Chapter 1 Mats

Question 1

whats the diameter of the earth (mi)

Answer 1

7,900 mi

Question 2

diameter of earth (km)

Answer 2

12,750 km

Question 3

how long is orbit of geostationary satellite?

Answer 3

one day

Question 4

length of orbit of polar orbiting weather satellites

Answer 4

100 minutes

Question 5

do noctilucent clouds influence the weather

Answer 5

no

Question 6

where are the clouds that influence the weather

Answer 6

troposphere

Question 7

how can we see high altitude clouds

Answer 7

reflection of light from the sun (illuminates)

Question 8

why is there a thickness difference in the tropopause, depending on your location on earth?

Answer 8

earth’s rotation

Question 9

weather

Answer 9

atmospheric state at a given time and place

Question 10

climate

Answer 10

generalization of weather conditions

Question 11

what determines climate

Answer 11

all weather data for a specific region

Question 12

can climate data predict the weather

Answer 12

no!

Question 13

hypothesis

Answer 13

proposed explanation for some phenomenon

Question 14

theory

Answer 14

well tested and widely accepted view that explains certain facts/observation

Question 15

what are two functions of the atmosphere?

Answer 15

1. provides air we breathe

2. protects from sun’s UV rays

Question 16

hydrosphere

Answer 16

evaporating mass that goes from oceans to atmosphere

Question 17

lithosphere

Answer 17

the ground

Question 18

biosphere

Answer 18

life

Question 19

nitrogen abundance %

Answer 19

78%

Question 20

oxygen %

Answer 20

21%

Question 21

argon %

Answer 21

1%

Question 22

where is the ozone concentration

Answer 22

stratosphere

Question 23

distance from sun

Answer 23

93 million miles

Question 24

what is atmospheric pressure

Answer 24

the weight above of the air above

Question 25

atm pressure unit of measure

Answer 25

millibar (mb)

Question 26

in regards to pressure, what happens with an increase in altitude?

Answer 26

rate of pressure decreases

Question 27

where are the majority of earth's gases present?

Answer 27

earth's surface

Question 28

what are the 4 layers divided by?

Answer 28

temperature

Question 29

trosphere

Answer 29

where we live | -avg temps dec w/ inc in alt.

Question 30

environmental lapse rate

Answer 30

temperature decrease in the tropopause | -"normal lapse rate"

Question 31

how high up is the tropopause

Answer 31

12 km

Question 32

what is above the tropopause

Answer 32

stratosphere

Question 33

stratosphere

Answer 33

higher temperatures due to ozone concentration (absorbs UV)

Question 34

where is there a temperature inversion, and why?

Answer 34

stratosphere, b/c cold air lies below warm air

Question 35

whats above the stratosphere

Answer 35

mesosphere

Question 36

mesosphere

Answer 36

temps decrease with inc in alt. until mesopause - cold - hasn't been explored much

Question 37

mesopause height

Answer 37

80 km

Question 38

stratopause height

Answer 38

50 km

Question 39

whats above mesopause pause

Answer 39

thermosphere

Question 40

thermosphere

Answer 40

temperatures increase, no top boundary | -tiny fraction of earth's mass

Question 41

temperature definition

Answer 41

avg. speed at which molecules move

Question 42

ionosphere

Answer 42

has auroras

Question 43

what powers earth's system

Answer 43

the sun | heat from earth's core

Question 44

shape of earth

Answer 44

oblate spheroid

Question 45

what're the three constant gases

Answer 45

nitrogen, oxygen, argon

Question 46

pressure formula

Answer 46

force/area supporting the force

Question 47

area of sphere

Answer 47

4*pi*r^2

Question 48

how to find F from C

Answer 48

9/5(temp of C) + 32 degrees

Question 49

F boiling/freezing

Answer 49

212, 32

Question 50

C boiling/freezing

Answer 50

100, 0

Question 51

how to find K from C

Answer 51

C + 273

Question 52

where do F and C meet

Answer 52

-40 degrees

Question 53

speed of light

Answer 53

300 million m/s

Question 54

speed formula

Answer 54

wavelength*frequency

Question 55

what is the perfect emitter

Answer 55

a blackbody

Question 56

if its a good emitter, then its a good____

Answer 56

absorber

Question 57

where is the sun

Answer 57

on the main sequence

Question 58

Stephan boatsman law

Answer 58

E=e*sigma*abs temp^4 - e is emissivity, blackbody 1 - e ranges from 0 to 1