WX 201 Test 1 Questions and Answers
In the atmosphere
Cold air sinks and warm air rises
Weather
State of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, moisture, pressure, etc.
Climate
Average or generally prevailing conditions
Most abundant gases
Nitrogen (78), Oxygen (21), Argon (.93)
Which gas has a variable concentration, dependent upon location?
Carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, water vapor
What are the most common greenhouse gases?
CO2, Methane, Ozone
How do the following quantities change with height; Density
More molecules near the surface
How do the following quantities change with height; Pressure
Decreases as you go up in the atmosphere
How do the following quantities change with height; Temperature
Decreases as you go up in the atmosphere
Lapse rates and temperature inversions
Rate at which the air temperature decreases with height
Negative lapse rate/temperature inversion
Temperature increases with height
Positive lapse rate
Temperature decreases with height
Four layers of the atmosphere
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesophere, Thermosphere
Four layers of the atmosphere; Which layer is the warmest?
Thermosphere
, Four layers of the atmosphere; Which layer is the coldest?
Mesosphere
How does temperature change with height in each layer?
Mesosphere: As the altitude increases, the air temperature decreases.
Troposphere layer, has a decrease in temperature with altitude increase.
Thermosphere: As the altitude increases, the air temperature increases
What is the relationship between temperature and kinetic energy?
Temperature is the measure of a substance's average KE. Faster motion=warmer temperature.
How is air temperature related to density?
Cold air is more dense than warm air
Heat Capacity
Amount of heat energy absorbed by a substance
Specific Heat
Heat capacity per unit mass
Heat capacity/specific heat; How do they relate to the temperature variations of water and air?
Water has am much higher heat capacity than ice, soil, or air. Water can store a large amount of
energy with only a small temperature change.
6 different phase changes of water
Sublimation, melting, evaporation, deposition, condensation, freezing
Which phase changes warm the environment?
Deposition (water vapor--> ice)
Condensation (water vapor--> liquid water)
Freezing (liquid water--> ice)
Conduction
Transfer of heat from molecule to molecule within a substance.
Which phase changes cool the environment?
Sublimation (ice-->water vapor)
Melting (ice--> liquid water)
Evaporation (liquid water--> water vapor)
Convection
In the atmosphere
Cold air sinks and warm air rises
Weather
State of the atmosphere with respect to wind, temperature, moisture, pressure, etc.
Climate
Average or generally prevailing conditions
Most abundant gases
Nitrogen (78), Oxygen (21), Argon (.93)
Which gas has a variable concentration, dependent upon location?
Carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, water vapor
What are the most common greenhouse gases?
CO2, Methane, Ozone
How do the following quantities change with height; Density
More molecules near the surface
How do the following quantities change with height; Pressure
Decreases as you go up in the atmosphere
How do the following quantities change with height; Temperature
Decreases as you go up in the atmosphere
Lapse rates and temperature inversions
Rate at which the air temperature decreases with height
Negative lapse rate/temperature inversion
Temperature increases with height
Positive lapse rate
Temperature decreases with height
Four layers of the atmosphere
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesophere, Thermosphere
Four layers of the atmosphere; Which layer is the warmest?
Thermosphere
, Four layers of the atmosphere; Which layer is the coldest?
Mesosphere
How does temperature change with height in each layer?
Mesosphere: As the altitude increases, the air temperature decreases.
Troposphere layer, has a decrease in temperature with altitude increase.
Thermosphere: As the altitude increases, the air temperature increases
What is the relationship between temperature and kinetic energy?
Temperature is the measure of a substance's average KE. Faster motion=warmer temperature.
How is air temperature related to density?
Cold air is more dense than warm air
Heat Capacity
Amount of heat energy absorbed by a substance
Specific Heat
Heat capacity per unit mass
Heat capacity/specific heat; How do they relate to the temperature variations of water and air?
Water has am much higher heat capacity than ice, soil, or air. Water can store a large amount of
energy with only a small temperature change.
6 different phase changes of water
Sublimation, melting, evaporation, deposition, condensation, freezing
Which phase changes warm the environment?
Deposition (water vapor--> ice)
Condensation (water vapor--> liquid water)
Freezing (liquid water--> ice)
Conduction
Transfer of heat from molecule to molecule within a substance.
Which phase changes cool the environment?
Sublimation (ice-->water vapor)
Melting (ice--> liquid water)
Evaporation (liquid water--> water vapor)
Convection
