NATS 101 Quiz #1 Study
Guide (preliminary)
(click here
to download this study guide in Microsoft
WORD format)
***
Chap. 1 (pps 14-19), Chap. 4 (pps 96-97) ***
Layers of the atmosphere.
Troposphere: lowest layer in the
atmosphere, decreasing temperature with increasing altitude (why is
the warmest air found near the ground), contains most of the water
vapor and clouds, can be unstable (strong vertical air motions
possible). Tropopause. Stratosphere: isothermal layer and
temperature inversion layer (what causes the warming in the
stratosphere), stable layer, contains the ozone layer. Approximate
altitudes of these layers. Units: meters, kilometers, feet, miles.
Ideal Gas Law.
This is
a
microscopic-scale explanation of air pressure. Two equations:
P = N k T / V and P = (rho) R
T. N is the number of air molecules in
a
volume V, T is temperature and rho
is density. R and k are both constants. You
should be able to determine what will happen to the
pressure in a rigid container or something flexible like a balloon if
you change
the variables in the
equation above. What variables could you change together in such
a way
that the pressure
would stay constant?
Ideal gas law
applications. If you heat or cool a parcel of air in the
atmosphere, Charles' law says the density
(volume)
will change in such a way that the air pressure inside the parcel
remains constant (remains the same as the pressure of the air
surrounding the parcel).
Archimedes Law. An
object immersed in a fluid (liquid like water or gas like air)
experiences an upward bouyant force that is equal to the weight of the
fluid displaced by the object. Basically objects that are less
dense that the fluid around them float, objects that are denser than
the fluid surrounding them sink.
Sample questions (from the Fall 2000 quiz packet)
Practice Quiz: 8, 16
Quiz
#1: 13, 14, 16, 17,
EC2
Final Exam: 19, 22
***
Chap. 1 (pps 21-26), Appendix C (pps 525-529) ***
Station model notation.
How and where are the following weather variables plotted: cloud cover,
temperature, dew point temperature (typical values for
Tucson), wind direction and speed, common weather symbols (rain, snow,
fog, rain shower, thunderstorm, tropical storm and hurricane),
pressure. Units. After pressure is measured, what important
adjustment
is made before the pressure is plotted on the surface map? Why is that
necessary? Average and typical range of sea-level pressure values.
Surface weather maps.
A new map is prepared hourly. What
time zone or time reference is used? 24-hour clock (what is the local
time when it is 17:30 MST in Tucson). Isobars and isotherms. Small
horizontal
differences in pressure cause the wind to blow. Air motions around high
and low pressure centers (northern hemisphere). Strong and weak
pressure gradients. Convergence and divergence. Rising and sinking air
motions. How do wind motions around highs and low affect the
temperature pattern? Cold fronts and warm fronts (where is the warm and
cold air, what direction are the fronts moving).
Upper level charts
Ridges
(warm air below) and troughs (cold air below). Winds blow parallel to
contour lines and from west to east.
How can upper level convergence
or divergence affect surface pressure to increase or
decrease?
Is upper level convergence or divergence needed to cause a hurricane to
intensify?
Sample questions
Practice Quiz: 2, 11, 14,
19 Quiz #1: 6, 7,
8, 9, 10,
11 Final
Exam: 7, 10, 17, 34, 52
Reviews
Mon. Feb. 16
|
4-5 pm
|
FCS 225
|
Tue., Feb. 17
|
4-5 pm
|
FCS 225
|