METEOROLOY STUDY GUIDE
ATMOSPHERE
1: Why is the atmosphere important? (3 reasons) contains oxygen, traps heat, protects us from the sun’s
ultraviolet radiation
2: What is the composition of the atmosphere? 78 % nitrogen and 21 % oxygen plus water vapor and other gases.
3: What are the characteristics of the 4 main layers of the atmosphere?
(starting at Earth and going up) Troposphere, stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere
Tropo- means turning or changing, weather occurs here, closest layer to Earth
Strato- means spread out, contains the ozone
Meso- means middle, protects earth from being hit by most meteoroids
Thermo- means heat, this layer is divided into two layers: top layer - exosphere and bottom – ionosphere
4. What is the relationship between altitude and air pressure? As altitude increases (going up a mountain), air
pressure deceases (and density decreases). As altitude decreases, air pressure increases (and density increases).
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Air pressure – the pressure caused by the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area
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Altitude - elevation above sea level
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Barometer – an instrument used to measure changes in air pressure
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Weather - the condition of Earth’s atmosphere at a particular time and place (changes day to day. ex: rainy
on Monday, sunny on Tuesday)
ENERGY AND HEAT TRANSFER
5: How is heat transferred? 3 ways: conduction, convection, radiation (cold doesn’t transfer)
conduction __B___
A. form of waves, warmth from sun
convection __C___
B. when two objects touch, a pot touching a hot stove
radiation __A____
C. through liquid or gases, main way atmosphere is heated
6: How does energy from the sun travel to Earth? The sun emits electromagnetic waves that travel through the
atmosphere by radiation. Some of the energy is reflected back into the space, some is absorbed by the atmosphere, and
some reaches Earth.
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Heat – the transfer of thermal energy from one object to another because of differences in temperature.
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Green house gas effect- the process by which heat is trapped in the atmosphere (this keeps us warm)
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Global warming – a gradual increase in the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere.
WIND
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Wind - the horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.
7: What causes winds? Unequal heating of Earth’s surface (which will cause differences in density) Warm air rises,
cold air moves in underneath. Then the cool air is near the surface of Earth and begins to heats up so it rises and cool air
moves in underneath. (creates convection currents)
8: Name and describe the global winds. Global winds blow
over long distances. 
9: Name and describe the two types of local winds.
Local winds blow over short distances. 2 types:
Sea Breeze – the flow of cooler air from over an ocean or lake toward land. (will occur during the day, when the land
heats up faster)
Land Breeze- the flow of air from land to a body of water (will occur at night, when the water is warmer)
AIR MASSES & FRONTS
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Air mass –a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure throughout.
Front - boundary where two air masses meet but do not mix
Humidity - the amount of water vapor in a given volume of air
Storm – a violent disturbance in the atmosphere
10: What are the major types of air masses?
Maritime Tropical – wet, warm
Continental tropical – dry, warm
Maritime Polar – wet, cold
Continental Polar – dry, cold
11: How do air masses move? In the United States, air masses are moved by the Prevailing Westerlies and jet
streams.
12: What are the main types of fronts?
HOW IT FORMS
Cold air mass pushes under a warm air mass forcing
Cold Front
warm air to rise
Moist, warm air mass slides up and over cold air
Warm Front
mass
Stationary Front Warm and cold air meet and neither air mass can
force the other to move
Warm air mass gets caught between two cold air
Occluded Front
masses. The warm air rises and the cold air masses
join.
WEATHER IT BRINGS
Can cause thunderstorms, followed
by cool fair weather
Can cause gentle rain or snow,
followed by warmer weather
Can cause days of cloudy, rainy
weather
Temperature drops, can cause strong
winds and heavy rains