Meteorology 1050 Mizzou Exam 1

Layers of the atmosphere

Thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere

Which part of the atmosphere do we live in?

Troposphere

What is the standard Lapse Rate of the troposphere?

6.5 degrees Celcius per 1000m / 3.6 degrees fahrenheit per 1000 ft of elevation

What changes the seasons for the different hemispheres?

The angle of the earth in regards to how it faces the sun. The seasons are opposite for the hemispheres (i.e. Summer in northern hemisphere, winter in southern)

Weight

The force acting on an object due to GRAVITY

Density

The amount of mass in a given space

Mass

The quantity of matter in the object

What main gasses make up Earth's atmosphere?

Nitrogen - 78%
Oxygen - 21%
Argon - <1%
Water Vapor - 0-4%
Carbon Dioxide - .0038%
Ozone - .01%
Methane - .0001%

Freezing/boiling scale

Celcius: 0/100
Fahrenheit: 32/212
Kelvin: 273/373

What is the Lapse Rate?

The rate at which temperature decreases with height

Melting

Latent heat of fusion solid to liquid

Sublimation

Phase transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase without passing through the intermediate liquid phase

Deposition phase

Transition in which gas transforms into solid without passing through the liquid phase

Kinetic Energy

Constant motion, what is measured for temperature of the molecules for temperature

Potential Energy

How much energy is stored in an object

Latent heat

Heat released during phase change (i.e. vapor to liquid to ice). Important source for atmospheric energy (thunderstorms, hurricanes, etc.)

Meteorology

The study of weather variables, the processes that cause weather, and the interaction of the atmosphere with the Eath's surface, ocean, and life.

Climatology

The study of climate, including past climate conditions and possible climate changes in the future

How are meteorology and climatology different?

Climatology is patterns Meteorology is now

Conduction

molecule to molecule transfer

Convection

Transfer by fluid motions (Thunderstorms)

Radiation

Transfer by electromagnetic waves

Advection

Horizontal transfer of heat via mass movement of a fluid

Nighttime Cooling

Sun goes down, ground radiates energy out to space.

What are radiation inversions?

Caused by convection, when hot air rises

How do clouds affect night time low temperatures?

Cloudy skies act as a blanket and keep the outgoing radiation at the surface

Clear skies allow for heat release. Allows the outgoing radiation to escape.

How does the sun warm the earth?

Insolation strikes the ground and heats the surface.

What part of the atmosphere has the highest concentration of ozone?

Stratosphere

What are the four controls of temperature?

Latitude
Land and water distribution
Ocean Currents
Elevation

Convection

The transfer of heat and other atmospheric properties by the movement of masses of air, particularly in an upward direction.