UNIT 5 REVIEW

A R E YO U R E A DY F O R T H E F I N A L ?
WHAT IS THE MOST ABUNDANT GAS
IN THE ATMOSPHERE?
Nitrogen
WHAT ARE THE LAYERS OF THE
ATMOSPHERE?
Thermosphere: 80 to 700 km (50 to 440 miles)
Mesosphere: 50 to 80 km (31 to 50 miles)
Stratosphere: 12 to 50 km (7 to 31 miles)
Troposphere: 0 to 12 km (0 to 7 miles)
WHAT IS THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT?

Heating of the lower layer of the

atmosphere from radiation absorbed by
certain heat-absorbing gases
WHAT ARE THE THREE TYPES OF HEAT TRANSFER? HOW
DOES EARTH RECEIVE ENERGY FROM THE SUN?

Conduction, Convection, Radiation

Radiation
WHAT ISOTHERMS? WHAT ARE ISOBARS?

Lines that connect equal temperatures

Lines that connect equal pressures
WHAT CAUSES THE EARTHS
SEASONS?
The tilt of the Earth
WHAT GAS IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR UNDERSTANDING
ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES (WEATHER)?

Water Vapor
WHAT IS FOUND IN ALL THREE STATES ON EARTH?

Water
WHAT ARE THE NAMES/TYPES OF STATE CHANGES?
WHAT IS LATENT HEAT?

Energy that is stored or release during a

change of state for water
WHAT IS SATURATED AIR?

Air that cannot hold any more water (its at

capacity)
WHAT ARE THE PROCESSES THAT LIFT AIR?

Convergence
Orographic Lifting
Frontal Wedging
LIST AND DESCRIBE THE TYPES OF
CLOUDS
Cirrus- thin and wispy
Cumulus- cotton balls puffy clouds
Stratus- sheets or layers
Vertical/Cumulonimbus- Extend from low to high in the
atmosphere. Associated with thunderstorms
Fog- cloud with base at the ground
WHAT ARE THE 3 PREFIXES FOR CLOUDS?

High- Cirro
Middle- Alto
Low- Strato
WHAT IS AIR PRESSURE?

Force exerted by the weight of the air above

WHAT AFFECTS WIND?

Difference in air pressure

Coriolis Effect
Friction
IF ISOBARS ARE CLOSE TOGETHER ON A WEATHER MAP
WILL YOU EXPERIENCE HIGH OR LOW WINDS?

High Winds
WHICH DIRECTION DO WEATHER SYSTEMS MOVE ACROSS
THE US?

West to East
WHAT IS EL NINO?

Phenomenon associated with surface

temperatures in the eastern Pacific that are
warmer than average.
WHAT IS LA NINA?

Phenomenon associated with surface

temperatures in the eastern Pacific that are
colder than average.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT AIR MASS TYPES? DESCRIBE

Continental Polar- Cold and Dry

Continental Tropical- Warm and Dry
Maritime Polar- Cold and Wet
Maritime Tropical- Warm and Wet
WHAT IS A FRONT?

Boundary that separates different air masses

WHAT TYPE OF FRONT CAUSES SEVERE BUT SHORT-LIVED
STORMS?

Cold Fronts
WHAT SCALE DO WE USE TO CLASSIFY HURRICANES?

Saffir Simpson Scale

WHAT SCALE DO WE USE TO CLASSIFY TORNADOES?

Fujita Scale