Study
Guide
Study
Guide
Introduction to the Atmosphere -
Why is Earth's atmosphere important?
What is the general composition of the atmosphere?
What components of the atmosphere are significant to weather and climate?
What are the thermal layers of the atmosphere?
How does temperature change in each layer?
In what layer does weather occur?
Where does the ozone layer occur and why is it important?
How does pressure change with altitude?
Radiant energy from the sun is in what form?
-What is the electromagnetic spectrum?
-What is ultraviolet light & visible light vs. infrared?
Understand the basic processes in heating and cooling the atmosphere
-radiation, absorption, reflection, scattering, transmission, conduction, & convection
-What is the relationship between absorption and reflection?
What is adiabatic heating vs. cooling?
***You should also be familiar with the change of seasons and the significance of each day -
Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox, & Vernal Equinox.
Atmospheric pressure and wind
What is atmospheric pressure?
How does pressure vary with altitude?
How does temperature vary with altitude?
What effect does a change in temperature have on pressure?
What impact does a warm surface have on pressure?
What impact does rising air have on pressure?
What is wind, and what causes it?
What determines/effects the direction of wind?
- What is the coriolis effect and friction? What impact do the coriolis effect and friction have on wind?
What is cyclonic vs. anticyclonic flow?
What determines wind speed?
*You should have a general understanding of the basics of circulation variations with changes in latitude.
What are the tradewinds, westerlies and polar easterlies?
What are the doldrums and what is the wind and climate like in that area?
What are the horse latitudes and what is the wind and climate like in that area?
How does pressure vary with changes in latitude and how does that impact
circulation?
What is the jet stream and where does it occur?
What are sea breezes vs. land breezes? How do they form and where?
Atmospheric Moisture
What is water vapor?
What is evaporation?
How does temperature effect water vapor in the atmosphere?
What is humidity?
-understand relative humidity.
What is the dew point?
What is condensation?
What is dry vs. wet adiabatic rate?
How are clouds formed?
What are the basic types of clouds?
What is fog?
What causes precipitation? Have a basic understanding of the various forms of precipitation.
Weather
What is an air mass? How does an air mass form?
How are air masses classified?
How does movement of an air mass effect the weather?
What is a front?
How does a warm front form and what type of weather is associated with a warm front?
How does a cold front form and what type of weather is associated with a cold front?
What is stationary front?
What is an occluded front?
What are the characteristics of a mid-latitude cyclone?
How does it form? How does it impact weather?
Where does it occur? What direction does it move?
What is a mid-latitude anticyclone and how does it affect weather?
How are hurricanes formed?
Where do they occur?
What is the eye?
What are some of the basic characteristics of a hurricane?
What is storm surge?s
What are thunderstorms, how are they formed?
Where are they common?
How are tornadoes formed? Where are they common?
Climate
Have a general understanding of the Kőppen Classifcation
-What are Zones A, B, C, D, and E