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Earth Science
Test 1
108
Science
Undergraduate 2
02/13/2011

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Term
Weather
Definition
Short-term state of the atmosphere at a given time or place
Term
Climate
Definition
Sum of all weather info that describes a place or region. Long-Term weather.
Term
6 Basic Elements of Weather
Definition
Temperature of Air, Humidity, Type and Amount of Cloudiness, Type and Amount of Precipitation, Air Pressure, Speed and Direction of Wind
Term
Changes on Earth's atmosphere and surfaces
Definition
Driven by Sun's effects
Term
Atmosphere
Definition
Gaseous portion of any planet/ we often call "air"
Term
Pure Dry "Air"
Definition
Nitrogen 78%, Oxygen 21%, gases 1% - can be affected
Term
Affects Atmosphere
Definition
Water Vapor-forms clouds, Fine Particles-smoke,dust,pollen, germs,etc., Pressure
Term
Pressure at Sea Level
Definition
1013.25 millibars or 29.92 inches of mercury
Term
Pressure at 3.5 miles up
Definition
500millibars
Term
Troposphere
Definition
Bottom layer of atmosphere. 7.5 miles thick. Has the highest pressure.
Term
Troposphere Normal Lapse Rate
Definition
6.5 degrees C/km
Term
Environmental Lapse Rate
Definition
Actual change in temperature
Term
Ozone Depletion
Definition
thinning of the layer of ozone gas (O₃) in the stratosphere. Blocks out 95% of UV from sun.
Term
Affects of Ozone Depletion
Definition
Increase skin cancer, blindness, weakening immune systems
Term
Ozone Depletion Causes
Definition
Caused by CFC's chlorofluorocarbons
Term
Montreal Protocol
Definition
Banned the use of CFC's in all countries
Term
Earth's Tilt
Definition
23.5 degrees
Term
Summer Solstice
Definition
June 21st N. H. (Longest Day, shortest night)
Term
Winter Solstice
Definition
December 21st N.H. (Shortest Day, longest night)
Term
Autumnal Equinox
Definition
September 21st Day and Night are 12 hours
Term
Spring Equinox
Definition
March 21st Day and Night have 12 hours
Term
Albedo
Definition
reflectivity of an object Earth is 30%
Term
Land affects Weather
Definition
Land heats and cools quickly
Term
Water affects Weather
Definition
Water does not cool or heat quickly, causing a lag in weather
Term
Altitude
Definition
Higher you go, colder it gets
Term
State of Water
Definition
When water changes state, environment around it is cooled or warmed
Term
Melting
Definition
Solid to Liquid - cooling Process
Term
Freezing
Definition
Liquid to Solid - heating process
Term
Evaporation
Definition
Liquid to Gas - cooling process
Term
Condensation
Definition
Gas to Liquid - heating process
Term
Sublimation
Definition
solid to gas - cooling process
Term
Deposition
Definition
gas to solid - heating process
Term
Humidity
Definition
Amount of water vapor in the air
Term
Specific Humidity
Definition
Ratio of mass of Water Vapor to the mass of air it is in (Not affected by Temperature) Ex. 20g/kg
Term
Absolute Humidity
Definition
Ratio of mass of Water Vapor to the volume of air it is in (Not affected by Temperature) Ex. 4g/m³
Term
Temperature affect on WV Capacity
Definition
When the Temperature is increased, Water Vapor is increased. Vice Versa.
Term
Relative Humidity
Definition
Ratio of how much Water Vapor is in the air, relative to the amount it would take to saturate. (Strongly affected by Temperature(inversely proportional)) Ex: 75%
Term
Hygrometer
Definition
Measures Humidity
Term
Sling Psychrometer
Definition
Uses tables and WB/DB to determine RH and dew point
Term
Cloud formation
Definition
cause by Adiabatic Temperature Change - Gas expands it cools, when compressed it warms. Air expands as it rises, once it reaches saturation, condensation occurs.
Term
Cloud Condensation
Definition
Extremely tiny droplets of water, or ice crystals if below freezing.
Term
Orographic Lifting
Definition
Air is forced up and over mountains
Term
Frontal Wedging
Definition
Where could air meets warm air, the warm air is forced up and over cold air.
Term
Convective Lifting
Definition
The Sun heats the surface and the heated air about it rises (Thermals)
Term
Convergence
Definition
When winds from two directions meet, the only way to go is up.
Term
Collision-Coalescence Process
Definition
Tiny droplets collide and grow, then fall and collide with other droplets, eventually becoming rain drops.
Term
Three types of Liquid PPT
Definition
Mist, Drizzle, Rain
Term
Snow
Definition
Ice crystals or aggregates of crystals
Term
Sleet (frozen rain)
Definition
water droplets freeze as they fall
Term
Hail
Definition
Caused in a cumulonimbus by wind rotation, gets larger with each trip until it becomes to large for winds to hold aloft. Large pieces of ice precipitate
Term
Frost/Rime
Definition
Deposits of ice crystals that form on cold surfaces. Glaze forms when rain freezes as it hits a surface. Black Ice
Term
Falling/Rising Pressure
Definition
Falling indicates cloudy and rain, Rising normally indicates clearing conditions
Term
Wind
Definition
Caused by a horizontal difference in pressure. Air flows from HP to LP
Term
Hot Air
Definition
expands, less dense, pressure goes down
Term
Cold Air
Definition
contracts, becomes more dense, and pressure goes up
Term
3 things affect Wind
Definition
Pressure Gradient Forces, Coriolis Effect, Friction
Term
Pressure Gradient Forces
Definition
create wind, greater the gradient, the stronger the wind
Term
Isobars
Definition
lines connect areas of equal pressure/used to show pressure on maps (Spacing indicates change over distance)
Term
Coriolis Effect
Definition
deviation of wind by Earth's rotation (Wind deflects to right in N.H. and left in S.H.
