Name:_________________________________________ Block:_______________
Meteorology Study Guide
Test on 11/15 (A days) and 11/16 (B days)
The Atmosphere
1. Label the layers of the atmosphere. (pg 370)
2. Which layer of the atmosphere is where weather occurs and in which you live? (Pg370)
Troposphere
3. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer and therefore is warmer as you go up in
altitude?(pg370) Stratosphere
4. Why is the ozone layer so important to life? What pollutant has created a “hole”? (pg 380)
The ozone layer absorbs UV radiation and protects it from the harmful radiation. The release of CFCs
have bonded with the ozone molecules creating a hole. This is NOT related to climate change.
Moisture and Heat in the Atmosphere
5. Define relative humidity. (pg 392) A percent that compares the actual amount of water vapor in the
air with the maximum amount the air can hold at a given temperature.
6. Define greenhouse effect. (pg 370) the absorbtion and retention of the sun’s radiation by the
atmosphere resulting in an increase in surface temperature.
7. Where does all of the energy that drives weather come from? (pg 373) The Sun
8. Compare and contrast weather and climate. (pg 466)
Both are looking at temperature and precipitation but climate is long term while weather is daily.
9. What are the determining factors for the climate of an area? (pg 467)
Latitude, elevation, nearby water, ocean current, topography, prevailing winds, vegetation
10. Why is it warmer near the ground and colder as you climb up a mountain? (pg 370)
Two reasons: the ground absorbs much of the radiation from the sun and heats the air through
conduction and as you go up a mountain there is less air there to keep the temperatures warm.
11. Define dew point. (pg 393)The temperature at which saturation occurs and condensation begins
12. Compare and contrast conduction, radiation, and convection. (pg 369)
All three are types of energy transfer. Conduction involves the touching of a substance so the energy is
transferred from one molecule to the next. Convection is through the circulation of currents of heat
within a substance. Radiation is the transfer of heat through space in waves.
13. What kind of air can hold more water vapor? (warm or cold)(pg 391) Warm
14. Sketch a picture of the global wind pattern. Include arrows and labels for the wind belts. (pg 423)
Air Pressure and Wind
15. What is a barometer used to measure? A psychrometer? A thermometer? An anemometer? A rain
gauge? A wind vain? (pg 414, 392, 418)
Barometer- air pressure
Thermometer- temperature
Psychrometer- relative humidity and dew point
Anemometer-wind speed
Rain Gauge-amount of liquid precipitation
Wind vain-wind direction
16. Wind blows from HIGH pressure to LOW pressure.
17. Why does wind blow? (pg 417) pressure differences
18. Define coriolis effect/force. (pg 419) The effect of Earth’s rotation that causes the curving of the
wind in the Northern Hemisphere to the right and left in the Southern Hemisphere.
19. High air pressure creates areas with HAPPY (sunny) weather, while low air pressure creates areas
with LOUSY (rainy) weather.
20. In the Northern Hemisphere wind curves toward the RIGHT and therefore hurricanes rotate
counterclockwise.
Severe Weather and Maps
21. Draw the symbols on a weather map for a warm front, cold front, occluded front, and stationary
front. (pg 440)
22. What does the “H” and “L” on a weather map depict? (pg 416) H-High pressure and L-Low pressre.
23. What are the lines on a weather map called? If they are close together that means the wind is
blowing slow or fast? (pg 416) Isobars, the closer together they are the faster the wind will blow.
24. Explain how hurricanes form. Be detailed! (pg 451)
Hurricane formation begins in the tropics with a supply of warm moist air. The air rises, cools, and
water condenses. Humid air flows in at the surface to replace the rising are and even more water
condenses. The rotation occurs because of the Coriolis force, turning it counterclockwise. Hurricanes
only form when the surface ocean waters are 80°F or above and weaken as soon as they hit land.
25. What is “Tornado Alley”? (pg 448) Tornado Alley is an area in the United States that is flat and has
the proper conditions for mesocyclone formation.
26. What is a storm surge? (pg 451)
A raise in sea level caused by the strong hurricane winds.
27. Contrast freezing rain from sleet. (pg 403)
Sleet- frozen rain drops,
Freezing Rain- rain that freezes on contact with the ground.
At night, the ground surface cools by radiating heat to space. Air near the ground cools to the dew point
temperature, causing water in the air to condense.
28. Draw a station model with 100% cloud cover, wind from the North at 20 knots, rain, temperature at
25°C , dew point at 22°C, and an air pressure of 988mb. (pg 457)