Weather Benchmark Study Guide

6.E.2A.1: Layers of the Atmosphere

Use the above images to answer the following questions.

1. List the layers in order starting with the layer closest to Earth.

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere

2. In what layer of the atmosphere is the Ozone layer found? Stratosphere

3. What gas makes up the ozone layer?

Ozone (Oxygen/O3)

4. What are the two most abundant gases in the atmosphere?

Nitrogen and Oxygen

5. How does air pressure change as altitude increases?

Air pressure decreases as altitude increase

6. How does the gravitational pull change as altitude increases?

Gravitational pull decreases as altitude increases

Using the image to the right answer the following questions.

7. Write a short explanation of what happens to the temperature as altitude increases.

Temperature decreases as it moves through the troposphere

Temperature increases when moving through the stratosphere

Temperature decreases to -180◦F in the mesosphere

Temperature increases to more than 150◦F in the Thermosphere

8. What is the coldest layer in the atmosphere?

Mesosphere

9. What is the warmest layer in the atmosphere?

Thermosphere

6.E.2A.2: Greenhouse Effect

Using the image above answer the following questions:

10. What is the greenhouse effect and how does it impact the Earth?

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and retain radiated energy. This regulates surface temperature and keeps it habitable

11. Why is the greenhouse effect beneficial for Earth?

Regulates temperature and keeps it habitable

12. How do greenhouse gases play a role in the greenhouse effect?

They absorb and retain the heat radiated from the land and ocean surfaces

13. List the different greenhouse gases.

Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide

14. What would happen if there were no greenhouse gases?

There would be no gases to trap the heat in the atmosphere making it inhabitable

15. What happens if the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases? Why?

If the amount of greenhouse gases increases than the greenhouse effect can be enhanced. This increases the amount of heat that is trapped in the atmosphere increasing the surface temperature of the Earth.

16. How do humans contribute to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?

We contribute to the increase of greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, using aerosol sprays and clearing/burning trees

17. How can humans change to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we put into the atmosphere?

We can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we put into the atmosphere by using environmentally friendly cars, planting trees, and using alternative produces that do not require aerosol sprays.

6.E.2A.3: Water Cycle

18. What role does sunlight play in the water cycle? How does it influence evaporation and transpiration?

Thermal energy warms the plants and water causing the water to become water vapor and rise into the atmosphere

19. What role does gravity play in the water cycle? How does it influence precipitation and runoff?

Gravity is the driving force for the downhill flow of water on land.

20. What are the different types of precipitation? What influences the different types of precipitation?

Temperature influences the different types of precipitation.

The different types are rain, sleet, snow, hail and freezing rain.

21. Explain the different states of matter through the water cycle starting with evaporation/ transpiration.

Evaporation/ Transpiration: liquid to a gas (water vapor)

Condensation: gas (water vapor) to a liquid

Precipitation: Can be a solid or liquid depending on temperature

22. Compare and contrast evaporation and transpiration.

Evaporation comes from bodies of water such as oceans and lakes whereas transpiration is water evaporated from plants.

23. What two characteristics must be present for water to be able to sink into the ground? 1. Porous 2. Space to hold the water in the soil

24. What happens to the water if those two characteristics are not present?

The water will remain on the surface

25. When it rains, where does water always attempt to move back to?

Water attempts to move back toward sea level

26. What is the difference between dew and frost?

Dew: water vapor condenses directly onto a surface

Frost: water vapor changes from a gas to ice crystals (temperature must be at or below the freezing point)

6.E.2B.1: Weather Tools

27. What types of instrument is pictured to the left?

Anemometer

28. What does this instrument measure?

Wind speed

29. What does the information it provides tell us about the weather conditions?

Indicates change in atmospheric flow patters

30. What types of instrument is pictured to the right?

Thermometer

31. What does this instrument measure?

Temperature

32. What does the information it provides tell us about the weather conditions? Change in air masses

33. What does this instrument measure? Humidity

34. What does the information it provides tell us about the weather conditions?

Increase in humidity indicates an increase in precipitation

35. What type of instrument is pictured to the right?

Wind vane/ weather vane

36. What does this instrument measure?

Wind direction

37. What does the information it provides tell us about the weather conditions?

The direction of advancing air masses

38. What type of instrument is pictured to the left? Barometer

39. What does this instrument measure? Air pressure

40. What does the information it provides tell us about the weather conditions? Fair or stormy weather conditions

41. Looking at map to the left, what information is being displayed? Air pressure, warm and cold fronts and high/low pressure systems

42. What are the black lines with the numbers called? Isobars

43. What does this information tell you about the weather in an area? The type of weather that can be expected based on air pressure

44. What do the different colors on this map represent?

The different temperatures

45. What is the term associated with these trends?

Isotherms

46. What information does the weather map to the right provide?

Fronts, pressure systems and weather forecast

47. How does fronts influence the weather in an area?

Fronts and low pressure systems can cause rain or storms

48. The image to the right was taken with a satellite. What is this image showing?

Hurricane

49. How can this type of technology be used to observe and track weather/storms?

Used to see cloud patterns and movements

50. This is a radar image. What does this image show?

Rain bands

51. How can this type of technology be used to observe and track weather/storms? Detect cloud cover/ movements, rainfall, and storm intensity/location

A. B. C. D.

What type of clouds are pictured about and what type of weather is associated with each type?

