Weather Variables Review Sheet

1. What scientific instrument is used to

Psychrometer
a. Measure relative humidity: ____________________________
Psychrometer
b. Measure dew point: ____________________________
Thermometer
c. Measure temperature: ____________________________
2. Convert the following temperatures.

4 277
38F __________C __________K
100 311
38C __________F __________K
6 42
279K __________C __________F
118F 43
__________C 321
__________K
-40C -40
__________F 233
__________K
366K 93
__________C 199
__________F
3. Fill in the table below using your Earth Science Reference Table.
Dry-bulb temp Wet-bulb temp Dew Point Relative Humidity
18C 13C _________
9 56
_________
-2C -3C
_________ -5C
_________ 79%
30C 30F
_________ 30F
_________ 100%
7C 4F
_________ 0C 61-64%
_________

4. Describe the relationship between air temperature, dew point, and relative humidity when precipitation is
relative humidity increases, the difference between dry and wet bulb decreases, clouds and
present. _____________________________________________________________________________
precipitation forms
____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Describe the difference between convection, conduction, and radiation.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Convection- transfer of heat/energy through a solid/ through contact with heat source
Convection- transfer of heat/energy through a fluid. Creates circular currents due to differences in density.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Radiation- Transfer of energy of electromagnetic waves. Can travel through empty space.
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. Explain how density creates convection currents. _____________________________________________
Low density air sinks, high density air rises.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
7. Using your Earth Science Reference Table freezing, condensation
a. Which two phase changes release energy: _____________________________________________
melting, vaporization (evaporation)
b. Which two phase changes absorb energy: _____________________________________________
334 J/g
c. How much energy does melting absorb: ________________________________
334 J/g
d. How much energy does freezing release: _______________________________
2260 J/g
e. How much energy does evaporation absorb: ____________________________
2260 J/g
f. How much energy does condensation release: ___________________________
 g. What happens to the temperature when energy, or latent heat, is absorbed? ____________________
Temperature decreases
_________________________________________________________________________________
h. What happens to the temperature when energy, or latent heat, is released? ____________________
Temperature increases
_________________________________________________________________________________
i. Explain why sweating can cool people down. __________________________________________
Sweating requires the water to evaporate. Evaporation absorbs energy or heat, thus cooling you down.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
8. How does density of cold air compare to the density of warm air? _________________________________
cold air is more dense than warm air.
____________________________________________________________________________________
a. Describe what happens to warm air as it rises to create clouds. _______________________________
warm air rises, expands, cools, and condenses.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
9. What type of energy transfer is needed to transfer electromagnetic waves from the Sun to Earth?
radiation
_______________________________
a. Compare the wavelengths of Gamma rays to Microwaves. __________________________________
Gamma = short wavelength, Microwaves = large wavelength.
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. List the colors in order from lowest energy (largest wavelength) to highest energy (smallest
wavelength).
red
i. ______________________________
orange
ii. ______________________________
yellow
iii. ______________________________
green
iv. ______________________________
blue
v. ______________________________
violet
vi. ______________________________
10. Compare the air circulation of a high-pressure system to a low-pressure system. ____________________
high pressure in the northern hemisphere moves clockwise and out (away from the center).
____________________________________________________________________________________
low pressure in the northern hemisphere moves counterclockwise and in (toward the center)
____________________________________________________________________________________
a. In terms of pressure, how do winds move? _______________________________________________
high to low pressure
_________________________________________________________________________________
b. What is the Coriolis effect, and what does it provide evidence of? ____________________________
The apparent curving of the winds which provides evidence that the Earth is rotating.
_________________________________________________________________________________
i. Compare the apparent curvature of the winds in the northern hemisphere to the apparent
curvature to the winds in the southern hemisphere. _______________________________
Winds curve towards the right in the northern hemisphere.
________________________________________________________________________
Winds curve towards the left in the southern hemisphere.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
11. Identify the layers of Earths atmosphere in order from lowest to highest in altitude.
Troposphere
a. ______________________________
Stratosphere
b. ______________________________
Mesosphere
c. ______________________________
Thermosphere
d. ______________________________
Tropopause
12. Identify the interface that separates the troposphere from the stratosphere. _________________________
Mesopause
13. Identify the interface that separates the mesosphere from the thermosphere. ________________________
14. Describe the relationship between water vapor and altitude. _____________________________________
As altitude increases, water vapor decreases.
____________________________________________________________________________________
15. Describe the relationship between altitude and air pressure. _____________________________________
As altitude increases, air pressure decreases.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Stratosphere
16. What layer of the atmosphere do we find the ozone layer? _______________________________________
a. Explain why the ozone layer is vital for life to exist on Earth? _________________________________
Ozone absorbs Ultraviolet radiation, which is very harmful to life. If exposed to too much UV
_________________________________________________________________________________
radiation, cells would begin to mutate.
_________________________________________________________________________________
17. Describe the relationship between altitude and air temperature. __________________________________
As altitude increases, temperature decreases (troposphere), then increases (stratosphere), then
____________________________________________________________________________________
decreases (mesosphere), then increases (thermosphere).
____________________________________________________________________________________