Term
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Definition
| Extensive portions of the atmosphere with homogeneous horizontal temperature and moisture characteristics. They form over source regions and are classified by source region characteristics. |
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Term
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Definition
| Continental air masses (DRY) |
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Term
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Definition
| Maritime air masses (WET/MOIST) |
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Term
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Definition
| Tropical air masses (mT or cT) (WARMER) |
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Term
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Definition
| Polar air masses (mP or cP) (COLDER) |
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Term
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Definition
| Equatorial air masses (WARM) (mE only) |
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Term
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Definition
| Arctic air masses (Above polar) (cA only) (VERY COLD, VERY DRY) |
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Term
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Definition
| Antarctic air mass (cAA only) |
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Term
| Analysis of air masses is accomplished by? |
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Definition
Radio sonde: a weather balloon that is released with a package of tools, measures temperature, pressure, and relative humidity and sends from balloon to earth by radio to give a vertical profile, which are used to see if an air mass is stable or unstable.
Transosande: same as radiosonde but the altitude is controlled by air pressure so it provides a horizontal cross-section. |
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Term
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Definition
Characteristics include homogeneous surface conditions of temperature and moisture availability
-large area of land (c) or water (m)
-uniform insolation
-transfers energy and moisture between the source region surface and the overlying air
-often associated with diverging high pressure areas, an exception is stagnant (still/not moving) equatorial air masses formed under converging low pressure |
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Term
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Definition
| a cP over a cool land mass which moves towards a lake, when the lake is warmer than that air mass so the water evaporates into the air mass, on shore air gets pushed up and cooled, turns moisture into snow-->nimbo clouds (may get stream fog before cloud comes to shore) |
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Term
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Definition
| a transition zone between two distinct air masses |
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Term
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Definition
| the zone of mixing that comprises the front |
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Term
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Definition
(Low pressure) the warm air mass is moving against a retreating mass of cooler air
-warm air rides up over or "overruns" cooler air
-precipitation there is light to moderate in intensity -> gentile push or rise up and get horizontal formation of clouds with lots of time so the drops tend to form small
-pressure gradually decreases then levels as it passes
-if cold air is cold enough, get ice pellets or freezing rain
-The frontal zone is broad and it may rain for days
-cloud forms are mostly horizontal
-tends to advance more slowly than a cold front
(line has red half circles that point in the direction of the front) |
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Term
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Definition
(Low Pressure)
-pushes under warmer lighter air
-pressure falls, then drops sharply as the front passes, then rises
-vertical cloud development
-heavy showery precipitation for a short time, forms faster so fewer droplets (larger size)
-tends to advance more rapidly than a warm front
-cumulonimbus, might have fair weather clouds
-heavy precipitation closer to the cold front itself and over lap back behind it
(line is blue triangles that point in the direction of the front) |
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Term
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Definition
| (both red half circles and blue triangles on opposite sides) When they meet, pressure from both sides, not moving, doesn't mean there is no air flow |
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Term
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Definition
| (purple, has half circles and triangles on the same side) cold front and warm front have converged and are moving in the same direction |
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Term
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Definition
| vertical clouds, cumulonimbus, possibility of hail, rain, and tornadoes |
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Term
| Warm Front with Stable Air |
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Definition
| Cirrus, Cirrostratus, Altostratus, Nimbostratus pass you in that order, that is how you know a warm front is coming |
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Term
| Warm Front with Conditional Instability |
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Definition
| Altocumulus then Cumulonimbus come at you, warm air moving in is conditionally instable, depends on water content and relative humidity increase |
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Term
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Definition
| tropical cyclone, extra tropical cyclone, wave cyclone, mid-latitude cyclones |
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Term
| Is Bermuda Triangle or Chicago a better source region? |
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Definition
| (better when around water and high pressure) The Bermuda Triangle is a better source region than Chicago because it is surrounded by water where Chicago has much less water and surround mainly by land and has cyclones which indicate low pressure, Bermuda Triangle is on the subtropical high pressure zone |
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Term
| Dry Conveyer belt associated with a cold front and a low pressure system |
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Definition
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Term
| Warm Conveyer belt associated with a warm front |
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Definition
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Term
| Cold conveyer belt associated with a cyclone |
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Definition
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Term
| Typical patterns of cyclonic storms |
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Definition
-about once a week we get cyclones in the winter (snow)
-shaped like the jet stream
-cyclones more north in the summer, and south in the winter just like the sun, ITCA, STHP, and jet stream
-jet streams tend to guide the storms, help to feed/support the systems also (hi and lo)
-form from friction of the surface with influence with jet stream, tend to organize at the trough
-occur between air masses, associated with fronts
-tropical cyclones occur within air mass |
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Term
| Polar Front Theory (Norwegian cyclone model) |
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Definition
