or condensation), the temperature of a substance remains constant, while latent heat is either absorbed or released. 

• Latent heat is the energy absorbed or released during a phase transition, like the latent heat of fusion (melting) or latent heat of vaporization (boiling).

• Temperature remains constant during a phase change because the absorbed or released energy is used to change the state of the substance rather than it is

How does albedo (snow, ocean, forest, asphalt) differ in various surfaces?

• High albedo surfaces (like snow and ice) reflect a large portion of incoming solar radiation, helping to keep the regions cooler.

• Low albedo surfaces (like oceans and forests) absorb more solar energy, leading to warming.

• Asphalt and dark rooftops in urban areas can absorb up to 90% of incoming sunlight, contributing to higher local temperatures. 

How does the temperature typically change with height in the troposphere?

In the troposphere, the temperature generally decreases with height. The air becomes thinner as the density of the gases in this layer decreases with height. 

What is a temperature inversion?

A temperature inversion is a layer in the atmosphere where the air temperature increases with height, rather than decreasing as is typical in the troposphere. This layer acts like a cap, preventing much vertical movement in the atmosphere. 

. What is the temperature profile of a nighttime valley?

During nighttime in a valley, radiational cooling can produce a temperature inversion, meaning the air near the surface cools more quickly than the air above it. This can result in cooler temperatures near the surface with warmer air aloft, trapping cool air in the valley. 

Why does the stratosphere warm with height?

The stratosphere warms with height due to the absorption of solar energy by ozone molecules in the stratospheric ozone layer. Heat is produced in the process of the formation of ozone, and this heat is responsible for temperature increases. 

How do clouds affect the daily temperature range compared to a clear sky?

Clouds generally make for smaller diurnal (daily) temperature ranges compared to clear-sky conditions. 

• Clouds make the daytime cooler because they reflect incoming solar radiation, preventing it from reaching and warming the surface.

• Clouds keep the nighttime warmer because they act as a "space-heater" by absorbing and emitting infrared radiation back toward the ground, insulating the surface and limiting heat loss into space.

Why does maximum temperature occur in the late afternoon?

The daily maximum temperature usually occurs in the afternoon, even though the sun's rays are most direct around noon, because it takes time for the air to be heated by the sun.

What is the wind chill index?

the wind chill temperature is how cold people and animals feel when outside. Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and col

How does the daily temperature range differ between inland and coastal regions?

The daily temperature range generally differs between inland and coastal regions due to the moderating influence of water bodies. 

• Coastal areas typically experience smaller daily temperature ranges due to the moderating influence of nearby oceans or seas, which absorb, store, and slowly release heat.

• Inland continental regions tend to have more extreme daily temperature ranges, with warmer days and cooler nights, as they lack the moderating influence of water's high heat capacity.