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Meteorology
Final Exam prep
97
Science
Undergraduate 3
04/26/2013

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Cards

Term
Earth's Atmosphere
Definition
Thin, gaseous evelope with a radius of 6370 km and atmosphere of 500km
Term
Why is the earth's atmosphere so thin?
Definition
Gravity
Term
What are the 4 levels of the atmosphere starting from lowest to highest?
Definition

Troposphere

Stratosphere

Mesosphere

Thermosphere

 

Term
What is the height and temp change of the Troposphere?
Definition

0-11 km

Temp decreases with height

Driven by surface heating

Term
What is the height and temp change of the Stratosphere?
Definition

11-50 km

Temp increases with height

Result of absorbtion of solar UV by stratospheric zone

 

Term
What is the height and temp change of the Mesosphere?
Definition

50-85 km

Temp decreases with height

No O_3 heating

Term

What is the height and temp change of the Thermosphere?

Definition

85-500km

Temp increases with height

Absorbtion by highly energetic solar radiation by the small amount of residual oxygen

Term
What is the boiling point for Kelvin?
Definition
373.16 degrees
Term
What is the freezing temp for Kelvin?
Definition
273 degrees
Term
What is sublimation?
Definition

Ice to Vapor

Heat energy taken from environment

Term
What is Deposition?
Definition

Vapor to Ice

Heat energy released from environment

Term
What is melting phase?
Definition

Ice to Liquid

Heat energy taken from environment

Term
What is the Evaporation Phase?
Definition

Liquid to vapor

Heat energy taken from the environment

Term
What is the Condensation Phase?
Definition

Vapor to Liquid

Heat energy released to the environment

Term
What is the Freezing Phase?
Definition

Liquid to Ice

Heat energy released to environment

Term
Radiation Wavelengths tell us what?
Definition
Longer waves carry less energy then shorter waves
Term
What are the 3 longest wavelengths in order starting with the longest?
Definition

AM Radio Waves

Television Waves

Microwaves

Term
What are the 4 shortest wavelengths starting with the shortest?
Definition

X-rays

Ultraviolet waves

Visibile light

Infrared waves

Term
What is the Wavelength of the sun?
Definition
0.5 (um)
Term
What is the wavelength of the Earth?
Definition
10 (um)
Term
The Sun's wavelength is known as what?
Definition
Shortwave Radiation
Term
The Earth's Wavelength is known as what?
Definition
Longwave Radiation
Term
Which radiates more energy: the sun or the earth?
Definition
The sun
Term
What is the Albedo for the Earth?
Definition
30% or 0.3
Term
What is the albedo for water?
Definition
10% or .10
Term
What is the Albedo for ice?
Definition
30% to 40%
Term
Which has a higher Albedo: thick clouds or thin clouds
Definition
Thick clouds have a higher Albedo
Term
What is the major source of moisture in the atmosphere?
Definition
Evaporation from the ocean
Term
What is the major sink for moisture in the atmosphere?
Definition
Precipitation
Term
What is Absolute Humidity?
Definition

Density of water vapor

mass of water vapor/volume of air

A measure of the total number (mass) of water vapor molecules in unit of volume of air

Term
What is the effect changes in volume has on Absoute Humidity?
Definition
Changes in volume causes changes in absolute humidty
Term
What is Specific Hunidity?
Definition

q

Ratio of mass of water vapor to total mass of air in a unit of volume

Is not impacted by volume

Values decrease with increasing height

 

Term
What is Relative Humidity?
Definition

R.H.

The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount required for saturation.

Water vapor content/water vapor capacity

Higher relative humidity does not necassrily mean more water vapor in the air

Term
What time of day is relative humidty the highest?
Definition

6am

As the air cools at night, relative humidity increases

Term
What time of day is relative humidity the lowest?
Definition

About 3pm

Also when temp is the highest

Term
What are the 3 high cloud types?
Definition

Cirrostratus

Cirrocumulus

Cirrus

Term
What are the two middle cloud types?
Definition
Altostratus, Altocumulus
Term
What are the three low cloud types?
Definition
Stratus, Nimbostratus, Stratocumulus
Term
What are the two Vertical cloud types?
Definition

Cumulus

Cumulo-nimbus

Term
What are the 4 layered cloud types?
Definition

Cirrostratus

Altostratus

Stratus

Nimbostratus

Term
What are the 3 broken layered cloud types?
Definition

Cirrocumulus

Altocumulus

Stratocumulus

 

Term
What are the 3 seperate cloud types?
Definition

Cirrus

Cumulus

Cumulonimbus

Term

Stability and Lapse Rate

Environmental < Moist

Definition
Absolutely Stable
Term

Stability and Lape Rate

Environmental > Dry

Definition
Absolutely Unstable
Term

Stability and Lape Rate

Dry > Environment > Moist

Definition
Conditionally Unstable
Term

Stability and Lapse Rate

Environment = Dry

For unsaturated air

Definition
Neutral
Term

Stability and Lapse Rate

For Saturated Air

Environmental = Moist

Definition
Neutral
Term

In a cloud that has both ice crystals and water droplets, the ice crystal will grow larger at the expense of surrounding water droplets.

What does this describe?

