Earth’s Atmosphere Unit Test Study Guide
Know the definitions of the following terms:
Climate- the characteristic weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.
Air mass- Large body of air. Covers thousands of miles.
Fossil fuels-Fuels formed from the remains of prehistoric organisms that are burned
for energy.
Latitude- the distance in degrees north or south from the equator.
Front- boundary between air masses. Fronts are often cloudy or stormy.
Altitude- distance above sea level
Atmosphere- layer of air that surrounds the earth.
Lightning- spark of electricity
Hurricane- low pressure system- winds 74 mph
Tornado- violently rotating column of air- occurs mostly in spring- unpredictable.
Blizzard- blinding snowstorms, winds 35mph, occur in northern and central U.S.A.
Thunder- sharp wave of heated air that travels away from lightning.
Eye of the hurricane-center of storm, calm winds
Storm surge- pushes huge mass of ocean water onto coastal area.
Know the definitions of the three types of energy:
Conduction-transfer of heat energy from one substance to another by direct
contact.
Convection-transfer of energy by the motion of gas or liquid. Movement of gases
up and down. Warm air rises, cool air sinks.
Radiation- energy that travels distances in waves, can be absorbed or reflected.
Know the difference between particle pollutant and gas pollutant
Particle pollutants (smoke, dust) are easier to see than gas pollutants.
Know the 4 types of air masses, descriptions of each, and how they are named:
Maritime polar- moist and cool
Maritime tropical – moist and warm
Continental polar- dry and cool
Continental tropical- dry and warm
Be Able to name and describe the three atmospheric cycles:
Water cycle- liquid water from oceans and lakes change into gas and enter
atmosphere. Plants release water vapor from leaves. Evaporation (gas), Condensation
(liquid – clouds) and Precipitation (water falling back to the earth in form of rain,
snow, sleet or hail)
Nitrogen cycle- tiny organisms remove N2 from air, change it into other
chemicals and return it to the soil.
Carbon cycle- Oxygen inhaled by animals, exhales carbon dioxide - plants take in
CO2 and change it back into Oxygen
What are the two most common gases in our atmosphere?
Nitrogen 78% and Oxygen 21%
Know the definition, effects, and gases involved of the Greenhouse Effect:
Traps heat- absorbs gases (carbon Dioxide, Methane, etc.) and keeps earth warmallows heat to go back into space. Keeps earth’s average surface temperature around 59
degrees.
Know the definition, effects, and gases involved in the Ozone Layer
Ozone is in the stratosphere, protects life on earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet
rays from sun.
Know the three fronts and type of weather involved with each:
Cold front- cold air mass pushed a warm air mass. Produces cumulonimbus clouds,
Brief heavy storms. Cool weather.
air.
Warm front- warm air mass pushes cold air mass. Hours of rain and snow- warm
Stationary front- two air masses push against each other and stop moving.
Becomes warm or cold when one air mass advances.