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Questions and Answers
What is the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth called?
What is the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth called?
Atmosphere
What is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface called?
What is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface called?
Troposphere
What is the term for the amount of the Sun's energy that reaches the Earth at a given time and space?
What is the term for the amount of the Sun's energy that reaches the Earth at a given time and space?
Insolation
What is the force exerted on a given area by the weight of the air above it called?
What is the force exerted on a given area by the weight of the air above it called?
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What is the circular pattern of rising air, sinking air, and winds called?
What is the circular pattern of rising air, sinking air, and winds called?
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What is the wind that blows from the sea towards the land called?
What is the wind that blows from the sea towards the land called?
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What is the wind that blows from land to sea called?
What is the wind that blows from land to sea called?
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What is the shift in winds to the right or left caused by the Earth's rotation called?
What is the shift in winds to the right or left caused by the Earth's rotation called?
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The stratosphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface.
The stratosphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth's surface.
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The state of the troposphere at any given time is called weather.
The state of the troposphere at any given time is called weather.
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Which of the following is NOT a weather variable?
Which of the following is NOT a weather variable?
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What is the relationship between the angle of insolation and the intensity of the Sun's rays?
What is the relationship between the angle of insolation and the intensity of the Sun's rays?
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Which of these is NOT a temperature scale?
Which of these is NOT a temperature scale?
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Air moves from an area of low pressure to an area of high pressure.
Air moves from an area of low pressure to an area of high pressure.
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What instrument is used to measure wind speed?
What instrument is used to measure wind speed?
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What instrument is used to measure wind direction?
What instrument is used to measure wind direction?
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What instrument is used to measure air pressure?
What instrument is used to measure air pressure?
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The Coriolis effect in Missouri causes the winds to curve to the left.
The Coriolis effect in Missouri causes the winds to curve to the left.
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What is the process by which a liquid changes into a gas called?
What is the process by which a liquid changes into a gas called?
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What is the process by which a gas changes into a liquid called?
What is the process by which a gas changes into a liquid called?
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What is a measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air called?
What is a measurement of the amount of water vapor in the air called?
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What type of cloud appears in blanket-like layers?
What type of cloud appears in blanket-like layers?
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What type of cloud is billowy and puffy with a flat bottom?
What type of cloud is billowy and puffy with a flat bottom?
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What type of cloud has wispy, feather-like shapes?
What type of cloud has wispy, feather-like shapes?
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What is a violent, whirling wind that moves across the ground in a narrow path called?
What is a violent, whirling wind that moves across the ground in a narrow path called?
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What is a large swirling storm with low pressure at the center called?
What is a large swirling storm with low pressure at the center called?
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Water vapor leaves the surface of lakes, streams, and oceans through a process called condensation.
Water vapor leaves the surface of lakes, streams, and oceans through a process called condensation.
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When air cools, water molecules gain energy and condense.
When air cools, water molecules gain energy and condense.
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The higher the temperature is, the less water vapor the air can hold.
The higher the temperature is, the less water vapor the air can hold.
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What is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the total amount the air could hold at that temperature called?
What is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the total amount the air could hold at that temperature called?
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Which of these is NOT one of the three basic cloud types?
Which of these is NOT one of the three basic cloud types?
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A cloud that produces precipitation has the suffix -nimbus or the prefix nimbo- added to its name.
A cloud that produces precipitation has the suffix -nimbus or the prefix nimbo- added to its name.
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What forms when raindrops freeze before falling to the Earth's surface?
What forms when raindrops freeze before falling to the Earth's surface?
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What falls when the air is so cold that water vapor becomes solid rather than condensing into droplets?
What falls when the air is so cold that water vapor becomes solid rather than condensing into droplets?
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What forms as wind pushes raindrops high into the atmosphere, where they turn into ice?
What forms as wind pushes raindrops high into the atmosphere, where they turn into ice?
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What instrument is used to measure rainfall?
What instrument is used to measure rainfall?
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Thunderstorms form when cold air rises and cools to form a thundercloud.
Thunderstorms form when cold air rises and cools to form a thundercloud.
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Lightning is a spark created when electrical charges build up due to ice crystals and raindrops colliding.
Lightning is a spark created when electrical charges build up due to ice crystals and raindrops colliding.
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Thunder is caused by the sudden expansion and contraction of air around a lightning bolt.
Thunder is caused by the sudden expansion and contraction of air around a lightning bolt.
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Tornadoes occur when hot, dry air mixes with cold, moist air.
