12.2 - Water and Energy in the Atmosphere

how many watts of power hit every square meter of earth (overall, before all the reflections and stuff)

340

how many watts of energy is reflected by clouds per m^2

76.9

how many watts of energy is absorbed by the atmosphere? m^2

77.3

how many watts of energy is reflected by earth's surface? m^2

22.8

how many watts of energy is absorbed by earth's surface? m^2

163.4

what is net energy absorbtion by earth's surface? per meter^2

0.6 watts

most of earth's atmosphere is within ___ km of surface

5.5

temperature increases in the ____ because of ____

stratosphere, ozone absorbing UV radiation

where do auroraes occur?

thermosphere and exosphere

why do stratopause and thermosphere temperature appear high? (are high but little heat)

there are few high energy gas molecules

the water cycle starts with ____

evapotranspiration

_____ cubic km of water evaporates from ocean each year

400,000

why is evaporation slightly decreased right along equator?

frequent clouds

why is evaporation higher CLOSE but not ALONG the equator?

there is more direct sunlight

is evaporation a positive or negative feedback?

negative feedback

how is air moved in the atmosphere?

convection

what happens to warm air?

it rises

dryer air is ____ from or towards the equator

pushed

cold air tends to _____, while warm air tends to ____ within the atmosphere

move along earth's surface, rise

what happens at low air pressure system?

moist warm air moves to center, cool and form cloud, flow away

what happens at high pressure system?

dry cold air fall towards center, warms, flow away

weather in the united states tends to go from ____ to ____

west, east

winds that blow towards the west are called

trade winds

winds that blow from the west are called

westerlies

what forms westerlies?

bottom of ferrel cells

what forms trade winds?

bottom of hadley cells

polar cells are air that rises at about ____ north and south

60 degrees

where do air in ferrel cells form?

50-60 degrees north and south

where does air in ferrel cells fall?

30 degrees north and south

most of earth's rain fall in ____ cells

Hadley

____ from the ___ rise and cool in hadley cells, which then deposits ____ at ______

warm air, equator, cool dry air, 30 degrees north and south

what is relative humidity:

measure of % of water vapor compared to maximum possible amount holdable at temperature

dew point occurs when ____ reaches

relative humidity, 100%

why does dew and frost form late at night and early in the morning?

cold air holds less water vapor

what happens warm air encounters cold air mass?

clouds and precipitation is formed

how is air temperature usually dropped?

one air mass collides with denser air mass

what can cause severe weather?

warm air rapidly lifts and cools when collide with cold air