WX-201 Test 1 study guide latest updated

WX-201 Test 1 study guide latest updated Atmosphere is a mixture of gas molecules, microscopically small suspended particles of solid and liquid, and falling precipitation Meteorology is the study of atmosphere and the processes that cause what we refer to as the "weather" permanent gases those that form a constant proportion of the atmospheric mass Variable Gases those whose distribution in the atmosphere varies in both time and space Homosphere region from the earth's surface to 50 miles Heterosphere layer above homosphere Nitrogen N2 makes up 78.08 of the atmosphere Oxygen O2 makes up 20.95 of the atmosphere Argon Ar makes up .93 of the atmosphere Water Vapor H2O most abundant of the variable gases .25 of atmosphere Photosynthesis Removes CO2 from atmosphere and it is the process by which green plants convert light energy into chemical energy. Carbon Dioxide CO2 Important variable gas .04 Hydrologic cycle The process by which water is being cycled between the planet and the atmosphere Aerosols Small solid particles and liquid droplets in the air Condensation Nuclei virtually all cloud droplets that form in nature do so on suspended aerosols ozone is the form of oxygen in which three O atoms are joined to form a single molecule and is essential to life on earth because it absorbs lethal ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Mesosphere extends to a height of about 50 mi (80km) and temperature in this layer decreases with altitude Ionosphere In between mesosphere and thermosphere "electrical properties" contains electrically charged particles called ions which help reflect AM radio waves back toward earth and cause auroras. Troposphere Lowest of the four temperature layers, it is where most of the weather occurs and is marked by temperature decreases with height. Tropopause Transition layer after the troposphere that marks the level at which temperature ceases to decrease with height. Inversion Situations where temperature increases with height Stratosphere Layer above the tropopause where temperature increases with altitude. The upper part of this layer, heating is almost exclusively the result of the UV radiation being absorbed by ozone Stratopause located above the stratosphere, transition layer where temperature increases with altitude. Ozone Layer It is the layer that absorbs lethal UV radiation from the sun Thermosphere This layer is located above the mesosphere and the temperature increases with height due to the high amount of kinetic energy in each molecule possesses Auroras contains electrically charged particles called ions which help reflect AM radio waves back toward earth and cause this Evolution of atmosphere first atmosphere was formed 4.6 billion years ago and consisted of hydrogen and helium. Theory 1- if molecules with sufficient speed or at its escape velocity, it can overcome gravity and leave the atmosphere thus the hydrogen and helium were most readily lost Theory 2- Collisions with other planetary bodies caused the ejection of materials from earth along with the atmosphere. Outgassing formed the secondary atmosphere. It was made of gases released from earths interior by volcanic eruptions and through vents and fissures. Winds Generated from the horizontal variation in air pressures Isobars used to plot atmospheric pressure on maps Station models it is located on weather maps with information regarding wind speed and direction. It contains symbols and numbers giving weather information for particular locations. fronts narrow boundary zones separating warm and cold air which causes major changes in temperature Relative humidity indicates the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the max possible dew point temperature the higher the dew point the greater the amount of water vapor in the air Energy is defined as the "ability to due work" the agent capable of setting a body in motion Joule The standard unit of energy in the (SI) Power is the rate at which energy is released, transferred, or received Watt the unit of power which corresponds to 1 joule per second Kinetic Energy