Meterology 225 exam 1

Meteorology

The study of the atmosphere and weather patterns.

Weather

The atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place.

Climate

The long-term average of weather patterns over time.

Humidity

The amount of water vapor present in the air.

Hurricane

A severe tropical storm characterized by strong winds and heavy rain.

Biosphere

All living organisms and ecosystems.

Hydrosphere

All water on Earth, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater.

Nitrogen (N₂)

Main component of the atmosphere, making up 78%.

Ozone (O₃)

Protects from harmful UV radiation.

Troposphere

Layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs; extends from 0 to 12 km.

Anvil Cloud

Forms at the top of strong thunderstorms when rising air spreads out.

Albedo

The reflectivity of a surface.

Perihelion

The point in Earth's orbit when it is closest to the Sun.

UV Index

Measures the risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure, ranging from 0-11+.

Daily Mean Temperature

Average of daily maximum and minimum temperatures.

Isotherm

A line connecting points of equal temperature.

Convection

Heat transfer by fluid motion.

Rayleigh scattering

The scattering of short-wavelength (blue) light more than other colors.

Specific Heat

The amount of heat needed to change a substance’s temperature.

Atmospheric Pressure

At sea level, atmospheric pressure is measured as 1013.25 mb.

Temperature Gradient

The rate of temperature change over a distance.

3 gasses in the atmosphere and percentages

• Nitrogen (N₂) – 78% 

• Oxygen (O₂) – 21% 

• Argon (Ar) – 0.93% 

What is the correct order of the layers of the atmosphere and their distances?

1) Troposphere (0-12 km) - Tropopause (12-20 km) - 3) Stratosphere (20-50 km) - . 4) Stratopause (50-85 km) - . 5) Mesosphere (50-85 km) - 6) Mesopause (85-600 km) - 7) Thermosphere (85-600 km) - Thermopause, Exosphere (600+ km), exopause