Final Exam Flashcards
What are the main characteristics of a tropical cyclone?
Rising air
cyclonic rotation
clouds and precipitation
high wind speeds
no fronts
thermal low pressure
develop over tropical oceans
steered by pressure and wind systems around a STH
What are the requirements for tropical cyclone development?
warm ocean surface (27 C or higher)
deep layer of moist air
through of low pressure (easterly wave)
lack of vertical wind shear
sufficient distance from equator for coriolis
What are the different hierarchies for tropical cyclones?
tropical depression - >20 knots
tropical storm - >35 knots
hurricane - >65 knots or 74 mph
What happens when a tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm?
a name is assigned
names are in alphabetical order, alternating female and male names
what is a storm surge?
high water is driven by low pressure
wind effect is magnified by the forward motion of the storm on the right-front quarter
Define weather
atmospheric conditions at a given time in a specific location
define climate
accumulated and averaged weather patterns of a locality or region; the full description is based in longterm statistics and includes extremes or deviations
define a climate classification system
a method for determining categories of climate types based on climatic weather data and characteristics
define a climate region
a region defined by the similarity of climatic conditions in the area within its boundaries
what is the purpose of classification?
arranging something into “like” groups
Why do we classify things?
create order
easier to understand, learn, and to teach
a good way to compare and contrast
allows mapping
Explain the ancient greek climate classification
the original greek climate classification scheme was expanded and correlated with Earth’s five astronomical zones to depict a world comprising of five climate zones
What do modern climate classifications use?
temperature data
precipitation data
longterm records
seasonal and annual statistical calculations
extreme events
many generalizations
variations are likely to occur across a climate region, true or false
true
what is the most widely used climate classification system?
the köppen system
what is the köppen system based on?
regional temperature and precipitation patterns
what are the advantages to the köppen system?
temperature and precipitation are relatively easy to measure
measured most often and in more parts of the world
most important and effective weather elements
linked to vegetation
what are the disadvantages of the köppen system?
considers only average monthly temperature and precipitation
ignores wind, cloud cover, precipitation intensity, and daily temperature extremes
What are the six major climate zones?
A - humid tropical
B - arid and semi-arid
C - humid mesothermal
D - humid microthermal
E - polar
H - highland
what four climate zones are based on temperature characteristics and have adequate annual moisture?
A, C, D, and E
What do the second letters indicate?
precipitation conditions
What do the thrid letters indicate?
temperature conditions
What are the 4 second letters used with A, C, and D climate zones?
f - wet year round
m - monsoon
w - winter dry
s - summer dry
what are the 4 thrid letters used with A, C, and D climate zones?
a - hot summer
b - warm summer
c - mild summer
d - cold winter