Comprehensive Atmosphere and Weather Systems: Gases, Layers, and Phenomena

What are the main gases in the atmosphere?

Nitrogen and Oxygen

What happened to water vapor on Venus?

It was split into hydrogen and oxygen, with hydrogen lost to space and remaining oxygen bonding with carbon to form CO2.

What is the temperature on the surface of Venus due to its CO2 blanket?

867°F

What is the troposphere?

The lowest layer of the atmosphere where temperature decreases with altitude, contains weather systems, and air pollution.

What characterizes the stratosphere?

It shows an increase in temperature with altitude and contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful UV radiation.

What is the temperature minimum in the mesosphere?

-139°F at the mesopause

What is the thermosphere known for?

Increasing temperatures up to 1830°F due to solar radiation and the presence of ionized gases.

What are greenhouse gases?

Water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.

What are air masses?

Large volumes of air with similar temperature and humidity.

What are frontal systems?

Locations where air masses interact, leading to changes in weather such as clouds and precipitation.

What is the Bergeron Process?

A process in cold environments where ice crystals grow as water vapor deposits onto them, leading to snow or rain.

What is the Collision Coalescence process?

A process in warm environments where cloud droplets collide and stick together to form larger droplets.

How is hail formed?

In thunderstorms, updrafts lift water droplets above freezing levels, causing them to accumulate super-cooled water and freeze.

What defines a tornado?

A narrow, funnel-shaped spiral of rapidly converging and rotating air associated with thunderstorms.

What is the Fujita intensity scale?

A scale that ranks tornadoes based on the destruction they cause.

What is the difference between a Severe Thunderstorm Watch and a Warning?

Watch: Severe thunderstorms are possible; Warning: Severe weather has been reported or indicated by radar.

When is the North Atlantic Hurricane Season?

June 1 - November 30

What role does the Hadley cell play in weather?

It contributes to the formation of the Subtropical Jet Stream through continuous convection.

Why do land areas experience greater temperature swings than oceans?

Due to lower heat capacity and thermal inertia.

What process do plants use to manufacture food?

Photosynthesis

How does ocean temperature affect CO2 absorption?

CO2 absorption increases with decreasing temperature and increasing wind speed.

What is a biome?

A regional community of plants and animals named after the dominant type of vegetation.

What was the global CO2 level before the industrial revolution?

Constant at 280 ppm for several centuries.

What is the significance of methane as a greenhouse gas?

It absorbs a lot of heat but remains in the atmosphere for a much shorter time.

What happens to sunlight when it interacts with Earth?

It is scattered, absorbed, and/or reflected; more reflection leads to cooling, while more absorption leads to warming.