1E1 Earth's Weather Patterns & Cloud Formation

Question 1

What is a weather pattern?

Answer 1

A type of weather that stays in an area for a few days to a few weeks.

Question 2

What are the five components of weather patterns?

Answer 2

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Precipitation
• Wind
• Air pressure

These components interact to determine the weather conditions experienced in a specific location.

Question 3

Define temperature in the context of weather.

Answer 3

A measure of the average kinetic energy of air molecules.

Question 4

What does humidity measure?

Answer 4

The amount of water vapor in the air.

Humidity is a crucial factor in determining the comfort level of the air and influences weather phenomena like cloud formation and precipitation.

Question 5

What forms can precipitation take?

Answer 5

• Rain
• Snow
• Sleet
• Hail

Different forms of precipitation result from varying atmospheric conditions and temperatures at different altitudes.

Question 6

How is wind formed?

Answer 6

It is caused by the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, creating pressure gradients.

Question 7

Define air pressure.

Answer 7

The force exerted by the weight of air molecules per unit area at the Earth’s surface.

Changes in air pressure are often associated with shifts in weather patterns and the movement of air masses.

Question 8

What causes changes in air pressure?

Answer 8

Unequal heating on Earth’s surface.

Question 9

How does temperature affect air pressure?

Answer 9

• Warmer air causes low pressure as molecules spread out.
• Cooler air causes high pressure as molecules clump together.

Question 10

What is an air mass?

Answer 10

A large body of air with similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure.

Air masses play a significant role in shaping regional weather conditions and can cover vast areas with uniform characteristics

Question 11

Where would a cold, dry air mass most likely develop?

Answer 11

This typically originates from polar regions and move southward (over land), affecting weather in temperate zones.

Question 12

Where would a warm, moist air mass most likely develop?

Answer 12

These masses usually form over warm ocean waters and can bring humid conditions and precipitation when they move inland.

e.g. Over the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii.

Question 13

What is a front?

Answer 13

The boundaries where 2 air masses meet with different temperature, humidity, and pressure characteristics.

Question 14

Distinguish between a warm front and a cold front.

Answer 14

• Warm front: A fast-moving warm air mass moving toward a slowly moving cold air mass, causing steady rain.
• Cold front: A dense cold air mass running into a lighter warm air mass, causing heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Question 15

Which weather front is characterized by a standoff between warm and cold air masses, resulting in prolonged periods of cloud cover and precipitation?

Answer 15

Stationary front.

Question 16

What is an occluded front?

Answer 16

When a warm air mass is trapped between two cold air masses, causing precipitation.

Question 17

What are prevailing westerlies?

Answer 17

Winds that move air masses from west to east across the United States.

Question 18

Define jet streams?

Answer 18

Are narrow bands of strong winds in the upper atmosphere that play a crucial role in shaping weather patterns and air travel routes.

Jet stream winds move from West to East.

Question 19

What is the Coriolis effect?

Answer 19

The curving of global winds due to Earth’s rotation.

It causes deflection to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 20

What are global winds?

Answer 20

Large-scale winds formed by the unequal heating of Earth’s surface.

Question 21

List the main types of weather patterns?

Answer 21

• Hot
• Dry
• Cold
• Dry; warm
• Moist; cool
• Moist

Question 22

How do meteorologists use weather patterns?

Answer 22

To make weather predictions and study climate.

Question 23

How does tracking weather patterns help scientists?

Answer 23

It helps study climate over several years.

A climograph is a graphical representation of a location’s average temperature and precipitation over a period of time.

Question 24

What happens when air molecules move faster?

Answer 24

The temperature increases and the atmosphere feels warmer.

Question 25

What type of precipitation falls in a warm front?

Answer 25

Slow, steady rain.

Question 26

What type of weather does a cold front bring?

Answer 26

Heavy rain, high-speed winds, thunderstorms, and tornadoes.

