Chapter 6

Question 1

Heat

Answer 1

energy in the process of being transferred from one object to another because of the temperature difference between them. In the atmosphere, heat is commonly transferred by conduction, convection, advection, and radiation.

Question 2

Radiation

Answer 2

The emission of energy from an object in the form of electromagnetic waves and photons.

Question 3

Absorption

Answer 3

(1) Process of taking in and being made part of an existing quantity of matter. (2) Interception of electromagnetic radiation or sound.

Question 4

Emission

Answer 4

(1) The process where an object releases energy in the form of a photon into its surrounding environment. This process produces electromagnetic radiation. (2) The creation and release of something into the surrounding environment.

Question 5

Insolation

Answer 5

Direct and diffused shortwave solar radiation that is received in the Earth’s atmosphere or at its surface.

Question 6

Long wave radiation

Answer 6

A form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength roughly between 0.7 and 100 micrometers (μm). Also called infrared radiation.

Question 7

Greenhouse effect

Answer 7

causes the atmosphere to trap more heat energy at the Earth’s surface and within the atmosphere by absorbing and remitting longwave energy. Of the longwave energy emitted back to space, 90% is intercepted and absorbed by greenhouse gases.

Question 8

Net radiation

Answer 8

Balance between incoming and outgoing shortwave and longwave radiations.

Question 9

Thermometer

Answer 9

Device used to measure temperature]

Question 10

Liquid in glass thermometer

Answer 10

• A thermometer design that uses a thermally sensitive liquid incased in a graduated clear glass container. Changes in temperature cause the liquid to either expand (warming of temperature) or contract (cooling of temperature). The most commonly used liquids for this type of instrument are mercury and alcohol. Used for air temperature.

Question 11

Heat energy

Answer 11

A form of energy created by the combined internal motion of atoms in a substance.

Question 12

Fahrenheit scale

Answer 12

Scale used in the measurement of temperature. In this scale, water boils at 212° and freezes at 32 deg

Question 13

Minimum thermometers

Answer 13

A meteorological thermometer designed to record the minimum temperature over a set time interval, usually 24 hours (midnight to midnight). Liquid-in-glass type of minimum thermometers are normally filled with red colored alcohol and have a black metal slider that can move up and down through the bore. When temperature drops, the black metal slider is pushed by the retreating top surface of the alcohol because of surface tension down the bore. When temperature begins to rise again the slider is designed not move thereby permanently recording the minimum temperature. The slider is reset by positioning the thermometer upside down.

Question 14

Maximum thermometer

Answer 14

A meteorological thermometer designed to record the maximum temperature over a set time interval, usually 24 hours (midnight to midnight). Liquid-in-glass type of maximum thermometers have a bore that is narrowed between the reserve bulb and graduated portion of the glass stem. With rise in temperature, the mercury found in reserve bulb pushes past the constriction and up into the graduated section as long as temperature continues to increase. The mercury in the graduated section does not fall back into the reserve bulb because of the constriction and as a result the highest temperature reached is recorded.

Question 15

Surface air temperature

Answer 15

In terms of meteorology and weather forecasting, this term refers to the temperature of the air about 1.5 meters (4.5 feet) above the ground surface where it is routinely measured at weather stations on land surfaces.

Question 16

Stevenson screen

Answer 16

A specially designed housing for meteorological instruments used to keep measurements standardize around the world. This housing consists of wooden box painted white with double louvered sides. It is mounted on a stand 1.5 meters or 4.5 feet (this does vary from country to country between 1.2 to 1.8 meters or 3.9 to 5.9 feet) above the ground surface and contains maximum and minimum thermometers, barometer, and dry- and wet-bulb thermometers

Question 17

Maximum Minimum Temperature System

Answer 17

Refers to a device that records maximum and minimum temperature over a period of time, usually 24 hours (midnight to midnight). MMTS are usually electronic employing a thermistor, a type of electronic resistor that is sensitive to temperature change). In a thermistor, resistance to the flow of electricity changes with temperature predictably and this change can be calibrated, measured, and recorded.

Question 18

Thermistor

Answer 18

Is a type of electrical resistor whose resistance to electricity varies measurably with temperature. Asa result, thermistors are used for temperature sensors and and self-regulating heating elements.

Question 19

Daily mean temperature

Answer 19

The average surface air temperature as recorded at a meteorological station fora location for a particular day. Usually, it is calculated by finding the difference between the warmest (daily maximum temperature) and coldest (daily minimum temperature) temperature recorded during a particular day and then dividing this value by 2

Question 20

Daily temperature range

Answer 20

The difference between the warmest (daily maximum temperature) and coldest (daily minimum temperature) temperatures recorded at a meteorological station during a particular day (midnight to midnight).

Question 21

Monthly mean temperature

Answer 21

The average surface temperature as recorded at a meteorological station for a specific month. Usually, it is calculated by summing all of daily mean temperatures for a particular month and then dividing this value by the number of days in that month.

Question 22

Annual mean temperature

Answer 22

The average surface temperature as recorded at a meteorological station for a location for a particular year. Usually, it is calculated by summing all of monthly mean temperatures and dividing by 12.

