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atmospheric science
for the midterm in atmospheric science
67
Meteorology
Undergraduate 2
11/03/2010

Additional Meteorology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Which of the latitudes below would experience the fewest hours of daylight on December 22?
Definition
60 degrees North
Term
The proper order from LONGEST to SHORTEST wavelength is
Definition
radio, micro, infrared, visible, UV, x ray, gamma
Term
The most abundant gases in the earth's atmosphere by volume are...
Definition
nitrogen and oxygen
Term
The combined albedo of the earth's surface and the atmosphere is approximately:
Definition
30 percent
Term
Which of the following provides a measure of the average speed of air molecules?
Definition
temperature
Term
The earth emits radiation with greatest intensity at:
Definition
infrared
Term
Which of the following is considered a variable gas in the earth's atmosphere?
Definition
water vapor
Term
Which of the following processes acts to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?.
Definition
photosynthesis
Term
Where advancing COOLER surface air is replacing WARMER air, the boundary separating the different air masses is termed a:
Definition
cold front
Term
Heat transferred upward from the surface of the moon can take place by:
Definition
radiation
Term
About 97% of the ________ in the atmosphere is found in the stratosphere where it absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation
Definition
o3, ozone
Term
Since the turn of this century, CO2 in the atmosphere has:
Definition
been increasing in concentration
Term
A change of one degree on the Celsius scale is _____ a change of one degree on the Fahrenheit scale
Definition
larger than
Term
during an equinox
Definition
days and nights are equal lengths
at noon the sun is over head at the equator
the earth is not tilted away or toward the sun
Term
The transfer of heat by molecule-to-molecule contact is
Definition
conduction
Term
In the stratosphere, the air temperature normally.
Definition
increases with increasing height
Term
The heat energy released when water vapor changes to a liquid is called:
Definition
latent heat of condensation
Term
Which of the following would remain constant if you traveled up through the troposphere?
Definition
percentage oxygen concentration
Term
An important reason for the large daily temperature range over deserts is:
Definition
there is little water vapor in the air to absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation.
Term
If you subtract the daily minimum from the daily maximum temperature you have the:
Definition
daily range of temperatures
Term
If water vapor comprises 3.5% of an air parcel whose total pressure is 1000 mb, the water vapor pressure would be
Definition
35mb
Term
Lines connecting points of equal temperature are called:
Definition
isotherms
Term
The wind-chill index
Definition
relates body heat loss with wind to an equivalent temperature with no wind.
Term
When the air temperature increases, the saturation vapor pressure will
Definition
increase
Term
In summer, humid regions typically have _____ daily temperature ranges and _____ maximum temperatures than drier regions.
Definition
smaller, lower
Term
Relative humidity changes with
Definition
addition of water vapor to the air.
decreases in temperature.
increases in temperature.
removal of water vapor from the air.
Term
When you observe large changes in the temperature of an object even though only small amounts of energy are added or removed, you might conclude the object has low
Definition
specific heat.
Term
If the air temperature in a room is 70o F, the saturation vapor pressure is 25 mb, the dew point temperature is 45o F, and the actual vapor pressure is 10 mb, then the relative humidity must be _____ percent.
Definition
40
Term
Which of the following is generally true at night?
Definition
earth emits more then it absorbs
Term
If the actual vapor pressure is 100mb and the saturation vapor pressure is 400mb, then the relative humidity is:
Definition
25%
Term
The ratio of the mass of water vapor in a given volume (parcel) of air to the mass of the remaining dry air describes the:
Definition
mixing ratio
Term
At what time during a 24-hour day would a radiation temperature inversion best be developed?
Definition
just before sunrise
Term
One would expect the lowest temperatures to be found next to the ground on a:
Definition
clear, dry, clam night
Term
The SMALLEST annual range of temperatures are found:
Definition
near middle latitudes near bodies of water.
Term
How many heating degree-days would there be for a day with a maximum temperature of 30o F and a minimum temperature of 20o F? (Assume a base temperature of 65o F).
Definition
40
Term
In most areas the warmest time of the day about 5 feet above the ground occurs:
Definition
between 2 and 5
Term
what is the composition of the atmosphere?
Definition
79% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, >1% other (argon)
Term
convection is...
Definition
heat transfer via flow of a liquid
Term
conduction is...
Definition
heat transfer via contact
Term
radiation is...
Definition
heat transfer via flow of energy
Term
what are the two things needed for fog?
Definition
humidity and a cooling effect
Term
absolute humidity is the comparison of the ___________ to the ____________.
Definition
weight of water vapor, volume of air in a parcel
Term
specific humidity is the comparison of the ___________ to the ____________.
Definition
mass of water vapor, total mass of the parcel (including water vapor)
Term
mixing ratio is the comparison of the ___________ to the ____________.
Definition
mass of water vapor, mass of remaining dry air
Term
when the air is saturated, the amount of water vapor is at a...
Definition
maximum
Term
at a higher temperature, it takes ____ water vapor to saturate the air then cool air.
Definition
more
Term
a change in relative humidity can be changed in 2 ways:
Definition
changing the airs water vapor content
changing the air temperature
Term
what will increase in a rising parcel of air?
Definition
relative humidity
Term
The fog that forms along the Pacific coastline of North America is mainly this type:
Definition
advection fog
Term
Radiation fog forms best on a:
Definition
clear winter night with a slight breeze
Term
The density of water vapor in a given parcel of air is expressed by the
Definition
absolute humidity
Term
What type of cloud is a gray or blue-gray cloud which often covers the entire sky?
Definition
altostratus
Term
Which of the following cloud types is associated with rain?
Definition
nimbostratus
Term
The rate at which the actual air temperature changes with increasing height above the surface is referred to as the:
Definition
environmental lapse rate
Term
Which set of conditions, working together, will make the atmosphere the most stable?
Definition
cool the surface, and warm the air above
Term
Before the passage of a cold front the pressure normally ____ , and after the passage of a cold front the pressure normally ____ .
Definition
falls, rises
Term
as air temperature increases, the airs capacity for water vapor...
Definition
increases.
Term
when air temperature increases, the saturation vapor pressure will...
Definition
increase.
Term
A high water vapor pressure indicates
Definition
a relatively large number of water vapor molecules in the air
Term
If the air temperature increased, with no addition or removal of water vapor, the actual vapor pressure would:
Definition
stay the same
Term
The percentage of water vapor present in the air compared to that required for saturation is the
Definition
relative humidity
Term
At what time of day is the relative humidity normally at a minimum?
Definition
when the air temperature is at its highest
Term
The time of day when the relative humidity reaches a maximum value is usually
Definition
when the air temperature is lowest
Term
As the difference between the air temperature and the dew point increases, the relative humidity
Definition
decreases
Term
Which of the following is the best indicator of the actual amount of water vapor in the air?
Definition
dew point temperature
Term
As the air temperature increases, with no addition of water vapor to the air, the relative humidity will
Definition
decrease
Term
if rising air is colder then its surrounding air, it is...
Definition
stable
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