NAME:ANSWER KEY GES 241 Introduction to Meteorology Quiz #1 ...

NAME:ANSWER KEY
GES 241 Introduction to Meteorology
Quiz #1 (35 pts)
1. (4 pts) Write down 2 greenhouse gases. (1 pt for the name, 1 pt for the chemical formula)
N 2 O - Nitrous Oxide
CH 4 - Methane
H 2 O - Dihydrodgen Monoxide
CO 2 - Carbon Dioxide
O 3 - Ozone
2. (14 pts) Label each of the layers of the U.S. Standard Atmosphere and each of the boundaries between
layers. Label each layer with a plus (+) if the lapse rate is positive or a minus (-) if the lapse rate is
negative. Label each of the layer interfaces with their elevation above sea level in km.
Altitude (km)
U.S. Standard Atmosphere
120
115
110
105
100
95
THERMOSPHERE (+)
90
85
80
MESOPAUSE (! 83 km)
75
70
65
MESOSPHERE (−)
60
55
50
45
STRATOPAUSE (! 48 km)
40
35
30
STRATOSPHERE (+)
25
20
15
10
TROPOPAUSE (! 11 km)
5
TROPOSPHERE (−)
0
−100 −90 −80 −70 −60 −50 −40 −30 −20 −10 0 10 20 30 40 50
Temperature ( o C)
3. (6 pts) Write down the approximate concentrations of the three major gases in the Earth’s dry
atmosphere. Six points are available; 1 pt each for the percentages, 1 pt each for the names and 1 pt
each for the chemical formulae.
NAME CHEMICAL FORMULA PERCENTAGE
(molecular) Nitrogen N 2 ≈ 78%
(molecular) Oxygen O 2 ≈ 21%
(atomic) Argon Ar ≈ 1%

4. (6 pts) Write down three ways heat can be transfered in the atmosphere.
conduction
convection
radiation
5. (1 pt) The Stefan-Boltzmann radiation law states
(a) E = σT 4
(b) λ max = 2890
T
(c) “the hotter the object is, the shorter-wave the radiation it emits”
(d) “the hotter the object is, the more it radiates”
(e) (a) and (c)
(f) (a) and (d)
6. (1 pt) Wien’s radiation law states
(a) E = σT 4
(b) λ max = 2890
T
(c) “the hotter the object is, the shorter-wave the radiation it emits”
(d) “the hotter the object is, the more it radiates”
(e) (a) and (c)
(f) (b) and (c)
7. (1 pt) If the flux of Solar radiation impinging on the planet (insolation) were to suddenly decrease,
the temperature would drop until
(a) the outgoing longwave radiation again equals insolation.
(b) glaciers form at low latitudes.
(c) all atmospheric water vapor condenses.
(d) the amount of CO 2 levels off.
8. (1 pt) As you ascend through the atmosphere the pressure drops. The rate of pressure decrease is
about
(a) half of the starting pressure for each 11.2 m of ascent.
(b) half of the starting pressure for each 5.6 km of ascent.
(c) 500 mb for each 11.2 km of ascent.
(d) 250 mb for each 5.6 km of ascent.
9. (1 pt) The average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules in a substance is called the
(a) pressure
(b) temperature
(c) density
(d) chemical potential