Earth’s Atmosphere
Study Guide
Name: ______________________________ Date: ___________ Period: ____
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What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? ______ By what percent? _______
The second most? ______ By what percent? ___________
Why does water vapor in the atmosphere vary? (Think of the desert vs. a rain forest!)
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What are the functions/importances of the following substances in the atmosphere…
a. oxygen ______________________________________________________
b. carbon dioxide ________________________________________________
c. ozone _______________________________________________________
d. water vapor __________________________________________________
e. water _______________________________________________________
f. ice _________________________________________________________
g. dust and salt _________________________________________________
Briefly describe the 5 layers of the atmosphere? What is found in each?
a. ____________________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________________
c. ____________________________________________________________
d. ____________________________________________________________
e. ____________________________________________________________
Where is the ozone layer? __________________________Why is it so important to
life on Earth? _______________________________________________________
How does the temperature vary as one moves up the troposphere? _______________
In which layers does molecular heat increase? _______________________________
In which layer does molecular heat decrease? _______________________________
Why is the thermosphere said to be the hottest layer when it feels so cold up there?
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How much of the sun’s energy does Earth’s surface absorb? _______ What happens to
the rest of it? ______________________________________________________
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What is the boiling point/freezing point of water in Celsius ____________________
and Fahrenheit ______________________?
Which process creates rain? ____________________________
What happens to the density of air as one moves up the atmosphere? ______________
Review temperature, density, pressure relationships:
a. Air in which the temperature has decreased (cold air) will have high / low
pressure. Therefore, cold air is more / less dense and will sink / rise.
b. Air in which the temperature has increased (warm air) will have high / low
pressure. Therefore, warm air is more / less dense and will sink / rise.
What is a temperature inversion? _______________________________________
What causes it? _____________________________________________________
What effect does it have on our environment? _______________________________
6. How is wind formed? __________________________________________________
7. What is dew point? ___________________________________________________
What does it indicate about the comfort of a particular place?
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8. What is relative humidity? _____________________________________________
9. How can relative humidity be determined? (Be able to calculate this.)
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Explain the 3 ways clouds can form. (Briefly.)
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What is the lifted condensation level?
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What is orographic lifting?
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When a warm air mass and a cold air mass meet, which one rises? ________________
Why? _____________________________________________________________
How high are the following types of clouds –
a. cirro- _________________
b. alto- __________________
c. strato- _________________
What do the following words mean in Latin –
a. cirrus - _________________________
b. cumulus - ________________________
c. stratus - ________________________
d. nimbus - _________________________
Be able to recognize the shape and location of each of the 10 clouds in Fig 11-14.
Which types of clouds indicate
a. fair weather? _______________________________
b. An approaching front? _________________________
c. A strong storm? _____________________________
d. Constant rain or snow? _________________________
e. A cloud on the ground? _________________________
Be able to explain the water cycle using the terms evaporation, condensation, and
precipitation. Know what each term means and where each process occurs. You should
draw this below.
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Know the following terms – (Write brief phrases!)
a. meteorology - _____________________________________________
b. weather - ________________________________________________
c. climate - _________________________________________________
d. air mass - ________________________________________________
2. Know the location and characteristics of the 5 major air masses that affect the
weather of the USA. (See chart.)
a. Continental tropical _________________________________________
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b. Maritime tropical ___________________________________________
c. Continental polar ____________________________________________
d. Continental tropical __________________________________________
e. Arctic ____________________________________________________
Know the location and wind direction of the each of the global wind systems. Which
wind system is responsible for the movement of weather across the USA?
a. Polar easterlies - ____________________________________________
b. Prevailing westerlies - ________________________________________
c. Trade winds - ______________________________________________
What is a jet stream? _____________________________________________
Which direction do they come from? _______________________ Where are they
located? _______________________ How fast do they move? ______________
What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone?
