Chapter 7- Atmospheric Disturbances Flashcards
What are the four types of fronts?
Cold: lower portion slowed due to friction. Lifting causes unstable which makes violent weather ahead. Some precipitation
Warm: cirrus clouds, very gradual, broad precipitation
Stationary: neither air mass displaces the other. They stall. Limited precipitation
Occluded: cold front overtakes a warm front.
What are the main components/characteristics of a mid latitude cyclone
Formation of fronts
Sectors
Clouds and precipitation
How do mid latitude cyclones move?
- Entire storm moves west to east
- Airflow is cyclonic, converging counterclockwise(NH)
- The cold front advances
- The warm front advances
What is the life cycle of a cyclone?
Front develops Wave develops Cyclone circulation established Occlusion begins Occluded front developed Cyclone dissipates
What is the conveyor belt model associated with midlat cyclones?
Norwegian
What are the major components of the Norwegian model?
Warm
Dry
And cold conveyor belts
Not just fronts and pressure, but channels of air
What is a blocking high?
A midlatitude anitcyclone
What are the characteristics of a tropical cyclone?
Low pressure centers
Circular
Steep pressure gradient outward from the center
Eye of a hurricane
How do tropical cyclones originate?
Warm ocean water
Preexisting disturbance
Easterly waves provide low level convergence and lifting
No wind shear
How do tropical cyclones move?
General flow of wind patterns
Most go east to west with little latitude change
Or curve poleward
How is tropical cyclone intensity measured?
Wind speed
What is the scale that categorizes tropical cyclones?
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
What is the main cause of damage and death in a hurricane
Flooding
All about Katrina
August 2005
Category 5
New Orleans
What are the connection between hurricanes and climate change
Ocean warming
Number of hurricanes
Intensity of hurricanes
How do thunderstorms form?
Uplift of warm moist air must release enough latent heat of condensation. Updrafts and cloud grows. Falling particles drag air creating a downdraft.
What are the three stages of thunderstorm life cycle
Cumulus
Mature
Dissipating
What is a derecho?
Large and long lived wind storm
How can you tell the difference between damage done by a derecho verses a tornado
Derechos travel in straight lines
Tornadoes travel sporadicly
What are the characteristics of a tornado?
Deep low pressure cell surrounded by wind
Extreme pressure gradient
Funnel clouds
How do tornadoes form?
Winds are stronger up than at surface. Wind shear produces a rolling motion. Thunderstorm updrafts tilt the horizontally rotating air to a nearly vertical alignment. The mesocyclone a verticals cylinder of rotating air is established. Descend from rotating wall cloud
How do tornadoes move?
Southwest to north east
How is tornado intensity measure?
Damage
What is the name for the tornado categorizing scale?
Enhanced Fuijita Scale
