Met2

Question 1

Layers of the tropopause

Answer 1

MBL, PBL, Troposphere above surface layer

Question 2

Molecular Boundary Layer (MBL)

Answer 2

extends up from the Earth’s surface to approximately one centimeter (about .4 inch) The MBL is the transition layer between the Earth’s surface and the Troposphere.

Question 3

Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL)

Answer 3

begins at the top of the MBL then extends upward to the gradient level. The layer’s thickness is about 1km or 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the surface. Other names for the PBL are the surface layer or friction layer.

Question 4

The gradient level

Answer 4

the uppermost edge of frictional effects. In other words, it is the level of the atmosphere where surface friction does not affect wind direction or speed.

Question 5

Troposphere above surface layer

Answer 5

This is the largest layer. extending from the gradient level to the tropopause. Its average thickness is 35,000 to 40,000 feet.

Question 6

three groups of permanent gases that essentially remain constant

Answer 6

Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), and the remaining 1% which includes Argon, Neon, Helium, Hydrogen, and Xenon.

Question 7

variable gases

Answer 7

Variable gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.the most important variable gas is water vapor. Its greatest concentration is in the troposphere, where its amount varies between 0 and 4% based on atmospheric temperature

Question 8

Both warm and cold air can hold a maximum of

Answer 8

4% water vapor. Warm air has a higher capacity than cold air

Question 9

How is Air and water similar?

Answer 9

They both have depth, width, and they move in currents. the only differences are air is less dense and more compressible than water.

Question 10

How is the physical composition of air evaluated?

Answer 10

by using two methods or perspectives. One is in a column of air and the other is an individual air parcel.

Question 11

Atmospheric pressure

Answer 11

the weight of the atmosphere exerted on Earth due to gravity

Question 12

Density

Answer 12

the amount of mass in a column of air. Its formula is ρ = m/V. density changes in the atmosphere are due to changes in mass and volume.

Question 13

Density relationship with mass and volume

Answer 13

If mass increases in a column, then density increases and if mass decreases in a column, then density decreases. Second, density is inversely proportional to volume when mass is constant. This means when the height of a column of air increases its density decreases and when the height of the column of air decreases its density increases.

Question 14

Parcel pressure

Answer 14

the amount of force applied to a specific area on an air parcel

Question 15

Formula for force

Answer 15

P = F/A where P is pressure, F is force, and A is area.

Question 15

Force

Answer 15

In our atmosphere, air parcels exert force to the atmosphere while the atmosphere exerts force to air parcels.

Question 15

Atmospheric heating

Answer 15

the transfer of energy into the atmosphere

Question 16

Weins law

Answer 16

an emitter’s temperature determines the radiation’s wavelength and hot emitters such as the Sun emits radiation with short wavelengths.

Question 17

Wavelength

Answer 17

the distance from trough to trough or from crest to crest

Question 18

Scattering

Answer 18

Insolation is scattered when it strikes objects in the atmosphere meaning it can deflect in all directions instead of reaching the Earth. In fact, 30% is scattered, 6% by the atmosphere, 20% by clouds, and 4% by the Earth’s surface.

Question 19

Reflection scattering

Answer 19

returns to space on the same trajectory as its approach.

Question 20

Rayleigh scattering

Answer 20

occurs when insolation strikes objects smaller than its wavelength such as individual molecules, fine dust, or pollutants. When it happens with a low sun angle, yellow, orange, and red, wavelengths are scattered creating red sunsets and sunrises.

Question 21

Mie scattering

Answer 21

occurs when insolation strikes objects larger than its wavelength such as an air parcel, clouds, or the ozone layer. Insolation filters through the object and continues moving toward the Earth’s surface.

Question 22

Absorption

Answer 22

The atmosphere absorbs 19% of insolation. There are two types of radiation absorbed by the atmosphere. First, ozone and oxygen absorb ultraviolet radiation. Second is infrared radiated absorbed by water vapor and carbon dioxide. The Earth absorbs 51% of all types of radiation emitted by the Sun.

Question 23

Kirchhoff's law

Answer 23

every absorber is also an emitter

Question 24

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 24

The Earth absorbs short-wave insolation then it emits long-wave eradiation into the atmosphere. Water vapor and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere absorbs the eradiation.

Question 25

Atmospheric Temperature

Answer 25

it was found that the standard atmospheric temperature for the Earth's surface is 15°C (59°F), the tropopause is near -60°C, and the troposphere cools at a standard lapse rate of negative 6.5°C per kilometer (km)

Question 26

First Law.

Answer 26

An object in motion remains in motion or an object at rest remains at rest until acted on by an external force.

Question 27

Second Law

Answer 27

The force on an object is equal to it mass times its acceleration.

Question 28

Third Law

Answer 28

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

Question 29

Contour gradient force (CGF).

Answer 29

initiates winds above the surface It is measured perpendicular to the contours, which are lines of equal height

Question 30

Pressure gradient force (PGF)

Answer 30

Pressure gradient force initiates surface winds. It is measured perpendicular to isobars, which are lines of equal pressure. Everything else works exactly like CGF.

