Homework 2
This assignment is due on Friday, September 9, 2005 at the beginning of the lecture.
- How high is the typical pressure at the earth's surface in millibars? In inches of mercury? In Pascals?
- Suppose you have a sealed jar of air. If you heat the jar, how does the pressure inside the jar change, and why?
- Explain how heating the air inside of a hot air balloon causes the balloon to float.
- Why does temperature decrease with height in the troposphere?
- Why does temperature increase with height in the stratosphere?
- List at least three ways in which the troposphere is different from the stratosphere.
- How is the heterosphere different from the homosphere? What is the name of the level that separates these two layers of the atmosphere?
- A cold can of soda accumulates condensation as it sits out on the countertop. Is the formation of the condensation warming or cooling the drink inside the can? Explain your answer in terms of latent heat.
- Explain how the melting of ice is a cooling process.
- Explain the difference between advection and convection.
- What is a temperature inversion? Name a layer of the atmosphere that is an example of a temperature inversion.