Geo3100 - Study Guide Chapter 9

Exam 3 Study Guide: Part 2 Chapter 9: Atmospheric Processes and Severe Weather Instructions: Use the chapter 9 reading and lecture materials to answer the following questions. Some questions have multiple parts so carefully read the questions and provide detailed and specific responses. Generally, the difference between a good grade and a poor grade on an assignment is based on whether or not the questions were answered completely. The purpose of this assignment is to test your understanding of course materials covered from Chapter 9. Additionally, this assignment doubles as Part 2 of the Exam 3 study guide. 1. Describe the three types of heat transfer and how they differ from one another. (1 pt) 1. Radiation: wavelike energy that is emitted by any substance that posses heat. 2. Conduction: the transfer of heat through a substance by means of atomic or molecular interactions. 3. Convection: the transfer of heat by the mass movement of a fluid. 2. Describe Earth’s energy balance. (1 pt) 1. Earth’s Energy Balance: a general equilibrium between incoming and outcoming energy. The energy that earth receives from the sun affects the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living things before being radiated back into space. 3. How is color related to energy absorption? (1 pt) 1. Dark colors have low albedo (like the forests and oceans). Bright colors like Ice have high albedo. 4. Describe the characteristics of the troposphere. (1 pt) 1. 1. The Troposphere contains air, with high nitrogen and high water vapor content. Temperature and pressure decrease with elevation. 5. Describe basic atmospheric circulation. (1 pt) 1. The Earth’s atmosphere circulates as air is heated and cooled. The density of the air and atmospheric pressure help drive this as cold air is more dense than hot air and sinks while hot air rises to replace its space. The hot air is then cooled becomes wetter and denser as the change in pressure assists this transformation. The once hot air is now cold and falls to continue the cycle. 6. What is the Coriolis affect and how does it influence storm rotation in the northern and southern hemispheres? (1 pt) 1. Earth's rotation causes deflection or spin in the atmosphere. Low pressure systems in the northern Hemisphere spin counterclockwise. The vector of rotation is perpendicular at the equator and thus it has no effect. The opposite will be seen in the southern hemisphere. This means that storms forming at the equator stay there and that storms forming at the subtropics move over Open Ocean and when conditions are correct they form tropical storms and possibly hurricanes. 7. Describe the polar jet stream and subtropical jet stream. (1 pt) 1. The polar jet stream and subtropical jet stream both belong to the northern hemisphere. The polar jet stream occurs at a lower altitude while the subtropical is at a higher altitude. Both jet streams move from west to east and have different strengths with the polar stream being stronger. 8. Describe the three stages of thunderstorm development and conditions necessary for both to form. (1 pt) 1. Cumulus Stage: a cloud forms from water vapor being condensed as it rises. This stage requires a continuous amount of head and condensation which will drive the expansion and rise the cloud.