Download Seasons, Air, Atmosphere, and Storms Test Study Guide

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Air, Atmosphere, Wind, Fronts, Air Masses, and Storms Test Study Guide
March 2014
Please write your answers on a sheet of notebook paper. This completed study guide is DUE
AIR and AMOSPHERE Ch. 15 section 1 p. 448 – 453 (Air Stations and Atmosphere Data Sheet PINK)
1.
Which layer of the atmosphere does most weather occur? Troposphere
2.
Describe the thermosphere (including where it is located and temperature) The uppermost layer of the atmosphere in which
temperature increases as altitude increases. Temperatures in the thermosphere tend to be 1,000 degrees Celcius or higher.
3.
Describe the stratosphere (including where it is located, temperature, and what is found in the stratosphere.) The layer of the
atmosphere that is above the troposphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases. The Ozone layer is
contained in the stratosphere.
4.
Are the densest layer of the atmosphere and the coldest layer of the atmosphere the same layer? Explain your answer.
No, they are not the same layer. The densest layer is the troposphere, the layer we live in. Temperatures vary, decreasing at
a constant rate as altitude increases. The coldest layer is the mesosphere, the middle layer, in which temperature decreases as
altitude increases.
5.
What is the difference between convection, conduction, and radiation? Be able to give one example of each.
Convection – the movement of matter due to idfferences in density: the transfer of energy due to the movement of matter.
Conduction – the transfer of thermal energy through a material
Radiation – the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves
6.
You learned to conserve air we produce less smog. What is smog? Smog is a photochemical haze that forms when sunlight
acts on industrial pollutants and brunign fuels. In other words, smog forms when ozone and vehicle exhause react with
sunlight. Local geography and weather patterns can also contribute to smog formation.
7.
What causes global warming? Global warming is a gradual increase in average global temperature. Some scientists believe
that an increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may be the cause of this warming trend. Greenhous gases are gases
that absorb thermal energy in the atmosphere.
AIR MASSES and WEATHER FRONTS Ch. 16 section 2 p. 490 – 493 (Air Mass Map and Weather Fronts Graphic
Organizer)
8.
What are the two ways air masses are characterized? Air masses are characterized by their moisture content and temperature.
9.
What is the difference between a maritime and a continental air mass?
Maritime air masses form over oceans (water). Continental air masses form over land.
10. What is the difference between a polar and tropical air mass?
A polar air mass forms over the polar regions (cold). A tropical air mas develops over the Tropics (warm).
11. Where would you find a continental polar air mass? What type of weather would it bring? A continental polar air mass forms
over northern Canada, which brings extremely cold winter weather to the United States. In the summer, this air mass brings
cool, dry weather.
12. How does a cold front form? What kind of weather does a cold front bring? A cold front forms where cold air moves under
warm air, which is less dense, and pushes the warm air up. Cold fronts can move quickly and bring thunderstorms, heavy
rains, or snow.
13. How does a warm front form? What kind of weather does a warm front bring? A warm front forms where warm air moves
over cold, denser air. In a warm front, the warm air gradually replaces the cold aire. Warm fronts generally bring drizzly
rain and are followed by clear and warm weather.
14. How does a stationary front form? What kind of weather does a stationary front bring? A stationary front froms when a cold
air mass meets a warm air mass. Both air masses do not have enough force to lift the warm air mass over the cold air mass so
the two air masses remain separated. A stationary front often brings many days of cloudy, wet weather.
15. How does an occluded front form? What kind of weather does an occluded front bring? An accluded front forms when a
warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses. The coldes air mas moves under and pushes up the warm air mass.
The coldest air mass then moves forward until it meets a cold air mass that is warmer and less dense. An accluded front has
cool temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow.
STORMS Ch. 16 section 3 p. 496 – 499 (Recipe for Hurricane, Tornado, and Thunderstorm WS)
16. Using a Venn Diagram, compare and contrast the formation of a hurricane, tornado, and thunderstorm. Be sure to include
where they are likely to form, how they form, and what is the most dangerous part of the storm.
THUNDERSTORMS – small, intense weather systems that produce strong winds, heavy rain, lightning, and thunder.
Thunderstorms can occur along cold fronts. But thunderstorms can develop in other places, too. There are only two
atmospheric conditions required to produce thunderstorms: warm and moist air near Earth’s surface and an unstable
atmosphere. The atmosphere is unstable when the surrounding air is colder than the rising air mass. The air mass will
continue to rise as long as the surrounding air is colder than the air mass.
HURRICANES – are the most powerful storms on earth. A hurricane is a severe storm that develops over tropical oceans
and whose strong winds of more than 120 km/h spiral in toward the intensely low-pressure storm center. Most hurricanes
form in the areas between 5 degrees and 20 degrees north latitude and between 5 degrees and 20 degrees south latitude over
warm, tropical oceans.
TORNADOS – a destructive, rotating column of aif that has very high wind speeds,is visible as a funnel-shaped cloud, and
touches the ground. About 75% of the world’s tornados occur in the United States. Most of these tornadoes happen in the
spring and early summer when cold, dry air from Canada meets warm, moist air from the Tropics. Although most tornadoes
last only a few minutes, they can cause a lot of damage. Their ability to cause damage is due to their strong spinning winds.
WINDS Ch, 15 section 3 p. 458 – 463 (National Geographic Wind Article)
17. What causes wind? The movement of air cused by differneces in air pressure is called wind.
18. How do the trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies differ in location and direction of wind?
Trade winds are prevailing winds that blow northeast from 30 degrees north latitude to the equator and that blow southeast
from 30 degrees south latitude to the equator.
Westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from west to east between 30 degrees and 60 degrees latitude in both hemispheres
Polar easterlies are prevailing winds that blow from east to west between 60 degrees and 90 degrees latitude in both
hemispheres.
19. Which two global winds are similar because they produce very weak winds? The Doldrums and the Horse Latitudes.
20. List two local winds. Which would you experience during the day?
Mountain Breezes and Valley Breezes.
During the day you would experience a valley breeze.