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Name: Date: Period: Weather Unit Study Guide Layers of the Atmosphere: 1. Describe the composition of Earth’s atmosphere. (Include the percentages of gases.) 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other (argon, water vapor, and carbon dioxide) 2. Name the 5 layers in order from lowest to highest altitude. Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere 3. How does the temperature differ between the layers? As altitude increases, temperature in the: Troposphere decreases, Stratosphere increases, Mesosphere decreases, Thermosphere increases, Exosphere decreases 4. How does the air pressure differ from layer to layer? Air pressure decreases as altitude increases. 5. What is the ozone layer and where is it located? The ozone layer is a protective layer found in the Stratosphere that blocks harmful Ultra-Violet light. Water Cycle: 6. List the seven steps of the water cycle and define each step. Precipitation: rain, sleet, snow, or hail that falls to the ground Evaporation: when water is moved from the Earth into the air Condensation: when water vapor changes from a gas to a liquid stat as it is cooled Runoff: water being moved from Earth’s surface to oceans Transpiration: plants lose water out of their leaves and it evaporates Groundwater: when water from precipitation soaks into the Earth Accumulation: precipitation collects in large bodies of water 7. Define relative humidity. How does temperature of the air effect how much water vapor it can hold? The amount of moisture in the air compared to how much moisture it could hold at a particular temperature. The warmer the temperature the more water vapor air can hold. Air Masses and Fronts: 8. What is an air mass? A large body of air with similar temperature and moisture content. 9. List the 4 types of air masses and the characteristics of each. Maritime Tropical (mT): humid and warm Maritime Polar (mP): humid and cold Continental Tropical (cT): dry and warm Continental Polar (cP): dry and cold 10. What is a front? A boundary between different air masses. 11. What are the 4 types of fronts and how do they form? Warm Front: warm air mass slowly moves over cold, denser air Cold Front: cold air mass violently crashes under a warm air mass Stationary Front: cold air mass meets a warm air mass and remains separate Occluded Front: warm air mass gets caught between two cold air masses Severe Weather: 12. How are hurricanes formed? Hurricanes form over warm water in low pressure systems 13. How are tornados formed? Tornados form over land in an unstable atmosphere Forecasting: 14. Explain the differences between weather and climate. Weather: conditions of a certain area over a short period of time Climate: average conditions of an area over a long or extended period of time 15. List the technologies used to study weather. Barometer: measures air pressure Thermometer: measures temperature Anemometer: measures wind speed Wind sock/vane: measures wind direction Doppler radar, computers, hygrometers/psychrometers, weather balloons, and satellites 16. What kind of weather is associated with each of the four fronts? Draw the symbols used to represent each front on a weather map. a. Warm Front: drizzly rain, followed by clear/warm temperatures b. Cold Front: thunderstorms, heavy rain/snow, followed by cool temperatures c. Stationary Front: cloudy, wet weather d. Occluded Front: cool temperatures with large amounts of rain and snow 17. How are low pressure systems different than high pressure systems? High pressure systems bring clear, calm weather (happy weather) Low pressure systems bring clouds and stormy weather (lousy weather) Clouds: 18. Identify and describe the appearance of each of the 3 main types of clouds. Cirrus – thin and wispy; made of ice crystals Stratus – grey layered clouds that cover most of the sky Cumulus – white and puffy clouds 19. What does nimbo or nimbus mean? Rain Atmospheric Heating: 20. Define the 3 types of atmospheric heating and give one example of each. Conduction: the transfer of heat by direct contact; ex. A metal spoon getting hot when place in a hot cup of coffee Convection: the transfer of heat by the movement/circulation of a liquid or a gas; ex. Your house being heated by a furnace Radiation: the transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves; ex. A light bulb warming a lamp shade 21. What is a convection current? The circular movement of warm air rising and cold air sinking Winds: 22. What causes winds? Differences in air pressure caused by the uneven heating of the Earth 23. Name the 5 types of global winds and list the characteristics of each. Polar Easterlies: poles-60 degrees North and South latitude; winds blow from the East to the West Prevailing Westerlies: 30-60 degrees North and South latitude; winds blow from the West to the East Horse Latitudes: 30 degrees North and South latitude, air sinks, high pressure, little wind Trade Winds: 30-0 degrees North and South latitude; winds blow from the East to the West Doldrums: at the equator, air rises, low pressure, little wind 24. What is the difference between global and local winds? Local winds travel short distances and blow in any direction 25. Explain the Coriolis effect. The rotation of the Earth causes winds to curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere 26. What is the jet stream and why is it important? A narrow belt of high speed wind; can help meteorologists to know the location of storms and track weather patterns Air Pollution: 27. Describe the greenhouse effect. The process by which gases in the atmosphere absorb thermal energy and radiate it back to Earth 28. What are some greenhouse gases that lead to global warming? Methane, Carbon Dioxide, and Water Vapor 29. What are direct pollutants? List examples of direct pollutants. Pollutants that are put directly into the air by human or natural sources; examples include pollen, car exhaust, smoke from factories, dust, etc. 30. What are indirect pollutants? List examples of indirect pollutants. Pollutants that are created when direct pollutants react with one another or a natural source; examples include ozone, haze, acid rain, smog, etc. 31. What are the causes and effects of acid rain? Causes: burning fossil fuels, deforestation Effects: decreases nutrient levels in soil, increased pH in lakes and streams, kills large populations of fish, deteriorates buildings, etc. 32. What is global warming? How are we, as humans, contributing to it? The average increase of temperature around the globe. We are releasing pollutants into the atmosphere which is increasing the CO2 levels causing the temperatures and sea levels to rise. 33. Give examples of short and long term effects of air pollution. Short term effects: coughing, difficulty breathing, irritated throat, headaches Long term effects: asthma, lung cancer, chronic respiratory problems 34. Who monitors air pollution in our country? EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) 35. Answer the following questions using the map: a. What kind of weather is Los Angeles, CA about to experience? Why? Warm, drizzly raining weather because a warm front is approaching b. What kind of weather did Tucson, AZ experience? Why? Cool temperatures with rain and snow due to a occluded front c. What kind of weather is Lincoln, NE experiencing? Why? Cloudy, wet weather because of a stationary front d. What kind of weather is Portland, ME experiencing? Why? Stormy, wet weather due to the low pressure system e. What kind of weather is Charlotte, NC about to experience? Why? Cool temperatures, thunderstorms with heavy amounts of rain/snow because a cold front is approaching f. What kind of weather is Miami, FL experiencing? Why? Clear, calm weather due to the high pressure system