Final Exam Review- Air Around You

Chapter 1: Atmosphere Section 1: Earth’s Atmosphere atmosphere: a thin layer of air that forms a protective covering around the planet Name the two most abundant gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Give the percentages Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21%

3. In which layer is the highest concentration of ozone? Stratosphere 4. What happens to air pressure as altitude (distance from sea level) increases? Decreases Why? (discuss molecules) b/c there are fewer molecules of air exist there 5. Why is the ozone layer important to us? Shields us from the sun’s harmful energy/UV rays

Label the Earth’s atmosphere in order starting with Earth: Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, and Exosphere

Section 2: Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere 6. When Earth receives energy from the sun, different things can happen to that heat energy. Some is reflected back to space by clouds, atmosphere, and Earth’s surface Some is absorbed by the atmosphere The rest is absorbed by land and water.

7. Match the 3 ways in which heat is transferred through the atmosphere with the correct description. Radiation flow of material; warm air rises, cool air sinks Convection rays or waves Conduction direct conduct, molecules are bumping

8. Label: surface runoff, transpiration, precipitation, evaporation, condensation

Section 3: Air Movement 9. Why do different parts of Earth receive different amounts of radiation? b/c Earth is curved 10. Wind is the movement of air from areas of high pressure to an area of lower pressure.

Chapter 2: Weather Section 1: What is Weather? 11. Weather: refers to the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place; changes more frequently than climate 12. Temperature is a measure of the average amount of motion of molecules. The instrument used to measure this is a thermometer. 13. Cold air is denser than warm air. 14. Warm air has higher pressure than cold air.

15. Winds move from high to low pressure. 16 15. Winds move from high to low pressure. 16. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. 17. Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. 18. What occurs when air becomes saturated? condensation

19. Relative humidity is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount of water vapor needed for saturation. It is always given as a percentage. 20. Dew point: the temp at which air is saturated and condensation forms.

21. Describe how a cloud forms 21. Describe how a cloud forms. As warm air is forced upwards, expands, and cools. 22. Any water that falls from a cloud is precipitation. 23. Air temp determines the type of precipitation. The 4 types are: rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

24. Snow forms when air temperature is so low that water vapor changes directly to a solid. 25. Sleet forms when raindrops pass through a layer of freezing air near Earth’s surface. 26. Hail forms from updrafts within a cloud.

Section 2: Weather Patterns 27. Air Mass: a large body of air that has properties (similar temp, humidity, and air pressure) to the part of the Earth’s surface. 28. A moist air mass forms over water. A dry air mass forms over land. 29. A barometer is used to measure air pressure.

30. Low pressure is associated with cloudy weather. 31 30. Low pressure is associated with cloudy weather. 31. High pressure is associated with good weather. 32. front: a boundary between two air masses (warm and cold)

Cold Front Warm Front Stationary Front Occluded Front Front Symbol 33. Chart Front Symbol Description Cold Front Colder air advances towards warm air Warm Front Lighter, warmed air advances over heavy colder air Stationary Front A boundary between air masses stops advancing Occluded Front 3 masses (colder, cool, and warm air)cold air forces the warm air upward closing off the warm air from the surface

34. What causes lightening to form 34. What causes lightening to form? When current flows between regions of opposite electrical charges. 35. Thunder occurs as a result of the rapid heating of air around a bolt of lightening. 36. A tornado is a violent, whirling wind that moves in a narrow path over land. 37. A hurricane is the most powerful storm on Earth. It forms over the Atlantic Ocean with winds at least 119 km/hr.

38. A blizzard is a severe winter storm. 39 38. A blizzard is a severe winter storm. 39. Watches: issued when conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, and blizzards and hurricanes. 40. Warnings severe conditions already exist. 41. Meteorologists is a person that studies weather.

Chapter 3: Climate Section 1: What is climate? 42. Define climate: the pattern of weather that occurs in an area over many (30) years; changes less frequently than weather. 43. Name 6 factors that can influence an area’s climate: Latitude, rain shadows, Large bodies of water, ocean currents, Mountains, and large cities

44. What causes seasons? Changes in the amount of solar radiation an area receives 45. During the northern hemisphere’s summer, the north pole is tilted toward the sun. During that time it is winter in the southern hemisphere.

Chapter 4: Air Pollution Section 1: Types and causes of air pollution 46. Give 3 examples of human caused pollution: car exhaust, transportation industry, construction, power plants, agriculture 47. Give 3 examples of natural events that pollute the air. Volcanic eruption, smoke from forest fires and grass fires

48. Primary pollutants: pollutants released directly in to the air. 49 48. Primary pollutants: pollutants released directly in to the air. 49. CFC’s are destroying the ozone.

Photochemical Smog Acid rain Particulate matter Toxic pollutants Smog near the cities that forms with the help of sunlight Acid rain Rain, snow, fog, and other forms of precipitation that have a pH less than 5.6 Particulate matter Air contains suspended solid particles and liquid droplets Toxic pollutants They may/might cause cancer or serious health problems: may damage other organisms

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