Tornadoes occur when hot, dry air mixes with cold, moist air.
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Winds in a tornado can reach speeds up to 300 mph or more.
Winds in a tornado can reach speeds up to 300 mph or more.
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Hurricanes begin as thunderstorms over tropical oceans near the equator.
Hurricanes begin as thunderstorms over tropical oceans near the equator.
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When winds near the storm center reach 74 mph, the storm is considered a hurricane.
When winds near the storm center reach 74 mph, the storm is considered a hurricane.
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What is a line on a weather map that connects places with equal air pressure called?
What is a line on a weather map that connects places with equal air pressure called?
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What is a large region of the atmosphere in which the air has similar properties throughout called?
What is a large region of the atmosphere in which the air has similar properties throughout called?
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What is the boundary between two air masses called?
What is the boundary between two air masses called?
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What type of front occurs when cold air moves under warm air?
What type of front occurs when cold air moves under warm air?
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What type of front occurs when warm air moves in over a cold air mass?
What type of front occurs when warm air moves in over a cold air mass?
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What type of front occurs when cool air catches up with a warm front and moves underneath it?
What type of front occurs when cool air catches up with a warm front and moves underneath it?
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Isobars spaced closely together indicate low wind speeds.
Isobars spaced closely together indicate low wind speeds.
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Air always flows inward from the center of a high pressure system.
Air always flows inward from the center of a high pressure system.
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In the Southern Hemisphere, the patterns of movement around high and low pressure systems are the same as those in the Northern Hemisphere.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the patterns of movement around high and low pressure systems are the same as those in the Northern Hemisphere.
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An area of high pressure usually indicates stormy weather.
An area of high pressure usually indicates stormy weather.
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When the barometer rises suddenly, rain is likely.
When the barometer rises suddenly, rain is likely.
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Air masses that form over land tend to be humid.
Air masses that form over land tend to be humid.
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Air masses that form in the tropics tend to be cold.
Air masses that form in the tropics tend to be cold.
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What do weather stations NOT record?
What do weather stations NOT record?
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Weather balloons are used to make measurements from high up in the Earth's atmosphere.
Weather balloons are used to make measurements from high up in the Earth's atmosphere.
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Radar uses sound waves to detect precipitation.
Radar uses sound waves to detect precipitation.
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Doppler radar provides data about precipitation in the atmosphere.
Doppler radar provides data about precipitation in the atmosphere.
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Doppler radar gives an indication of wind speed.
Doppler radar gives an indication of wind speed.
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What is the average weather pattern of a region over time called?
What is the average weather pattern of a region over time called?
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What is a region on the side of a mountain where air becomes dry and descends called?
What is a region on the side of a mountain where air becomes dry and descends called?
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What is a dark area that appears temporarily on the sun's surface called?
What is a dark area that appears temporarily on the sun's surface called?
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Climate is closely related to latitude, which is the direction east or west of the Equator.
Climate is closely related to latitude, which is the direction east or west of the Equator.
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Tropical zones located near the equator have cool and dry climates.
Tropical zones located near the equator have cool and dry climates.
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At latitudes near the poles, winters are short and mild.
At latitudes near the poles, winters are short and mild.
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Which of the following is NOT a factor that determines climate?
Which of the following is NOT a factor that determines climate?
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Areas with a continental climate often have warm summers, mild winters, and high annual precipitation.
Areas with a continental climate often have warm summers, mild winters, and high annual precipitation.
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Areas near the ocean often have warm summers, cool winters, and high annual precipitation.
Areas near the ocean often have warm summers, cool winters, and high annual precipitation.
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Areas in the path of a prevailing wind coming from the water usually receive a low amount of precipitation.
Areas in the path of a prevailing wind coming from the water usually receive a low amount of precipitation.
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One factor that affects temperature is the nearness of bodies of water.
One factor that affects temperature is the nearness of bodies of water.
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Wind can also affect climates over land masses in the United States, with the prevailing wind blowing from east to west.
Wind can also affect climates over land masses in the United States, with the prevailing wind blowing from east to west.
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Elevation, the height of an area in relation to sea level, has no effect on climate.
Elevation, the height of an area in relation to sea level, has no effect on climate.
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As wind pushes up air up the side of a mountain, the air becomes warmer.
As wind pushes up air up the side of a mountain, the air becomes warmer.
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The air becomes dry and descends on the windward side of the mountain.
The air becomes dry and descends on the windward side of the mountain.
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Earth's climate has changed over long periods of time due to the sun and volcanoes.