_______________________________________________________________
How did it get its name? ____________________________________________
What is it also called? ______________________
What is usually missing in this zone? ________________
What are the horse latitudes? _______________________________________
Why are they called that? ___________________________________________
Describe the four types of fronts, identify the symbols for each, and describe the
weather each causes. What happens to the temperature of an area after each passes?
a. Cold - ____________________________________________________
b. Warm - ___________________________________________________
c. Stationary - _______________________________________________
d. Occluded - ________________________________________________
8. Describe the 2 types of pressure systems. Recognize the symbol for each. What
kind of weather is associated with each?
a. High pressure - _____________________________________________
b. Low pressure - ______________________________________________
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9. Know the data collected by the following weather instruments –
a. thermometer ____________________
b. barometer
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c. anemometer ____________________
d. hygrometer
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e. ceilometer
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10. What type of data do radiosondes collect – in general and specifically?
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11. What is radar? __________________________________________________
What does the word stand for? _______________________________________
For what is radar used to track? ______________________________________
12. What is Doppler radar used for?
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13. Know the terms –
a. isobar - __________________________________________________
b. isotherm - ________________________________________________
14. Be able to read a station model. (There will be a station model on your test!)
15. Know the difference between a digital and analog forecast.
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1. Where do the majority of thunderstorms occur in the USA? _________________
2. How, when, and where do the following types of thunderstorms form? Which types
affect us here in the Piedmont?
a. Air mass (mountain/orographic) _________________________________
b. Air mass (sea-breeze) ________________________________________
c. Frontal (cold) ______________________________________________
d. Frontal (warm) _____________________________________________
3. List the 3 stages in the development of a thunderstorm in order. What occurs in
each stage?
a. _________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________
4. Know the following terms –
a. Thunderstorm ______________________________________________
b. Anvil _____________________________________________________
c. Supercell _________________________________________________
5. What is lightning and how does it form? Use the terms stepped leader, return
stroke, channel, and lightning in your answer.
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6. Where is the safest place to be during a thunderstorm? ____________________
7. Why do we hear lightning? What is the sound of lightning called?
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8. What is a downburst? How does it differ from a tornado?
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9. What are the 2 types of downbursts? Which type of downburst is the most deadly?
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10. Why do floods occur?
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Describe the 3 stages in the development of a tornado.
a. _________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________
2. Review the Enhanced Fujita Scale. What does it measure? __________________
When and how does it measure? ______________________________________
Which tornados are most common? __________ Which are least common? ______
Which are strongest, last the longest, and go the farthest? __________________
3. Where is Tornado Alley? ___________________________________________
Which two air masses create the conditions for tornados to form in this area?
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Where is the safest place to be in during a tornado? ______________________
1. What is a tropical cyclone? __________________________________________
2. List 3 names for tropical cyclones. What do we call them?
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3. Where do cyclones derive their energy? ________________________________
What causes them to lose strength? ___________________________________
4. Which direction do hurricanes spin and which way do they usually move in the N.
hemisphere? _____________________________________________________
Which wind system pushes them back to the east? _________________________
5. Do winds increase or decrease as a hurricane strengthens? __________________
What about pressure? ________________________
6. Know the stages of hurricane development… Particularly, wind speed.
a. Tropical disturbance _________________________________________
b. Tropical depression __________________________________________
c. Tropical storm ______________________________________________
d. Tropical cyclone (hurricane) ____________________________________
7. Is a hurricane a high or low pressure system? What type of pressure is found in the
eye of the hurricane? _______________
8. Know the Saffir-Simpson Scale. What does it classify? ____________________
What are 3 characteristics of a hurricane it describes?
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What categories does it include? ___________ What is the wind speed for each
category? _______________________________________________________
9. What are the 3 most powerful hurricanes to hit the USA in recorded history?
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10. Hurricane Hazards…
a. Where are the strongest winds in a hurricane? _____________________
b. What is a storm surge? _______________________________________
c. What kills 9 out of 10 people who die in hurricanes? _________________
d. Which branch of NOAA tracks and forecasts hurricanes? _____________
11. Where is the safest place to be during a hurricane? ________________________
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