Chapter 8.5 - Synoptic Meteorology

Question 1

Define air-mass?

Answer 1

A body of air which extends over a large area.

Question 2

Name four air-masses founded in Australia?

Answer 2

• Equatorial (hot).
• Tropical (warm).
• Polar (cool).
• Antarctic (cold).

Question 3

Name two sources of air-masses in Australia?

Answer 3

• Continental (over land).

- Maritime (over water).

Question 4

What name is given to an air-mass that begin to move from its source region?

Answer 4

Airstream.

Question 5

Name four factors which can modify an Airstream?

Answer 5

• Surface Heating/Cooling.
• Orographic Lifting.
• Middle and Upper Level Heating.
• Cooling.

Question 6

Define Front/Frontal Zone?

Answer 6

The boundary layer between two air-masses with different temperatures.

Question 7

Name two types of Fronts?

Answer 7

• Cold Front.

- Warm Front.

Question 8

Define a Cold Front?

Answer 8

Cool air displaces warm air.

Question 9

Define Warm Front?

Answer 9

Warm air displaces cold air.

Question 10

Which Frontal System moves faster?

Answer 10

Cold Front.

Question 11

Air masses moving over warmer surfaces, from colder surfaces become what?

Answer 11

Unstable.

Question 12

Air masses moving over colder surfaces, from warmer surfaces become?

Answer 12

Stable.

Question 13

On a weather map, what does a Cold Front look like?

Answer 13

Heavy line with solid barbs pointing in the direction of movement.

Question 14

On a weather map, what does a Warm Front look like?

Answer 14

Heavy line with solid semicircles pointing in the direction of movement.

Question 15

On a weather map, what does an Occluded Front look like?

Answer 15

A combination of Cold and Warm Front symbols (barb and semicircle).

Question 16

What is the scale of a Cold Front slope?

Answer 16

1:50 NM.

Question 17

Which type of cloud appears in a Cold Front?

Answer 17

Cumuliform Clouds.

Question 18

Name the three clouds (and abbreviations) which appear in a Cold Front in order?

Answer 18

• Cumulonimbus (CB).
• Nimbostratus (NS).
• Cumulus (CU).

Question 19

What happens to Wind in a passage of a Cold Front in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 19

The wind backing from NE, N or NW to SW or S.

Question 20

What happens to Pressure in a passage of a Cold Front in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 20

Rises.

Question 21

What happens to Temperature in a passage of a Cold Front in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 21

Falls.

Question 22

What happens to visibility in an approaching Cold Front?

Answer 22

Reduced but improving.

Question 23

Define Squall Line?

Answer 23

Line or belt of thunderstorms.

Question 24

Squall Lines produce which kind of Turbulence?

Answer 24

Very Severe.

Question 25

What is the scale of a Warm Front slope?

Answer 25

1:150 NM.

Question 26

Which type of cloud appears in a Warm Front?

Answer 26

Stratus Clouds.

Question 27

Name four clouds (and abbreviations) which appear in a Warm Front in order?

Answer 27

• Cirrus (CI).
• Cirrostratus (CS).
• Altostratus (AS).
• Nimbostratus (NS).

Question 28

What happens to Wind in a passage of a Warm Front in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 28

The wind will back from N or NE to N or NW.

Question 29

What happens to Pressure in a passage of a Warm Front in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 29

Falls.

Question 30

What happens to Temperature in a passage of a Warm Front in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 30

Rises.

Question 31

What happens to visibility in an approaching Warm Front?

Answer 31

Reduce to poor.

Question 32

Define Occluded Front?

Answer 32

When a Cold Front overtakes a Warm Front.

Question 33

What type of weather will occur in an Occluded Front?

Answer 33

Mixture of both Cold and Warm Fronts.

Question 34

What happens to Wind in a passage of an Occluded Front in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 34

Backs.

Question 35

What happens to Temperature in a passage of an Occluded Front in the southern hemisphere?

Answer 35

Falls.