Download Sheet 4

Science 1206
Weather Dynamics
Assignment #4
Name: ___________________________
13.4
The Atmosphere
p.513
1. Define: Atmosphere.
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2. Describe the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere.
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3. How does the change in the spacing of the molecules change as the
altitude in the troposphere increases?
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4. The troposphere is lower over the poles than it is over the equator. Why?
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5. In which atmospheric layer does most of the Earth’s weather occur? Why
is this the case?
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6. Define: Temperature gradient.
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7. What is the temperature gradient of the troposphere?
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8. Using the temperature gradient of the Troposphere, estimate the
temperature of the air outside an airplane flying at an altitude of 10 km
when the air temperature at ground level is:
A. 200 C ______________
B. 00 C _____________
9. The temperature of the stratosphere is higher than the temperature of the
tropopause. Why?
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10. Atmospheric pressure is lower at the top of a mountain than it is in the
valley below. Why is this the case?
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11. Life as we know it would not be possible without the atmosphere. Give at
least 6 ways in which the atmosphere makes life on Earth possible.
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12.Define: Atmospheric pressure.
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13.
Define: pressure gradient
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14.
Define: kilopascal.
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15.
Define: aneroid barometer
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16. Lines of equal air pressure on a weather map are called isobars. If isobars
are close together, will wind speeds be high or low? Explain your answer in terms
of horizontal pressure gradient. (Refer to figure 4 b, p.512)
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17. Convert:
A. 101.3 kPa to Pascals ___________________
B. 99 900 Pa to kPa ______________________