Meteorology Exam 1 Chapters 1-6 ACTUAL
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
What is weather - CORRECT ANSWER The condition of the atmosphere at any particular
time and place. Weather - which is always changing- is compromised of elements of air
temperature, air pressure, humidity, clouds, precipitation, visibility, and wind
what is climate - CORRECT ANSWER if we measure and observe these weather variables
over a specified interval of time we would obtain the "average weather" (or the climate) or a
particular region.
Represents the accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events (the average range of weather)
over a long period of time
Also includes the extremes of weather.
what was earth's early atmosphere made of? today? - CORRECT ANSWER First - mostly
hydrogen and helium
The atmosphere evolved due to outgassing from earth's interior.
Today - nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), water vapor (4%), carbon dioxide (.04%), ozone O3
(majority found in stratosphere), aerosols, other greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide, and
chlorofluorocarbons)
constant vs variable gases and the dominant ones - CORRECT ANSWER Constant: O2
and Nitrogen - gases that are always there.
Variable: there amounts change ( water vapor, CO2)
Dominant: water vapor.
which variable gas is the most important for 'weather' and why? - CORRECT
ANSWER water vapor - evaporates, creates vapor in atmosphere, that vapor creates clouds
and precipitation.
,what have CO2 concentrations done over the past 150 years - CORRECT
ANSWER increased due to the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation; global temp
increases
what is ozone and where is it found? what does good ozone so for us? - CORRECT
ANSWER Ozone: a primary component of photochemical smog at earths surface.
Found in stratosphere
Protects us from UV radiation.
what is an aerosol? examples? - CORRECT ANSWER tiny solid or liquid particles of
various composition suspended in air.
Not gaseous
Originate from the oceans surface (salt particles from ocean waves), volcanoes, forest fires and
other types of burnings, and dust from soil carried by wind.
Natural - aid the condensation of water vapor
Human-made: a pollutant
Examples: pollen, dust., salt from ocean, volcanic dust.
the key properties of the vertical structure of the atmosphere: density, pressure, temp -
CORRECT ANSWER Layers may be defined by temperature, gas composition, and
electrical properties.
Due to gravity, most of the earths atmosphere is located close to its surface.
Density - the mass or atoms and the space between them (molecular density of air: the number of
molecules in a given volume), greatest at earths surface and decreases with height.
At earths surface, the pressure of the atmosphere is 14.7 ib/in2.
Standard sea level pressure is 1013.25 mb = 1013.25 hPa = 29.92 in Hg.
Atmospheric pressure decreases with n increase in height.
the lowest two thermal layers in the atmosphere (troposphere and stratosphere). what does
temperature do with height in each - CORRECT ANSWER Troposphere- extends from
earths surface to 11km; location of weather systems; temp decreases with height to the
isothermal zone
, Stratosphere- extends from 11km to 50km; temp increases with height; contains 03 max at 25km
what is a geostationary satellite? differences between visible, IR, and water vapor satellite -
CORRECT ANSWER Move at the same rate as earth spins; remain above a particular are
to monitor weather and other phenomena; used for weather observation and prediction.
Visible: when it take a pic of whats there
IR: scans for temp; colder the clouds are the brighter they are
water vapor: scans for water vapor; scans for gaseous vapor
What is potential vs kinetic energy? how is kinetic energy defines in the atmopshere -
CORRECT ANSWER Potential - the potential to do work
Kinetic - the energy of motion (temp)
Faster movement = greater KE
Molecules and atoms have KE due to motion: we feel this KE as heat
warm vs cold air - CORRECT ANSWER Warm Air: has higher amount of energy; expands
Cold Air: less energy; compresses
what are the main differences between Fahrenheit, Celsius, and kelvin? - CORRECT
ANSWER Kelvin - begins with 0; used for scientific calculations
Celsius - 100 equal degrees; upper level maps reported in C
Fahrenheit - 180 equal degrees; temp at surface are reported in F
what are heat capacity and specific heat? - CORRECT ANSWER Heat Capacity - heat
energy absorbed to raise a substance to a given temp (water has a high heat capacity).
