Met 1010 Ch 1

what kind of weather does HIGH pressure create? and why

Typically good weather- clouds can’t form

What kind of weather does LOW pressure create and why?

typically bad weather- no force preventing clouds and precip

What direction does wind flow in HIGH pressure systems and how does this effect east and west areas?

Clockwise, northerly cool air in east and southerly warm air in west

What direction does wind flow in LOW pressure systems and how does this effect east and west areas?

Counterclockwise, southerly warm air in east and northerly cool air in west.

What do triangle map symbols represent

typically blue, cold fronts

what do semi circle map symbols represent

typically red, warm front

what do semi circles on one side and triangles on the other side represent on a map

stationary front- red and blue

what do triangles and semicircles on the same side represent

typically purple- occluded front/ snow

what are isobars?

lines of equal pressure on the map

what does it mean when isobars are close together

windy conditions- think breezeway

what does it mean when isobars are spread out

calm conditions- more room for wind to move past each other

what do L shapes on a map mean

tropical depression- less than or equal to 38 mph

what do s shaped figures with open circles mean

tropical storm; 39-73 mph

what do s shaped figures with filled in circles mean

hurricane; greater than or equal to 74 mph

where is ozone produced?

stratosphere in photochemical reaction: sunlight breaks O2 into O and it reacts w other O2 to become O3

is there a hole in the ozone layer

no- there is a seasonal decrease

what does ozone do

poisonous to us but absorbs uv radiation and is natural

What are chlorofluorocarbons produced for

freon (AC anf refridg.), Propellants in aerosols, cleaning for electronic devices, and manufacturing of styrofoam

Why are chlorofluorocarbons harmful?

Chlorine breaks down ozone back into O2+O

What interval of temp increase qualifies at global warming

+10* F

List effects of global warming

overpopulation in Northern (cooler) areas, migrating from belts, increase in sea levels due to snow melt, and increase in skin cancer cases, cornea damage, inc. frequency and intensity of storms

What does temp measure

how hot/ cold a substance is (degrees)

what does heat measure

average kinetic energy of a substance (joules or cals)

do larger or smaller objects typically have more heat?

larger

what is the formula for celsius to Fahrenheit

1.8(C)+32=F

what is the formula from Kelvin to Celsius?

C+273=K

what is Absolute Zero and what exists at absolute zero?

Theoretically all molecules completely stop moving (no heat); nothing, all things radiate heat

What is weather?

day to day snapshot of changing atmosphere

what is climate?

average of weather conditions in a region

When does climate change occur?

over long periods of frequently reoccurring change in weather events

What are elements of the atmosphere?

temp, humidity, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, type and amount of cloud cover, type and amount of precipitation

How is direction of wind defined?

Defined by where its coming from (northerly winds come from the north)

What is the homosphere

area of atmosphere from ground to ~48mi in altitude; all gases intermixed

what are the main gases in the homosphere

N2, O2, Ar, and CO2

What is the heterosphere?

From 48mi-~120 mi in altitude; gases layered based on densities

what are the main gases in the heterosphere (from lowest to highest)?

(lowest) N2, O, He, H (highest)

How does pressure change as altitude INCREASES and at what rate?

pressure DECREASES as altitude increases at a DECREASING rate

what info does a radiosonde balloon transmit?

pressure, temp, and humidity

What are the layers of the atmosphere based on temp? (in order from lowest to highest)

Troposphere, Tropopause, Stratosphere, Stratopause, Mesosphere, Mesopause, Thermosphere

What is the Troposphere?

“weather”-sphere, air around us, average of 60*F, temp decreases as altitude increases

what is the stratosphere

ozone layer, absorbs sunlight, temp increases as altitude increases

what is the mesosphere

coldest layer, temp decreases as altitude increases

what is the thermosphere

hottest layer, temp increases as altitude increases

what occurs at the pauses between atmospheric layers

temperature trend reverses; temp inversion

What is Normal Lapse Rate?

average rate air cools in troposphere= 6.5*C/km

If temp is 26.5*C at the surface, what is it at 1km?

20*C

What is latent heat?

Hidden or stored heat release or absorbed when H2O changes forms

What are calories used for?

to measure amount of heat needed to change the temp of 1g H2O 1*C

How many calories does it to take to move from solid to liquid?

80 cal

How many calories does it take to move from liquid to gas?

600 cal

What is the phase change from solid to gas called?

sublimation

what is the phase change from gas to solid called?

deposition

when is latent heat ABSORBED

solid to liquid to gas

when is latent heat RELEASED

gas to liquid to solid

What is radiation?

wavelength energy that is given off by every object that posses heat/ has temp (everything!)

What is an example of short wavelength radiation?

Sun-solar radiation

What is an example of long wavelength radiation

Earth- terrestrial radiation

what is conduction?

heat transfer through point to point contact of molecules

What state of matter is the best conductor and why

solid- molecules are closer together

Are objects that are good conductors good insulators?

no

what state of matter are the best insulators

gas

what is convection

vertical heat transfer of a fluid (liquid or gas)

how do warm and cold air move in convection

warm air rises; cold air sinks

what is advection

horizontal heat transfer of a fluid

What is an example of warm air advection

southerly windw

what is an example of cold air advection

northerly wind

What is the electromagnetic spectrum

scale of radiation based on wavelength=temp

Infrared Radiation

long-wave radiation, detect as heat, (Earth and humans)

Visible Light

“white light”, middle of electromagnetic spectrum, human eye sensitive, (ROYGBIV)

Ultraviolet Radiation

short-wave radiation (Sun)

Do hotter objects emit more or less RADIATION?

more

Do hotter objects emit longer or shorter wavelengths?

shorter

Black Body

perfect absorber and emitter; maintains constant temp

What gases absorb IR (long wave)

nitrous oxide, methane, water vapor, and CO2

what gas absorbs UV (short wave)

ozone

How do gases absorb radiation

selectively

What direction does Earth’s atmosphere heat and cool from

from the ground up

What is absorption in terms of radiation?

gases and clouds can absorb radiation to cause a net heat gain

what is scattering in terms of radiation

direct radiation becomes indirect; radiation=diffused at random

what is reflection in terms of radiation

angle of incoming radiation=outgoing radiation

what does albedo measure

reflectivity

What is TLH latitudinal coordinate?

30*N

What is TLH longitudinal coordinate?

84*W

where are tropic latitudinal belts located

between 0 and 30* (N and S)

where are middle latitudinal belts located

between 30-60* (N and S)

Where are polar latitudinal belts located?

between 60-90* (N and S)

Arctic Circle

66.5* N

Tropic of Cancer

23.5* N

Equator

0*

Tropic of Capricorn

23.5* S

Antarctic circle

66.5* S

Rotation

Earth spinning on its axis; tilted 23.5*; full rotation=one day; gives us day and night

Revolution

elliptical orbit around the sun; completes every 365.25 days; gives us leap year

Why do we have seasons

Earths tilt on its axis (23.5*). ex: northern hemisphere summer occurs when northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun; spring and summer= transitional periods when all Earth is relatively equally tilted away and towards the sun

What is the average distance from Earth to the Sun?

93 million miles

Aphelion; what is it? when does it occur?

farthest from the sun; 94 million miles; July 4th

Perihelion; what is it? when does it occur?

closest to the sun; 91 million miles; January 3rd

Does the distance from the sun effect seasonal temperatures?

no, variations in distance do not effect seasonal temperatures; only average temp of the Earth; seasons are caused by Earth’s tilt on its axis (23.5*)