sem review part 2 ~ meteorology

Sem ReviewPart 2 ~

Meteorology

AtmosphereAtmosphere

• Describe the difference between WEATHER

&

CLIMATE

Fronts, Pressure, & Sky Conditions

• Describe the movement of air near HIGH and low pressure centers.

• Explain why Michigan has mostly clear skies under HIGH pressure but cloudy skies under low pressure.

2 Main gases of Earth’s Atmo.

• Nitrogen:

• Oxygen:

AtmosphereAtmosphere

• Describe the importance of the 3 minor atmospheric components:– Water Vapor– Ozone– Atmospheric Dust

CFC’s

• Breakdown O-Zone in the Stratosphere.

Layers of the Atmosphere

Lower Atmosphere

• Describe the temperature trend in each of the bottom 2 layers of Earth atmosphere.

• Explain what causes that temperature trend.

Filtering out EM radiation

• Describe how each form of EM radiation is filtered out by a different layer(s) of the atmosphere– Gamma & X-Ray– UV– IR & Vis

Heating the troposphere

• Using the terms conduction, convection, and radiation, explain how each process contributes to the daily heating of the troposphere.

• Explain the daily “delay” in heating.

Albedo

Factors affecting temperature

• Explain which factor affects the temperature difference between each pair of cities– Latitude– Elevation– Maritime Location

Movement of Weather

• Trade winds: – Begin at equator move

from the East to the West

• Westerly winds:– Winds affecting the

U.S., move from the West to the East

Calculating Relative Humidity

• Determine water vapor capacity for each temperature below– 5°C (@ 8am)

– 9°C (@ 12pm)

– 12°C (@ 3pm)

• Use your capacity #s to calculate relative humidity % if the specific humidity is constant (12g of H2O)

Cloud Cloud FormationFormation

• Describe each ingredient needed for cloud formation.

• Explain the source – Convective Cooling– Forceful Lifting

• Air Mass Lifting• Mountain Lifting

CLOUDSCLOUDS

• Draw and describe the structure of the following cloud types:– Stratus– Cumulus– Cirrus– Cumulonimbus

Mountain Terrain

Air Masses

• Describe (and show on a map) the 4 main air masses that affect the U.S.:

– mT– cP– cT– mP

Fronts, Pressure, & Sky Conditions

• Describe the movement of air near HIGH and low pressure centers.

• Explain why Michigan has mostly clear skies under HIGH pressure but cloudy skies under low pressure.

Temperatures & Fronts

• Compare temperatures in cities A, B, and C.

• Explain how approaching fronts will eventually change temperatures for each.

• Explain why the front over Lake Superior formed.

AABB

CC

Reading an isobar map

• Find wind direction for the following:– Toronto– Topeka– Denver– Augusta

• Rank them strongest (1) to calmest (4) winds

Severe Weather

• Explain the scientific cause of each:– Hail– Lighting– Thunder

• Describe the formation of a tornado– Where and Why

Severe Weather

• Describe Hurricane formation.

• Include diagram– Where winds are highest– Winds lowest– Air pressures associated

with hurricanes– What fuels them– What happens when they

go on land– Most costly part of

hurricanes

Biogeochemical Cycles

• Why is Earth considered a “closed system”

• Illustrate:– Carbon Cycle– Nitrogen Cycle

Climate Change

• Greenhouse Effect

• Causes of Climate Change

• CO2 Levels in atmo.

• Direct/Indirect evidence

Ocean Salinity

• Melting of land ice

• Would affect salt content and would change ocean patterns.

Ocean Currents• Effect on:

– Maritime Climates– Northern Latitudes

• What causes currents?

Greenhouse Gases• The major natural greenhouse

gases are water vapor, which causes about 36-70%

• carbon dioxide, which causes 9-26%; 

• methane, which causes 4-9%, and 

• ozone, which causes 3-7%. 

Climate Change• Natural: • Man-Made:

Atmosphere CO2 Levels

Global Warming

• Warmer Oceans:– Sea-level rise– Severity of Storms

(hurricanes)

Climate Change Evidence

• Tree Rings

• Pollen Spores

• Ice Cores/CO2