| A theory developed by J. Bjerknes and other Scandinavian meteorologists in which the polar front, separating polar and tropical air masses, gives rise to cyclonic disturbances that intensify and move along the front and pass through a succession of stages. |
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Term
| Components to build a Thunderstorm |
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Definition
| Instability (low pressure by rising air), strong unequal heating, moisture |
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Term
| Stages in the development of a thunderstorm |
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Definition
a. cumulus stage: accumulating and also creating a cumulus cloud
b. mature stage: up and down draft, updraft holds rain up and downdraft has heavy rain
c. dissapation stage: moisture taken out of system which means lighter rain, get rid of updraft |
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Term
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Definition
-stay in metal vehicle with windows closed
-get inside shelter
-squat with feet together
-stay away from windows
-move to lowest area if caught outside
-install lightning rods on buildings
-be warned if hair "stands up" squat quickly
-be cognizant of weather patterns and forecasts
-stay inside 30 minutes after storm |
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Term
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Definition
-talk on corded phone
-use water/take shower/touch faucets
-make self the tallest object
-stand near or under trees or tall objects
-stay in, on, or near water
-play golf
-touch metal or other electrical conductors
-use an umbrella
-stay outdoors in the open
-lay down
-fly kites |
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Term
| Why don't we get lightning where it's raining so hard? |
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Definition
| It's form where you have a strong updraft where there is no rain because they both form under different conditions |
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Term
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Definition
| category scale that measures hurricane intensity (measured 1-5) |
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Term
| Lightning causes the creation of cumulonimbus clouds |
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Definition
| FALSE: cumulonimbus clouds might get lightning produced in them but lightning doesn't create them |
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Term
| Friction between graupel particles is the likely cause of charge separation which leads to lightning discharges |
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Definition
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Term
| At least three factors that influence the formation of mid-latitude cyclone |
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Definition
| wind sheer, instability, friction with air and surface, jet stream (polar) |
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Term
| A mid-latitude cyclone located over Des Moines, Iowa during july is most likely to? |
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Definition
| Follow generally along the path that the polar jet stream is on at the time |
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Term
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Definition
| a large migratory wavelike disturbance in the trade winds that sometimes triggers the formation of a hurricane |
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Term
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Definition
| A roughly circular area of relatively light winds and fair weather at the center of a hurricane |
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Term
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Definition
| the doughnut-shaped area of intensive cumulonimbus development and strong winds that surrounds the eye of a hurricane |
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Term
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Definition
A tropical cyclonic storm having minimum winds of 119 kilometers per hour ; also know as a typhoon (western pacific) and cyclone (indian ocean)
-Hurricanes do not develop within about 5 degrees of the equator because the Coriolis force is too weak. Because warm surface ocean temperatures are necessary for hurricane formation, they seldom form poleward of 20 degrees latitude nor over cool waters of the South Atlantic and the eastern South Pacific |
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Term
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Definition
| A warning issued when sustained winds of 119 kilometers per hour or higher are expected within a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less |
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Term
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Definition
| an announcement aimed at specific coastal areas that a hurricane poses a possible threat, generally within 36 hours |
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Term
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Definition
| the abnormal between the stratosphere and the mesosphere |
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Term
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Definition
| by international agreement, a tropical cyclone with maximum winds that do not exceed 61 kilometers per hour |
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Term
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Definition
| A term used by the National Weather Service for a cyclonic wind system in the tropics that is in its formative stages |
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Term
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Definition
| by international agreement, a tropical cyclone with maximum winds between 61 and 115 kilometers per hour |
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Term
| Hurricanes diminish in intensity whenever they.. |
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Definition
1. move over ocean waters that cannot supply warm, moist tropical air
2. move onto land
3. reach a location where the large-scale flow aloft is unfavorable |
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Term
| An air mass source region must be associated with a generally stagnant area |
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Definition
| such that air will stay over it long enough to come to some measure of equilibrium. |
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Term
| An ideal source region must meet two (2) criteria. |
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Definition
| One is that it must be an extensive and physically uniform area. The second is that the area must be characterized by a general stagnation of atmospheric circulation. |
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Term
| An ideal source region must meet two (2) criteria. |
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Definition
| One is that it must be an extensive and physically uniform area. The second is that the area must be characterized by a general stagnation of atmospheric circulation. |
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Term
| An air mass source region is the area in which |
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Definition
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Term
| The classification of an air mass depends upon |
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Definition
| both latitude and surface of origin |
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Term
| Once an air mass moves from its original source region |
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Definition
| it not only modifies the weather of the area it traverses, but it also is gradually modified by the surface over which it is moving. |
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Term
Changes to the stability of the air mass can result from temperature changes.
