FINAL Flashcards
Fahrenheit to Celsius formula?
(ºF - 32) x 5/9
conversion of knots to MPH?
knots x 1.151
what is Zulu time?
- universal time zone
- Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
how to convert Zulu time to EST/EDT?
STANDARD 4 HOURS
DAYLIGHT 5 HOURS
(SUBTRACT FROM ZULU)
identify the different types of observations discussed in class
sky condition, visibility, pressure (sea level), temperature, dewpoint, wind, and precipitation
be able to identify the main observational parameters, such as temp, dew point, wind, etc. on station plots
this is simple
pressure: why we measure it and UNITS
- why: identify low/high systems, predict weather patterns
- units: mb or hPa
radiation: why we measure it and UNITS
why: cloud cover, heat index, UV index
units: watts per sq meter - w/m^2
what is the relationship between Relative Humidity and Dew Point?
dew point is the temperature the air needs to be cooled to (at constant pressure) in order to achieve a relative humidity (RH) of 100%
what do COOP stand for?
why are they important?
what are their similarities/differences?
- Cooperative Observer Program
- weather and climate observing network directed by the NWS
what do CoCoRaHs stand for?
why are they important?
what are their similarities/differences?
- Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network
- anyone can participate
- started in CO in 1988
what types of people comprise the COOP?
volunteers
what are Mesonets?
why are they important?
- a high-density network of weather stations designed to observe mesoscale meteorological phenomena
- rapid data collection of various weather parameters, localized mesoscale phenomena (thunderstorms, squall lines, dry lines) can be easily spotted
compare/contrast COOP vs. Mesonets.
- mesonets report observations much more frequently and are much more spatially dense
- human errors are also eliminated; however, technological errors (calibration) can still occur
what are some problems with manual weather observation?
- reports can be subjective
- could also have inconsistencies
decode a METAR from start to Remarks
(remarks will be worth BONUS points if you can identify them.)
fml
decode a TAF from start to finish
fml
be prepared to decode/analyze/place isopleths on a station map. BRING COLORED PENCILS FOR THIS!
fml
what are the 6 standard atmospheric variables/areas that weather stations measure (covered in lecture)?
wind, pressure/tendency, temperature/dew point, cloud cover, present weather conditions
what is the datalogger?
- ‘brain’ of the operation
- all instruments wired to this device
what is the ultrasonic snow depth sensor?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measures snow
- looks like a shower head
- HEIGHT NEVER STATED
be able to place these instruments into their proper locations on a tower image
yuh
be able to match instruments to their proper titles/parameters
mhm
errors that may occur with precipitation measurements?
leaves, debris, sideways wind/precip, people peein
conversion of MPH to knots?
mph / 1.151
Celsius to Fahrenheit formula?
(ºC x 9/5) + 32
what is the barometer?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measures pressure
- tiny box in datalogger
- 2 METERS UP
what is the thermistor?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measures temperature
- looks like a tornado siren
- 2 METERS HIGH
what is the electric hygrometer?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measures dew point
- sits next to thermistor
- 2 METERS HIGH
what are the anemometer/wind vane?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measure wind speed/direction
- airplane thing on top
- 10 METERS HIGH
what is the tipping bucket?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measures precip
- SNOW/ICE RATION 10:1
- away from tower at ground level
what is a pyranometer?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measures UV radiation
- security camera thing
- HEIGHT NEVER STATED
what is a pyrgeometer?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measures infrared radiation
- security camera thing
- HEIGHT NEVER STATED
what is a radiometer?
what’s it look like?
how high up?
- measures net radiation
- security camera thing
- HEIGHT NEVER STATED
how do we get observations of the upper atmosphere?
Radiosondes and Rawinsondes
what are Radiosondes?
when are they launched?
- track Pressure, Temperature and Relative Humidity as it rises through the atmosphere
- launched twice per day (00Z and 12Z)
what are Rawinsondes?
when are they launched?
- track Pressure, Temperature, Relative Humidity, Wind Speed, Wind Direction
- launched twice per day (00Z and 12Z)
what are isobars?
lines of equal pressure
what are isotherms?
lines of equal temperature
what are isotachs?
lines of equal wind speed
what are isohypses?
lines of equal height
250/300 mb:
what is the Jet Stream?
high velocity river of air that flows “completely” around the Earth at mid latitudes
250/300 mb:
define Geostrophic Flow
- an oceanic current in which the pressure gradient force is balanced by the Coriolis effect
- no friction
250/300 mb:
what are the two types of geostrophic flow?
what do they mean for surface weather?
- zonal (west to east)
> no major troughs/ridges
> fairly quiet weather and persistent temperatures - meridional (north to south)
> impressive troughs/ridges
> variable weather/temperatures
> areas of strong temp advection
250/300 mb:
what are Jet Streaks?
what do they do to the overall flow pattern aloft?
where do we expect low pressures associated with Jet Streaks?
