Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Earth and Space Sciences to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Directions: Use the information provided and your knowledge of Earth and Space Sciences to answer the following questions. Show all work where necessary.
Air is all around us, but we cannot see it. Gravity from the Earth pulls air down - this is called air pressure. We don't feel this pressure because our bodies push an equal amount of pressure outward. This table shows how air pressure and air temperature changes with altitude (the distance above sea level). Barometers are used to measure air pressure in millibars (mb) and thermometers are used to measure temperature in Celsius (oC).
The data table below shows some atmospheric data at different heights (measured in meters (m)) above the Earth’s surface for Paducah, Kentucky on June 2, 1990.
Height Above Earth’s Surface (m) | Air Pressure (mb) | Air Temperature (oC) |
|---|---|---|
3145 | 700 | 10.5 |
4408 | 600 | 0.9 |
5852 | 500 | −7.6 |
7550 | 400 | −19.5 |
9615 | 300 | −36.2 |
12,309 | 200 | −57.6 |
Based on the data table, describe the general relationship between altitude and air pressure.
At which altitude in the data table does the temperature first drop below freezing (0oC), and what is the approximate pressure at that altitude?
Why does air pressure decrease as altitude increases?
Which layer of the atmosphere is represented in this dataset, and how can you tell?
If the trend in the data continues, what would you expect the air temperature to be at 15,000 m?
Which statement best describes the relationship between altitude and temperature in the dataset?
Explain how the data helps scientists predict weather patterns, such as storm development.
Which Crosscutting Concept best applies to the observed relationship between altitude, pressure, and temperature?