1E1 Earth's Weather Patterns & Cloud Formation Flashcards
Investigate climate and weather patterns.
What is a weather pattern?
A type of weather that stays in an area for a few days to a few weeks.
What are the five components of weather patterns?
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Precipitation
- Wind
- Air pressure
These components interact to determine the weather conditions experienced in a specific location.
Define temperature in the context of weather.
A measure of the average kinetic energy of air molecules.
What does humidity measure?
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.
What forms can precipitation take?
- Rain
- Snow
- Sleet
- Hail
Different forms of precipitation result from varying atmospheric conditions and temperatures at different altitudes.
How is wind formed?
It is caused by the movement of air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure, creating pressure gradients.
Define air pressure.
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.
What causes changes in air pressure?
Unequal heating on Earth’s surface.
How does temperature affect air pressure?
- Warmer air causes low pressure as molecules spread out.
- Cooler air causes high pressure as molecules clump together.
What is an air mass?
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
Where would a cold, dry air mass most likely develop?
This typically originates from polar regions and move southward (over land), affecting weather in temperate zones.
Where would a warm, moist air mass most likely develop?
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.
What is a front?
The boundaries where 2 air masses meet with different temperature, humidity, and pressure characteristics.
Distinguish between a warm front and a cold front.
- 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.
Which weather front is characterized by a standoff between warm and cold air masses, resulting in prolonged periods of cloud cover and precipitation?
Stationary front.
What is an occluded front?
When a warm air mass is trapped between two cold air masses, causing precipitation.
What are prevailing westerlies?
Winds that move air masses from west to east across the United States.
Define jet streams?
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.
What is the Coriolis effect?
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.
What are global winds?
Large-scale winds formed by the unequal heating of Earth’s surface.
List the main types of weather patterns?
- Hot
- Dry
- Cold
- Dry; warm
- Moist; cool
- Moist
How do meteorologists use weather patterns?
To make weather predictions and study climate.
How does tracking weather patterns help scientists?
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.
What happens when air molecules move faster?
The temperature increases and the atmosphere feels warmer.
What type of precipitation falls in a warm front?
Slow, steady rain.
What type of weather does a cold front bring?
Heavy rain, high-speed winds, thunderstorms, and tornadoes.
What forms when a warm air mass is trapped between two cold air masses?
An occluded front.
How do prevailing westerlies affect weather in the United States?
They move weather patterns from west to east.
What is the result of unequal heating on Earth’s surface?
Changes in air pressure and the formation of winds.
What are the effects of high-pressure and low pressure areas on weather?
- High pressure areas: Cooler temperatures and denser air.
- Low pressure areas: Warmer temperatures and less dense air.
What creates the prevailing westerlies?
The rotation of Earth and the movement of air masses from west to east.
What are clouds primarily composed of?
Collections of ice crystals and water vapor that gather in the atmosphere.
What is the relationship between temperature and air density?
- Higher temperatures decrease air density.
- Lower temperatures increase air density.
What factors influence the structure, shape, and appearance of clouds?
- The amount of water they contain.
- The environmental conditions they are exposed to.
What initiates the formation of clouds in the atmosphere?
The evaporation of water on Earth’s surface and its subsequent condensation as it rises and cools.
At what heights do low, middle and high clouds typically occur?
- Low clouds: Below 7,000 feet.
- Middle clouds: Between 7,000 and 17,000 feet.
- High clouds: Between 17,000 and 35,000 feet.
Name three types of low clouds.
- Cumulus
- Stratus
- Stratocumulus
Describe cumulus clouds.
White, puffy clouds with flat bottoms that develop on clear days and can produce rain and thunderstorms.
Describe the appearance of stratus clouds.
Grey clouds that appear as a sheet across the sky, often starting as fog that rises.
How do stratocumulus clouds appear?
As sheets of cumulus clouds smeared across the sky, often grey and formed when cumulus clouds split apart.
Name three types of middle clouds.
- Altocumulus
- Altostratus
- Nimbostratus
Distinguish between the 3 types of middle clouds.
- 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.
Name three types of high clouds.
- Cirrus
- Cirrocumulus
- Cirrostratus
Distinguish between the 3 types of high clouds.
- 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.
What is a unique characteristic of cumulonimbus clouds?
They are tall vertical clouds that can span across low, medium, and high elevations.
What type of weather is often associated with cumulonimbus clouds?
Thunderstorms and severe weather.
How do altocumulus clouds form?
By convection, where rising hot air becomes rapidly cooled.
What phenomenon often results in stratus clouds?
Fog that rises by a warm, uplifting wind.
Which type of cloud is often referred to as “fair weather clouds”?
Cumulus clouds.
They are often associated with clear days but can also produce rain and thunderstorms.
Which high cloud type can create a halo around the sun?
Cirrostratus clouds.
