S-290 Unit 4: Basic Weather Processes (2024/2025) Already Passed

S-290 Unit 4: Basic Weather Processes (2024/2025) Already Passed The thin layer of the atmosphere provides us with - air we breathe - shields the planet from potentially destructive meteors or other space debris - protects us from ultraviolet radiation from the Sun - stores heat energy that makes the planet habitable for humans and other life The height of the tropopause tends to be highest and lowest where highest over the tropics and lowest over the polar regions If the incoming solar radiation in an area exceeds the outgoing terrestrial radiation, the surface and atmosphere will warm Near the poles, how does the amount of incoming solar radiation generally compare to the amount of outgoing terrestrial radiation Outgoing radiation exceeds incoming radiation As long as no significant weather events are occurring, when can the peak daytime temperatures usually be expected 2 to 6 hours after solar noon The regions of Earth receiving most heat from the Sun are the tropics Earths weather results from the transport of heat energy. Most of his heat energy comes from The sun In what areas would water vapor concentrations tend to be highest Near coastline and low elevations As you move up a mountain to higher elevations, what can you expect to happen to the air pressure It will decrease Approximately 99 percent of all atmospheric gases lie within 18 miles of Earth's surface Almost all of Earth's weather occurs in The troposphere Water Vapor is an extremely important constituent contributing to water and ice clouds that produce various types of precipitation Water Vapor stores and releases great quantities of heat energy called latent heat, that is used to power thunderstorms and hurricanes What is latent heat The heat required to convert a solid into a liquid or vapor, or a liquid into a vapor, without change of temperature. Almost half of all water vapor is found Within the lowest three miles of the atmosphere, where amounts vary with region, elevation, and season Water Vapor distribution as a percentage of the total atmosphere varies with Latitude, elevation, region, and season What environmental factors strongly influences wildland fire behavior? - weather - topography - fuels What results from the pull of gravity on the atmosphere Atmospheric pressure (aka air pressure) Pressure varies with both time and location as air masses move across the continent What decreases with increasing altitude Atmospheric pressure (aka air pressure) Nearly half the weight or mass of the atmosphere is located below 18,000 feet What is the principal source of light and heat energy for Earth and its atmosphere Heat Energy from the Sun reaches Earth's atmosphere in the form of Shortwave solar radiation What determines temperature The amount of heat energy available Seasons are caused by The tilt of Earth's axis Changes in solar angle and the length of daylight strongly influence The amount of solar radiation striking a point on Earth's surface At mid- and higher latitudes, sun angle varies with Time of year What significantly influences air and surface temperatures Cloud cover and high humidity The ability to reflect solar energy is referred to as Albedo Albedo is highest where Snow and light-colored uniform land surfaces because they reflect more solar radiation Albedo is lowest where Forests and burned areas because they are less reflective What refers to the ability of substance to transfer heat to the surrounding environment Conductivity Because of the greater amount of water vapor in the air where is there a higher specific heat capacity Tropical and coastal regions As opposed to the desert, cured vegetative, high mountain, and arctic regions. What is the COOLING process in the atmosphere Condensation The additional heat provided by the atmosphere's ability to absorb outgoing longwave radiation is referred to as The greenhouse effect What does temperature depends on The balance between incoming and outgoing radiation When the outgoing radiation exceeds the incoming radiation Temperatures cool The hottest and driest conditions typically occur at what time during the day In the middle or late afternoon