Question 23

Annual temperature range

Answer 23

The difference between the warmest and coldest monthly mean temperatures for a particular year.

Question 24

Meteorological normal

Answer 24

The calculated average of a measured meteorological variable, like surface air temperature, over a specified period of years. A period of 30 years is often used to determine normals.

Question 25

Meteorological extreme

Answer 25

The highest and the lowest value for a meteorological variable in a specified period of observation.

Question 26

Snow Line

Answer 26

Altitudinal or latitudinal limit separating zones where snow does not melt during the summer season from areas in which it does. Similar to the concept of firm limit except that it is not limited to glaciers.

Question 27

Greenhouse gases

Answer 27

The gases responsible for a greenhouse effect to operate in a planet's atmosphere. On Earth, these gases include: water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2); methane (CH4); nitrous oxide (N2O); chlorofluorocarbons (CFXClX); and tropospheric ozone (O3).

Question 28

Cumulus

Answer 28

Puffy clouds with relatively flat bases. Cumulus clouds form when moist warm air bubbles vertically escape from the Earth's surface. 300 - 2000 meters

Question 29

Cumulonimbus

Answer 29

A well developed vertical cloud that often has top shaped like an anvil. These clouds are very dense with condensed water and deposited ice. Weather associated with this cloud includes: strong winds; hail; lightning; tornadoes; thunder; and heavy rain. Thunderstorm clouds

Question 30

Thunderstorm

Answer 30

A storm that typically ranges in size from several kilometers (several miles) to over 50 kilometers (30 miles) in diameter created by the rapid lifting of moist warm air which creates a cumulonimbus cloud. Thunderstorms can occur in isolation as a single celled storm or as a multi-celled storm arranged in a cluster or as a line of adjacent cells (called a squall line) found along or in front of a mid-latitude cyclone cold front.

Question 31

Thermal conductivity

Answer 31

the ability of a substance to conduct heat. Some examples of substances with high thermal conductivities include: diamond, silver, copper, gold, aluminum, and iron. Some substances with low thermal conductivities include: gases like carbon dioxide

Question 32

Conduction

Answer 32

(1) The direct transfer of heat energy from atom to atom through a substance along a temperature gradient. (2) The transfer of electrical energy from atom to atom through a substance when a difference in electrical potential exists.

Question 33

Convection

Answer 33

Process that involves the transfer of mass and heat energy by means of vertical motions through a fluid substance like air or water.

Question 34

Maritime effect

Answer 34

The effect that large ocean bodies have on the weather and climate of locations or regions. This effect results in a lower range in surface air temperature at both daily and annual scales.

Question 35

Continental effect

Answer 35

The effect that continental surfaces have on the weather and climate of locations or regions. This effect results in a greater range in surface air temperature at both daily and annual scales. Compare with maritime effect.

Question 36

Continentality

Answer 36

The tendency of terrestrial surfaces on Earth to experience more temperature variation than ocean surfaces. The main factor responsible for this fact is that the rock, soil, and sediment that makes up land has a lower specific heat than water.

Question 37

Ocean Currents

Answer 37

Large scale horizontal flow of ocean water that is persistent and driven by atmospheric circulation.

Question 38

Global circulation

Answer 38

Usually refers to large-scale flow of air in the troposphere. Also called planetary circulation.

Question 39

Monsoon

Answer 39

A regional scale wind system that predictably change direction with the passing of the seasons. Monsoon winds blow from land to sea in the winter, and from sea to land in the summer. Summer monsoons are often accompanied with precipitation.

Question 40

La Nina

Answer 40

Condition opposite of an El Niño. In a La Niña, the tropical Pacific trade winds become very strong and an abnormal accumulation of cold water occurs in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Question 41

El Nino

Answer 41

Name given to the occasional development of warm ocean surface waters along the coast of Ecuador and Peru. When this warming occurs the tropical Pacific trade winds weaken and the usual upwelling of cold, nutrient rich deep ocean water off the coast of Ecuador and Peru is reduced. The El Niño normally occurs around Christmas and lasts usually for a few weeks to a few months. Sometimes an extremely warm event can develop that lasts for much longer time periods.

Question 42

Meridional heat transport

Answer 42

Transport of heat energy stored in the atmosphere and oceans from the equator to the poles

Question 43

Sensible heat flux

Answer 43

Process where excess heat energy is transferred into the atmosphere. The process first involves the movement of heat energy from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere by conduction and convection. The heat energy then can move horizontally advection (atmospheric circulation).

Question 44

Latent heat flux

Answer 44

Latent heat flux is the global movement of latent heat energy through circulations of air and water. Atmospheric circulation moves latent heat energy vertically and horizontally to cooler locations where it is condensed as rain or is deposited as snow releasing the heat energy stored within it.

Question 45

Surface heat flux

Answer 45

Process where heat energy is transferred into land and ocean surfaces on the Earth. Much of this transfer takes place when solar radiation absorbed at the land or ocean surface is converted into heat energy. On land surfaces, surface heat is transferred down into the ground by conduction. Heat energy is transferred to greater depths in ocean surfaces because liquids have the ability mix by convection. Heat energy stored in ocean waters can also move quickly over large horizontal distances in a poleward direction through ocean currents.