Earth's climate has changed over long periods of time due to the sun and volcanoes.
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The brightness of the sun has changed over time, which could explain cold periods, or ice ages, and warm periods.
The brightness of the sun has changed over time, which could explain cold periods, or ice ages, and warm periods.
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The sun goes through a sunspot cycle every 11 years, and during sunspot minimum, Earth's temperature tends to rise.
The sun goes through a sunspot cycle every 11 years, and during sunspot minimum, Earth's temperature tends to rise.
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Scientists think that due to plate tectonics, Canada and Alaska were once located closer to the equator.
Scientists think that due to plate tectonics, Canada and Alaska were once located closer to the equator.
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Study Notes
Atmosphere and Weather
- Atmosphere: A layer of gases surrounding Earth.
- Troposphere: Lowest layer of the atmosphere, where most weather occurs.
- Insolation: Amount of solar energy reaching Earth.
- Air pressure: Force exerted by the weight of air.
- Convection cell: Circular pattern of rising and sinking air, driving winds.
- Sea breeze: Wind blowing from sea to land.
- Land breeze: Wind blowing from land to sea.
- Coriolis effect: Earth's rotation causing winds to curve.
- Weather: State of the troposphere at a given time and place.
- Weather variables: Temperature, wind, moisture, cloud cover, precipitation.
- Insolation angle: A larger angle means more intense sunlight.
- Temperature scales: Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin.
- Air movement: High pressure to low pressure.
- Measuring tools: Anemometer (wind speed), weather vane (wind direction), barometer (air pressure).
Precipitation and Clouds
- Evaporation: Liquid water changing to a gas.
- Condensation: Gas turning into liquid.
- Humidity: Amount of water vapor in the air.
- Cloud types: Stratus (blanket-like), cumulus (puffy), cirrus (wispy).
- Precipitation clouds: Have the suffix -nimbus or the prefix nimbo-.
- Precipitation forms: Sleet (frozen raindrops), snow (solid water vapor), hail (ice formed in the upper atmosphere.)
- Measuring rainfall: Rain gauge.
- Thunderstorms: Formed by heated air rising and cooling.
- Lightning: Spark caused by electrical charge buildup.
- Thunder: Sound caused by rapidly expanding heated air.
- Tornadoes: Violent whirling winds in a narrow path.
- Hurricanes: Large swirling storms over tropical oceans.
Predicting Weather
- Isobar: Line on a weather map connecting places with equal air pressure.
- Air mass: Large region of the atmosphere with similar properties.
- Fronts: Boundaries between air masses.
- Cold front: Cold air moving under warm air, causing brief storms.
- Warm front: Warm air moving over cold air, often bringing light steady rain or snow.
- Occluded front: Cool air catching up to a warm front, creating a wedge of warm air.
- Isobars and wind: Closely spaced isobars indicate high wind speeds.
- High pressure system: Air moves outward and rotates clockwise (Northern Hemisphere).
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Low pressure system: Air moves inward and rotates counter-clockwise (Northern Hemisphere).
- Northern Hemisphere high- pressure system, clockwise rotation. Southern Hemisphere high –pressure system, counterclockwise rotation.
- Barometer and weather: A sudden drop in barometric pressure suggests rain.
- Air mass types: Land vs. water (humidity); tropical vs. polar (temperature).
- Weather station data: Temperature, wind direction, wind speed, humidity.
- Weather data collection methods: Weather balloons, satellites, radar (detects precipitation, wind).
Climate
- Climate: Average weather pattern over a region.
- Rain shadow: Dry area on the leeward side of a mountain.
- Sunspot: Dark area on the sun's surface.
- Climate factors: Latitude, temperature, precipitation, nearness to water bodies, elevation.
- Latitude and climate: Tropical zones are hot and wet; polar zones are cold.
- Continental vs. oceanic climates: Continental climates have varying precipitation with high precipitation occurring near water bodies.
- Prevailing wind effect: Wind patterns affect water-related precipitation quantities in the United States.
- Elevation and climate: Higher elevations are colder.
- Windward and leeward sides of mountains: Windward sides get rain, leeward sides are dry.
- Climate change factors: Sunspots, plate tectonics.
- Sunspot cycle: 11-year cycle affecting Earth's temperature.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the atmosphere and weather concepts, including definitions of key terms like troposphere, air pressure, and convection cells. Explore various weather variables and the impact of solar energy on our climate. This quiz is essential for anyone studying meteorology or environmental science.