Definition

The Wegener-Bergeron-Findeisen Process

 

Extremely important for precipatation production in middle and high latitudes

Term
Which Force is due to the rotation of the Earth?
Definition
Coriolis Force (CF)
Term
What is the magnitude of the Coriolis Force?
Definition

Magnitude depends on latitude and the speed of the air parcel

The higher the latitude, the larger the CF

Zero at the equator

Max at the poles

Faster air moves, the larger the CF

 

Term
What does CF influence?
Definition

Wind direction

No effect on wind speed

Term
Which direction does CF deflect in the NH?
Definition
To the right of its intended path
Term
Which direction does CF deflect in the SH?
Definition
To the left of it's intended path
Term
What is the magnitude of the Centrifugal Force?
Definition

CENTF=mV^2/R

m=mass

R=radius of curvature of the curved path

V=speed of the air parcel

 

The faster the speed and the tighter the curve, the larger the CENTF

Term
Where does the Centrifugal Force point?
Definition
Away from the center of the curve
Term
What is the magnitude of the Frictional Force?
Definition

Depends on the speed of the air parcel (V)

Depends on the roughness of the earth's surface (k)

FF=-kV

Term
What direction does the Frictional Force point?
Definition

Always acts in the direction opposite to the movement of the air parcel

 

Important in the friction layer

Term
Where is the Frictional layer found?
Definition
The lowest 1000 m of the atmosphere
Term
What is Geostrophic Balance?
Definition

PGF +CF = 0

Pressure Gradient Force+Coriolis Force

The resulting wind is called Geostrophic Wind

Is a good approximation to winds above the earth's surface

Term
What is Buy Ballot's Law?
Definition
Stand with your back to the wind (upper level wind),low pressure is on your left and high pressure on your right
Term
Which cell rises near equator and descends near 30 degrees where a belt of high pressure is found?
Definition

Hadley Cell

Thermal Direct

Term
Which cell has cold air moving southward from the pole and rises when it reaches the polar front near 60 degrees?
Definition

Polar Cell

Thermal Direct

Term
Which cell has reverse circulation between 30 and 60 degrees?
Definition

Ferrel Cell

Thermal indirect

Term
Where are the Horse latitudes?
Definition
30 degrees North
Term
Where are the Doldrums?
Definition
At the equator
Term
Which winds dominate from the equator to 30 degrees?
Definition

Easterly Winds

also called the Trade Winds

Term
Which winds dominate from the pole to 60 degrees?
Definition
Polar Easterly
Term
Which winds dominate between 30 and 60 degrees?
Definition
Westerly Winds
Term
Which direction does the ITCZ shift to in January?
Definition
Toward the south
Term
Which direction does the ITCZ shift to in July?
Definition
Toward the north
Term
What does the variation in the ITCZ's location affect?
Definition
Rainfall in the tropics
Term

The Walker Circulation

Describe the flow of pressure and water temp

Definition
Air flows from cold water and surface high pressure to the west towards warm water and surface low pressure.  Warm air rises, creates rainfall and flows back to the east aloft where the air sinks to the surface high pressure.
Term

El Nino

What happens to the air flow and water temperatures?

Definition

Warm water moves from the western Pacific Ocean to central pacific ocean

Cold water near the surface in South America drops to the bottom of the ocean

Warm air rises in the center of the ocean creating storms and then spreads outward aloft in both directions

Term
If warm air replaces colder air, what kind of front is it?
Definition
Warm Front
Term
If cold air replaces warmer air, what kind of front is it?
Definition
Cold Front
Term
If a front does not move, what is it called?
Definition
Stationary Front
Term
What is an Occluded Front?
Definition

Does not intersect the ground

The interface between the air masses is aloft

Term
In a Cyclone, which direction does the wind blow in the northern hemisphere?
Definition
Counterclockwise
Term
In the southern hemisohere, which direction does the wind blow for a cylcone?
Definition
Clockwise
Term
What type of pressure is formed around Cylcones?
Definition
Low Pressure
Term

Cyclogenises

Where is the convergence and Divergence located?

Definition

Convergence behind the trough

Divergence ahead of the trough

Term

Cyclogenesisus

Where is the Cyclogenesis region?

Definition
Ahead of the trough near a surface low pressure
Term
What initiates Cyclogenesisus?
Definition
When upper level divergence is stronger then lower level convergence, more air is taken out at the top than is brought in at the bottom. Surface pressure drops and the low intensifies or deepens.
Term
Where and how do Hurricanes form?
Definition

Tropical waters where the wind is light, humidity is high in a deep layer extending up through the tropophere

 

Surface water temperature is warm, typically 26.5 degrees celcius or 80 degrees fahrenheit over a vast area

Term

Hurricane Stages of Development

What are the 4 stages and wind speeds?

 

Definition

Tropical Disturbance - slight winds

Tropical Depression - 20-34 knots

Tropical Storm - 35-64 knots

Hurricane - 64 knots and higher (74 mph)

Term
What layer and cloud type is Cirrostratus?
Definition
High Layered
Term
What layer and cloud type is Cirrocumulus?
Definition
High Broken Layer
Term
What layer and cloud type is Cirrus?
Definition
High Seperate
Term
What layer and cloud type is Altostratus?
Definition
Middle layered
Term
What layer and cloud type is Altocumulus?
Definition
Middle Broken Layer
Term
What layer and cloud type is Stratus?
Definition
Low Layered
Term
What layer and cloud type is Nimbostratus?
Definition
Low Layered
Term
What layer and cloud type is Stratocumulus?
Definition
Low Broken Layer
Term
What layer and cloud type is Cumulus?
Definition
Vertical Seperate
Term
What layer and cloud type is Cumulonimbus?
Definition
Vertical Seperate
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