ATMO 201 TEXAS A&M TIMOTHY LOGAN CH 1
How does the risk of death from weather events compare with other risks in life? -
Answer -Much lower
On average, in the United States, which weather-related event takes the most lives
annually? - Answer -Heat
In the state where you presently live (Texas), which weather event (flooding, lightning or
tornadoes) poses the greatest risk for a weather-related fatality? - Answer -Flooding
List the two most abundant gases in today's atmosphere. What percentage does each
one occupy in a volume of dry air near the earth's surface? - Answer -Nitrogen, 78%
and Oxygen, 21%.
List the most abundant green-house gases in the earth's atmosphere. What makes
them greenhouse gases? - Answer -Water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, and
CFCs. They are greenhouse gases because they trap the sun's heat inside the
atmosphere, warming the earth substantially.
What are some of the important roles that water vapor plays in our atmosphere? -
Answer -Water vapor is key to the hydrologic cycle. It is put into the atmosphere by the
evaporation of the oceans and transpiration of plants. It forms clouds which then results
in precipitation. This precipitation eventually runs back into the oceans, and some of it is
absorbed by plants.
Explain how ozone is a needed gas in the stratosphere, but an unwanted gas near the
earth's surface. - Answer -Ozone is instrumental in protecting life on Earth from harmful
UV radiation, as it is capable of absorbing UV rays. However, ozone is toxic when
breathed in by many organisms, humans included, so we do not want it in the
troposphere.
Above what continent would you find the ozone hole? - Answer -Antarctica
How does weather differ from climate? - Answer -Weather is what's currently
happening, and climate is what the weather will probably look like.
How does the average speed of air molecules relate to the air temperature? - Answer -
Directly proportional.
How does the Kelvin temperature scale differ from the Celsius scale? On a day where
the outside temperature is 273 K, would this air be considered warm or cold? - Answer
-Kelvin starts at 0, Celsius at about 273 K, but the degrees are the same. 273 K is about
0°C, which is freezing.
How does the risk of death from weather events compare with other risks in life? -
Answer -Much lower
On average, in the United States, which weather-related event takes the most lives
annually? - Answer -Heat
In the state where you presently live (Texas), which weather event (flooding, lightning or
tornadoes) poses the greatest risk for a weather-related fatality? - Answer -Flooding
List the two most abundant gases in today's atmosphere. What percentage does each
one occupy in a volume of dry air near the earth's surface? - Answer -Nitrogen, 78%
and Oxygen, 21%.
List the most abundant green-house gases in the earth's atmosphere. What makes
them greenhouse gases? - Answer -Water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, and
CFCs. They are greenhouse gases because they trap the sun's heat inside the
atmosphere, warming the earth substantially.
What are some of the important roles that water vapor plays in our atmosphere? -
Answer -Water vapor is key to the hydrologic cycle. It is put into the atmosphere by the
evaporation of the oceans and transpiration of plants. It forms clouds which then results
in precipitation. This precipitation eventually runs back into the oceans, and some of it is
absorbed by plants.
Explain how ozone is a needed gas in the stratosphere, but an unwanted gas near the
earth's surface. - Answer -Ozone is instrumental in protecting life on Earth from harmful
UV radiation, as it is capable of absorbing UV rays. However, ozone is toxic when
breathed in by many organisms, humans included, so we do not want it in the
troposphere.
Above what continent would you find the ozone hole? - Answer -Antarctica
How does weather differ from climate? - Answer -Weather is what's currently
happening, and climate is what the weather will probably look like.
How does the average speed of air molecules relate to the air temperature? - Answer -
Directly proportional.
How does the Kelvin temperature scale differ from the Celsius scale? On a day where
the outside temperature is 273 K, would this air be considered warm or cold? - Answer
-Kelvin starts at 0, Celsius at about 273 K, but the degrees are the same. 273 K is about
0°C, which is freezing.