Term
Friction
Definition
affects wind that moves over surfaces. (Slows air flow down, more so over land.) High Level winds are faster due to lack of friction.
Term
Cyclone
Definition
Formed by Lows, Air flows into low pressure, convergence inflow
Term
Anticyclones
Definition
Formed by Highs, air flows out of high pressure, divergence - moving apart
Term
General air Circulation
Definition
There are 3 cells in each hemisphere (Hadley Cell -Tradewinds, Ferrel Cell - Westerlies, Polar Cells - Polar Easterlies)
Term
Equatorial Low
Definition
Near Equator moist air goes up produces lots of rain. Air moves poleward and sings around 20-30 degrees
Term
Doldrums
Definition
Air gently goes up at equator, causing a cessation in navigation winds. Air warms adiabatically and sinks around 30 degrees
Term
Sub Tropical Highs (Horse Lats)
Definition
Adiabatic warm air from equator sinks here, all water is gone. (Great Deserts at STH) air flows out of STH
Term
Tradewinds
Definition
STH wind is affected by Coriolis effect directed toward equator
Term
Westerlies
Definition
STH wind affected by Coriolis effect directed toward the poles
Term
Polar High/Sub polar Low
Definition
Air moves toward the equator and produces Polar Easterlies
Term
Air Masses
Definition
Very large parcels of air that move across surface.
Term
Front
Definition
line where two surfaces meet.
Term
Air Mass classification by Source Region
Definition
Polar - cold and develop at High Lats, Tropical - Warm and Develop at Low Lats
Term
Air Mass classification by Surface over
Definition
Maritime - humid and develop over water, Continental- dry and form over land
Term
Types of Air Masses
Definition
cP-continental Polar (dry-cold), cT - continental Tropical (dry-warm), mP-maritime Polar (Wet - cold), mT- maritime Tropical (wet - warm)
Term
Warm front
Definition
When warm air moves into cool air (Red Line)
Term
Cool Front
Definition
When cool air moves into warm air (Blue Line)
Term
Stationary Front
Definition
Air masses move parallel to each other
Term
Occluded front
Definition
develop when cold air overtakes and twists under warmer air (Purple Line) can create mid-lat cyclones
Term
Thunderstorm
Definition
Produces lightning, heavy rain, winds, sometimes hail or tornados
Term
3 phases of T-storm
Definition
Cumulus Stage - air moves up, continued supply of moisture, grows quickly, condensation warms air in Cloud. - Pulls air in strong updrafts
Term
Mature Stage
Definition
PPT begins and strong downdrafts develop, these created by rain falling through the air.
Term
Dissipation Stage
Definition
Strong downdrafts suck cold air into top of cloud. Cools off/stops growing - Updrafts stop, rains out.
Term
Tornados
Definition
Violent wind storms, extend down from cumulonimbus cloud to the ground as a vortex
Term
Vortex
Definition
Pressure inside is very low, which sucks in air, air spirals upward into cloud
Term
Tornado wind speed
Definition
Average is 110mph, 300mph at times
Term
Tornado size
Definition
Average is 500 feet wide, 250-2000 ft range
Term
Funnel Cloud
Definition
Precedes the tornado
Term
Condensation Funnel
Definition
the funnel cloud is a tapered column of water droplets that extends downward from the base of the parent cloud.
Term
Tornados form
Definition
Along rapid moving cold fronts in spring and summer
Term
Fujita Scale
Definition
Based on damage and approximate Wind Speed F0<116km/hr F5>419km/hr
Term
Tornado Watch
Definition
Conditions are appropriate for tornados, lasts for a few hours
Term
Tornado Warning
Definition
Tornado is spotted
Term
Tropical Cyclones (Hurricanes)
Definition
large storm that forms when there is low enough pressure. Air travels quick and spirals up. Waters must be over 80 degrees F
Term
Tropical Depression
Definition
Wind speeds under 38mph
Term
Tropical Storm
Definition
Wind speeds between 38-74mph
Term
Tropical Cyclones
Definition
Wind speeds at or above 74mph and rotary motion
Term
Hurricane Season
Definition
June to November, but largely in the fall
Term
No Hurricanes
Definition
South Atlantic and Eastern South Pacific, due to cold waters off coasts
Term
Eye
Definition
Center of Hurricane, no rain
Term
Location of Hurricanes
Definition
Form between 5 and 20 degrees N and S latitudes, but can move into higher lats. Can't be rotation in doldrums, water too cool above 20 degrees
Term
Saffir-Simpson Scale
Definition
Measures hurricanes Cat I P>980mb WS 119-153mph Cat 5 P<920mb WS>250 mph
Term
Hurricane Damage
Definition
Wind, Inland Flooding and Storm Surge
Term
Storm Surge
Definition
Responsible for most deaths and property damage. Wall of water that gets pushed up in front of eye.
Term
Hurricanes Die
Definition
When warm water supply is cut off, friction over land can slow wind, and upper level winds can also weaken them.
Term
Green House Effect
Definition
The heating of the atmosphere when infrared radiation is trapped by "greenhouse" gases.
Term
Green House Gases
Definition
Water, CO2, Methane (CH4), NO2, and CFCs , HFCs
Term
Global Warming
Definition
Rise of temperature of Earth's atmosphere, due to humans
Term
Effects of GW
Definition
Large scale changes in regional climates, Disruption of Ecosystems, Spread of Tropical Disease, Reduced crop yields, Loss of water supply by ice melts, raising of sea level
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