Specific Heat - heat capacity per unit mass; or heat energy required to raise one gram of a
substance by 1C (high specific heat = slow warming (and cooling); low specific heat = fast
warming (and cooling))
which has a higher heat capacity - water or land? - CORRECT ANSWER water
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
What is weather - CORRECT ANSWER The condition of the atmosphere at any particular
time and place. Weather - which is always changing- is compromised of elements of air
temperature, air pressure, humidity, clouds, precipitation, visibility, and wind
what is climate - CORRECT ANSWER if we measure and observe these weather variables
over a specified interval of time we would obtain the "average weather" (or the climate) or a
particular region.
Represents the accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events (the average range of weather)
over a long period of time
Also includes the extremes of weather.
what was earth's early atmosphere made of? today? - CORRECT ANSWER First - mostly
hydrogen and helium
The atmosphere evolved due to outgassing from earth's interior.
Today - nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), water vapor (4%), carbon dioxide (.04%), ozone O3
(majority found in stratosphere), aerosols, other greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide, and
chlorofluorocarbons)
constant vs variable gases and the dominant ones - CORRECT ANSWER Constant: O2
and Nitrogen - gases that are always there.
Variable: there amounts change ( water vapor, CO2)
Dominant: water vapor.
which variable gas is the most important for 'weather' and why? - CORRECT
ANSWER water vapor - evaporates, creates vapor in atmosphere, that vapor creates clouds
and precipitation.
,what have CO2 concentrations done over the past 150 years - CORRECT
ANSWER increased due to the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation; global temp
increases
what is ozone and where is it found? what does good ozone so for us? - CORRECT
ANSWER Ozone: a primary component of photochemical smog at earths surface.
Found in stratosphere
Protects us from UV radiation.
what is an aerosol? examples? - CORRECT ANSWER tiny solid or liquid particles of
various composition suspended in air.
Not gaseous
Originate from the oceans surface (salt particles from ocean waves), volcanoes, forest fires and
other types of burnings, and dust from soil carried by wind.
Natural - aid the condensation of water vapor
Human-made: a pollutant
Examples: pollen, dust., salt from ocean, volcanic dust.
the key properties of the vertical structure of the atmosphere: density, pressure, temp -
CORRECT ANSWER Layers may be defined by temperature, gas composition, and
electrical properties.
Due to gravity, most of the earths atmosphere is located close to its surface.
Density - the mass or atoms and the space between them (molecular density of air: the number of
molecules in a given volume), greatest at earths surface and decreases with height.
At earths surface, the pressure of the atmosphere is 14.7 ib/in2.
Standard sea level pressure is 1013.25 mb = 1013.25 hPa = 29.92 in Hg.
Atmospheric pressure decreases with n increase in height.
the lowest two thermal layers in the atmosphere (troposphere and stratosphere). what does
temperature do with height in each - CORRECT ANSWER Troposphere- extends from
earths surface to 11km; location of weather systems; temp decreases with height to the
isothermal zone
, Stratosphere- extends from 11km to 50km; temp increases with height; contains 03 max at 25km
what is a geostationary satellite? differences between visible, IR, and water vapor satellite -
CORRECT ANSWER Move at the same rate as earth spins; remain above a particular are
to monitor weather and other phenomena; used for weather observation and prediction.
Visible: when it take a pic of whats there
IR: scans for temp; colder the clouds are the brighter they are
water vapor: scans for water vapor; scans for gaseous vapor
What is potential vs kinetic energy? how is kinetic energy defines in the atmopshere -
CORRECT ANSWER Potential - the potential to do work
Kinetic - the energy of motion (temp)
Faster movement = greater KE
Molecules and atoms have KE due to motion: we feel this KE as heat
warm vs cold air - CORRECT ANSWER Warm Air: has higher amount of energy; expands
Cold Air: less energy; compresses
what are the main differences between Fahrenheit, Celsius, and kelvin? - CORRECT
ANSWER Kelvin - begins with 0; used for scientific calculations
Celsius - 100 equal degrees; upper level maps reported in C
Fahrenheit - 180 equal degrees; temp at surface are reported in F
what are heat capacity and specific heat? - CORRECT ANSWER Heat Capacity - heat
energy absorbed to raise a substance to a given temp (water has a high heat capacity).
Specific Heat - heat capacity per unit mass; or heat energy required to raise one gram of a
substance by 1C (high specific heat = slow warming (and cooling); low specific heat = fast
warming (and cooling))
which has a higher heat capacity - water or land? - CORRECT ANSWER water
