Atmosphere Flashcards
What is the term for the rain that freezes as it falls through freezing air?
Sleet
What is the name of the scale used to determine the strength of tornados?
Fajita scale
What is created when winds are blowing at different speeds at different altitudes?
Wind shear
What is the term for something that begins as a raindrop - freezes and then is carried back into the clouds and then adds another layer of ice?
Hail
What is the name of the instrument that is used to measure the air pressure?
Barometer
What is the term for a severe thunderstorm with strong vertical rotation - - aka supercell?
Mesocyclone
What is the term for rivers of wind height above the atmosphere that separate cool air from warm air?
Jet Stream
What is the term for when water vapor turns to a liquid on a cooler object?
Condensation
What is the term for a storm with lightning?
Thunderstorm
What is the one thing that DEFINES a thunderstorm (what MUST be present)?
Lightning
What is the term for condensation of water on grass, cars, or other cooler objects?
Dew
What is the term for boundaries between air masses of different densities and temperatures?
Fronts
What measures the amount of humidity in the air?
Hydrometer
What is the term for the conversion of water from a liquid to a gas?
Evaporation
What is created by violently rotating air mass that TOUCHES the ground?
Tornado
What direction does the air in a low pressure system spins?
Counter clockwise
Why are low pressure systems - low pressure?
The air is rising
What direction does the air in a high pressure system spin?
Clockwise
Why does a baseball in Denver fly farther than it does in New York?
Denver is at a higher altitude so there are less air molecules which causes less drag on the object
What type of weather is associated with high pressure?
Sunny
What type of weather is associated with low pressure?
Clouds and rain
What is the distance a bolt of lightning can reach from a storm cloud?
10 miles
What is given when a tornado is immanent (YOU NEED TO TAKE ACTION!)
Tornado warning
What cause the most damage in tornados?
Flying objects
What is the term for precipitation that is formed as rain drips freeze as they fall?
Sleet
What is the term for precipitation that is formed as rain freezes as it falls then is blown back up into the cloud and gets another layer of ice until it is too heavy and falls?
Hail
What is the term for precipitation that is formed as water vapor freezes and forms ice crystals?
Snow
What is the term for when conditions are FAVORABLE for a tornado?
Tornado watch
What is the FUEL for a thunderstorm or a tornado?
Warm air
About how fast does sound travel?
1 mile in 5 seconds
When does lightning form?
1 - - Negative charges build up in the bottom of the clouds
2 - - Positive charges move up vertical objects
3 - - Electric charges jump through air from clouds to vertical objects
What can occur when you are struck by lightning?
1 - - your heart can stop or be put out of rhythm
2 - - all your muscles contract at the same time throwing you backwards
3 - - water instantly turns to steam and can be burned severely
When does evaporation occurA?
When water molecules become a gas
What type of process is evaporation and why?
It is a cooling process because heat leaves with the molecules
Why would you be safe in a car from lightning?
You are surrounded by metal
