Chapter 16 Vocabulary

Question 1

Meteorology

Answer 1

The study of the atmosphere and processes that produce weather and climate.

Question 2

Weather

Answer 2

The state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place.

Question 3

Climate

Answer 3

The aggregate or composite of weather conditions over a long period of time.

Question 4

What are the weather elements used to decipher weather patterns and climate types?

Answer 4

air temperature, humidity, cloudiness (type and amount), precipitation (type and amount), air pressure, wind (speed and direction).

Question 5

Latent Heat

Answer 5

energy released or absorbed by the change in the state of water.

Question 6

Primary Pollutants

Answer 6

Pollutants emitted directly from identifiable sources such as factory and car exhaust.

Question 7

Secondary Pollutants

Answer 7

Formed in the air when reactions occur between primary pollutants and chemicals in the air.

Question 8

Troposphere

Answer 8

bottom layer of atmosphere in which temperature increases with altitude.

Question 9

Normal Lapse Rate

Answer 9

3.5 F./1000’ (6.5 C/1000 m.)

Question 10

Rotation

Answer 10

Spinning of the earth on its axis, occurs every 24 hours.

Question 11

Revolution

Answer 11

Movement of the earth around the sun, takes 365.25 days.

Question 12

Circle of Illumination

Answer 12

Line seperating daylight from night on the earth.

Question 13

How fast is the earth rotating around the sun?

Answer 13

70,000 mph

Question 14

Perihelion

Answer 14

Closest approach to the sun during the year, occurs around January 3 at about 91.5 million miles.

Question 15

Aphelion

Answer 15

Greatest distance from the sun during the year. Occurs about July 4 at about 94.5 million miles.

Question 16

Inclination of Axis

Answer 16

tilted 23 1/2 degrees perpindicular to a line drawn perpindicular to the plane of the eliptic.

Question 17

Special Parallels

Answer 17

Tropics of Cancer, Capricorn, Antarctic Circle, Arctic Circle, and Equator; location is a product of the tilt of the axis toward or away from the sun throughout the year.

Question 18

Solstices

Answer 18

Summer Solstice June 21 or 22; Winter Solstice December 21 or 22

Question 19

Equinoxes

Answer 19

Vernal/Spring Equinox March 21 or 22; Autumnal Equinox September 22 or 23

Question 20

Heat

Answer 20

Total kinetic energy of a substance.

Question 21

Temperature

Answer 21

Average kinetic energy of the molecules.

Question 22

What are the three mechanisms of heat transfer?

Answer 22

conduction, convection, and radiation