Chapter 6 Flashcards by Johanna Tejada

The structure of Earth’s atmosphere is defined by changes in ______ and ______

temperature;pressure

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________ with altitude

29.92 inches of mercury
The “weight” of air at sea level is 14.7 pounds per square inch or 1 kilogram per square centimeter

Air Pressure decreases

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__________ in the troposphere according to the __________ *3.5 F per
1000 feet

Air Temperature decreases;Environmental Lapse Rate

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The composition of the atmosphere is a constantly changing mixture of gases, water vapor, ______, and ozone
*microscopic solid and liquid particles suspended in air
*includes both natural and human sources of dust, salt,
soil, smoke, soot, ash, pollen, microorganisms

aerosols*

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_______ describes the physical conditions* of the ______ at a particular time and place
*Composition, Temperature, Density, Humidity, Pressure

Weather; troposphere

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______ is the long term average of weather and __________

-Malibu, California January 25th 2008

Climate;does not predict weather

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________ are the result of the tilt of Earth’s rotational axis relative to the sun

Seasons

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________ in solar radiation intensity are caused by Earth’s changing seasons

Long-term variations

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________ in solar radiation intensity are caused by the daytime-nighttime cycle

Short-term variations

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Variations in _________ are caused by latitude, atmosphere, and ______
-and result in temperature and pressure differences in the ________ and the _______

solar radiation intensity; albedo

Troposphere; Ocean

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Warm air and moist air rise while cool air and dry air sink, creating a ______

cool, dense,______ results in higher surface air pressures
warm, moist, ______ results in lower surface air pressures

Convection Cell; sinking air; rising air

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Movement of Air on a Fictional \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Earth
Air rises at \_\_\_\_\_ (low pressure)
Air sinks at \_\_\_\_\_(high pressure)
Air flows from\_\_\_\_\_ pressure 
One convection cell or circulation cell

Non-spinning; equator; poles; high to low

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Earth has a _______ in each hemisphere

_____ Cell: 0–30 degrees latitude
_____ Cell: 30–60 degrees latitude
_____ Cell: 60–90 degrees latitude

3-Cell Circulation Pattern; Hadley;Ferrel; Polar

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The ocean and atmosphere act as a single interdependent system linked by complex _____

Feedback Loops

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Circulation in the ocean (i.e., waves and currents) and in the atmosphere (i.e., wind) ______ and ______heat on planet Earth

climate and weather are ______ on these circulation patterns
the ______ influences this circulation
The apparent change in the direction of movement of air and water in the atmosphere and ocean due to the rotation of the Earth

transfers; balances; dependent; Coriolis Effect*

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__________ rotate counterclockwise and ______ rotate clockwise (in the _______)

Cyclones (storms); Anticyclones; Northern Hemisphere

______ is air moving from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
- daily air temperature changes create ______ and ______

Wind; Sea Breezes; Land Breezes

______ is a result of the movement and interaction of
large _______ along _____
- Warm, Cold, Stationary, Occluded

Weather; Air Masses; Fronts

_____________ is based on the moisture and temperature conditions of the source region

Continental (c) or Maritime (m)
Polar (P), Arctic (A), Tropical (T)
May result in _______
May change over time

Air Mass classification*; air-mass weather

The ________ can cause unusual weather by influencing air masses (i.e., weather patterns)

Jet Stream

1) The component with the greatest concentration in the Earth's atmosphere
A) troposphere
B) tropopause
C) convection cell
D) stratosphere
E) water vapor
AB) ozone (O3)
AC) nitrogen (N2)
AD) oxygen (O2)

nitrogen (N2)

2) The most abundant greenhouse gas that also influences air density
A) troposphere
B) tropopause
C) convection cell
D) stratosphere
E) water vapor
AB) ozone (O3)
AC) nitrogen (N2)
AD) oxygen (O2)

water vapor

3) The lowermost portion of Earth's atmosphere where most weather occurs
A) troposphere
B) tropopause
C) convection cell
D) stratosphere
E) water vapor
AB) ozone (O3)
AC) nitrogen (N2)
AD) oxygen (O2)

troposphere

4)The boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere
A) troposphere
B) tropopause
C) convection cell
D) stratosphere
E) water vapor
AB) ozone (O3)
AC) nitrogen (N2)
AD) oxygen (O2)

tropopause

``` 5) The rising and sinking air masses moving in a circular fashion A) troposphere B) tropopause C) convection cell D) stratosphere E) water vapor AB) ozone (O3) AC) nitrogen (N2) AD) oxygen (O2) ```

convection cell

6) Inter-tropical Convergence Zone A) located at 23.5° N latitude B) located at 23.5° S latitude C) located at 30° S latitude D) prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes E) prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes AB) area where warm, moist air rises close to the equator AC) prevailing wind pattern at temperate latitudes AD) located at 90° N latitude

???????

7) Trade winds A) located at 23.5° N latitude B) located at 23.5° S latitude C) located at 30° S latitude D) prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes E) prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes AB) area where warm, moist air rises close to the equator AC) prevailing wind pattern at temperate latitudes AD) located at 90° N latitude

?????????

8) Tropic of Cancer A) located at 23.5° N latitude B) located at 23.5° S latitude C) located at 30° S latitude D) prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes E) prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes AB) area where warm, moist air rises close to the equator AC) prevailing wind pattern at temperate latitudes AD) located at 90° N latitude

located at 23.5° N latitude

9) Westerlies A) located at 23.5° N latitude B) located at 23.5° S latitude C) located at 30° S latitude D) prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes E) prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes AB) area where warm, moist air rises close to the equator AC) prevailing wind pattern at temperate latitudes AD) located at 90° N latitude

prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes

10) Polar easterlies A) located at 23.5° N latitude B) located at 23.5° S latitude C) located at 30° S latitude D) prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes E) prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes AB) area where warm, moist air rises close to the equator AC) prevailing wind pattern at temperate latitudes AD) located at 90° N latitude

prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes

Students sometimes ask...Is it true that the Coriolis effect causes water to drain one way in the Northern Hemisphere and the other way in the Southern?

- Most cases no - other effects are Invalidated: draining water spiral counterclockwise north of the equator and the other way in the Southern Hemisphere(Same directions as hurricanes spin) - Coriolis effect is extremely weak on small systems like a basin of water

Students sometimes ask...If Earth is spinning so fast, why don't we feel it?

- It rotates smoothly and quietly - atmosphere moves along with it - sensations= no motion, ground is still and comfortably at rest - US move at a speed greater than 800 kilometers (500 miles) per hour

Students sometimes ask...What is the Origin of the name horse latitudes?

- Spanish sailing vessels transported horses across the Atlantic to the West Indies. - Seamen who were paid an advance, called the "dead horse" before a long voyage - few months into voyage; dead horse was worked off - vessels stuck in the middle of the ocean w/o wind