Quiz 1 W&C Questions

Vocabulary flashcards based on intro meteorology and atmospheric science lecture review questions.

Meteorology

The study of the atmosphere and its related weather systems.

Climate

The long-term average weather conditions at a given location.

Weather vs. Climate Distinction

The primary difference between weather and climate is the time period involved.

Basic Elements of Weather and Climate

Includes air temperature, air humidity, and air pressure (excluding the chemical composition of the air).

Scientific Theory

A hypothesis that has been extensively tested and is generally accepted by the scientific community.

Scientific Method Steps

1) Collect data; 2) Develop hypothesis; 3) Test hypothesis; 4) Accept/modify/reject hypothesis.

Nitrogen

The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$)

An atmospheric gas with a concentration of $400\text{ ppm}$ in the homosphere whose growth is believed to cause continued warming of the lower atmosphere.

Variable Atmospheric Components

Gases and particles whose concentrations vary in the atmosphere, including water vapor, ozone, and aerosols.

Water Vapor

The most important atmospheric component regarding Earth's climate and the formation of weather systems.

Stratosphere

The thermal layer of the atmosphere where the ozone layer is located.

Ozone Depletion

Atmospheric process shown on average to be greatest over Antarctica.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Compounds that release chlorine when exposed to sunlight, leading to the destruction of ozone molecules.

Ozone

Atmospheric gas that protects life on Earth by filtering harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight.

Atmospheric Mass Distribution

Ninety percent of Earth's atmosphere lies below an altitude of approximately $16\text{ km}$.

Four Thermal Layers of Atmosphere

In order from Earth's surface upward: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

Air Pressure Behavior with Altitude

Air pressure decreases at a decreasing rate as altitude increases.

Troposphere

The lowest thermal layer of the atmosphere; its name literally means the region where air 'turns over'.

Environmental Lapse Rate (Troposphere Average)

Air temperature drops by approximately $6.5^\text{o}\text{C}$ for every $1\text{ km}$ increase in altitude in the troposphere.

Radiosonde

An instrument package carried by a weather balloon to measure temperature and relative humidity up to the tropopause.

Thermosphere

The atmospheric layer with the highest temperatures, coinciding with both the heterosphere and the ionosphere.

Ionosphere

An atmospheric region defined on the basis of its electrical charges.

Perihelion Alignment

Earth is closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere winter.

Low Sun Angles

Cause reduced solar energy at the surface because incoming energy is spread over a larger surface area.

Earth's Angle of Inclination

The tilt of Earth's axis of rotation, which is currently $23.5^\text{o}$.

June 21 Solstice

The date when the Sun's $90^\text{o}$ vertical rays strike the Tropic of Cancer, resulting in the lowest noon Sun angle and shortest daylight at $45^\text{o}\text{ S}$ latitude.

Equinoxes

Astronomical events occurring when days and nights are equal in length in all parts of the world.

Spring Equinox (Northern Hemisphere)

Occurs on approximately March 21.

Cause of Seasons

The tilt of Earth's rotation axis, which causes solar angles and daylight lengths to vary throughout the year.

First Day of Climatological Summer

June 1.

Temperature

A measurement of the average kinetic energy possessed by the atoms or molecules in a substance.

Direction of Natural Heat Transfer

Heat energy always flows naturally from warmer substances to cooler substances.

Conduction

The transfer of heat through matter by thermal agitation.

Convection vs. Advection

Convection refers to vertical movements of air that transfer heat, whereas advection refers to horizontal movements of air.

Radiation

The only mechanism of heat transfer capable of operating across a vacuum, and the method by which Earth receives energy from the Sun.

Visible Light Spectrum

Electromagnetic wavelengths ranging between $0.4\text{ }\frac{\text{m}}{\text{10}^{\text{6}}}$ and $0.7\text{ }\frac{\text{m}}{\text{10}^{\text{6}}}$ (micrometers).

Radio Waves

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.

Terrestrial Wavelengths

Radiation wavelengths emitted by the Earth, which are longer than those emitted by the Sun.

Albedo

The percentage of incoming solar energy reflected by a surface (e.g., an albedo of 40 percent means 40 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected).

Fresh Snow

Natural surface feature characterized by having the highest albedo relative to grass, sand, or zenith water.

Rayleigh Scattering (Blue Sky)

Atmospheric process in which gas molecules scatter shorter blue wavelengths of light in all directions, making Earth's sky appear blue during the day.

Meteorology