ATOC 1050 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (GRADED A+)
Difference between weather and climate - ANSWER-the difference it that weather is
over a short period of time and climate is over a long time
What is the composition of the atmosphere? - ANSWER-nitrogen and oxygen
Air density increasing and decreasing - ANSWER-air density is greatest at the surface
and decreases as we over up in the atmosphere
Layers of the atmosphere - ANSWER--trophosphere (where we live)
-stratosphere
-mesosphere
-thermosphere
What happens in the troposphere as we increase in height? - ANSWER-in the
troposphere as we increase in height, temperature decreases
What happens in the stratosphere as we increase in height? - ANSWER-in the
stratosphere as we increase in height, temperature increases
Ozone in the stratosphere is a _________ thing? - ANSWER-ozone in the stratosphere
is a good thing
Ozone in the troposphere is a ________ thing? - ANSWER-ozone in the troposphere is
a bad thing
What is the ozone hole and where is it? - ANSWER-the ozone hole is in Antartica and it
is where there are very low levels of ozone between September and October because
of a chemical reaction
What is sensible heat? - ANSWER-sensible heat is the heat that we feel
What is latent heat? - ANSWER-latent heat is used for phase changes
-the unit of measure is calories
What is conduction? - ANSWER-transfer of heat through electrons *touching*
What is convection? - ANSWER-heat transfer that involves the actual movement and
circulation of a substance
What is advection? - ANSWER-horizontal component
, *wind*
What is radiation? - ANSWER-heat transfer that doesn't require a medium
What is the impact of evaporation on the atmosphere? - ANSWER-evaporation cools
the atmosphere
What is the impact of melting on the atmosphere? - ANSWER-melting cools the
atmosphere
What are solstices? - ANSWER--summer and winter
-farthest north and farthest south
-longest and shortest days
What are equinoxes? - ANSWER--spring and fall
-when day and night have an equal length 12/12
Daytime warming - ANSWER--shortwave radiation from the sun warms the surface
-warm air is less dense which causes convection forcing heat to move away from the
surface
Nighttime Cooling - ANSWER--radiational cooling: the ground cools off faster than the
atmosphere
-conduction cools the bottom of the atmosphere
-air is more dense
What is a radiation inversion? - ANSWER-radiational cooling at the top of surfaces
causes temperatures to increase with height
What is needed for radiation inversion? - ANSWER--calm night (no wind)
-long night (winter)
-dry air (low humidity)
-no clouds (low saturation)
Where is air temperature observed? - ANSWER-1,2 meters above the earth's surface
Latitude location - ANSWER-the amount of incoming solar radiation received @ the
earth's surface depends on the location and time of year
Land and water temperatures - ANSWER-Water temperature is harder to change than
land temps.
-heat can penetrate water
-convection in water distributes heat through the water
Ocean currents effect on temperatures - ANSWER-ocean currents carry heat from
warmer areas to colder areas to = energy imbalances
AND ANSWERS (GRADED A+)
Difference between weather and climate - ANSWER-the difference it that weather is
over a short period of time and climate is over a long time
What is the composition of the atmosphere? - ANSWER-nitrogen and oxygen
Air density increasing and decreasing - ANSWER-air density is greatest at the surface
and decreases as we over up in the atmosphere
Layers of the atmosphere - ANSWER--trophosphere (where we live)
-stratosphere
-mesosphere
-thermosphere
What happens in the troposphere as we increase in height? - ANSWER-in the
troposphere as we increase in height, temperature decreases
What happens in the stratosphere as we increase in height? - ANSWER-in the
stratosphere as we increase in height, temperature increases
Ozone in the stratosphere is a _________ thing? - ANSWER-ozone in the stratosphere
is a good thing
Ozone in the troposphere is a ________ thing? - ANSWER-ozone in the troposphere is
a bad thing
What is the ozone hole and where is it? - ANSWER-the ozone hole is in Antartica and it
is where there are very low levels of ozone between September and October because
of a chemical reaction
What is sensible heat? - ANSWER-sensible heat is the heat that we feel
What is latent heat? - ANSWER-latent heat is used for phase changes
-the unit of measure is calories
What is conduction? - ANSWER-transfer of heat through electrons *touching*
What is convection? - ANSWER-heat transfer that involves the actual movement and
circulation of a substance
What is advection? - ANSWER-horizontal component
, *wind*
What is radiation? - ANSWER-heat transfer that doesn't require a medium
What is the impact of evaporation on the atmosphere? - ANSWER-evaporation cools
the atmosphere
What is the impact of melting on the atmosphere? - ANSWER-melting cools the
atmosphere
What are solstices? - ANSWER--summer and winter
-farthest north and farthest south
-longest and shortest days
What are equinoxes? - ANSWER--spring and fall
-when day and night have an equal length 12/12
Daytime warming - ANSWER--shortwave radiation from the sun warms the surface
-warm air is less dense which causes convection forcing heat to move away from the
surface
Nighttime Cooling - ANSWER--radiational cooling: the ground cools off faster than the
atmosphere
-conduction cools the bottom of the atmosphere
-air is more dense
What is a radiation inversion? - ANSWER-radiational cooling at the top of surfaces
causes temperatures to increase with height
What is needed for radiation inversion? - ANSWER--calm night (no wind)
-long night (winter)
-dry air (low humidity)
-no clouds (low saturation)
Where is air temperature observed? - ANSWER-1,2 meters above the earth's surface
Latitude location - ANSWER-the amount of incoming solar radiation received @ the
earth's surface depends on the location and time of year
Land and water temperatures - ANSWER-Water temperature is harder to change than
land temps.
-heat can penetrate water
-convection in water distributes heat through the water
Ocean currents effect on temperatures - ANSWER-ocean currents carry heat from
warmer areas to colder areas to = energy imbalances
