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Weather and Climate Test

Terms in this set (30)

What is the main source of energy that is responsible for weather?
Sun
What is specific Heat?
Amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celsius. Water has specific heat.
Draw and label the movement of air to show a sea breeze.
During the day, land heats up faster than water causing the warm air over the land to become less dense and rise. This forms a low pressure over the land. As the warm air rises, it begins to cool and become more dense sinking over the water. This forms a high pressure over the sea. The air will move from the high pressure to the low pressure forming a sea breeze. Remember, all winds are named where they blow FROM. So if air is blowing from the sea it is a sea breeze.
Why does the air move horizontally (wind) in a sea breeze and a land breeze?
Water has a higher specific heat than land (heats and cools more slowly than land) so therefore it forms two different pressure systems and air will move horizontally from high to low.
Describe a thermal.
Small upward flow of warm air thermals come and go over a short period of time
What is a convection cell?
Large wind patterns in Earth's atmosphere caused by convection where warm less dense air rises then cools becoming more dense and sinking.
Look at the diagrams above. Which is an accurate picture of how the air moves on Earth? Why?
The second picture because due to Earth's rotation, rising warm air from the equator doesn't make it all the way to the poles.
There are 3 major wind belts in each hemisphere. Which wind belt affects our weather?
The three major wind belts are the Prevailing Westerlies, Polar Easterlies, and Trade Winds. Prevailing Westerlies affect our weather the most.
Global winds appear to _____ due to the Coriolis Effect.
Global winds appear to curve due to the Coriolis Effect.
What is the dew point?
The temperature at which water vapor in the atmosphere begins to condense.
When the dew point temperature has been reached, the rate of _____ is happening faster than the rate of _______?
When the dew point temperature has been reached, the rate of condensation is happening faster than the rate of evaporation
What is relative humidity?
The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere compared to the amount the air mass could hold at a certain temperature. Expressed as a percentage! %%%%
Name the factors that increase and decrease the rate of evaporation.
Increase temperature = increase evaporation
Increase pressure = decrease evaporation
Check all that apply about clouds:
____ Clouds are named based on their size.
____ Clouds appear darker when a storm is approaching.
____ Clouds are formed by conduction.
____ Clouds are water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere.
____ Cumulonimbus clouds bring fair weather.
____ Clouds form when warm air rises because of convection.
Check all that apply about clouds:
____ Clouds are named based on their size.
___X_ Clouds appear darker when a storm is approaching.
____ Clouds are formed by conduction.
___X_ Clouds are water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere.
____ Cumulonimbus clouds bring fair weather.
___X_ Clouds form when warm air rises because of convection.
What is an air mass?
A large body of air with consistent temperature and moisture throughout.
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