Name__________________________________
Group____________________________________
Chapter 8 Study Guide – The Ocean & the Atmosphere
1. Define Weather.
2. Define Climate.
3. Define Meteorology. Who coined this term?
4. Name three pieces of weather measuring devices that were invented in the 1400’s.
5. The Barometer was invented in 1643 and is often cited as the true beginning of meteorological science. What
does the barometer measure? What barometer reading typically means “bad weather”? What barometer
reading typically means “good weather”?
6. Beginning in the early 1900’s, scientists developed mathematical weather forecasting. However, due to the
chaotic behavior of weather prediction models (Chaos Theory), it was theorized that it would take 600,000
people to do all of the calculations necessary for predicting the weather for the next day. What invention in the
1950’s simplified this process?
7. Define Vapor Pressure.
8. Define Evaporation.
9. Define Condensation.
10. Circle the correct answer: When rates of evaporation and condensation are equal, Equilibrium Vapor Pressure is
reached. When conditions are under-saturated, evaporation may (exceed/lag) condensation. When conditions
are supersaturated, evaporation may (exceed/lag) condensation.
11. Name these clouds:
________________________
(aka Mackerel Sky)
________________________
(aka Horsetails)
________________________
(aka Thunderheads)
________________________
12. Cloud formation occurs under oversaturated or supersaturated atmospheric conditions. However, condensation
cannot occur without the presence of a surface. What “surface” is used for cloud formation? How small are
these “surfaces”?
13. What is DMS? What biological organisms in the ocean produce DMS? DMS is responsible for a negative
feedback process that helps control the surface temperature of water. Describe this process.
14. Name the 4 layers of the atmosphere in order from lowest elevation to highest. Describe what is happening
with temperature in each layer and why there are temperature differences between the layers. Which layer is
the densest? Which layer contains the major weather systems and wind systems? Which layer contains the Jet
Stream? Which layer contains ozone? Which layer has a pressure that is 1/1000 of the Earth’s surface
pressure? Which layer is Earth’s largest layer? What is the Exosphere?
15. Explain the process of sea water freezing into sea ice (ice crystals, slush, pancakes, floes, ridges, hummocks, fast
ice, and brine cells). Don’t forget to explain how the freezing point is lowered & how sea ice becomes fresher
and fresher as it ages.
16. Define Leads. Define Polynyas.
17. Describe 3 differences between the sea ice formation in the Arctic and sea ice formation in the Antarctic.
18. Define Albedo.
19. Describe the Ice-Albedo Positive Feedback Loop; How does melting ice cause more ice to melt?
20. More than 800 million years ago, Earth went through a period where the Ice-albedo Positive Feedback Loop
worked the other direction resulting in a “Snowball Earth”. What is the proposed explanation for this?
21. Define the Coriolis Force. Why is it considered “apparent”? In which direction are moving objects deflected in
the Northern Hemisphere? In the Southern Hemisphere?
22. Which direction do Easterly winds blow (from where to where)? Which direction do Westerly winds blow?
North winds? South winds?
23. On the globe below, label the following in the Northern hemisphere & in the Southern hemisphere:
a. Hadley Cells & direction of circulation
b. Ferrel Cells & direction of circulation
c. Polar Cells & direction of circulation
24. On the globe below, draw the Northeast Tradewinds, Southeast Tradewinds, Westerlies, and Polar Easterlies.
Show wind direction with deflection.
25. Atmospheric pressure is measured in four different units. Give the conversion for the following:
1 atm = ________________ inches Hg = _________________ = ________________ kPa
26. Describe the characteristics of High Pressure Cells: rotation direction, vertical motion of air, temperature, and
moisture.
27. Describe the characteristics of Low Pressure Cells: rotation direction, vertical motion of air, temperature, and
moisture.
28. Describe how the unequal distribution of land between Earth’s Northern hemisphere and Earth’s Southern
hemisphere affects the summer to winter variation in temperature for land at the mid-latitudes.
29. What causes daily onshore breezes? What causes nightly offshore breezes?
30. What are orographic effects? What causes a “rain shadow”?
31. Anatomy of a Hurricane: Define and describe the Eye, the Eyewall, and Rainbands.
32. What direction do hurricanes typically move?
33. What is a storm surge?
34. Describe El Nino. Describe La Nina. Describe their relationship to the Southern Oscillation.