Answers
What is the definition of meteorology?
✓ ~~~ The study of the atmosphere and the associated weather phenomena
What are the functions and applications of meteorology?
✓ ~~~ 1) Weather observation and forecasting
✓ 2) Computer modeling of the atmosphere
✓ 3) analyzing, monitoring, and predicting air pollution
✓ 4) Earth science education
✓ 5) Helping industries (agriculture, energy, aviation, insurance, etc.) manage the risks
posed by weather
✓ 6) Assisting emergency managers and disaster planners
✓ 7) Studying Earth's climate and climate change
What is the composition of the atmosphere (Permanent Gases)?
✓ ~~~ 1) Nitrogen (N2)- 78.08%
✓ 2) Oxygen (O2)- 20.95%
✓ 3) Argon (Ar)- .93%
✓ 4) Neon (Ne)- .0018%
Define radiation
✓ ~~~ the emission and transmission of energy through particles or waves
Define electromagnetic spectrum
✓ ~~~ the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation
extends.
Define conduction
✓ ~~~ The transfer kinetic of energy from particle to particle.
,Give and example of conduction
✓ ~~~ Cold spoon into hot soup
Define thermal conductivity
✓ ~~~ The ability of an object to transfer heat
Why is the air closest to the surface warmer during the day?
✓ ~~~ conduction from the earth's surface to the air in contact with it
Why is the air closest to the surface cooler at night?
✓ ~~~ earth's surface has a radiation deficit, thus cooling and conduction then cools the air
in contact with the surface
What is a nocturnal inversion?
✓ ~~~ When low level air temperatures are cooler due to conduction, while temperature of
the air above increases with altitude
Define convection
✓ ~~~ The transfer of heat via vertical movement of air
What is free convection?
✓ ~~~ Warm air rising freely
Define Planck's law
✓ ~~~ Every object emits radiation at all times and at all wavelengths.
,Define Wien's Law
✓ ~~~ The hotter an object, the shorter the wavelength at maximum emission. (The hotter
the object the brighter)
According to Wein's law where does peak emission occur?
✓ ~~~ At infrared wavelengths
Stephan-Boltzmann Law
✓ ~~~ As temperature increases so does the amount of energy emitted
Kirchhoff's Law
✓ ~~~ With constant temperature, an object that absorbs radiation efficiently at a particular
wavelength will also emit radiation efficiently at that wavelength.
When electromagnetic radiation strikes a surface what can happen to the radiation?
✓ ~~~ 1) Absorption
2) Scattering
3) Transmission
Define radiation transmission
✓ ~~~ When radiation passes through an object virtually unaffected
What is an example of radiation transmission
✓ ~~~ Visible light passing through a glass window
Describe radiation absorption
, ✓ ~~~ Extinguishing of radiation, amount of radiation extinguished depends on radiation
wavelength and object composition
Describe radiation scattering
✓ ~~~ Reflecting of radiation off an object
What is forward scattering?
✓ ~~~ When radiation scatters in a forward direction
What is back-scattering?
✓ ~~~ When radiation returns in the direction it came from
What is albedo?
✓ ~~~ The portion of solar radiation that is scattered
Describe the greenhouse effect.
✓ ~~~ the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when
greenhouse gases in the air absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation
What are some greenhouse gases?
✓ ~~~ 1) Water Vapor
2) Carbon Dioxide
3) Methane
4) Nitrous Oxide
How does Wein's law apply to the greenhouse effect?