Name _____________________________________________ Date _________________ Period _______ Climate C.H.A.N.G.E. Quiz #1 Data Analysis & Earth’s Atmosphere 1.) Describe the main difference between weather and climate. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 2.) What are the 5 layers of the atmosphere (as described by a difference in temperature)? List in order of lowest elevation to highest elevation. ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ ________________ 3.) What is the coldest part of the atmosphere called? _________________ 4.) Explain why the temperature in the troposphere decreases as the altitude increases. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 5.) Explain why the temperature in the stratosphere increases as the altitude increases. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 6.) Explain why airplanes fly in the stratosphere as opposed to the troposphere. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 7.) Why is the exosphere comprised mainly of hydrogen and helium compared to the troposphere which has many different constituents? _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ 8.) Where in the atmosphere does most weather take place? _____________________________ 9.) Why is this so? _____________________________________________________________________________________ 10.) Enter the Blue Hills Observatory data for the 120-­‐year period from 1891-­‐2010 below into Excel. Data can be accessed at the website below. http://www.bluehill.org/climate/meanandextreme_1891-­‐2010.html Graph the Average Temperature and Average Precipitation vs. Month. There should be two different y-­‐axes and one common x-­‐axis. On your graph, make sure that: •
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It has a title Each axis is bold Major and minor tick marks are made inside the axis o Note, not all axes may need minor tick marks All axes are labeled with the correct units The graph is easy to read (the data is not compacted into a small area) Normal Monthly Precipitation Month Average Temperature (˚F) (inches) (Boston, MA) (MA) January 24.87 3.92 February 27.21 3.3 March 35.51 3.85 April 45.43 3.6 May 56.16 3.24 June 64.95 3.22 July 70.37 3.06 August 68.63 3.37 September 60.54 3.47 October 49.69 3.79 November 40.71 3.98 December 30.24 3.73 11.) What is the independent variable? _________________________ 12.) What are the dependent variables? ____________________ & ____________________ Look at the graph from NOAA below and answer the questions that follow. Include units in your answers. 13.) Based on this graph, what is the concentration of CO2 in 1975? ________________ 14.) Based on this graph, what is the global temperature of Earth in 1945? ______________ 15.) What is the difference between the most recent measurement of CO2 concentration and the concentration of CO2 in 1880? ________________________ 16.) What is the main point that the creator of this graph is trying to get across to the public? __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ ANSWER KEY 1.) Weather is atmospheric conditions specific to a place and time whereas climate is the long term average of atmospheric conditions. 2.) Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere 3.) Mesopause 4.) Earth is heated by the electromagnetic radiation from the sun. The heat leaves the surface of Earth and as it rises, it expands and cools. 5.) In the stratosphere lies the ozone layer. Ozone absorbs and scatters much of the UV radiation emitted by the sun causing an increase in the temperature as altitude increases. 6.) Airplanes fly in the stratosphere because there is very little mixing of the air in the stratosphere whereas the hot air in the lower troposphere mixes with the cool air of the upper troposphere, causing turbulence. 7.) As altitude increases, atoms get sorted by atomic weight. The air is well mixed in the lower atmosphere so both heavy and light molecules are found there. Only the lightest molecules exist in the upper atmosphere. 8.) Troposphere. 9.) The troposphere is where almost all of the water vapor exists. 10.) 80 5 60 4 3 40 2 20 1 0 0 PrecipitaKon (inches) Temperature (˚F) Average Mean Temperature (˚F) for MA from 1971-­‐2000 and Normal Monthly PrecipitaKon (inches) for Temperature Boston, MA vs. Month Precipitahon 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Month 11.) Month 12.) Average Temperature, Monthly Precipitation 13.) 330 ppm 14.) Approx. 58˚F 15.) 385-­‐290 = 95 ppm 16.) The creator of this graph is trying to establish a connection between global temperature and CO2 concentration.