Question 27

What forms when a warm air mass is trapped between two cold air masses?

Answer 27

An occluded front.

Question 28

How do prevailing westerlies affect weather in the United States?

Answer 28

They move weather patterns from west to east.

Question 29

What is the result of unequal heating on Earth’s surface?

Answer 29

Changes in air pressure and the formation of winds.

Question 30

What are the effects of high-pressure and low pressure areas on weather?

Answer 30

• High pressure areas: Cooler temperatures and denser air.
• Low pressure areas: Warmer temperatures and less dense air.

Question 31

What creates the prevailing westerlies?

Answer 31

The rotation of Earth and the movement of air masses from west to east.

Question 32

What are clouds primarily composed of?

Answer 32

Collections of ice crystals and water vapor that gather in the atmosphere.

Question 33

What is the relationship between temperature and air density?

Answer 33

• Higher temperatures decrease air density.
• Lower temperatures increase air density.

Question 34

What factors influence the structure, shape, and appearance of clouds?

Answer 34

• The amount of water they contain.
• The environmental conditions they are exposed to.

Question 35

What initiates the formation of clouds in the atmosphere?

Answer 35

The evaporation of water on Earth’s surface and its subsequent condensation as it rises and cools.

Question 36

At what heights do low, middle and high clouds typically occur?

Answer 36

• Low clouds: Below 7,000 feet.
• Middle clouds: Between 7,000 and 17,000 feet.
• High clouds: Between 17,000 and 35,000 feet.

Question 37

Name three types of low clouds.

Answer 37

• Cumulus
• Stratus
• Stratocumulus

Question 38

Describe cumulus clouds.

Answer 38

White, puffy clouds with flat bottoms that develop on clear days and can produce rain and thunderstorms.

Image source

Question 39

Describe the appearance of stratus clouds.

Answer 39

Grey clouds that appear as a sheet across the sky, often starting as fog that rises.

Image source

Question 40

How do stratocumulus clouds appear?

Answer 40

As sheets of cumulus clouds smeared across the sky, often grey and formed when cumulus clouds split apart.

Question 41

Name three types of middle clouds.

Answer 41

• Altocumulus
• Altostratus
• Nimbostratus

Question 42

Distinguish between the 3 types of middle clouds.

Answer 42

• Altocumulus clouds: Small white or gray clouds that dot the sky with more or less definitive edges and can produce light showers.
• Altostratus clouds: Sheet-like clouds without well-defined edges, occasionally producing rain, snow, or hail.
• Nimbostratus clouds: Thick, dark grey clouds that hide the sun and typically cover most of the sky, resulting in a dark, dreary day.

Question 43

Name three types of high clouds.

Answer 43

• Cirrus
• Cirrocumulus
• Cirrostratus

Question 44

Distinguish between the 3 types of high clouds.

Answer 44

• Cirrus clouds: Thin, wispy white clouds composed of ice, found at about 20,000 feet.
• Cirrocumulus clouds: Sheets of white clouds cut into small individual rows or particulates.
• Cirrostratus clouds: Transparent, sheet-like clouds that can create a halo effect around the sun.

Question 45

What is a unique characteristic of cumulonimbus clouds?

Answer 45

They are tall vertical clouds that can span across low, medium, and high elevations.

Image Source

Question 46

What type of weather is often associated with cumulonimbus clouds?

Answer 46

Thunderstorms and severe weather.

Question 47

How do altocumulus clouds form?

Answer 47

By convection, where rising hot air becomes rapidly cooled.

Question 48

What phenomenon often results in stratus clouds?

Answer 48

Fog that rises by a warm, uplifting wind.

Question 49

Which type of cloud is often referred to as “fair weather clouds”?

Answer 49

Cumulus clouds.

They are often associated with clear days but can also produce rain and thunderstorms.

Question 50

Which high cloud type can create a halo around the sun?

Answer 50

Cirrostratus clouds.