Concept Check 16.1 1.Weather is a state of the atmosphere at a given time and place. They are constantly changing, sometimes from hour to hour and at other times from day to day. Whereas, climate is a description of aggregate weather condition. It is based on observations that have been accumulated over many years. 2.The basic elements of weather and climate are: a.Air temperature b. Humidity c.Type and amount of cloudiness d.Type and amount of precipitation e.Air pressure f.The speed and direction of the wind.
Concept Check 16.2 1.The two major components of clean, dry air are:
2. Water vapor and aerosols are important constituents of Earth’satmosphere because they can have significant effects on weather and climate. Water vapor is the source of all clouds. And, aerosols act as surfaces on which water vapor can condense, and important function in the formation of clouds and fog. Secondly, aerosols can absorb, reflect, and scatter incoming radiation. 3.Ozone is a form of oxygen that combines three oxygen atoms into each molecule (O3 ). Ozone is important to life on Earth because it absorbs the potentially harmful ultraviolent (UV) radiation from the Sun. Concept Check 16.3 1.Three layers in order (from lowest to highest) are as follows:
