click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Ch.15
Study Guide
Question | Answer |
---|---|
list the examples of local winds | Land and sea breeze. |
What are auroras and where are they found? | Shimmering lights found in the ionosphere (thermosphere) |
Our ozone layer absorbs which type of harmful radiation from the sun? | uv or ultraviolet rays |
How much oxygen and carbon dioxide is found in our air? | 21% is oxygen less than 1% is carbon dioxide |
Which global wind blows away from the poles to the west? | polar easterlies |
What are the 2 most abundant gases found in the air? | Nitrogen and oxygen |
Describe air pressure | The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface |
What happens to air pressure as altitude increases? | As altitude icreases air pressure decreases |
Describe jet streams | Narrow belts of high speed winds that blow in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere |
What is the greenhouse effect? | The process by which gases in the atmosphere absorb thermal energy |
Explain the 3 ways that heat is transferred | Conduction = material/direct contact Radiation = EM waves (can’t touch) Convection = energy through liquid or gas |
Where do trade winds flow toward? | Flow towards the equator |
What does the Coriolis Effect make the winds do? | Makes winds curve |
Describe the doldrums. | This is where trade winds meet; on the equator, very light winds - dull |
What is the ozone layer? Where is it found? | Found in the Stratosphere, layer of oxygen that absorbs most of sun’s UV rays |
Describe the thermosphere. | Uppermost layer of the atmos. Temp. inc. due to solar radiation. Aurora Borealis occurs here. |
What is the most common atmospheric gas? | nitrogen |
What parts of the earth cools off faster and heats up faster? What does this unequal heating create? | Land cools and heats fastest; creates wind |
What is smog? | Polluted air that forms when sunlight reacts with ozone and exhaust |
Describe the movement of convection currents. | With a heat source, cold sinking dense air pushes warm light less dense air – continues in a cycle |
Which instrument measures air pressure? | barometer |
What is significant about the troposphere | we live on it. weather happens here |
What kind of ways have humans created air pollution? | Burning fossil fuels – exhaust, chemicals |
What is another name for the distance above sea level | altitude or elevation |
What are global winds? | Combination of convections cells at every 30 degrees latitude; winds that blow across long distances |
What does the name of a wind tell you? | Wind name tells you where the wind is coming from |
. How much of the sun’s energy actually reaches the Earth? | 2biiliont of the sun's energy |
What property are the layers of the atmosphere based on | temperature |
Which calm area is located around 30 degrees north and south latitude? | horse latitude |
What is the atmosphere? | Layer of gases that surround the Earth and protects us from UV and space objects |
List the 3 global winds and the 2 calm areas | Global winds – polar easterlies, westerlies, trade winds Calm areas – doldrums, horse latitudes |
What is global warming? | The increase in average temperature on Earth |
If air mass increases what happens to density? | As air mass increases the density increases |
What type of winds blow over short distances | local winds |
. How are all winds created? | Unequal heating of the earth’s surface |