Weather correct answers refers to the state of the atmosphere (physical conditions) at any given time or place
Climate correct answers describes the "average weather" of a region
The standard averaging period is 30 years according to the WMO
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? c...
Meteorology || A Verified A+ Pass.
Weather correct answers refers to the state of the atmosphere (physical conditions) at any given
time or place
Climate correct answers describes the "average weather" of a region
The standard averaging period is 30 years according to the WMO
What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? correct answers Nitrogen
What are the major components of the atmosphere? correct answers nitrogen: 78%
oxygen: 21%
trace gasses (includes argon, carbon dioxide): 1%
What are the variable components of the atmosphere? correct answers water vapor
dust vary in both space and time
ozone
Is air considered an element, molecule, or mixture? Why? correct answers mixture because its
composition varies, and the constituents can be separated
contains many different elements (hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen) AND molecules (H2O, N2, O2,
CO2).
What is ozone, and why is it important? correct answers The oxygen gas that we breathe: O2
Ozone: O3
- Concentrated at 10-15 km above Earth's surface because there is sufficient UV radiation to
break up O2 molecules
- Absorbs most UV rays before they reach Earth's surface
Formation of Ozone:
1) High-energy UV rays strike an O2 molecule
2) The O2 molecule splits
3) The free oxygen atoms collide with O2 molecules
4) Ozone molecules are formed
Describe the temperature trends of the four layers of the atmosphere, starting at Earth's surface.
correct answers Troposphere
- The weather layer
- Temperature decreases with height
Stratosphere
- Has stable air layers, hosts most of the ozone
- Temperature increases with height
Mesosphere
- Where meteors start burning
- Temperature decreases with height
Thermosphere
- Very little mass (less than 1% of all gas in the atmosphere)
, - Temperature increases with height
What is the difference between the "atmosphere" and "space"? correct answers The boundary
between the atmosphere and space is not sharp
The concentration of gas particles decreases with height until there are too few to detect
How do you think air pressure changes with altitude? Why? correct answers Atmospheric
pressure is the weight of the air above
50% of the gasses that make up the atmosphere lie below an altitude of 5.6 km.
At sea level, atmospheric pressure is about 1013 millibars (mb). This is equivalent to 1 ATM, or
14.7 psi
How do you think air temperature changes with altitude? Why? correct answers In the layer of
the atmosphere closest to Earth (troposphere), temperature decreases with height
Not all atmospheric layers show this pattern
Explain why temperature varies with altitude (e.g. Why does temperature decrease with height in
the troposphere and mesosphere? Why does temperature increase with height in the stratosphere
and thermosphere?) correct answers As you increase in elevation, there is less air above you thus
the pressure decreases. As the pressure decreases, air molecules spread out further (i.e. air
expands), and the temperature decreases
How does atmospheric pressure change with altitude? Why? correct answers The atmospheric
pressure varies with altitude as the density of air decreases as we rise up and the air becomes
rarer. Atmospheric pressure decreases with increases in altitude.
What two factors are responsible for seasons on Earth? correct answers Earth's axis is tilted 23.5
degrees from perpendicular
Earth's position relative to the Sun changes as it travels along its orbit
What is the ionosphere? correct answers overlaps with most of the mesosphere and the lower
part of the thermosphere.
Solar energy removes electrons from oxygen and nitrogen molecules which creates positive ions.
This layer reflects radio transmissions.
When charged particles eject from the sun and interact with the particles in the ionosphere, you
can see the Auroras.
Earth-Sun Relationships correct answers Nearly all of the energy that drives Earth's weather and
climate comes from the Sun.
Solar energy is not distributed evenly over the surface of the Earth.
This uneven distribution is due to:
- Motions of Earth relative to the Sun
- Variations in the Earth's land/ocean surface
Unequal heating of the Earth creates winds and drives the ocean's currents.
Rotation correct answers spinning of the Earth about its axis
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