earthscience test Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the motion of surface winds associated with low pressure systems?

A

Counterclockwise and toward the center of the low.

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2
Q

Match the instruments to what they measure:

Barometer
Anemometer
psychrometer
wind vane
thermometer
precipitation gauge

A

Barometer - air pressure
Anemometer - wind speed
psychrometer - relative humidity
wind vane - wind direction
thermometer - air temperature
precipitation gauge - amount of rainfall

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3
Q

What are the two characteristics that are used to identify air masses?

A

moisture content and temperature

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4
Q

The properties of an air mass are mostly determined by the:

A

source region where the air mass formed

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5
Q

Where and when do most hurricanes that affect the east coast of the U.S originally form?

A

warm waters of the atlantic Ocean in summer, like on the coast of Africa.

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6
Q

What are some forms of precipitation?

A
  1. hail
  2. rain
    3.snow
  3. sleet
  4. freezing rain
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7
Q

What do isobars do in a low pressure system?

A

isobars decrease in millibars when getting closer to the center of the low pressure system.

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8
Q

When do clouds usually form

A

when air temperature reaches the dewpoint

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9
Q

describe a cold front

A

when warm moist air and cold dry air collide on a steep slope causing a cummunibulis cloud to form.

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10
Q

describe a warm front

A

when warm moist air collides with cold air on a gentle slope.

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11
Q

describe an occluded front

A

when two cold air masses collide with each other pushing the warm air up

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12
Q

describe a stationary front.

A

when cold and warm air masses meet but dont collide

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13
Q

Which geographic region is the most common source region for the mT air masse that move into New York State?

A

the Gulf of Mexico

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14
Q

Where does precipitation occur on a cold front?

A

directly on top of a cold front

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15
Q

where does precipitation occur on a warm front?

A

in front of a warm front

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16
Q

What best describes the difference in air temperature and humidity between the cP and mT air masses?

A

The mT air mass is warmer and more humid

17
Q

Why do clouds form in a hurricane?

A

BECUASE air rises, expands, cools to the dewpoint and condenses on surface nuclei

18
Q

why does lake effect snow happen?

A

because cold air moves over warmer lake region during the winter.

19
Q

why does the position of the polar jet stream vary with the season?

A

Because the vertical rays of the Sun shift north of the equator in summer

20
Q

what is a jet stream?

A

a band of fast moving air that varies throughout the seasons.

21
Q

what happens as altitude increases?

A

temperature deccreases

22
Q

what is the air pressure of 29.68 inches of mercury in millibars? (use CRT)

A

1005 mb

23
Q

what weather change is most likely indicated by rapidly falling air pressure?

A

a storm approaching

24
Q

where is high pressure and low air pressure on a hot summer, sunny afternoon?

A

high pressure is over the water and low pressure over the beach

25
Q

where does wind at high air pressure go to?

A

low air pressure

26
Q

bad weather is mostly indicated by what?

A

low air pressure

27
Q

What can a physchrometer be used to find?

A

relative humidity and depoint

28
Q

under what atmospheric conditions will water most likely evaporate the quickest

A

hot dry and windy conditions

29
Q

how does a sea breeze develope?

A

a sea breeze develops due to the higher specific heat of water and the lower specific heat of land during a hot sunny day which means it takes longer for the water to heat up and a shorter amount of time for the land to heat up which causes the air above the water to be much cooler than the air above the land/

30
Q

how does a land breeze develope?

A

a land breeze develops due to the higher specific heat of water and the lower specific heat of land during a cold night which means it takes longer for the water to cool down and a shorter amount of time for the land to heat up which causes the air above the water to be much warmer than the air above the land.

31
Q

most clouds form in the atmosphere when moist air does what?

A

rises, expands, and cools to the dewpoint

32
Q

in which atmospheric temperature zone does most precipitation occur?

A

in the troposphere

33
Q

where does the most atmospheric pressure occur?

A

in the troposhere

34
Q

what describes the stratosphere?

A

it is warmer at the top than at the bottom

35
Q

where does a temp of 95 degrees c most often exist in the atmosphere?

A

in the thermosphere.