atmospheres and weather final exam Flashcards
five layers of the atmosphere
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere,exosphere
sphere where biology resides
troposphere
where planes fly amd protection of UV rays occurs
stratosphere
where space shuttles can fly
thermosphere
how is density and pressure affected as one gets closer to space?
It decreases due to the thin atmosphere
What are the seasons (scientifically)?
a function of the earth’s tilt
movement of air from one place to another
wind
which direction does wind move in terms of pressure?
warm air will rise due to the low pressure and cold air will sink due to high pressure
How does the planetary tilt affect insolation and atmosphere circulation
the relative equator can alter the deflection of the coriolis effect causing different winds
combination of temperature, pressure, moisture content, wind velocity, and wind direction, short term and day to day
weather
boundaries between air masses
front
fronts that hug the ground with steep temperature and pressure gradients , cold dense air flows beneath warmer air; rapid uplift of warm humid air
cold front
front that moves slowly, pushes cold air as a wedge, produces broad cloud cover
warm front
occluded front occurs when
a fast moving cold front overtakes a slower warm front; generates strong heavy winds
how do winds move?
from high to low pressure`
why do clouds form?
h2o saturated air rises
which clouds are the main source of thunderstorms
cumulonimbis
short, local pulses of intense rain, wind, and lightning, forms when warm, moist, unstable air is carried upward as a cold front moves in
thunderstorms
a near vertical rotating funnel shaped vortex cloud, and form along steep P gradients with colliding air masses
tornadoes
develop along steep pressure gradients fueled by warm, moist air centered by low pressure
storms
what are air masses and how do they affect tornadoes and storms?
Air masses are varying combinations of pressure gradients and cool/warm air. Different conditions can produce different results such as tornadoes and storms. A tornadoes air mass would not produce a storm’s air mass
huge low pressure cyclonic storms that form over warm water tropical oceans off west africa
hurricanes
hurricanes in western pacific ocean
typhoons
hurricanes in northern indian ocean
cyclones
when do hurricanes develop
in summer and late fall
persistent weather patterns
climate
what can used to determine a regions climate?
Altitude, Latitude, Ocean currents, Mountain ranges, and pressure of the region
What is el nino and how is it effected by the sea surface temperature
el nino is the oscillation of air and water circulation off peru that causes low pressure colder sea water to flow on the pacific jet stream
