What is the hydrostatic balance?
The change in pressure with height or depth in a fluid is dependent on the fluid's density
What is ideal gas law?
An equation that relates temperature, pressure and density
What does R represent in the ideal gas law equation?
The ideal gas constant
What is the purpose of synoptic weather maps?
To show variations in height of a pressure surface with isolines
What are the two ways energy can be trasferred?
As heat or as work (movement of mass over distance)
What is heat?
Energy transferred due to a temperature difference
What is internal energy?
Total energy of the molecules of a substance, including thermal and potential
What is an adiabatic process?
A temperature change that occurs without heat transfer
What does the first law of thermodynamics state?
Heat transfer equals change in internal energy plus work done
What is an adiabatic process?
A temperature change that happens without heat transfer
What determines the rate of radiation emission and the wavelengths emitted
Temperature
What is the Stefan-Boltzman law?
The rate of emission from a substance is proportional to the fourth power of its temperature
Why does the sky appear blue?
Due to Rayleigh scattering of shorter blue wavelengths
What are the three radiation laws?
- Stefan-Boltzman law
- Planck's law
- Wein's law
What does the solar constant measure?
The amount of insolation reaching the top of the atmosphere
What unit is used to measure flux density in radiation emission?
Joules per square metre (J x m2)
What does Kirchhoff's Law state about absorptivity and emissivity?
Absorptivity at a certain wavelength is equal to its emissivity
What is the definition of sensible heat flux?
the transfer of heat between Earth's surface and the atmosphere
Describe the role of longwave radiation in the Earth's energy balance.
Longwave radiation represents energy lost to space
What does the formula L* = L↓ - L↑ represent?
Net longwave radiation
What does QH represent in the context of energy transfer?
Convective sensible heat flux
Describe the role of terrestrial radiation in the context of Earth's energy balance
terrestrial radiation helps regulate temperature by balancing incoming solar radiation through negative feedback loops
What is the primary reason for the development of convective flows in the atmosphere?
A radiative surplus (29 units) at Earth's surface and a deficit in the atmosphere
Describe how net shortwave radiation is calculated
the difference between incoming shortwave radiation and the amount reflected
What is partial pressure?
The pressure that a gas exerts, contributing to the total atmospheric pressure
What is vapour pressure?
The partial pressure that water vapour contributes to the total atmospheric pressure
What happens to the rate of condensation as temperature decreases?
The rate of condensation increases
Humidity is measured in terms of ________________, the actual amount of moisture in the air compared to the amount it could have at that temperature.
relative humidity
What happens to the rates of evaporation and condensation when saturation is reached?
They are equal.