Earth Science Flashcards
Transpiration
- occurs with plants
- water escapes into the air
2 ways water enters the atmosphere
-Evaporation and transpiration
evapotranspiration
Air pressure is measured with a ___________ and is normally _____________
- barometer
- 760 mm or 1013 mb
The rate of evaporation is based on
- amount of energy available
- surface area
- amount of water vapor already in the air(is it saturated)
Wind can ___________ the amount of evaporation taking place
-increase
When moisture increases, density ____________
-decreases
Convergence
-where air flows into an area
Divergence
-where air flows away from an area
Wind
-horizontal movement of air across Earth’s surface
Air flows from _____________ to _____________
-high pressure to low pressure
High pressure places are _________ and are places of _________
- cool and dry
- divergence
Low pressure places are ___________ and are places of ___________
- warm and wet
- convergence
The Coriolis Effect is due to ______ and causes wind to be_______
- rotation of the Earth
- deflected to the right
The windward side of a mountains _________ and the leeward side is ___________
- cool and moist
- hot and dry
The higher the temperature, the ________ water vapor it can hold
-more
Dew Point
-the temperature of the air when it is saturated with water vapor
2 conditions for a cloud to form
- air is at the dew point (saturated)
- there are condensation nuclei (dust, pollen, etc.)
Humidity
-the amount of water vapor in the air
For precipitation to occur the relative humidity must be __________ or ____________
- humidity is 100%
- dew point temperature is the same as the air temperature
Average temperature depends on _____________
-the total amount of insulation received
As pressure decreases, temperature _____________
-increases
As pressure decreases, moisture ____________
-increases
When isobars are close together ____________ and _____________
- the wind is great
- the gradient is high
Pressure vs. Temperature
-as pressure decreases, temperature increases
Relative Humidity vs. Tempertaure
-as temperature increases, relative humidity increases
Wind vs. Pressure Gradient
-as the pressure gradient increases, the wind increases
Air Mass
-a large body of air that shows the same temperature and humidity characteristics
Source Region
-where an air mass forms
Low pressure also known as
-cyclone or low
High pressure also known as
-anticyclone or high
Winds in a low blow
-toward the center and counter clockwise
Winds in a high blow
-away from the center and clockwise
Cold Front
- move fast
- brings in cold air and high pressure
- brief, but heavy rain
- cumulus clouds
Warm Front
- moves slow
- brings in warm air and low pressure
- light , long lasting rain
- stratus clouds
Stationary Front
Behaves like a warm front
Occluded Front
Behaves like a cold front
Rain prefix and suffix
-nimbo or nimbus
Thunderstorms
-occur with cold fronts
Tornado
- form out of thunderstorms
- center is called a vortex
Hurricane
- also called a typhoon or tropical cyclone
- forms as a low pressure over an ocean
