Wx 201 Final Erau Updated Questions And Correct Answers

WX 201 FINAL ERAU UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
Question:
1. The Atmosphere
Answer:
aerosol (a.k.a. particulates) rain, drizzle, fog, snow, ice crystals, cloud droplets

Question:
2. Permanent gas
Answer:
Nitrogen [N2]=78% Oxygen [02]=21% Others (Ar, Ne, He, Kr, H)=1%

Question:
3. Variable gas
Answer:
[H2O] -0 to 4% (highly variable) -Most abundant variable gas• [CO2] -0.039% and rising [O3]
-Highly variable, reactive gas -Upper atmosphere: protects life from UV light -Occurs naturally,
absorbs harmful ultraviolet light from sun

Question:
4. Greenhouse gas-es
Answer:
H2O, CO2, CH4, absorb infrared radiation emitted by the earth •Re-radiate some of the infrared
radiation back down

Question:
5. Ideal Gas Law
Answer:
P=DT

Question:
6. Celsius calcula-tion
Answer:
C= 5/9 (F - 32)

Question:
7. Density
Answer:
Density decreases w/ height

Question:
8. Standard pres-sure
Answer:
-14.7 lbs./in2 -29.92" Hg -1013 hPa

,Question:
9. Layers of the at-mosphere
Answer:
Thermo(85k-100k) Meso(50k-85k) Strato(12k-50k) Tropo(0-12k)

Question:
10. Troposphere
Answer:
•Between surface & about 36,000' (11 km) -Where weather occurs (and most of the aviation takes
place) -Pressure ranges between 200 to 1030 mb •Decreasing temperature with height -Heated from
below because the ground absorbs more of the sun's rays than air •Has vertical air currents and
turbulence -Hazardous to aviators

Question:
11. Stratosphere
Answer:
•Between ~ 36,000 and 160,000 '(11-50 km) -Pressures range from about 1 to 200 mb -Temperature
increases with height in the stratosphere due to the absorption of UV radiation by ozone

Question:
12. Tropopause
Answer:
•Boundary between troposphere and stratosphere •Altitude varies with latitude & with season •Where
and when is it highest & coldest? Summer in Tropical regions •Lowest & warmest? Winter in Polar
regions •Location of lowest temp and max wind (near jet stream) •Thunderstorm tops and high clouds
extend to the tropopause

Question:
13. Wind w/ height
Answer:
•Wind speed generally increases with height •Wind speeds near tropopause 50-200 kt •Maximum
wind speed at tropopause •Strongest wind shear just above & below tropopause

Question:
14. Isothermal layer
Answer:
-A layer having constant temperature

Question:
15. Heat transfer mechanisms
Answer:
Radiation-Transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves (light) -Can occur across empty space
•Conduction-Transfer of heat from one molecule to another •Convection-Random vertical air motions
-Transport by horizontal air motions = advection

Question:
16. electromagnetic radiation Sun vs Earth

, Answer:
Earth = long wave lengths Sun = Short wave lengths




Question:
17. What happens to insolation
Answer:
70% absorbed by earth and its atmosphere 30% reflected back to space earth has an albedo of 30%

Question:
18. Global radiation budget
Answer:




Question:
19. Factors affecting surface heating
Answer:
1.Amount of solar radiation absorbed -Solar elevation angle Albedo (Reflected solar radiation) 2.Heat
capacity -Water ^ vs Soil v 3.Depth to which the heat is distributed -Heat is absorbed over a greater
depth in water

Question:
20. How is the so-lar energy trans-ferred to the air?
Answer:
Convection

Question:
21. Noontime solar elevation angle
Answer:
e =90' - / L - Ld / L = latitudeLD = solar declination

Question:
22. Terrestrial radia-tion
Answer:
•Air absorbs and re-emits IR radiation