As a parcel of air is lifted up over a mountain it cools. What is the cause of t
ID: 291557 • Letter: A
Question
As a parcel of air is lifted up over a mountain it cools. What is the cause of this cooling?
The rising air molecules collisions create vibrations in the outermost electron shells. At higher altitude, these vibrations release infrared radiation that leaks out into space easily, causing the air molecules to become cooler.
During the uplift expansion of the air creates less energetic collisions among the air molecules. These less energetic collisions create slower moving molecules which we measure as lower temperatures.
The increase in carbon dioxide with altitude absorbs the heat from the rising air. This absorption of heat causes the air molecules to cool and the carbon dioxide to increase in temperature.
As the air rises higher and higher, the atoms in the air form more complex bonds with other atoms in the air. This bonding process releases energy that radiates into space. This results in a cooling of the air.
2.
The Earth's major atmospheric circulation cells are created by:
The Earth spins on its axis and solar heating of the tropical areas.
The Sun heats all of the atmosphere, but not equally. As a result the air sinks near the equator and rises at the poles. This creates a more complex circulation pattern.
The gravitational influence of the Moon, and to a lesser degree the Sun, cause the atmospheric circulation. This circulation is modified by ocean currents and mountain ranges.
Ocean currents transport warm waters to cooler, higher latitudes that result in a mixing of warm and cold air.
3.
The name "Mosaic Canyon" is geologically appropriate for this Death Valley canyon because
In the late 1940's, the famous photographer Ansel Adams created a mosaic of an unnamed canyon in Death Valley. That unnamed canyon became know after his photographic art.
The canyon walls are covered with petroglyphs.
The canyon has a great diversity of desert landforms. Hiking up the canyon you can see a mosaic of typical desert features.
A portion of the canyon contains a breccia zone that looks like a mosaic of different types of rocks all cemented together.
4.
What distinguishes a playa and a playa lake?
A playa lake refers to the water and the playa is the shore (or beach) that surrounds it.
The playa lake is dominated by silt and clay while the playa is composed of sand.
The presence of water on a playa makes it a playa lake.
A playa lake is a recent (geologically speaking) deposit of sediments, while a playa may be many million years old.
5.
As a mass of air rises up a mountain side it cools and precipitation takes place. It then moves over the top of the mountain and heads downward. When it reaches the valley floor it is drier and actually warmer than when it started. What one word (listed below) captures the essence of the answer to this conundrum?
evaporation
sublimation
condensation
radiation
6.
Eventually, large alluvial fans begin to merge at the base of a desert mountain. This broad apron of alluvium is called a...
sedimentary wedge
bajada
fanglomerate
fanjita
7.
The sand at White Sands National Monument in New Mexico consists almost entirely of gypsum. The source of this unique sand is Lake Lucero (a playa). Where did this playa get all of its gypsum?
Volcanic emissions rich in calcium and sulfur, bubbled up beneath the lake to enrich it in gypsum.
It blew in from the Death Valley area.
It came from gypsum deposits in the nearby mountains.
It was created in the lake by the sulfur producing bacteria acting on limestone
Explanation / Answer
1. During the uplift expansion of the air creates less energetic collisions among the air molecules. These less energetic collisions create slower moving molecules which we measure as lower temperature. As the air rises it expands due to lower atmospheric pressure, and the energy used in expansioncauses the air to cool.
2. The Sun heats all of the atmosphere, but not equally. As a result the air sinks near the equator and rises at the poles. This creates a more complex circulation pattern.
3. A portion of the canyon contains a breccia zone that looks like a mosaic of different types of rocks all cemented together.
4. The presence of water on a playa makes it a playa lake.
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