T or F? |
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Definition
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Term
| Changes to an air mass can result from vertical movements induced by |
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Definition
| cyclones, anti cyclones, topographic differences |
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Term
| The air mass most likely to produce thunderstorms would be a |
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Definition
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Term
| Most precipitation east of the Rocky Mountains comes from |
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Definition
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Term
| An air mass moving from the Gulf of Mexico northward over the United States in winter would most likely be labeled a |
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Definition
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Term
| An __________ air mass may produce an occasional nor'easter during the winter, but summertime incursions of this air often bring pleasant weather. |
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Definition
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Term
| Continental arctic (cA) air is distinguished from cP air by its generally warmer temperatures. |
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Definition
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Term
| Continental polar (cP) and continental arctic (cA) air masses are typically stable bodies of air. |
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Definition
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Term
| In the middle latitudes, most atmospheric disturbances occur along the boundaries separating air masses. |
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Definition
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Term
| An air mass with the designation w is likely to be stable. |
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Definition
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Term
| Maritime polar (mP) air from the North Pacific has a strong influence on the weather along the west Coast of North America, especially in the winter. |
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Definition
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Term
| This air mass is most associated with lake-effect snow. |
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Definition
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Term
| Middle-latitude cyclones develop in conjunction with the __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| A warm front exists when __________. |
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Definition
| warm air occupies territory formerly covered by cooler air |
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Term
| In the Northern Hemisphere, the surface air flow associated with a midlatitude cyclone is __________. |
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Definition
| counterclockwise, converging, rising |
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Term
| With which type of front will the flow of air most likely be parallel to the line of the front? |
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Definition
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Term
| Most hurricanes form between the latitudes of __________ and __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| Most hurricanes form within the global wind belt referred to as the trade winds. |
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Definition
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Term
| The eye region of a hurricane is largely free of precipitation and clouds because of __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| A steep pressure gradient generates rapid, inward spiraling winds of a hurricane. |
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Definition
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Term
| Which of the following contribute to the decline in the intensity of a hurricane as it moves onto land? |
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Definition
| both friction and lack of warm, moist air |
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Term
| The primary characteristic that distinguishes a tropical depression from a tropical storm is __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| The primary source of energy for a hurricane is the latent heat that is liberated when huge quantities of water vapor condense. |
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Definition
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Term
| Many hurricanes approaching North America from the southeast are turned toward the northeast, away from the continent, by the steering effect of an upper-level trough. |
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Definition
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Term
| The lowest pressures ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere are associated with hurricanes. |
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Definition
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Term
| As a hurricane moves ashore, the most devastating damage in the coastal zone is caused by the __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| One circumstance that may inhibit a tropical disturbance from becoming a hurricane is the formation of a trade wind inversion. |
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Definition
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Term
| Because tropical and subtropical regions that spawn hurricanes cover vast amounts of open ocean, meteorological data consists primarily of ___________________. |
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Definition
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Term
| Surface airflow in a Southern Hemisphere midlatitude cyclone is clockwise. |
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Definition
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Term
| Which type of front will most probably develop over the southern Great Plains when dry, continental tropical (cT) air originating over the American Southwest meets moist, maritime tropical (mT) air from the Gulf of Mexico? |
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Definition
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Term
| Large high-pressure anticyclones that form and persist over the middle latitudes for two weeks or longer and deflect the zonal west-to-east flow poleward are sometimes referred to as __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| Anticyclones generally produce __________ conditions. |
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Definition
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Term
| Middle-latitude cyclones develop in conjunction with the __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| Most tornadoes in the central United States occur during the spring months when __________. |
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Definition
| air masses have greatly contrasting conditions |
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Term
| In the U.S., air-mass thunderstorms frequently occur in __________ air that moves Northward from the Gulf of Mexico. |
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Definition
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Term
| During the spring and summer, when the air is heated from ____________ by warmer land surface, the _______________ air mass becomes unstable and thunderstorms develop. |
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Definition
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Term
| A vast majority (80% or more) of the moisture that condenses in an air-mass thunderstorm does not leave the cloud as precipitation, but is in the vapor phase. |
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Definition
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Term
| A significant portion of the growing-season rainfall in the agricultural regions of the central United States comes from __________. |
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Definition
| mesoscale convective complexes |
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Term
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Definition
| are relatively narrow, elongated bands of thunderstorms developing in the warm sector of a middle latitude cyclone. |
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Term
| Which of the following is important to the formation of lightning in a developing cloud? |
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Definition
| strong vertical air currents |
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Term
| The Fujita Intensity Scale is commonly used to assess __________ intensity. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| is a narrow zone along which there is an abrupt change in moisture content in the air. |
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