Test 1 Review
Below are some points worth going over for the first exam. The list is not meant to be all inclusive. There will be items on the exam that I have probably forgotten to list below but I suspect 90% or more of the questions will come from the topics below. Follow the course outline, your notes, powerpoints on Blackboard, and use the book in your studies, especially the figures and tables I identify in the outline

Be sure to bring a #2 pencil to the exam as we will be using Scantron grade sheets

All questions on the exam will be in a multiple choice format. Also, all questions will deal with material solely from lecture. Lab and discussion assignments should be helpful in answering questions but I will not ask questions that solely deal with lab or discussion material
1. Have a general notion of how we approach this material--systems(including general characteristics)--notion of interrelationships and process
2. earth rotation and revolution and its relationship to solar radiation input to the earth
3. seasons, tilt of axis, plane of ecliptic. Know the general dates and definition of the winter and summer solstices, spring and fall equinoxes
4. know what solar altitude and declination mean
5. how daylength, solar altitude and input of solar radiation vary seasonally as you move away from the equator
6. Know the 3 major gases that make up the atmosphere and know the characteristics of the 3 variable gases (ozone, water vapor and carbon dioxide)
7. characteristics of troposphere and definition of tropopause
8. concept of atmospheric pressure--relationship to density- decrease with altitude
9. different ways of measuring pressure at sea level
11. concept of energy-how it is transferred (conduction, etc)--different forms (kinetic and potential)
12. heat, internal energy (kinetic energyof molecules) and how internal energy changes
13. relationship between changes in internal energy and temperature
14. concept of temperature--equilibrium temperature--flow of heat from high to low temp objects
15.3 temperature scales and concept of absolute zero
16. concept of specific heat
17.latent and sensible heat and what is involved in phase changes of water
18.nature of radiation-electromagnetic spectrum-range of uv, visible and infrared radiation
19. general understanding of Wien's and Stefan's Laws
20. general notion of radiation exchanges between surface, atmosphere and space including longwave exchanges
21. notion of energy flow as sensible and latent heat from surface to atmosphere and tropics to polar regions
22.greenhouse effect
23. concept of temperature as it relates to radiation and energy balances
24.major controls of temperature- especially maritime continental regimes
25. weather shelter--temperature near the surface
26. daily temperature pattern-time of max and min and reasons for
27. Wind--3 forces governing (know how each influences wind)--geostrophic wind--concept of cyclones and anticyclones and differences between northern and southern hemisphere
28. General pattern of global pressure systems (and names) along with major surface wind belts
29. concept of jet stream, Rossby Waves and Polar Front
30.Importance of water vapor in atmosphere--ways of measuring humidity--know concept of saturation and actual values and what they mean--dew point--relative humidity (and variation with temperature)
31. Factors influencing evaporation (the two specific ones and the two general ones)
32. Condensation--adiabatic temperature changes--wet and dry adiabatic rates
33. Condensation Nuclei
34. Formation of clouds--concept of condensation level
35. Concept of stability and instability
35.a major factors influencing stability--i.e. env lapse rate, humidity and triggering mechanisms
36. four triggering mechanisms for precipitation (frontal, orographic, etc)
37. Bergeron, Giant Nuclei and Collision Coalescence for precipitation
38. Precipitation distribution around the globe (general--tie in with pressure systems and their migration throughout the year)
39. Air masses--especially those that influence us and their characteristics
40. fronts-types and general characteristics
41. concept of relationship between midlatitude cyclones, Rossby Waves and jet stream
42. life cycle of mid latitude cyclones