Chapter 8.7 - Exam Review Flashcards
What type of weather usually occurs in the tropics during the dry season?
Fine weather inland.
What is the Equatorial Trough?
A zone of Low Pressure between Frontal Depression and Subtropical Ridge
What winds and temperatures are generally associated with the Equatorial Trough (2)?
- Winds = Light and Variable.
- Temperature = High.
What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone?
Narrow frontal zone within the Equatorial Trough.
Cirrostratus is rarely seen in the tropics. When it is present, what does it generally indicate?
Presences of a tropical cyclone.
Apart from heat thunderstorms, what meteorological phenomena usually bring rain to places in the tropics (2)?
- Intertropical Convergence Zone.
- Tropical Cyclones.
When is the cyclone season in northern Australia?
November to April.
What type of weather is associated with tropical Australia’s north-west monsoon in summer and early autumn (2)?
- Heavy Rain.
- Thunderstorms.
What phenomenon influences the dry, fine weather of the winter months in tropical Australia?
Southeast Trade Winds.
Is the west season in the tropics characterised by high or low humidity?
High Humidity.
During what part of the day is radiation fog likely to form over land surfaces in the tropics during the west season?
Late night to early morning.
What is the usual rate of development of thunderstorms in the tropics and what is their typical life span?
- Rate of Development = Less than 30 minutes.
- Life Span = 1 to 4 hours.
What is the average life span of a tropical cyclone?
5 to 6 days.
During what stage in the life cycle of a tropical cyclone does the surface pressure stop falling and remain steady in the range between 975 hPa and 950 hPa?
The Mature Stage.
In a cyclone, what is the name given to the region of light winds with no consistent direction and clear air?
The eye.
