Chapter 1 Flashcards by Ro Ortega

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time in terms of (temp, humidity, cloudiness, precipitation, wind speed and direction)

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Meteorology

Study of the atmosphere, processes that cause weather , and the life cycle of weather systems

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Climate

Weather Conditions at a locality averaged over a specified time interval

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Climatology

Study of Climate, it’s controls and spatial temporal variability

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NWR

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards

Source of weather and climate info. Broadcasts weathe and non weather (amber alerts etc) emergency messages

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Pressure Systems (2 main types)

High (AntiCyclones) and Low (Cyclone) High to low is in reference to air pressure

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Air pressure

Weight per unit area of a column of air that extends upward from Earth’s surface to the top of atmosphere

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Anti cyclone

High pressure system, high air pressure area, accompanied by fair weather

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Highs originating in northwestern Canada will bring

Cold, dry weather in winter and cool dry weather in summer to much of U.S

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Highs that develop further south over land bring

Hot, dry weather in summer and mild, dry weather in winter

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Cyclone

Low air pressure area, produce stormy weather

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Visible satellite image

Identify specific type of weather systems (hurricane) but also the stage of life cycle and direction of movement analyzed from cloud patterns

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Infrared satellite image

Uses IR radiation (invisible form of radiation that is emitted by all objects both day and night), can provide info at any time day or night

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Water vapor satellite image

Identifies and tracks movement of moisture plumes within the atmosphere

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Weather radar and what it compliments

Compliments satellite surveillance of atmosphere by locating and tracking movements of precipitation and monitors circulation within small scale low weather cycles (like thunderstorms)

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What direction do anti cyclone surface winds blow and from where can it be viewed?

Can be viewed from N. Hemisphere, surface winds blow in clockwise and outward spiral

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What is typical conditions of a broad area at the center of a high weather system?

Calm conditions and light winds

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What is an exception of a low pressure system?

Lows that develop over broad regions of arid or semi arid terrain (desert Southwest, especially in summer)

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What happens in arid/ semi arid areas when a low pressure system develops?

Intense solar heating of the ground raises air temp, lowering surface air pressure. Produces a low that remains stationary over hot ground and is not accompanied by stormy weather

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What direction do cyclone surface winds blow and where is is viewed from?

Viewed from N. Hemisphere. Surface winds blow in counterclockwise and outward spiral

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Air Mass

Huge volume of air that covers hundred of thousands of sq kilometers with relatively uniform temp and humidity properties horizontally

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Front

Transition zone of air masses that differ in temp, humidity or both

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Where do fronts form?

Form where contrasting air masses meet, associated air movements will give rise to cloudiness and precipitation

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What are the common fronts? Describe each

Stationary- as name implies, on both sides of this front, wind blows roughly parallel to the front but in opposite directions

Warm Front - marks boundary between advancing relatively warm air and retreating cold air

Cold Front - marks boundary between advancing cold air and retreating warm air

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Warm air is —- then cold air

Less dense

GOES

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, orbits earth about 36,000 km above earths equator.

POES

Polar- orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite.

Weather maps are used in what time?

Z time

What are time zones based on? How is it measured?

Longitude, measured as degrees East and west of prime meridian?

What is the prime meridian?

Zero degrees longitude

Where had early astronomical determination of time been made

Old Royal observatory in Greenwich, England

What is GMT

Greenwich Mean Time, based upon daily rotation of Earth with respect to a “mean sun”,

What is the preferred time system?

Coordinated Universal Time or Universel Temps Coordinne (UTC)

How do you find time zone differences? EX: Find the difference between Central Time Zone in NA with a longitude 90 degrees West

divide the central meridian of the time zone (based on location) by 15,the longitude in which the Earth rotates every hour. If west, time is behind GMT, if east, it is ahead.

Low Pressure systems that track across the N. U.S or S. Canada are what and produce what more than further south?

More distant fro. Sources of moisture and produce less rain Or snowfall than lows that track further south.