Question 31

Gradient force (contour and pressure)

Answer 31

determines wind speed. When gradient force increases, wind speeds also increase. The opposite is also true when gradient force weakens wind speeds will decrease.

Question 32

Coriolis force

Answer 32

an apparent force opposing gradient force It is directly related to gradient force meaning when gradient force increases, Coriolis force also increases and vice versa. It deflects air parcels to their right changing wind direction, but not wind speed.

Question 33

Centripetal force

Answer 33

(petals, flowers) (come together.) only present when air parcels move through curved flow It pulls air parcels toward the center of a curve and the amount of force is strictly dependent on the orientation of the curved flow. If the radius increases, CeP force weakens and curvature decreases. Conversely, if the radius decreases, CeP force strengthens and curvature increases.

Question 34

Centrifugal force

Answer 34

(FU) (get away) only present when air parcels move through curved flow.It opposes CeP force meaning it pulls air parcels away from the center of the curve. Its relationship to curved flow is the same as CeP force.

Question 35

Frictional force

Answer 35

opposes parcel movement. it only exists between the Earth's surface and the gradient level. The thing to remember is increasing terrain, moving from a valley into mountains, increases friction. When friction increases wind direction will back counterclockwise (e.g., south to east) and the wind speed decreases. Decreasing terrain does the opposite. Wind direction will veer clockwise (e.g., south to west) and the wind speed increases.

Question 36

Momentum

Answer 36

Momentum is the tendency of air parcels to remain in uniform motion meaning their direction and speed does not change. Air parcels moving in a straight line have linear momentum while air parcels moving in curved flow have angular momentum. Momentum can change from linear to angular and vice versa enabling the atmosphere to conserve momentum

Question 37

Buys Ballot's Law

Answer 37

if you stand with the winds to your back lower pressure or lower heights are always to your left and higher pressure or higher heights is always to your right.

Question 38

Counterclockwise flow

Answer 38

cyclonic circulation associated with low pressure or low height centers. The forces in balance are contour gradient and centripetal forces equal to Coriolis and centrifugal force

Question 39

Clockwise flow

Answer 39

anticyclonic circulation associated with high pressure or high height centers. The forces in balance are Coriolis and centripetal forces equal to contour gradient and centrifugal forces

Question 40

Straight-line flow

Answer 40

When gradient force is stronger than Coriolis force, air parcels spin cyclonically to conserve momentum. They change their direction to their left and the winds become more cyclonic.

Question 41

Cyclonic Circulation

Answer 41

When gradient and/or centripetal forces are stronger than Coriolis and centrifugal forces, parcels increase their cyclonic spin, their direction changes to the left, and wind flow becomes more cyclonic

Question 42

Anticyclonic Circulation

Answer 42

When Coriolis and/or centripetal forces are stronger than gradient and/or centrifugal forces, parcels increase their anticyclonic spin, their direction changes to the right, and wind flow becomes more anticyclonic

Question 43

Vorticity

Answer 43

the rotational effects of spinning parcels

Question 44

Shear Vorticity

Answer 44

Shear vorticity is a change in wind speed over distance. It occurs when lower wind speeds surround an area of higher wind speeds

Question 45

positive shear vorticity

Answer 45

Air parcels have a cyclonic spin indicating upward vertical motion. Positive vorticity occurs on the left side of the strongest winds.

Question 46

zero shear vorticity

Answer 46

Air parcels have no spin, all forces are in balance, and there is no vertical motion. This only occurs along the axis of the strongest wind speeds.

Question 47

negative shear vorticity

Answer 47

Air parcels spin anticyclonically indicating downward vertical motion. They occur on the right side of the strongest winds.

Question 48

Curvature Vorticity

Answer 48

Curvature vorticity is a change in wind direction over time and it is always present in curved flow

Question 49

Positive curvature vorticity

Answer 49

in cyclonic flow with cyclonically spinning air parcels indicating upward vertical motion.

Question 50

Zero curvature vorticity

Answer 50

occurs in straight-line flow between cyclonic and anticyclonic flow. In other words, zero curvature vorticity is at the inflection point where air parcels do not spin and there is no vertical motion.

Question 51

Negative curvature vorticity

Answer 51

occurs in anticyclonic flow. Air parcels have anticyclonic spin, which indicates downward vertical motion

Question 52

Relative Vorticity

Answer 52

Relative vorticity is the combination of shear and curvature vorticities. It measures the actual strength of weather systems relative to curved or straight-line flow

Question 53

Convergence

Answer 53

occurs when wind from two different directions merge This creates an excess of mass and energy at the level of convergence resulting in vertical motion. Upward vertical motion forms above the level of convergence and downward vertical motion is below the level of convergence.

Question 54

Divergence

Answer 54

when a single wind separates into two different directions.It creates a void in the atmosphere that must be filled so upward vertical motion forms below the level of divergence and downward vertical motion takes place above the level of divergence.

Question 55

Chimney & Damper Effect

Answer 55

The "chimney effect" forms when surface convergence is directly below divergence in the upper atmosphere. The overall effect is upward vertical motion between the surface and the troposphere. Conversely the "damper effect" forms when upper-level convergence is directly above surface divergence. This results in downward vertical motion through the troposphere.