Temperatures of the lower atmosphere Flashcards
(25 cards)
What are the three scales of temperature?
Celsius
Kelvin
Fahrenheit
Define heat energy:
Measured in calories – one calorie is the heat necessary to raise the temperature of one gram of water one degree Celsius
Define Laten Heat:
Stored or hidden heat
Not derived from temperature change
Important in atmospheric processes
What are the three states of matter?
Solid
Liquid
Gas
To change from one state of matter to another, heat must be
absorbed or released
Define evaporation:
Liquid is changed to gas , requires 600 calories per gram of water
Define Latent Heat of vaporization:
600 calories per gram of water were absorbed to make liquid go to gas.
Define Condensation:
Water vapor (gas) is changed to a liquid, requires 600 calories per gram of water
Define Latent Heat of condensation
Heat energy is released, change gas to liquid.
Define Melting(latent heat of melting):
Changing from Solid to Liquid, takes 80 calories per gram of water. Heat is absorbed
Define Freezing(Latent heat of fusion):
Changing from Liquid to Solid, take 80 calories per gram of water. Heat is released
Define Sublimation:
Solid is changed directly to a gas. requires 680 calories per gram of water.
Define Deposition:
Water vapor (gas) changed to a solid, requires 680 calories per gram of water
Define Saturated Air:
air that is filled with water vapor to capacity
“Capacity is temperature determined” means:
warm air has a much greater capacity
Define relative humidity:
saturated air
Define Dew Point Temperature
Temperature to which a parcel of air would need to be cooled to reach saturation.
What are the three ways to move air?
Orographic Lifting
Convergence
Frontal Wedging
Define Orographic Lifting:
Elevated terrains act as barriers
Result can be a rain-shadow desert
Define Frontal Wedging:
Cool air acts as a barrier to warm air
Fronts are part of the storm systems called middle-latitude cyclones
Define Convergence:
Where the air is flowing together and rising (low pressure system)
Define Localized convective lifting:
Localized convective lifting occurs where unequal surface heating causes pockets of air to rise because of their buoyancy
Define Stable Air:
Resists vertical displacement cooler air wants to sink
Define Unstable air:
warmer and less dense than the air around it. Will rise until it comes to an even temperature