Grade 10 Exam Review #3- Weather

List the five main layers of the atmosphere and their temperatures. Also, define tropopause. (terms and description)
Outermost layer- Exosphere
2nd outermost layer- Thermosphere
Middle layer- Mesosphere
2nd innermost layer- Stratosphere
Innermost layer- Troposphere
Tropopause- The border between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
In a pie graph, illustrate the composition of the atmosphere.
*See picture
What is the composition of the hydrosphere? (% fresh and salt water, Canada’s freshwater%) *See picture
If the freshwater is 2.5% of the Earth's hydrosphere and underground water comprises 30.1% of the freshwater, what percentage of the Earth's hydrosphere is underground water?
0.025x30.1% = 0.08% of hydrosphere is underground water.
If the Pacific Ocean covers 46% of the world's oceans (saltwater), how much of the Earth's hydrosphere is made up from the Pacific Ocean alone?
0.46x97.5% = 44.4% of hydrosphere is Pacific Ocean.
What is the danger of global warming for the Earth’s hydrosphere?
Future climate changes will depend on the hydrosphere (oceans). The worlds’ supply of freshwater might be altered drastically, ie glaciers and Arctic ice.
Describe the difference between weather and climate. (definitions)
Weather- Is a daily forecast of the temperature and conditions outside.
Climate- Is the average temperature and conditions of that weather.
Explain why we have distinct seasons in Manitoba. Include the effects of tilt, rotation and revolution.
a. Axis tilt along with revolution is responsible for changes in the amount of heat various areas of the Earth taken in during the course of the year in the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

b. Earth's rotation is causing day and night on Earth.

