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1180 > final exam > Flashcards

final exam Flashcards

1
Q

clouds

A

a large aggregation of tiny moisture droplets and ice crystals suspended in air

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2
Q

cloud formation

A

warm air parcel rises and cools
once air parcel reaches dew point temp, it becomes saturated
condensation occurs around a cloud condensation nuclei
a cloud cannot form without this nuclei
a particle >10^-4mm around which condensation occurs and cloud formation begins

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3
Q

natural sources

A

meteoric dust, clay, silt, volcanic material and sea salt

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4
Q

anthropogenic sources

A

sulfur and nitrogen compounds from combustion

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5
Q

cloud forming processes

A

1.collision- coalescence
-temp in the cloud are above freezing (0 deg. C)
-water is in liquid and vapour form
heavier moisture droplets begin to fall & collide with other droplets
-the colliding droplets merge together to form large drops–> rain
2. Bergeron Ice-crystal process
-temps are below freezing
-water is in super-cooled liquid, vapour &ice forms
-air surrounding ice has lower vapour pressure than air surrounding water
-water vapour travels from high to low pressure areas (towards ice)
-water vapour freezes and ice crystal grows (accretion/riming)

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6
Q

cloud classification low: up to 2000m

A
  • Stratus: uniform, featureless grey clouds (stratiform)
  • Nimbostratus: grey, dark, low clouds with drizzling rain (stratiform)
  • Cumulus: grow vertically, can extend into middle level, puffy, billowy flat based clouds with swelling tops, associated with fair weather (cumuliform)
  • Stratocumulus: soft, grey, globular cloud masses in groups or waves (both stratiform & cumuliform)
  • Cumulonimbus: dense, heavy, massive, grow vertically into higher levels, associated with thunder storms, forms anvil shape (cumuliform)
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7
Q

cloud classification middle: 2000m-6000m

A
  • Altostratus: thin to think grey clouds, similar to stratus (stratiform)
  • Altocumulus: globular clouds in groups or lines (cumuliform)
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8
Q

cloud classification high: 6000m-13000m

A
  • Cirrus: wispy, feathery, thin, “mares’ tales” can indicated oncoming storms
    Cirrostratus: (stratiform)
    1. Stratiform: flat, ;layered, with horizontal development
    2. Cumuliform: puffy, globular, with vertical development
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9
Q

Snow

A

precipitation falls through cold layer from cloud to ground as frozen

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10
Q

sleet

A

precipitation falls frozen though cold layer (partially) melts through warm layer
refreezes through cold layer and falls to surface as frozen precipitation
T<0 degree refreeze partially melted
T< -6 degree from >750 m, ice pellets from liquid

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11
Q

freezing rain

A

precipitation falls frozen through cold layer
T<10 deg
melts through warm layer
T>3 deg
rain falls to surface and freezes at surface

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12
Q

Rain

A

falls through frozen cold layer
melts through warm layer
precipitation falls to surface as rain

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13
Q

Hail

A

Originates in a cumulonimbus clouds
raindrops circulate between above and below freezing
Ice layer build as a result of this
ice pellets> 0.5cm fall to ground
produced during thunderstorms
largest hailstone recorded is 47cm diameter in south Dakota
goes up and down within the cloud fluctuating between warm and cold before allowing it to fall, it grows here

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14
Q

winter storms include combinations of

A 
major snowfall 
freezing rain 
strong winds 
blowing snow
extreme wind chill
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15
Q

types of winter storms

A

ice storms
snow storm Blizzards
occur in mid to high latitudes
can result in power outages, infrastructure damage, & human health impacts

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16
Q

ice storms

A

winter storm involving at least 6.4 mm accumulation of ice
occur when a layer of warm air is between 2 layers of cold air
freezing rain

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17
Q

snow storms

A

winter storms with a large accumulation of snow

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18
Q

blizzards

A

snowstorms with:
winds > 40km/h for more than 4 hours
blowing snow that reduces visibility to 400 or less
often involve large snowfall

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19
Q

thunderstorms

A 
turbulent weather accompanied by:
heavy precipitation 
lightening 
thunder 
cumulonimbus clouds 
can involve squall lines of: 
hail, strong winds, freezing ppt , tornadoes, squall line
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20
Q

squall line

A

sudden episode of high winds and thunderstorms in an area slightly ahead of an advancing cold front
occur with frequency at ITCZ (intertropical convergence zone –> low pressure band near the equator)
warms low pressure air–> air converges at surface and rises
cooling of the air resulting in condensation, hence clouds forming–> precipitation will likely occur

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21
Q

thunderstorm development

A

warm moist air rises rapidly and cools (water vapour–> water liquid= condensation)=energy is released –> local heating of the air
violent updrafts and downdraft develop

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22
Q

thunderstorm activity depends on

A

activity depends on variation of wind speed and direction (wind shear)
can produce strong winds near the ground (downbursts)

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23
Q

supercells

A

strongest type of thunderstorm
contain persistent rotating updrafts (mesocyclone)
need high wind/convection currents, warm moist air mass

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24
Q

lightning and thunderstorms

A

lightning: flashes of light caused by huge electrical discharges that superheat the air
thunder: violent expansion of heated air created by lighting which send out audible shock waves
8 million lighting strikes/day on Earth

