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Hope's Fall Quarter Studying > AOS 3 Midterm > Flashcards

AOS 3 Midterm Flashcards

1
Q

Define the atmosphere

A

a mixture of gas molecules, small suspended particles of solid and liquid, and falling precipitation

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2
Q

Compare weather and climate

A
  • Weather refers to the short-term phenomena.
  • Climate refers to the long-term patterns
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3
Q

What is density

A
  • mass (kg) per unit volume (m^3)
  • near-surface air is denser than that above
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4
Q

Define mean free path

A

average distance a molecule travels before colliding with another molecule.

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5
Q

What is the relationship between density and kinetic energy?

A

proportional

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6
Q

What is the ideal gas law

A

Pressure = Density x R x Temperature

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7
Q

How are density and height in the atmosphere related?

A

the lower you are in the atmosphere, the higher the desnity

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8
Q

How are pressure and height in the atmosphere related?

A

as you move down in the atmosphere, pressure increases

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9
Q

Which thermal layer is where most weather happens?

A

Troposphere

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10
Q

What are the ways heat can be transferred from one place to another?

A
  1. Radiation (the sun heats the ground)
  2. Conduction (the ground heats the air)
  3. Convection (the warm air rises)
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11
Q

What zones of air are clouds formed in/which are clear? What is the pressure for each?

A
  • Zones of rising air and low pressure = clouds form
  • Zones of sinking air and high pressure = clear skies
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12
Q

PGF goes from ____ to _____ pressure.

A

high to low

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13
Q

How does PGF relate to distance between isobars

A
  • PGF is inversely proportional to distance between isobars
  • Lines closer together = strong pressure gradient
  • Lines further apart =weak pressure gradient
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14
Q

What angle does the PGF form with isobars?

A

90 degrees

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15
Q

What is hydrostatic balance?

A
  • PGF = gravitational force
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16
Q

How does heating a column of air affects its density?

A
  • Heating decreases density
  • so the column will contain the same amount of air but is less dense to compensate for its greater height
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17
Q

What is the coriolis force?

A
  • produces an apparent deflection to the RIGHT in Northern hemisphere and LEFT in Southern
  • CF is zero at equator and increases with increasing latitude
  • increases with object it’s acting on’s speed
  • CF changes only the direction of object not its speed
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18
Q

What is frictional force?

A
  • a force of opposition which slowed down air
  • matters when close to surface (within 1 mi)
  • friciton reduces wind speed so it also reduces CF
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19
Q

What causes PGF?

A

differential heating of equators and poles

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20
Q

What are cyclones and anticyclones?

A
  • Cyclones = enclosed areas of low pressure with roughly circular isobars (counterclockwise in N. hemisphere)
  • Anticyclones = enclosed areas of high pressure with roughly circular isobars (clockwise in N. hemisphere)
21
Q

What are troughs and ridges?

A
  • troughs = elongated areas (low pressure)
  • ridges = elongated areas (high pressure)
  • pressure distributed as cyclones/anticyclones at surface and gradually give way to ridges and troughs in upper atmosphere
22
Q

What is it called when going from solid water (ice) to gas water (water vapor)?

A
  • Sublimation
  • heat absorbed
23
Q

What is it called when gas (water vapor) turns to solid water (ice)?

A
  • deposition
  • heat released
24
Q

Describe evaporation

A
  • molecules escape from liquid into the overlying volume as water vapor
  • evaporation rate is proportional to the temperature of the liquid
25
Q

Describe condensation

A
  • water vapor molecules randomly collide with the water surface and bond with adjacent molecules
  • condensation rate is proportional to the “amount of vapor”
26
Q

What are 2 ways to quantify humidity?

A
  • vapor pressure (pressure exerted on the atmosphere by water molecules (mb)
  • mixing ratio (mass of water vapor in a unit mass of dry air (g/kg)
27
Q

What is relative humidity

A
  • amount of water vapor in relation to saturation point
  • highest RH in morning (coolest time) and lowest in afternoon (warmest time)
28
Q

What is dew point temperature

A

temperature to which air must be cooled to reach saturation (without changing vapor pressure)

29
Q

What are 3 processes that cause saturation

A

1) addition of water vapor
2) cooling the air to dew point (most clouds)
3) mixing cold air with warm moist air

30
Q

What is homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation?

A
  • homogeneous nucleation: only water vapor molecules coming together to form water (effect or curvature, requires supersaturation so never rlly happens)
  • heterogeneous nucleation: water vapor molecules adhere to a solid surface (hygroscopic aerosols) on a condensation nucleus (cloud condensation nuclei - CCN)
31
Q

What are the 2 types of processes that can change the temperature of an air parcel?

A
  • diabatic processes: changes in temperature caused by heat transfer into our out of the air parcel (cooling air parcels to reach saturaiton)
  • adiabatic processes: changes in temperature or contraction due to changes in pressure (no heat transfer)
32
Q

What is adiabatic lapse rate?

A

rate at which temperature decreases with increasing altitude

33
Q

What is dew?

A
  • liquid condensation on surface often occurring during the early morning hours
  • surface air becomes saturated and condensation forms on objects acting as a condensation nuclei
34
Q

What is convection? What is buoyancy?

A
  • convection = vertical motions caused by buoyancy
  • buoyancy = an air parcel that is denser than its environment sinks, while an air parcel that is less dense rises
35
Q

What are the 3 types of equilibrium in the atmosophere?

A
  1. Stable
    (ELR has smaller slope than DALR)
    (ball goes back - U shape)
  2. Indifferent/neutral
    (ELR and DLR have = slope)
    (ball stays - flat)
  3. Unstable
    (ELR has larger slope than DALR)
    (ball moves away - hill shape)
36
Q

What is geostrophic balance?

A

PGF = CF

37
Q

When does advection fog occur?

A

when warm air passes over a cool surface

38
Q

When does saturation occur?

A

When the condensation rate = the evaporation rate

39
Q

What is the LCL (lifting condensation level)?

A

The altitude at which clouds begin to form in a rising parcel of air

40
Q

In which layer in the atmosphere is friction important in determining wind speed?

A

planetary boundary layer

41
Q

When is the troposphere thickest?

A

the summer (when its warm)

42
Q

What is the proportion for the dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR)?

A

10 degrees per km

43
Q

What is the proportion for the saturated adiabatic lapse rate (SALR)?

A

5 degree per km

44
Q

What are the 3 basic types of clouds?

A
  1. Stratus = Wide flat layer of clouds (stable ELR, no vertical motion)
  2. Cumulus = Puffs/piles of clouds (unstable ELR, vertical motion)
  3. Nimbus = Precipitating cloud (i.e. rain)
45
Q

What is the prefix for high clouds above 19,000 ft?

A
  • Cirrus
  • Mostly ice crystals
  • Wispy appearance (low water content)
46
Q

What is the prefix for middle clouds between 6,000 and 19,000 ft?

A
  • Alto
  • mostly liquid droplets
47
Q

What is the prefix for low clouds below 6,000 ft?

A
  • no prefix, just the base name
  • mostly liquid droplets
48
Q

Are horizontal or vertical pressure changes bigger?

A

Vertical pressure changes are greater

Hope's Fall Quarter Studying (10 decks)

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