Term
| Explain The Scientific Method |
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Definition
Provides a framework for constructing knowledge about the natural world.
The main elements are formulation of a question and testable hypotheses, predictions that follow from the hypotheses, analysis, and conclusions. Conclusions are repeatable and open to scrutiny by others. |
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Term
| Describe the thickness of the atmosphere ad the vertical distribution of gases within it. |
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Definition
Most of Earth's atmosphere is contained within a relatively shallow envelope surrounding the planet.
The depth of the atmosphere adds less than 2 percent to Earth's cross sectional size.
Given the shallowness of the atmosphere, its winds are mainly horizontal.
Note, however that the atmosphere's smaller vertical motions determine much of atmospheric behavior. |
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Term
| Describe the behavior of gas molecules in the atmosphere, including residence times and the roles of vertical mixing and gravitational settling. |
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Definition
Gases are constantly exchanged between the atmosphere and Earth's surface.
The average length of time that molecules of a given substance remain in the atmosphere is their residence time.
Winds and other motions thoroughly mix the gases in the homosphere.
Gases in the heterosphere segregate according to their molecular weight. |
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Term
| Describe the composition of the atmosphere. |
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Definition
It is a mixture of gases plus liquid and solid particles.
The main gases are nitrogen and oxygen, which are present in nearly uniform amounts (78% and 21% vy vlomue, respectively)
Other important gases, such as water vapor, ozone, and carbon dioxide, are highly variable over space and time. |
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Term
| Explain how air pressure arises and describe the vertical variation of pressure and density. |
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Definition
Air pressure reflects the mass of overlying air and therefore decreases with increasing altitude.
Because the atmosphere is compressible, density declines vertically as well.
Both decrease rapidly near the surface and more slowly as altitude increases. |
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Term
| List the Layers of Earth's Atmosphere |
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Definition
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere |
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Term
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Definition
| State of the atmosphere at a particular point in time. |
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Term
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Definition
| Has to do with long-term averages and other statistical properties of the weather. |
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Term
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Definition
| Layer of the atmosphere where nearly all weather events occur and most water vapor is found. |
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Term
| In The Troposphere, what happens to temperature with increasing altitude? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the Height of the Stratosphere? |
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Definition
| 15 to 50 km (9 to 31 mi). |
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Term
| What is the height of the Troposphere? |
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Definition
| The lowest layer 15km (9 mi) of the atmosphere |
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Term
| What is temperature like in the Stratosphere? |
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Definition
| Initially steady temperatures with altitude, then increasing toward the upper stratosphere. |
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Term
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Definition
| Layer of the atmosphere where the ozone layer is. |
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Term
| What is the height of the Mesosphere? |
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Definition
| 50 to 80 km (31 to 50 mi) |
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Term
| What is the temperature of the Mesosphere like? |
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Definition
| Decreasing temperature with altitude. |
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Term
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Definition
| The atmospheric layer that has little meteorological significance. |
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Term
| What is the height of the Thermosphere? |
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Definition
| Above 80 km (50 mi) with no definite top |
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Term
| What is the temperature of the Thermosphere like? |
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Definition
| Increasing temperature with altitude buy very low density. |
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Term
| Explain the evolution of the atmosphere during Earth's History. |
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Definition
Over time, the amounts of carbon dioxide and water vapor decreased in abundance, while amounts of nitrogen and oxygen increased.
Both physical and biological processes were important.
Most oxygen is the result of photosynthesis. |
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Term
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Definition
| Long term study of the atmosphere and the processes that cause what we refer to as climate. |
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Term
| What is displayed on Surface Maps? |
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Definition
| Show the distributions of temperature, dew point, winds, clouds, and sea-level air pressure. |
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Term
| What is displayed on a Station Model? |
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Definition
| Values at individual locations, like details involving wind speed and direction. |
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Term
| What are displayed on a weather map? |
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Definition
| Surface Map and Station Model. |
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Term
| When was the thermometer invented? |
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Definition
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Term
| When was the barometer invented? |
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Definition
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Term
| When was the Army Signal Service established? |
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Definition
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Term
| The Army Signal Service eventually became what? |
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Definition
| The US National Weather Service |
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Term
| Radiosonde Use Began When? |
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Definition
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Term
| The first weather satellite was launched when? |
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Definition
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Term
| Weather forecasting has relied on the use of computers and their ever-increasing computational power since when? |
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Definition
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Term
How To Read A Climograph:
Numbers On The Left |
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Definition
Show you the amount of precipitation.
Make sure you check to see if the precipitation is measured in millimeteres or inches. |
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Term
How To Read A Climograph:
Numbers on the Right |
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Definition
| Show you the temperature and whether or not it is measured in Celsius or Fahrenheit. |
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Term
How To Read A Climograph:
Letters At the Bottom |
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Definition
| Show you the months of the year. |
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Term
How To Read A Climograph:
Title |
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Definition
| Shows the location climate is being described for. |
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Term
| What is one of the most fundamental weather characteristics because of its role in producing wind? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the horizontal variation of air pressure? |
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Definition
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Term
| What connects points on a weather map in which the air pressure of both points is equal? |
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Definition
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Term
| What are fairly narrow boundary zones separating relatively warm and cold noble temperature shifts? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the largest gas in the atmosphere? |
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Definition
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Term
| What gases make up the atmosphere |
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Definition
Oxygen 21%
Nitrogen 78%
Carbon Dioxide (0.035%) |
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Term
| How thin is the atmosphere? |
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Definition
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Term
| How to calculate density? |
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Definition
| Density is mass per unit volume. |
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