Define perihelion and aphelion.
Perihelion is the closest point to the sun while aphelion is the point that is furthest away in the revolution of the Earth around the sun.
The day on the moon is the same as a year because the rotational speed is one cycle every month. What effect on global weather would this have if Earth did the same thing around the sun?
The Earth would rotate once a year and that would mean one side of the Earth would be in a constant day and the other side in constant night.
What would the effect on weather be if the Earth had no tilt?
The equator would stay hot all year and the poles would stay cold all year, and we wouldn’t get any seasons plus we would have an equal day and night all year around.
Calculate the rotational speed of the Earth at the equator.
40,075 km (circumfrence) / 23.93hrs (for a whole rotation) = 1675km/hr, 465m/s.
Describe, using trigonometry how the rotational speed of the Earth can be calculated at any latitude. Give an example.
Using this formula, you can find the rotation speed at any latitude.
cos(A) = B, B multiplied by 1675 (rotation speed at equator) = C {km/hr}
cos(45*) = 0.707, 0.707 x 1675 = 1184km/hr
Name three types of energy transmission and give an example of each.
Conduction- The transfer of heat between substances that contact each other. (Touching a hot stove)
Convection- The transfer of energy from hot places to cold places, in a continuos loop. (Earths atmosphere, cold air replacing hot air)
Radiation- The transfer of energy that does not rely on contact, is sent through infrared electromagnetic radiation. (The suns radiation to the earth)
How does the atomic model and kinetic energy connect with the concept of heat?
The motion of atoms and molecules IS how heat is defined in science.
Draw a diagram of the Earth’s radiation budget. Include major players in albedo/absorption.
The albedo effect measures the reflectivity of a surface. The land only absorbs 51%.
List four surfaces on Earth from highest to lowest albedo.
Snow- 0.40 - 0.95
Clouds- 0.30 - 0.90
Soil- 0.10 - 0.45
Asphalt- 0.05- 0.10
How do the following factors affect the weather/climate of an area? a) albedo, latitude, ocean currents, prevailing winds, onshore + offshore breezes, landlocked areas and areas near bodies of water.
Albedo- The lower the albedo means more heat is absorbed, making it hotter.
Latitude- The closer to the equator means more direct sun and more heat.
Ocean currents- The ocean currents carry hot and warm water from the equator to the poles. Prevailing Winds- The winds that blow around the earth generally carry heat from the equator to the poles as well.
Breezes- Onshore and offshore breezes is a circular pattern that creates convection patterns which carry heat either away from the land or onto the land. Overall, they have a moderating effect on an area. Areas with or without water- Areas closer to water gets those breezes which can warm up the land faster.Landlocked areas have the opposite effect as breezes. Land usually heats up and cools off quickly if there is no water to mitigate the loss or intake of heat.
How do the properties of air and water affect weather? (ie. Moderation of climate)
The oceans absorb a large amount of solar radiation which then distributes the heat around the world. The air can also create 4 different types of fronts (cold, warm, stationary, occluded)
In what two ways is energy from the equator transferred to the poles?
Energy can be transferred through the oceans and through prevailing winds.
Name four currents that are warm and four that are cold. How do currents affect weather on land? Give two examples.
Typically any currents moving towards the poles are warm currents (Brazil, Gulf Stream, Kuroshio, Agulhas) and any currents moving towards the equator are cold currents (Labrador, California, Benguela, Peru). These currents can cool or warm climate near them.
What are the longest and shortest days of the year for Australia and Manitoba? Why are they different? What and when are the equinoxes for the Northern Hemisphere?
Manitoba- Longest: June 21, Shortest: December 22.
Australia- Longest: December 22, Shortest June 21.
Because when one hemisphere is experiencing summer the other will be experiencing winter.
The equinoxes occur in March and September.
What is the significance of the Arctic and Antarctic Circles? Name respective latitudes.
In the artic the sun will be above the horizon for 24 continuos hours (Summer solstice) and will be below the horizon for 24 continuos hours (Winter solstice)
Artic Circle: 66*[s] and Antartic Circle: 66*[s]
Draw and label an offshore breeze. Explain how a convection loop is set up during the night.
*See picture at top of the page.
During a phase change in a solid, liquid or gas heat is either released or taken in. Draw a diagram to show and label these changes in heat. (latent heat).
*See picture at bottom of page.
How does a balloon filled with cold water not break when a match is held under it for an extended length of time?
Water has a large heat capacity which means the water will absorb all the heat from the match, and the balloon won’t break.
Name two ways in which trees can have a cooling effect on the area around them.
A tree can be a natural air conditioner because of the evaporation from it, causing a cooling effect as well as direct protection from the sun’s rays providing shade.
How is the density of ice unique and how is it necessary for the survival of marine life?
Ice is less dense then water hence it can float. As a result, lakes and rivers do not freeze solid allowing marine life to exist during the winter.
Explain how latent heat is involved in the creation of thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms occur when hot air rises and mixes into cool air. The air cools and condenses the water in it releasing heat. This heat carries the air mass higher which cools even further. If brought high enough, these water droplets can freeze and release heat again causing further updrafts. At the tropopause high winds causes the flat anvil shape of cumulonimbus clouds.
Explain how prevailing westerlies work in our midlatitudes and how the Coriolis Effect influences direction. Draw the major prevailing wind patterns on a diagram.
Westerlies blow the high pressure air towards the poles on the surface. As it does so it deflects to the right which causes the prevailing westerlies. This is the Ferrel Cell.
Why are deserts often found around 30 degrees latitude?
This is because cool air descending from the Hadley Cell at this latitude has little moisture and dries the land below it.
Explain the scientific reason why a cloud formed in a bottle and how this is a model of how real clouds form.
Pumping the bottle forces the molecules to squeeze together or compress. This causes an increase in evaporation. The bottle gets very humid inside. Releasing the pressure allows the air to expand, and in doing so, the temperature of the air becomes cooler. This cooling process allows the molecules of water to condense onto smoke particles which act as seed nuclei to promote condensation. Clouds are nothing more than groups of tiny water droplets!
Explain how Bernoulli’s principle causes wind movement between high and low pressure systems.
Bernoulli’s Principle states that when the speed of a fluid is high the pressure is low and when the speed of a fluid is low the pressure is high. The denser higher pressure air will always move to a less dense lower pressure air to seek a balanced equilibrium.
Describe what causes the jet stream to blow so strongly.
The jet stream forms when two air masses of very different temperature and pressure meet up. The more drastic the temperature change, the faster the jet stream will be.
List the four major air masses of North America and which ones affect Manitoba’s weather the most. What is a 'Colorado Low' and why are we afraid of it?

Continental Arctic, Continental Polar, Maritime Polar, Maritime Tropical.
Continental Polar affects Canada the most and the Colorado low is a maritime tropical air mass that occasionally makes its way as far north as Manitoba meeting a continental polar air mass dumping its load of moisture in the form of a blizzard or similar weather feature.