Weather on west and north of a cyclones path tends to be

Relatively cold

Weather on the east and south of cyclones path tends to be

Relatively warm

In the path of a low pressure system, winter snows are more likely

To the west and North of low pressure system path

What is air mass typically associated | with? What does its specific characteristics depend on?

A high pressure system. It depends on the types of surfaces over which an air mass form and travels

Where do Cold Air masses form?

At higher latitudes over surfaces that are often snow or ice covered

Where do warm air masses form?

in lower latitudes where Earth’s surface is relatively warm

An air mass modifies as

It moves away from its source region

A cold air mass warms more if

It travels over ground that is bare rather than snow-covered

Most cloudiness and precipitation associated with a warm front occurs over a

Broad band, in advance where front intersects Earth’s surface

Widespread precipitation ahead of warm front is generally

Light to moderate in intensity, may persist at particular location for 12-24 hrs or longer

Most cloudiness and precipitation associated with a cold front occurs as a

Narrow band, just ahead of where the front intersects earth’s surface

Cold front precipitation is

Often showery and may last a few minutes to a few hours, but it very intense

Tropical Storms and hurricanes impact Atlantic and Gulf coasts primarily

August through October

Serve thunderstorms and tornadoes are most common in

Spring and early summer in U.S

Maximum temperature is

Highest air temperature recorded over 24 hr period

Maximum temps typically occur

In the early to mid-afternoon

Minimum temp is

Lowest air temp recorded over 24 hr period

Minimum temp typically occurs

Around sunrise

Dew point (frost point)

Temperature where air must be cooled at a constant pressure to become saturated with water vapor and for dew to begin forming on relatively cold surfaces

Relative Humidity

Measure of actual concentration of water vapor component of air compared to concentration the air would have if saturated with water vapor

Relative humidity is expressed

As a percentage

Relative humidity is highest

During the coldest time of day (sunrise)

Relative humidity is lowest

During warmest time of day

Air pressure is expressed in

Millibars (mb)

Wind direction is the compass direction

From which the wind blows

Sky cover is

Based on the fraction of the sky that is cloud covered

Types of Sky Covers (5)

Clear - No clouds A few clouds- (1/8 to 2/8 cover) Scattered- (3/8 to 4/8) Broken- 5/8 to 7/8 Overcast- completely covered

Weather Watch

Possible based on current or anticipated atmospheric conditions, occurrence timing or exact location is uncertain

Weather Warning

Hazardous weather is happening, imminent, or had very high probability of occurring

Where does GOES satellite revolve around

Earth at the same rate and in the same direction as the planet rotates as it is always positioned over the same spot on earths surface and its sensors have a consistent field of view

What is sub-satellite point, where is it

Location on earths surface directly below satellite. It is in the equator

GOES is complemented by Polar orbiting satellites to

Best observe poles

Tops of High clouds are

Colder than low clouds and emit less intense IR radiation

In IR satellite image, High clouds appear

Bright white

Low clouds appear

Darker and warmer

What cannot be detected on visible and infrared satellite images and why

Water vapor because it is invisible

How can water vapor be detected on IR satellite and Visible satellite

Water vapor absorbs and emits certain wavelength bands of IR radiation, sensitivity of waverlengths of these weather satellite detect water vapor

What indicates no water vapor on water vapor satellite images

On a grayscale, dark gray indicates almost no water vapor

What indicates high concentration of water vapor on satellite image

Appear milky white

Weather Radar

Locates and tracks movement of areas of precipitation and monitoring the circulation within small scale weather systems

What does the weather radar continually emits?

Pulses of microwave energy reflected by atmospheric targets (raindrops, snowflakes or hail stones)

Reflected signal on radar is displayed as

Blotches (radar echos)

The heavy the precipitation on a weather radar,

The more intense echo

Echo intensity is calibrated on

Color scale (light green is light rain, dark red is heavy rain or hail)

From analysis of radar echos, meteorologists can determine

Intensity of thunderstorms, track movement of areas of precipitation and predict where it begins or ends