Podcast
Questions and Answers
What primarily determines climate zones?
What primarily determines climate zones?
What factor causes winds to occur?
What factor causes winds to occur?
Which cloud type is characterized by thin, wispy structures?
Which cloud type is characterized by thin, wispy structures?
Which of the following is NOT a type of cloud?
Which of the following is NOT a type of cloud?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a major characteristic of thunderstorms?
What is a major characteristic of thunderstorms?
Signup and view all the answers
When precipitation occurs at a front, what is common about the weather?
When precipitation occurs at a front, what is common about the weather?
Signup and view all the answers
What term describes the concentrated layer of clouds that cover the Earth?
What term describes the concentrated layer of clouds that cover the Earth?
Signup and view all the answers
How are air masses classified?
How are air masses classified?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following accurately describes tornadoes?
Which of the following accurately describes tornadoes?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of front occurs when a cold air mass pushes into a warm air mass?
What type of front occurs when a cold air mass pushes into a warm air mass?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the name of the gas that makes up the majority of the Earth's atmosphere?
What is the name of the gas that makes up the majority of the Earth's atmosphere?
Signup and view all the answers
Which method of energy transfer does NOT require a medium?
Which method of energy transfer does NOT require a medium?
Signup and view all the answers
Which layer of the atmosphere is directly above the troposphere?
Which layer of the atmosphere is directly above the troposphere?
Signup and view all the answers
In which layer does most weather phenomenon occur?
In which layer does most weather phenomenon occur?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary driver of the water cycle?
What is the primary driver of the water cycle?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the air pressure exerted on the Earth's surface?
What is the term for the air pressure exerted on the Earth's surface?
Signup and view all the answers
What do local winds primarily depend on?
What do local winds primarily depend on?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is a way that thermal energy is transferred?
Which of the following is a way that thermal energy is transferred?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Module 1: Weather and Climate
-
Key Terms:
- Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
- Air pressure: The force exerted by the air.
- Troposphere: The lowest layer of the atmosphere.
- Stratosphere: Layer above the troposphere
- Mesosphere: Layer above the stratosphere
- Thermosphere: Layer above the mesosphere
- Radiation: Energy transferred through space.
- Conduction: Energy transferred through direct contact.
- Thermal energy: Heat energy
- Convection: Energy transferred through fluid movement.
- Global warming: A gradual increase in the Earth's temperature.
- Greenhouse effect: Natural process of trapping heat in the atmosphere.
- Temperature: A measure of how hot or cold something is.
- Global winds: Large-scale wind patterns around the world.
- Local winds: Wind patterns within a smaller area.
- Coriolis effect: Causes moving air and water to curve.
- Water cycle: Natural process of water moving between the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
- Jet stream: Strong winds in the upper atmosphere.
- Humidity: Amount of water vapor in the air.
- Relative humidity: Ratio of water vapor to total amount of water air can hold.
- Evaporation: Liquid to gas
- Condensation: Gas to liquid
- Cumulus: Cumulus clouds are puffy, white clouds.
- Stratus: are layered clouds
- Cirrus: Wispy clouds
- Barometer: Measures air pressure
- Meteorologist: A scientist who studies weather.
- Precipitation: Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere.
- Air mass: Large body of air with similar temperature and humidity characteristics.
- Front: Boundary between air masses with different characteristics .
- Climate: The average weather conditions over a long period of time.
- Anemometer: instrument used to measure wind speed.
- Thunderstorm: A storm with thunder and lightning.
- Tornado: A rapidly rotating column of air.
- Hurricane: A severe tropical storm with high winds.
Earth's Atmosphere
- Earth's atmosphere is composed of gases that are in a correct balance to support life.
- Atmospheric layers are labeled and organized by altitude from about 0-250 miles above sea level, listing approximate altitude in miles (km)
Convection, Conduction, and Radiation
- Energy transfer between Earth's surface and atmosphere.
- Methods: Convection, conduction, radiation.
- Definition of each: Convection = heat transfer through fluid movement; Conduction = heat transfer through direct contact; Radiation = heat transfer through space or electromagnetic waves.
- Convection in atmosphere: Convection cells are formed through heating and cooling differences that cause air to rise or sink .
- Conduction characteristics : Good conductors quickly transfer heat energy.
- Radiation: the only type of energy that can transfer through a vacuum.
Understanding Weather and Climate
- Weather: Short-term atmospheric conditions.
- Climate: Long-term weather patterns.
- Difference: Weather describes current conditions while climate describes average conditions over a long time.
- Factors affecting climate: Distance from sea, ocean currents, prevailing winds, landforms.
- climate zones are based on average temperatures and precipitation levels.
Winds
- Wind: Air moving from high to low pressure areas.
- Formation of winds: Uneven heating of Earth causes differences in pressure that drive wind movement.
- Convection currents: movement of a fluid that results from temperature differences.
- Types of winds: Global, local prevailing.
Experiencing Weather
- Weather forecast information is collected by meteorologists, and forecasts give a predictive summary of atmospheric conditions for an area.
Clouds
- Types of clouds: Cumulus, stratus, cirrus.
- Cloud formation: Air direction affects cloud shape.
- Types of clouds based on height: High, middle, low.
Air Masses and Fronts
- Air mass: Large body of air with similar temperature and humidity characteristics.
- Front: Boundary between air masses with different characteristics.
Precipitation
- Precipitation can be rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
- Types of precipitation: Rain, snow, sleet, hail, freezing rain.
Weather Patterns
- Types of storms: Thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms.
Safety Rules
- Thunderstorms form where air rises dramatically.
- Lightning and thunder are part of thunderstorms.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Test your knowledge on key terms related to weather and climate in this introductory quiz. Explore essential concepts such as the atmosphere, air pressure, and the various layers of the atmosphere. Understand the mechanisms of thermal energy transfer and the impact of global warming.
