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GEO 207
Atmosphere
37
Geology
Undergraduate 2
10/20/2011

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Term
kinetic energy
Definition
light and other forms or radiation, heat, motion, electrical power
Term
potential energy
Definition
reservior behind hydroelectric dam, high pressure, 5 types of chemical potential energy: battery, gasoline, firewood, explosives, and food
Term
energy balance input
Definition
solar radiation to Earth: concentrated in shorter wavelengths, ultraviolet visible, and shortwave infrared
Term
energy balance output
Definition
earth's infrared emission to space: longer wavelengths, thermal infrared (heat energy)
Term
albedo
Definition
reflective quality of a surface; expressed as a percentage
a function of: surface color, surface texture, and angle of incidence
Term
what is in the thermosphere?
Definition
aurora; start of meteors
Term
what is in the mesosphere?
Definition
meteors
Term
what is in the stratosphere
Definition
maximum ozone
Term
what is in the troposphere?
Definition
clouds and mt. everest
Term
adiabatic processes: as the air parcel cools internally...
Definition
it expands under lower air pressure
Term
adiabatic processes: as the air parcel heats internally
Definition
is is compressed by higher air pressure
Term
if the air is warmer, there is a greater/lesser capacity to hold water vapor
Definition
greater
Term
if the air is cooler, there is a greater/lesser capacity to hold water vapor?
Definition
lesser
Term
coriolis effect
Definition
large air and ocean masses tend to follow curved paths due to rotation of the Earth
Term
magnitude of the coriolis effect on a moving body increases as...
Definition
path increases, time of motion increases, number of latitudes crossed increases, farther north or south traveled, and as size increases
Term
jet streams
Definition
narrow bands of high-velocity winds
flow from west to eat
high latitudes
Term
fronts
Definition
boundary separating air masses of different temperatures or moisture content
Term
cold front
Definition
cold air is moving into warm air
Term
what clouds does a cold front cause?
Definition
cumulonimbus and cumulous
Term
what clouds does a warm front cause?
Definition
stratus and stratocumulus
Term
warm front
Definition
warm air is moving into cold air
Term
low pressure rotates to the
Definition
left and up
Term
high pressure rotates to the
Definition
right and down
Term
cyclones are _____ pressure
Definition
low
Term
anticyclones are _____ pressure
Definition
high
Term
rotation cycle
Definition
jet stream -> diverging air -> trough -> converging air -> ridge
Term
thunderstorms are associated with...
Definition
heavy rains, flash floods, hail, lightning, and high-speed winds
Term
hail
Definition
spherical, layered ball of ice, released from thunderstorms
Term
3 requirements of hail
Definition
1. large thunderstorms with buoyant hot air rising from heated ground
2. upper-level cold air (contrast in temperature)
3. strong updrafts-keep hailstones suspended while ice layers added and hailstone grows
Term
tornadoes are measured on what scale?
Definition
enhanced fujita scale EF0-EF5
Term
3 things that make tornado alley prime
Definition
1. warm air coming from gulf of Mexico into the west
2. cold/dry air that reaches the Midwest from the west/north
3. Presence of the jet stream
Term
when do we usually get tornadoes?
Definition
april, may, june (spring-summer)
Term
what category was the Roanoke tornado?
Definition
F4; 200 MPH winds
Term
Urban Heat Island
Definition
cities are warmer than other areas because there are more people, more pollution, more buildings, more albedo, and more blacktop streets and parking lots
Term
heat index
Definition
air temperature and the humidity
Term
1995 Chicago Heat Wave
Definition
525 deaths over a period of 5 days in July
even hot at night/never cooled down
people were brought to cooling centers, given box fans, etc.
Term
how to minimize severe weather hazards
Definition
prediction, forecasting, watches and warnings, mitigation, educate, insurance, prepare, advise, etc.
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