Weather and Climate

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

the state of atmosphere at a local level usually on a short time-scale minutes to months

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

long term behaviour of the atmosphere in a specific area

Question 3

Atmosphere is held to the Earth by..

Answer 3

gravitational attraction

Question 4

atmospheric pressure {decreases or increases} with height

Answer 4

decreases

Question 5

Layers of the atmosphere

Answer 5

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

Question 6

Troposphere

Answer 6

• layer where we live

- contains most of the water vapour, dust, clouds, pollution

Question 7

Stratosphere

Answer 7

• home of the ozone layer

- temperature inversion

Question 8

Temperature inversion caused by..

Answer 8

concentration of ozone [absorbs UV radiation from the sun]

Question 9

Mesosphere

Answer 9

• coldest layer [no water vapour, cloud, dust or ozone to absorb incoming radiation]
• strongest winds

Question 10

Thermosphere

Answer 10

• temperature rise rapidly with height to reach 1500 degrees

Question 11

Amount of incoming radiation received by the Earth is determined by 4 factors:

Answer 11

solar constant
distance from the sun
altitude of the sun in the sky
length of night and day

Question 12

Albedo

Answer 12

ratio between incoming radiation and amount reflected

Question 13

Scattering

Answer 13

incoming radiation is diverted by particles of dust from volcanoes and deserts

Question 14

what is atmosphere?

Answer 14

Mixture of gases that surround the Earth

Question 15

what is the atmosphere made up of?

Answer 15

mostly of nitrogen gas and oxygen

Question 16

air temperature increases as altitude…

Answer 16

increases

Question 17

Radiation

Answer 17

the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves

Question 18

Conduction

Answer 18

transfer of thermal energy through a material by contact

Question 19

Convection

Answer 19

transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a liquid or gas

Question 20

Incoming radiation is converted into

Answer 20

heat energy