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Definitions |
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upper boundary of the mesosphere
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mesopause
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Instrument that measures atmospheric pressure using a column of liquid mercury
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mercurial barometer
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Most incoming infrared radiation is absorbed by carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other complex molecules in the __________________
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troposphere
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the ability to conduct electricity
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electrical conductance
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the uppermost layer of atmosphere, in which temperature increases as altitude increases
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thermosphere
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How much of Earth’s atmosphere is composed of nitrogen?
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78%
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all forms of energy that travel through space as waves, including the energy that Earth receives from the sun
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radiation
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Air movement influenced by local conditions and local temperature variations often cause , which are not part of the global wind belts.
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local winds
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an instrument used to measure relative humidity consisting of two identical thermometers
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psychrometer
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an instrument that measures relative humidity by using a bundle of hairs
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hair hygrometer
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rain consisting of drops smaller than 0.5 mm in diameter
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drizzle
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What holds the gases of the atmosphere near Earth’s surface?
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gravity
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What effect do collisions between molecules have on the molecules?
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It warms them.
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The prevailing winds that blow from east to west from 30° latitude to the equator in both hemispheres are called the
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trade winds.
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The states in which water exists in the atmosphere are called _______________
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phases
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The part of the total atmospheric pressure that is caused by water vapor is
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vapor pressure
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What two processes cause cloud droplets to fall to Earth?
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coalescence and supercooling
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Define atmosphere.
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Atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, such as Earth.
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What percentage of water is in moist air?
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moist air
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As they become heated, molecules in a substance
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move faster.
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a zone of low pressure at the equator where the trade wind systems meet
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doldrums
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The name for heat energy that is absorbed or released during a phase change is
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latent heat.
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What is the most common form of solid precipitation?
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snow
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In general, what happens to atmospheric pressure at sea level when the temperature increases?
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As temperature increases, atmospheric pressure decreases.
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Heated materials on Earth’s surface convert energy into infrared rays of longer wavelengths and
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reemit energy as infrared rays.
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The curving of the path of a moving object from an otherwise straight path due to earth’s rotation is called the
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Coriolis effect
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the mass of water vapor contained in a given volume of air
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absolute humidity
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What is an electric hygrometer?
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an instrument that measures humidity at high altitudes
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How do snowflakes change in size as the temperature goes below 0°C?
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They get smaller.
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Describe four common sources of particulates.
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volcanic ash and dust; pollen; tornadoes and windstorms; sea spray
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What are eight characteristics on which the amount of energy that is absorbed or reflected by Earth’s surface depends?
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The amount absorbed and reflected depend on color, texture, composition, volume, mass, transparency, state of matter, and specific heat of the material on which the solar radiation falls.
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bands of winds formed as a result of density differences between cold polar air and warmer air of the middle latitudes
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polar jet streams
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the mass of water vapor in a unit of air relative to the mass of the dry air
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mixing ratio
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Explain why the temperature in the thermosphere steadily rises.
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In the thermosphere, nitrogen and oxygen atoms absorb solar radiation.
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Explain how atmospheric pressure differences create winds.
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As dense, cool air moves into a low-pressure region, the less dense, warmer air is pushed upward. These pressure differences, which are the result of the unequal heating that causes convection, create winds.
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Where do high pressure regions form?
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where cold air sinks toward Earth’s surface
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What happens to energy absorbed by water during evaporation?
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It becomes potential energy between water molecules.
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Under what conditions might sublimation of snow and ice occur?
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when the air is dry and the temperature is below freezing
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Why don’t supercooled water droplets freeze?
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There are not enough freezing nuclei available.
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Temperatures are higher at the equator because
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solar energy is concentrated in a small area.
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The circulation of the atmosphere and of the oceans is affected by
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the rotation of Earth on its axis.
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How are plants, volcanoes, and burning fuels related to water vapor in the atmosphere?
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They release small amounts of water vapor into the atmosphere.
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How do fossil fuels cause air pollution?
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As fossil fuels burn, they may release substances such as sulfur dioxide gas, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, and lead into the air.
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What happens to the energy when sunlight hits Earth at an angle smaller than 90°?
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Solar energy is spread out over a larger area and so is less intense.
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Why does air follow a curved path?
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When air moves toward the poles, it travels east faster than the land beneath it. As a result, the air follows a curved path.
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What does water vapor from supercooled water droplets do?
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It condenses on ice crystals that have formed on freezing nuclei.
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Why are land areas close to large bodies of water generally cooler during the day and warmer at night than similar inland areas?
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Water heats up and cools down slower than land does, so the temperature of water changes less than the temperature of land.
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In general, on what type of objects is the Coriolis effect detectable?
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In general, the Coriolis effect is detectable only on objects that move very fast or that travel long distances.
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What is ozone? How does it differ from oxygen?
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Ozone is a form of oxygen present in the atmosphere in small amounts. Ozone (O3) is made up of three oxygen atoms, rather than two atoms.
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