Chapter 20 Flashcards
The weather in an area stays virtually the same for an entire week. What kind of front probably exists between the nearby air masses?
stationary
Which type of front involves two air masses where an existing air mass rises to make way for the incoming air mass?
cold
The Atacama Desert in Chile exists because moisture is dropped as snow and rain on one side of the Andes Mountains, leaving little moisture in the air on the other side. This rain shadow effect is caused by
orographic lifting
Winds flowing from different directions that come together in a locality force air masses aloft. Cloud formation and storms often result. What is the meteorological term for this process?
convergence
A “hook” appearing in the Doppler radar image of a severe storm is often the sign of a
tornado
A Nor’easter is described best as
a winter storm system that brings snow in from the Atlantic Ocean
A ___________ is NOT associated with a single cumulonimbus cloud
hurricane
If the time between a lightning flash and the sound of thunder is 3 seconds, how far has the sound traveled?
1 km (0.6 mi)
Which kind of violent storm has the greatest wind speed?
tornado
Some terms associated with tornadoes are:
strong cold fronts
updrafts
waterspouts
Names are assigned to __________ and _________
tropical cyclones and storms
Names are NOT assigned to __________
tornadoes
The following conditions can affect the path of a hurricane
jet stream
pressure system
trade winds
While hiking, you are surprised by a severe thunderstorm with lightning. The safest thing for you to do would be to
crouch down out in the open
When a warm air mass is trapped between two colliding colder air masses, it forms an
occluded front
The greatest danger from a severe thunderstorm comes not from wind or hail but from
lightning
Hurricanes that form in the middle latitudes are often less violent and are called
extratropical hurricanes
The huge waves that are produced far out in the ocean and precede the arrival of a hurricane are called the
storm swells
_____________ are lines on a weather map connecting areas of equal pressure. The placement of these lines can be used to predict wind speed and direction.
isobars
How would a maritime polar air mass compare to a continental tropical air mass
The maritime polar (mP) air mass would contain moist, relatively cold air, while the continental tropical (cT) air mass would contain dry, warm air
What happens when a cold air mass meets a warm air mass?
Where the air masses meet, the warm air mass is lifted as the colder, denser air moves beneath it. This usually produces precipitation.
List the four types of severe storms discussed in the test.
winter storms, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes
What are the greatest destructive features of a tornado?
rotating wind pressure and updraft
What two factors does the Enhanced Fujita-Pearson Scale measure besides wind speed?
It also considers tornado path width and path length
When in the life of a hurricane does its power and wind speed diminish?
Hurricanes lose intensity when they move over land or cooler water
A blast of cool air that comes just before the rain of a thunderstorm is a(n) _____________
gust front
A large body of air that has fairly uniform conditions is a(n) __________
air mass
The boundary between two air masses is called a(n) _______
front
Cloud-to-ground or cloud-to-cloud electrical discharge is called ______________
lightning
A(n) ________________ occurs when a warmer air mass is replacing a colder air mass
warm front
A(n) ___________ often has an anvil-shaped top
thunderhead
A powerful, rotating storm that is likely to spawn a tornado is called a(n) _______________
supercell
A line of violent thunderstorms along a cold front is called a(n) ____________
squall line
Be able to identify the symbols from the weather map on page 493. Know the following symbols…..
barometric pressure dew point wind speed and direction air temperature precipitation falling
True or False
Air masses usually originate in windy locations, allowing them to move into other regions.
False
True or False
Air masses of differing temperatures and humidities often mix.
False
True or False
Most interactions among air masses cause precipitation.
True
True or False
Thunderstorms develop only in the summer when the air is moist and warm
False
True or False
Tornadoes are more common and more powerful in the United States than in any other country
True
True or False
It is the extremely low pressure inside of a tornado’s funnel that can cause buildings to explode
False
True or False
Hurricanes never form over land
True
True or False
In the western Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons
True
True or False
Pressure in the eye of a hurricane is lower in the outer part of the hurricane
True
True or False
A hurricane’s storm swell causes storm surge
False
True or False
The National Weather Service releases a set of four synoptic maps daily
True
How does the development and use of Doppler radar and weather satellites demonstrate love for others?
Radar technology and satellites enable us to better track storms and predict threatening conditions. In the case of hurricanes, this may lead to timely evacuations and prevent the loss of life. Property loss can also be reduced if people have time to secure or in other ways protect it. Doppler radar can give early warning of developing tornadoes or supercells that are capable of causing them. This can trigger storm warnings that give people time to take cover.
What are some of the dangers of winter storms?
Snowfall on roadways makes driving hazardous, increasing the probability of accidents. At the same time, emergency vehicles have greater difficulty responding to those with needs. Heavy snow and ice buildup on trees can not only damage the trees but may also bring down power lines, interrupting electrical service to homes and industry.
What factors affect where a hurricane forms?
A hurricane must form in the tropics where the water is warm, but it must form far enough away from the Equator so that the Coriolis effect can begin its rotation. It forms over the ocean rather than over land. The ocean exerts little friction on its cyclonic circulation and provides its source of energy.
