What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is short term and highly variable and describes the current state of the atmosphere
Climate is a direct result of the location of a place that describes the “average weather” for the location.
What is 0 degrees Celsius in Kelvin
273.15K (on tests its 273 but for labs 273.15)
What is Standard atmospheric pressure?
Set if values representing the average vertical distribution of pressure, temperature and density in the atmosphere
for Ex at sea level it is:
15 C or 288 K
101.325 kPa
1.23kg/m3
Define force
Force in Newton (N): can be explained using Newton’s first two laws of motion:
- 1. If an object is stationary, it will remain stationary unless an unbalanced force is applied to make it move
- i f an object is moving at a constant speed and direction, it will continue to do so unless an unbalanced force is applied to change its speed, direction, or both
- The force (F) required to accelerate a given mass is the product of the mass (m) and the acceleration (a)
Define Energy/Work
- Energy and work are related, they have the same units ( J for Joule)
- Work (W) is done when a net force (F) moves an object through a distance (d)
Define Power
Uses watts
- The rate at which energy flows, or work is done
- Power is energy (E) or work (W), divided by time
Define Pressure
Uses pascals (Pa) or (hPa / kPa)
- The force (F) per unit area (A)
- Atmospheric pressure: the force exerted by the atmosphere on Earth’s surfac
Define density
Density: amount of mass in a unit volume
- Density (kg x m-3) = mass (kg) / volume (m-3)
- P = m/V
What is the difference between a constant and variable gas in the atmosphere?
Constant gas concentration remains relatively the same within the atmosphere and they have larger residence time (longer average time a substance remains within a system). Ex. nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21%
Variable gas concentration varies over time and space and has a small residence time, it is reactive and has small reservoirs. Ex. CO2, O3, water vapor.
What are the 4 distinct layers of the atmosphere? What distinction separates these layers?
Lowest to Highest:
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere
Temperature Inversion and lapse rate:
Initially with height temperature declines which is lapse rate, but then transitions to the opposite which is temperature inversion where with height a temperature increase is seen.
Troposphere, Mesospere have lapse rate (Temp down w height)
Stratosphere, Thermosphere have temperature inversion (Temp up w height)
What is an atmospheric aerosol
solid or liquid particle suspended in the air. rain often forms around these aerosols to remove 80-90% of them from the air during rainfall. (this is why rain is considered unsafe and dirty.
