Download Ch. 11 Atmosphere and weather

ANSWER KEY
Chapter 11: Earth’s Atmosphere and Weather Review
1. What are the two most abundant gases in the Earth’s atmosphere? Nitrogen and Oxygen
2. What percentage of the Earth’s atmosphere does each of these gases represent? N2=78% and O2=21%
3. What unit of pressure is most commonly used by underwater divers? Atmospheres (atm)
4. Which layer of the atmosphere is responsible for long-distance short-wave radio reception? Thermosphere
5. At what elevation range does weather occur? Ground level to 11km above the earth’s surface
6. Describe the importance of the stratosphere. The stratosphere is most responsible for protecting us from UV
radiation from the sun.
7. What occurs in the Mesosphere? Meteors burn up in this layer.
8. Earth, Mars and Venus all have what type of atmosphere? One made out of gases.
9. Name the trace gases found in the Earth’s atmosphere. Helium, hydrogen, and methane
10. What is the primary source of nitrogen for the proteins in our body tissues? Nitrogen in our bodies comes from
eating plant and animal proteins.
11. What is the most abundant gas found in the atmospheres of both Venus and Mars? Carbon dioxide
12. Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has been significantly reduced by what biological process? Photosynthesis
13. Define atmospheric pressure. The measurement of the force of air molecules per unit of area in the atmosphere
14. At sea level, what is the weight of the atmosphere on the average human body? 9800 N
15. What is a barometer used for? It measures atmospheric pressure.
16. Name three units of atmospheric pressure. Pascals, atmospheres, milibars
17. What is an air mass? A large body of air with consistent temperature and moisture content.
18. What is the dew point? The temperature at which more water condenses than evaporates.
19. Describe the Coriolis Effect. The bending of currents due to Earth’s rotation.
20. How are low pressure areas formed? When warm air rises.
21. What is wind? Horizontal movement of air that occurs as a result of pressure differences between 2 air masses.
22. Define biome. Climate regions on Earth.
23. Name 6 biomes on Earth. Deserts, temperate deciduous forests, grasslands, rainforests, taiga, and tundra.
24. Name 3 characteristics that differentiate one biome from another. Latitude, weather, topography.
25. Define climate. The long-term record of patterns including temperature, precipitation, and wind for a region.
26. Which wind is most closely associated with winds over much of the U.S.? Prevailing Westerlies
27. What is a polar front? The point at which the polar Easterlies meet the prevailing Westerlies.
28. What is relative humidity? The ratio of current absolute humidity to the highest possible humidity.
29. How is fog formed? When water vapor condenses to form suspended water droplets.
30. How does a thermal form? When there is a small upward flow of warm air caused by convection.
31. What are the characteristics of a land breeze? Higher temperature over water and lower temperature over land.
32. Describe what happens when a cold front moves through an area replacing warm air. Sudden violent rain and
lower temperatures.
33. How is thunder formed? The rapid heating and expanding air near a lightning strike.
34. What is a front? The border between two air masses.
35. Describe a cirrocumulus cloud. Small, puffy, “cotton ball” type clouds high in the atmosphere.
36. Describe a stratus cloud. Clouds formed below 2000 meters that look like fog that hasn’t reached the ground.
37. Describe a cirrus cloud. Curved, wispy clouds that look like tails high in the atmosphere.
38. Name two types of cyclones. Tornado and hurricane.
39. What are the characteristics of a tornado? Relatively small, short-lived, violent cyclone with winds in excess of
160km/h.
40. Areas on weather maps with similar atmospheric pressures would be connected by what? Isobars.
41. What is the jet stream? High altitude, fast-moving winds.
42. What portion of the thermosphere layer of the atmosphere is responsible for transmitting long distance shortwave radio signals? The ionosphere.
43. What is the largest biome? The taiga.