Atmosphere, Weather, and Weather Maps
Key terms and rules for interpreting pressure systems, fronts, and atmospheric layers.
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Questions Covered in This Set
10 cards to master
What is the composition of the atmosphere (major gases)?
About 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, with ~1% other gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, argon) doing most of the weather-related work.
Troposphere: altitude, temperature trend, and importance?
0–12 km; temperature decreases with altitude; holds ~75% of atmospheric mass and essentially all weather.
Why does temperature increase with altitude in the stratosphere?
The ozone layer absorbs UV radiation, creating a temperature inversion that makes the stratosphere very stable — ideal for jet cruising.
What causes wind?
Unequal heating creates pressure differences; air flows from high pressure to low pressure, and that flow is wind.
Describe airflow and weather in a low-pressure system (Northern Hemisphere).
Counterclockwise and inward, air rises, adiabatic cooling leads to condensation — clouds, precipitation, and storms. L = wet.
Describe airflow and weather in a high-pressure system (Northern Hemisphere).
Clockwise and outward, air sinks, compresses and warms, evaporating clouds — clear, dry, calm. H = dry.
What do closely spaced isobars indicate?
A steep pressure gradient, which means strong winds; widely spaced isobars mean gentle breezes.
What does standard sea-level pressure equal?
1013.2 millibars (mb).
How are air masses labeled?
c = continental (dry) or m = maritime (moist), plus T = tropical (warm), P = polar (cold), or A = arctic. Example: mT = warm and humid.
What weather accompanies a cold front?
Cold dense air wedges under warm air, forcing steep lifting: cumulonimbus, thunderstorms, brief heavy rain, then a sharp temperature drop, clearing skies, and a wind shift (often to NW).
