Final Exam Flashcards
Dynamic Meteorology involves the development of theoretical physical laws to understand and predict phenomenon in the atmosphere
True
When an orthogonal Cartesian coordinate system is used in meteorology, the positive x-axis is orientated such that it points towards the east.
True
AxB = ABcos(θ) where θ is the angle between the vectors A and B
False
If the velocity divergence at a location is less than zero then convergence is occurring at that location
True
If an air parcel is moving towards the west (u>0) and du/dt is greater than zero (>0) then air parcel is speeding up.
False
The basis for the derivation of the equation of motion is Newton’s second law (F=m(dava/dt)
True
A coordinate system “fixed” to Earth, and therefore rotating with Earth, is referred to as an inertial or absolute coordinate system
False
The effective gravity vector used in the equation of motion is the sum of Earth’s gravitational attraction and the Coriolis force that is present due to Earths rotation.
False
An air parcel moving in a North-South direction (v does not equal to zero) will experience a Coriolis acceleration in the east-west direction (du/dt does not equal to 0) due to the parcel conserving absolute angular momentum (ωr)
True
Horizontal Temperature _________; the local _____ rate of change in temperature due to the horizontal mass ______ of air.
Advection, time, movement
Inertial coordinate system
Fixed to absolute space
Non-inertial coordinate system
Fixed to a rotating body
The absolute angular momentum associated with an air parcel is moving about Earths axis of rotation is determined by (1) angular velocity of the air parcel about Earth’s axis of rotation (ω) and (2) the radius of rotation relative to earth’s axis squared (r^2)
True
A system of equations that describes changes in volume of air moving with the volume of air is referred to as a Lagrangian system
True
Winds in the horizontal on the synoptic scale are typically order 10^2 m/s
False
The friction force acts to reduce the wind speed, and therefore will also reduce the magnitude of the Coriolis force
True
If the tangential velocity component in the polar coordinate system (vθ) is less than zero, the flow is counter clock wise (cyclonic)
False
Higher density
Weaker P.G.F
Lower density
Stronger P.G.F
Small r
Big centrifugal force
Big r
Small centrifugal force
Hydrostatic Balance
Vertical pressure gradient force balanced by gravity
Geostrophic Balance
Horizontal pressure gradient force balanced by the Coriolis force
Cyclostrophic Balance
A balance between the horizontal pressure gradient force and the centrifugal force; representative of small scale curved flow associated with high wind speeds and phenomenon at low latitudes
Small R («1)
Small centrifugal force big Coriolis force (Geostrophic Flow)
R~1
Centrifugal force = Coriolis force
Big R (»1)
Big centrifugal force, small Coriolis force (Cyclostrophic flow)
Thermal Wind
A vector that represents the vertical shear of the Geostrophic wind