Ch 1-3 Flashcards
Temperature
A measure of the average kinetic energy of body
Hot objects have faster moving molecules
Cold object have slower
Atmospheric pressure
The force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the Earth’s atmosphere
Properties of the atmosphere
Low pressure = less atmospheric mass
High pressure = more atmospheric mass
Elevation increases and the pressure decreases
Air density
Determined by the masses of atom and molecules and the amount of space between them
Density= mass/volume
Air density decreases?
As you go up
It is it’s greatest at earth’s surface
Wind
Defined as the movement of air
Wind direction
The direction the wind is blowing from
Measured by a wind vane
Ex. A north wind comes from north and is reported wind direction of 360 degrees
Wind speed
Report wind speed in knots
Ex. 1 knot = 1.15 mph
Measured by using an anemometer (cup or propeller anemometer)
Wind speed and direction depicted by?
Wind barbs
Surface winds go what way in northern hemisphere
Clockwise in areas of high pressure
Counterclockwise in areas of low pressure
Atmosphere
Thin layers of gasses around the earth
It provides air to breathe and protects us from the sun’s harmful radiation
Weather occurs
In lowest 7 mi of atmosphere
Composition of atmosphere?
Nitrogen, oxygen, helium, hydrogen, argon, neon and xenon
Greenhouse gases
CO2
H2O
CH4
N2O
4 layers in atmosphere
- Troposphere (where weather happens)
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere (protects from meteros)
- Thermosphere
