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Weather and Climate > Air Masses and Storms > Flashcards

Air Masses and Storms Flashcards

1
Q

What air mass forms over high latitude oceans?

A

Maritime polar

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2
Q

What air mass forms over low latitude oceans?

A

Maritime tropical

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3
Q

What air mass forms over high latitude land?

A

Continental polar

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4
Q

What air mass forms over low latitude land?

A

Continental tropical

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5
Q

What air mass contains warm, moist air?

A

Maritime tropical

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6
Q

What air mass contains hot, dry air?

A

Continental tropical

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7
Q

What air mass contains cold, dry air?

A

Continental polar

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8
Q

What air mass contains cool, moist air?

A

Maritime polar

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9
Q

Air masses are characterized by what two characteristics?

A

moisture and temperature

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10
Q

What is an air mass?

A

A large parcel of air that takes on the characteristics of the surface over which it forms.

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11
Q

Which air mass likely forms over the northern Pacific ocean?

A

Maritime polar

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12
Q

Which air mass likely forms over the Gulf of Mexico?

A

Maritime tropical

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13
Q

Which air mass likely forms over Canada?

A

Continental polar

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14
Q

What forms when two air masses collide?

A

A front

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15
Q

Which type of front forms when a cold air mass moves into and under a warm air mass?

A

A cold front

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16
Q

Which type of front forms when a warm air mass moves into and over a cold air mass?

A

A warm front

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17
Q

Which type of front forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front?

A

An occluded front

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18
Q

Which type of front forms when one air mass does not have enough energy to push another air mass out of an area?

A

A stationary front

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19
Q

What is a polar front?

A

A condition when cold polar air meets warm tropical air.

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20
Q

What can form at a low pressure area?

A

A frontal cyclone. (Also called a mid-latitude cyclone)

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21
Q

What can form at a high pressure area?

A

An anticyclone

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22
Q

Frontal cyclones usually produce what type of weather?

A

Clouds and storms

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23
Q

Anticyclones usually produce what type of weather?

A

Clear and dry conditions

24
Q

What type of storms consists of winds, precipitation and lightning?

A

Thunderstorm

25
Q

What is the electrical discharge between a cloud and the ground, within a cloud, or between two clouds called?

A

Lightning

26
Q

What is the sound produced when an electrical discharge moves air very rapidly called?

A

Thunder

27
Q

In what type of cloud are thunderstorms produced?

A

Cumulonimbus

28
Q

How does hail form?

A

Updrafts in a cumulonimbus cloud force water droplets to a colder temperature region, where they freeze, then fall. This process continues until the ice pellet is too heavy to remain in the cloud.

29
Q

What should a person do in a thunderstorm?

A

Seek shelter immediately. If outside, avoid tall objects and low-lying areas that could flood. Remain in a car if possible.

30
Q

What is a flash flood?

A

Fast-moving water in low-lying areas that forms from heavy precipitation.

31
Q

What is a small downdraft that then moves horizontally across Earth’s surface in all directions called?

A

A microburst

32
Q

Which stage of a thunderstorm forms tall clouds containing updrafts?

A

Cumulus stage

33
Q

Which stage of a thunderstorm produces strong updrafts and downdrafts, heavy precipitation, and lightning?

A

Mature stage

34
Q

When the thunderstorm no longer has a source of warm, moist air to sustain it, the storm enters which stage?

A

Dissipating stage

35
Q

What forms when rapidly rotating winds extend downward to touch the ground?

A

A tornado

36
Q

What is the shape of a tornado?

A

Funnel-shaped

37
Q

Tornadoes are associated with what other type of storm?

A

A supercell thunderstorm

38
Q

Where in the United States is Tornado Alley located?

A

In the central United States

39
Q

How long do most tornadoes last?

A

Only a few minutes, but they could last for hours.

40
Q

What is a rapidly rotating cyclonic storm system that forms over tropical waters?

A

A Hurricane

41
Q

What is the general shape of a hurricane?

A

Spiral shaped

42
Q

What are the stages of a hurricane?

A

A hurricane starts as a tropical depression, then grows into a tropical storm. When wind speeds are greater than 74 mph, they become hurricanes.

43
Q

Where are the calmest winds during a hurricane?

A

Inside the eye

44
Q

Where are the most damaging winds during a hurricane?

A

Along the eye wall

45
Q

What are some possible hazards associated with hurricanes along a shoreline?

A

Heavy winds, heavy precipitation, storm surges, and erosion of the shore.

46
Q

What are some possible hazards associated with hurricanes inland from a shore?

A

Heavy winds, including possible tornadoes, and precipitation.

47
Q

What is the size of a hurricane?

A

Large storm covering 62 to 1000 miles, with an average of 300 miles wide.

48
Q

How long do hurricanes last?

A

They can last several days.

49
Q

What is ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation)

A

Weather conditions that form when ocean water off the coast of Peru remains unseasonably warm or cold.

50
Q

What causes an El Nino?

A

The weakening of the Trade Winds keeps warm water along the coast of Peru and prevents upwelling of cold water.

51
Q

How do weather conditions change during an El Nino season in the US?

A

Precipitation increases in the southern part of the country. Areas to the north will have warmer, milder winters.

52
Q

What is a Monsoon?

A

Seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation.

53
Q

What causes a Monsoon?

A

Seasonal differences in heating of the ocean and land

54
Q

During the wet season of the Monsoon, how does atmospheric circulation move?

A

Moist air flows horizontally from the oceans onto the land to take the place of rising air on land.

55
Q

During the dry season, how does atmospheric circulation move?

A

Air sinks over the land, then moves horizontally from the land to the ocean.

Weather and Climate (4 decks)

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