Weather Flashcards
(30 cards)
What are the 5 layers to the atmosphere?
Tropshere - most weather occurs here - contains most atmospheres moisture here - -50 degrees C at the bottom, 20 degrees C at the top Stratosphere - above the troposphere - ozone layer - temp increases with the alt Mesosphere - temp and density of gas very low - middle layer - 50 to 80 km Thermosphere - iosphere - electromagnetic energy producing - northern lights - waves from sun absorbed here Exosphere - outter most layer - Space - thinnest layer
Tropopause
boundary between troposphere and stratosphere
Composition of atmosphere
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% other gases (argon, carbon dioxide, water vapour)
Composition of hydrosphere
97.5% salt water
2.5% fresh water
Canada has 10% of worlds fresh water
What is the danger of global warming for the earths atmosphere ?
Is a problem because it melts polar icecaps, increasing ocean levels, change in precipitation events, and permafrost melting.
Whats the difference between weather and climate?
Weather - set of environmental conditions averaged day by day
Climate - set of environmental conditions averaged over many years
Why do we have distinct seasons in manitoba?
Axis tilt along with revolution is responsible for changes in amount of heat in various areas of earth during course of year
Earths rotation is causing day and night
Define Perihelion and Aphelion
Perihelion - closet position to the sun
Aphelion - farthest point from the sun
The day on the moon is the same as a year on earth because of the rotational speed. What effect on global weather would this have if Earth has the same thing around the sun?
- One side of the earth would be constant day, other will be constant night
- One side of earth would basically die out because sunlight is essential for life
What would the effect be if the earth had no tilt?
- Poles would stay cold
- equator would stay hot
- equal days all year round
Name three types of energy transmission and give an example
Radiation - transfer of energy through waves EG - sunlight traveling through space
Convection - transfer of heat through a fluid. EG - water heated in a pot
Conduction - transfer of energy by touching another object. EG - egg frying in a pan
How does the atomic model and kinetic energy connect with the concept of heat
movement of atoms and particles
Albedo of the earth
Albedo - degree to which a substance reflects light
Earths overall albedo is 30%
clouds - 20%
51% of incoming energy absorbed by land and sea
List four surfaces with highest to lowest albedo
White has the highest albedo, black lowest Snow - 0.40 - 0.95 Clouds - 0.30 - 0.90 Soil - 0.10 - 0.45 Alphalt - 0.05 - 0.10
How’ do the following factors affect weather in an area ?
Albedo, latitude, ocean currents, prevailing winds, onshore + offshore breezes, landlocked areas and areas near bodies of water
- Albedo = lower albedo = more heat absorbed = hotter
- latitude = closer to the equator, more direct sunlight, hotter
- Ocean currents = carry hot water from equator to poles
- Prevailing winds = winds that carry warm air from equator
- onshore/offshore breeze - These winds create a convection current that either brings warm air to land or away from land
Landlocked areas - areas near water get a breeze from the water which heats up land faster, without water, land heats up and cools off very quickly.
How do the properties of air and water affect weather?
The oceans absorb a large amount of solar radiation which then distributes the heat around the world. The air can also create 4 different types of fronts (cold, warm, stationary, occluded)
How is energy from the equator transferred to the poles?
Oceans and prevailing winds
Name 4 currents that are warm and 4 that are cold. How do they affect weather on land ?
Warm - Gulf stream, brazil, Agulhas, Kuroshio
Cold - California, Labrador, Peru, Benguela
These currents can cool or warm climate near them.
Any current moving away from poles is cold, any going toward is warm
Longest and shortest days of the year for Australia and MB? Why are they different? When are the equinoxes?
MB - Longest = june 21
- Shortest = December 22
Australia - Longest = December 22
- shortest = June 21
This is because when the NH has summer, the SH has winter and vice versa.
Equinoxes- March 21-22 September 22-23What is the significance of the Arctic and Antarctic circle, and name their latitudes.
Because in the arctic circle, sun will be above the horizon for 24 straight hours (summer solstice) and then below the horizon for 24 (Winter solstice)
Arctic = 66 degrees North
Antarctic = 66 degrees south
How does a balloon filled with cold water not break when a match is held under it for an extended length of time?
Water is a heat sink, absorbs all of the heat so balloon doesn’t pop
Name two ways trees have a cooling effect on the area around them
Natural air conditioner because of evaporation
protection from suns rays
How is the density of ice unique and how it is necessary for the survival of marine life?
Ice is less then water, which means only the top freezes, while the rest is totally free.
How is latent heat involved in the creation of thunderstorms?
Thunderstorms occur when hot air rises and mixes into cool air. The air cools and condenses the water in it releasing heat. This heat carries the air mass higher which cools even further. If brought high enough, these water droplets can freeze and release heat again causing further updrafts.
