The Restless Atmosphere Flashcards
(74 cards)
What are the gases that make up the atmosphere
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% others
What is solar energy
Energy from the sun
What does the sun provide us with
Heat and light
What happens to the Suns energy
50% goes to earth
25% is deflected by dusts and clouds in the atmosphere back into space
25% is absorbed as it passes through the atmosphere
What is latitude
Distance north or south of the equator
What is latitude measured in
Degrees
When a country is closer to the equator it’s cold
True or false
False
It’s colder further ways and warmer closer up
What a re the reasons for countries closer to the equator being Warner and countries further being cooler?
At the poles the atmosphere is thicker and so not as much heat gets through there
At the equator the sun sines directly overhead which means heat is concentrated on a small area and that area will become hot
At tech poles the Suns energy is slanted and has to heat up a larger area so this area does not heat up as much
What is wind
Moving air
True or false
Air move form high pressure areas to low pressure areas
True
Why do some areas have high pressure and others have low pressure?
Warm aire rises leaving areas of low pressure
Cold air descends crating areas of high pressure
What creates wind
Areas of different pressure
WHat is the coriolis effect
The earth spins on its axis so winds are reflected at an angle
They are deflected to the right in yen northern hemisphere and to he left in the Southern Hemisphere
What a re surface ocean currents
The water of the ocean surface moving in a regular pattern e
What do the movement of ocean currents result from
Unequal heating of the oceans
The prevailing winds
The rotation of the earth
What are warm currents
Warm currents are currents that flow from the equator towards higher latitudes and bring warm water eg north atlantic drift
What ace cold currents
Currents that flow from the direction of the poles and bring cold water eg the Labrador
What is an air mass
A body of air with its own temperature, pressure and humidity level
They can effect the weathers of the countries they pass over
Why does Ireland s weather change a lot
Because many air masses meet over Ireland
What are the four air masses which effect Ireland s weather
Polar air masses(cold)
Continental air masses (dry)
Tropical air masses (warm)
Maritime air masses (rain)
What is a front
A boundary are where two different air masse meet
How do cold fronts occurs
A cold front occurs when cold air moves towards warm air
The cold air forces the light warm air to rise
As the warm air rises it cools and condensation occurs
Clouds are formed and this leads to heavy rainfall
What are the types of fronts
Warm fronts
Cold fronts
Stationary fronts
Occluded fronts
How are warm fronts formed
A warm front develops when warm air moves in toward cold air
The warm light air rises up over the cold air
As it rises it cools and condensation occurs
Clouds are formed and this ,ends to rainfall
