Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
Concept of recurrence interval; |
|
Definition
•Recurrence interval
–Length of time in years separating floods of a similar size [measured as volume of flow of stream]
–Larger floods have a longer time interval
–We speak of the 100-yr flood, one that has a 1% probability of occurring once in a given year
–20-yr flood would have a 5% likelihood of occurring in a given year
–Oak Creek to the south of Flagstaff experienced three 100-yr floods in a decade due to combinations of rare conditions |
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
types of load and what is found in each type; |
|
Definition
•Total load (visible and invisible)
–Suspended load (~ 90% of total, by weight)
–Bed load (~ 10% of total)
–Dissolved load (chemical ions) |
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
flash floods vs regional floods and their respective causes; |
|
Definition
•Flash
–Localized areas, usually thunderstorms; common in deserts
–Examples:
•Antelope Canyon, AZ August 1997 11 died
•Big Thompson Canyon, CO July 1976 145 died
•Need to consider where storms are—seldom directly overhead but up drainage area
•Regional, downstream
–Prolonged rain which saturates ground or delayed snowmelt
–Floodplain covered |
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
concept of discharge; |
|
Definition
•Discharge
–Volume of water passing a point in a given amount of time; usually cubic feet (or meters) per second
–Depends on cross sectional area; becomes higher when area is reduced |
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
depositional vs. erosional features along streams and where each is found; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
points of highest and lowest velocity in stream cross-section; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
formation of natural levees; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
relationship of magnitude and frequency of major floods; |
|
Definition
As with other disasters, major floods occur less frequently
•To determine a frequency curve,
–Determine the number of years of record (N)
–Rank order the floods from highest to lowest based on the flow value (1=highest) (M)
–Calculate recurrence interval
R = (N + 1)/M,
where M = rank of individual flow in data set |
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
importance of Mississippi River system in U.S.; |
|
Definition
•Mississippi River drains 42% of the U. S.
•Greatest inundation floods in US occur here
•3rd largest river basin in world
•11 of 28 largest rivers in US are part of the Mississippi River system
•Avg flow 645,000 cu ft/sec
•1 cu ft = ~7.5 gal, so this is 4.83 million gals/sec or 100+ swimming pools PER SEC |
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
other large systems in U.S.; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
which areas are prone to flashfloods; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
how gradient affects flooding; human response to flooding – things we do for better or worse; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
characteristics of areas that experience flashfloods and regional floods; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
f
looding in SE Arizona in Oct 1983; |
|
Definition
•Tropical storm Octave dropped 60% annual rainfall in a few days
•Increased development increases pavement and roof tops
•Desert flooding generates bank erosion rather than inundation |
|
|
Term
Chapter 5 – Flooding
large scale flooding in the Channel Scablands of eastern WA |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
Types of energy related to the atmosphere; |
|
Definition
•Potential
•Kinetic
•Heat
–Second Law of Thermodynamics says heat travels from the hotter body to the colder one |
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
what the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics says;
how heat transfer occurs and examples; |
|
Definition
–Conduction – atomic or molecular transfer
–Convection – mass movement
–Radiation – wave-like energy emitted
- stove example |
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
how temperature changes in the atmosphere; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
how air pressure changes with increasing altitude; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
what’s involved with encroaching cold and warm air fronts in terms of cloud and moisture buildup; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
how troughs and ridges relate to regions of low and high pressure; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
rotational wind directions related to low and high pressure in N. Hemisphere; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
general idea of where most thunderstorms occur; |
|
Definition
•About 16 million occur worldwide each year
•Florida has about 100 thunderstorm days per year; Uganda has about 240
•1,800 occur at any given moment
•All produce lightning; severe storms produce hail which can travel up to 100 mph |
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
characteristics of organizational and mature stages of tornadoes; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
worst months of year for tornadoes; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
regions of U.S. where most tornadoes occur; l |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 8 – Atmosphere and Severe Weather
least affected areas for tornadoes |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
General air circulation on a global scale near the equator; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
where tropical storms form in the Atlantic Ocean; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
differences and locations of formation of hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
common traits of tropical cyclones; |
|
Definition
nForm between latitudes of 5° and 20° N or S
nMost common in summer months of respective hemisphere
nForm in E or SW Pacific, E N Atlantic Ocean, and N Indian Ocean
nRotational winds produce low pressure
nWarm water of 25 - 26° C [77-80° F] |
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
role of the Bermuda High in North Atlantic Ocean storms; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
difference between tropic and extratropical cyclones;
|
|
Definition
nForm between latitudes of 5° and 20° N or S
nMost common in summer months of respective hemisphere
nForm in E or SW Pacific, E N Atlantic Ocean, and N Indian Ocean
nRotational winds produce low pressure
nWarm water of 25 - 26° C [77-80° F]
nExtratropical cyclones
nForm over land or water in higher latitudes, usually 30 - 70 ° latitude
nCool central cores driven by jet stream |
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
general cross section of the center of a storm; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
determination of wind speeds in moving storms; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
definition of storms based on wind speeds; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
major effects of cyclones, including storm surge, flooding, and high winds; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
when storms are assigned names and what method is used; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
what is the biggest killer in cyclonic storms; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
where do we find the strongest winds and biggest storm surge; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
limits on Category 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) storms; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
effects of cyclones in terms of storm surge, flooding, and high winds; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
definition of storms based on wind speeds; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
role of topography on rainfall in cyclones; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
East and Gulf coast regions most likely to get storms; |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Chapter 9 Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones
most costly three storms to U.S. history |
|
Definition
|
|