A. Cumulus- Fair weather

B. Cirrus- fair weather or an approaching warm front

C. Stratus- long periods of precipitation

D. Cumulonimbus- thunderstorms

Answer the following questions using the above image of various station models:

52. What is the temperature in Dallas? 19

53. What is the wind direction and speed in Casper? N at 5 mph

54. What is the cloud cover in Phoenix? 50% or 75%

55. What is the dew point in El Paso? -3

56. What is the current weather in Casper? Heavy rain

57. How are station models used to represent the weather in the area?

The tell the dew point, weather conditions, temperature, air pressure and cloud cover for an area.

Used to predict weather patterns.

6.E.2B.2: Air Masses, Fronts and Storms

This map shows different types of air masses. What do each of the following symbols in the image to the left mean?

mP: __Maritime Polar______________________

mT: __Maritime Tropical ___________________

cP: ___Continental Polar____________________

cT: ___Continental Tropical_________________

What temperature and conditions are associated with each type of air mass?

mP: __moist and cold______________

mT: __moist and warm_____________

cP: ___dry and cold _______________

cT: ___dry and warm_______________

What is the difference between maritime and continental air masses?

Maritime forms over water and Continental forms over land

What is the difference between polar and tropical air masses?

Polar comes from the north carrying cold temperatures and Tropical carries warm temperatures

What type of front is displayed in the image to the left?

Warm front

What evidence do you have to support your claim?

Warm air is approaching cooler air and rising over the cooler air

What weather is associated with this particular type of front?

Long periods of precipitation and warmer temperatures

What type of front is displayed in the image to the right?

Cold Front

What evidence do you have to support your claim?

Cold air approaching warm air. Cold air is sinking pushing the warm air up.

What weather is associated with this particular type of front?

Thunderstorms or tornadoes and cooler temperatures

What type of front is displayed in the image to the left?

Occluded Front

What evidence do you have to support your claim?

Cold air pushes warm air into a cooler air mass. Warm air mass is pushed up above the cooler air masses.

What weather is associated with this particular type of front?

Long periods of precipitation

What type of front is displayed in the image to the right?

Stationary

What evidence do you have to support your claim?

Cold and warm air masses are at a boundary and not moving

What weather is associated with this particular type of front?

Long periods of precipitation

What information does the image to the right provide?

Pressure systems and fronts

What is a high pressure system and what weather is associated with it?

Circulates clockwise and is associated with fair weather

What is a low pressure system and what weather is associated with it?

Circulates counterclockwise and is associated with rainy/stormy weather

Type of Storm

Image

Characteristics Low pressure

tropical storm Forms over

warm water Form a spinning

circular pattern

Rapidly whirling, funnel shaped cloud

Low pressure system Strong winds

Thunder, lightning, heavy rain and strong winds

Cumulonimbus clouds Along cold fronts

What causes high/low pressure systems?

Warm air rising and cold air sinking combined with the spinning of Earth causing the air to spin

6.E.2B.3: Convection Currents/ Winds

This image shows both a land a sea breeze. Write a short explanation describing what causes these convection winds to occur. In the day, when the sun is up, the land heats up very quickly and the air above it warms up a lot more than the air over the water. The warm air

over the land is less dense and begins to rise. Low pressure is created. 

The air pressure over the water is higher with cold dense air, which moves to occupy the space created over the land. The cool air that comes along is called a sea breeze. In the night, the reverse happens.

The land quickly loses its’ heat whiles the water retains its’ warmth. This means the air over the water is warmer, less dense and begins to rise. Low pressure is created over the water. Cold and dense air over the land begins to move to the water surface to replace the warmer rising air. The cool breeze from the land is called a land breeze.

What is the main cause of global convection currents?

Unequal heating of Earth’s surfaces

The image to the right displays the three atmospheric climate zones that influence the climate regions on Earth.

How does their latitude placement impact the weather in each location? Why?

Closer to the equator the warmer the area. Temperature decreases as you move away from the equator.

What is a jet stream?

Fast moving ribbons of air moving from west to east

What is the difference between a polar jet stream and a subtropical jet stream?

Polar brings down cold polar conditions while a subtropical jet stream brings warm conditions.

How do westerlies and trade winds impact weather systems?

Effect the direction of tropical weather systems (hurricanes)

How does the California current influence the western Pacific shoreline?

By bringing cold, moist air

How does the Gulf Stream current influence the eastern Atlantic shoreline?

By bringing warm, moist air

Why do global wind belts occur between climate regions?

Due to the characteristics of the convection currents in those areas

What causes them to impact weather conditions?

The direction of the global winds

6.E.2B.4

Discuss how each of the following factors determine climate in an area:

Latitude o Regions near equator are warmer o As you move away from the equator temperature decreases

Elevation o As altitude increases, temperature decreases

Shape of the Land (topography) o Mountains and valleys affect the movement of air masses

Distance from water o Land and sea breezes influence temperature

Global Winds o Predictable pattern for air movement

Ocean Currents o Circulates heat energy o Air masses form over regions and move with currents