- localized regions of intense winds
- the primary weather makers in a trough
- capable of amplifying/weakening troughs and ridges
500 mb:
what is Vorticity?
what two types of vorticity are there, and what types of pressure are they associated with?
- the clockwise or counter-clockwise spin of the atmosphere in relation to a vertical axis
- anticyclonic and cyclonic
700 mb:
what are Longwave and Shortwave features?
what do shortwave features do to temperature movement?
- longwave = warmer under ridges, cooler under troughs
- shortwave = “bump” in the height/pressure contours is typically indicative of a shortwave flow pattern
- barotropic and baroclinic
what is barotropic?
uniform temperature distribution
what is baroclinic?
distinct difference in air masses
700 mb:
what do we look for regarding Vertical Motion?
what do positive and negative values mean?
- positive = upward motion, low pressure
- negative = sinking motion, high pressure
700 mb:
discuss relative humidity and its role in atmospheric stability
- can be indicative of instability
- higher RH, more unstable
850 mb:
where are areas of cold and warm air advection on a map?
how can you tell?
what’s it mean to weather features or surface weather in general?
- areas of red (warm) and blue (cold)
- idk they just b there
- regions where isotherms cut across isohypses
= baroclinic environments
850 mb:
what is the Low Level Jet?
what does it do to low pressure systems?
- a region of increased winds near the surface located in the warm sector of a mid-latitude cyclone
- good at transporting warm, moist air northward (aka, can increase severe wx %)
what are the 2 main types of clouds?
- stratus (horizontally)
- cumulus (vertically)
clouds:
what does ‘cirro’ mean?
high-level
clouds:
what does ‘alto’ mean?
mid-level
clouds:
what does ‘nimbus’ mean?
rain-bearing
clouds:
what does ‘strato’ mean?
layer
clouds:
what does ‘cumuli’ mean?
heap
what is a skew-t?
what basic parameters can you find using a skew-T?
- rawinsonde data (obs from weather balloons) over height
- lifted condensation level (LCL), wet-bulb temp (Tw), level of free convection (LFC), equilibrium level (EL), convective available potential energy (CAPE), convective inhibition (CINH)
be able to label the major layer such as the LCL, LFC, and EL
mhm
be able to shade in regions of CIN and CAPE
mhm
what is the moist adiabatic lapse rate (MALR)?
- rate of cooling for a rising saturated parcel of air (rate depends on moisture content)
- ~6˚C/1km)
- runs bottom to top left
what is the dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR)?
- rate of cooling for a rising unsaturated parcel of air
- (~10˚C/1km)
- curved solid line from bottom right to top left
- NO change-of-state of water (no evaporation)
what are the two main types of orbiting satellites used for meteorological observations?
polar orbiting & geostationary orbiting
which type of satellite monitors the contiguous United States?
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)
what two satellite observations do we use to monitor clouds?
Visible and Infrared
benefits/disadvantages of Visible?
- good = high resolution
- bad = only during daytime, lower clouds hard to distinguish
benefits/disadvantages of Infrared?
- good = available 24 hrs, great for determining cloud height
- bad = bad resolution, low & warm clouds nearly impossible to detect
what is water vapor imagery?
what are some uses of water vapor imagery?
- produces an image based on how much water vapor is present in the air at a given point in time
- useful for determining locations of middle and upper moisture content and atmospheric circulations
is water vapor imagery dependent on clouds?
NO
which isobaric surface/height does water vapor imagery depict the best?
approximately from 15,000 ft to 30,000 ft (?)
what is Dual-Polarization?
- works both horizontally and vertically, with oriented beams that are transmitted from the radar
- helps develop a 3-dimensional representation of the target
- assists in differentiating rain from hail, wet snow from dry snow, and rain or hail from tornado debris
what is Reflectivity?
how do we measure it?
- amount of energy that reflects off of the targets and returns to the radar
- based on the number of particles or the size of the particles within this area
what is Velocity?
how do we measure it?
- estimate wind speeds
- based on the time shift across multiple pulses
what is Correlation Coefficient?
how do we measure it?
- differentiating between meteorological targets vs. other target (biological, ground clutter, debris)
- compares the horizontal and vertical characteristics between each pulse within a sample volume
what is an outflow boundary?
how do we identify this system on radar?
- a storm-scale or mesoscale boundary separating thunderstorm-cooled air (outflow) from the surrounding ai
- lines on radar
what is a supercell?
how do we identify this system on radar?
- thunderstorm characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone; a deep, persistently rotating updraft
- hook echo, areas of enhanced reflectivity, and a bounded weak echo region
be able to draw a supercell and highlight key areas (updraft, RFD and FFD, inflow, where we would expect a tornado to form)
RAHHHH