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25
Q

tornadoes

A

violently rotating column of air in contact with ground surface
usually produces a visible vortex of spinning clouds and debris
diameter: a few m to hundreds of km
time: a few moments to tens of minutes
formation: updraft from thunderstorm
strong wind aloft
supercell development
supercell mutation
Measurement: Fujita tornado scale –> measuring wind speed

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26
Q

tonado distribution

A

NA experiences the most tornadoes worldwide
US has the most tornadoes
Canada has the 2nd most tornadoes
Peak months for tornadoes: May & June
Tornadoes in Canada: - 80 tornadoes/year

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27
Q

continental polar (cP)

A

form only in the northern hemisphere
most developed in the winter and cold weather
cold, dense air displaces moist and warm air in its path, producing lifting, cooling, and condensation

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28
Q

an area covered by cP air in winter experiences

A

cold, stable air
clear skies
high pressure
anti-cyclonic wind flow

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29
Q

Maritime Polar (mP)

A

occur over oceans in the Northern hemisphere
an area covered by an mP air mass experiences:
cool temps
moist air
unstable condition year round
mT gulf/Atlantic
unstable
active from late spring to early fall
mT Pacific:
stable to conditionally unstable
lower in moisture and energy than the mT Gulf/Atlantic

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30
Q

air mass modification

A

as air mass migrate from source regions, their temperature and moisture characteristics slowly take on those of the land over which they pass ex. Lake-effect snow melts of the Great Lakes

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31
Q

four atmospheric lighting mechanisms

A
  1. convergent lifting
    - air flows from high to low pressure
    - low pressure centre: air converges, ascends, cools and condensation occurs
  2. convectional lifting
    - air aboie a warm surface heats up
    - warm air rises
    - warmer surfaces result from local heating (ex. UHI, forest)
  3. Orographic lifting
    - air is forced to ascend upslope as it is pushed against a mountain
  4. Frontal lifting
    - front: leading edge of an advancing air mass line of conflict between 2 air masses
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32
Q

stationary front

A

a front between warm and cold air masses that is moving very slowly or not at all

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33
Q

clod fronts

A
  • cold dense advancing air masses forces warm air upward

- warms air lifting abruptly and cools adiabatically

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34
Q

sings of cold front

A 
- a few days before a cold front passes, high cirrus clouds are often observed 
along the leading edge of a cold front: 
- winds shift 
-temp decreases 
-low pressure develops 
-cumulonimbus clouds form 
-precipitation occurs
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35
Q

squall line:

A

sudden episode of high winds and thunderstorms in an area slightly ahead of an advancing cold front

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36
Q

after a cold front passes

A

northerly winds in N.H.
temp drops
high pressure develops
clear skies

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37
Q

Pineapple Express

A

warm air carried by the jet stream from Hawaii and the pacific to the pacific coast of N.A

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38
Q

jet streams

A

irregular concentrated bands of westerly wind
stronger in winter
300 km/hr

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39
Q

warm front

A

warming advancing air masses pushes air into a wedge shape and slides up and over it
warm air lifts gently and cools adiabatically

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40
Q

occluded front

A

a composite of two fronts formed when cold front overtakes a warm front

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41
Q

cyclogenesis- stationary front

A

initially a stationary boundary separates warm and cool air masses

42
Q

cyclogenesis - disturbance/wave

A

a disturbance triggers a wave to form within the front
cold and warm air masses conflict
air converges at surface
air diverges aloft

43
Q

open stage of cyclone

A

cyclones draw warm air from the south
cyclone draw cold air from the north and west
cyclone matures

44
Q

occluded stage of cyclone

A

cold front wedges under warm front forming an occluded front

45
Q

dissolving stage of cyclone

A

occlusion increases
lifting mechanism weakens as supply of warm moist air gets cut off
cyclonic system dissipates

46
Q

tropical cyclones

A

cyclonic circulation originating in tropics
tropical cyclones are names according to they location
80 tropical cyclones occur annually
45 per year are powerful enough to be classified as hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones
also classified according to wind speed

47
Q

tropical cyclone terminology

A

hurricanes- both America
typhoons - china, Japan, philippines
cyclones/ tropical cyclones- Australia, India, Indonesia, Africa

48
Q

tropical cyclone vs Midlatitude cyclone

A

tropical cyclones:

  • homogeneous air masses
  • high moisture
  • warm
  • leads to more powerful storms*
49
Q

tropical cyclone anatomy

A

eyewall: dense wall of rain bands created as winds rush towards the centre and turn upward

50
Q

cyclone Idai

A

made landfall on march 14, 2019-03-28
1.7 million people living in cyclone path in Mozambique
cyclone formed in Mozambique

51
Q

local winds

A

land and sea breezes

mountain and valley breezes

52
Q

daytime valley breeze

A

top: high temp (lower pressure)
bottom: low temp (high pressure)

53
Q

nighttime valley breeze

A

top: lower temp (higher pressure)
bottom: high temp (lower pressure)

54
Q

driving Oceanic forces

A 
frictional drag of wind 
Coriolis force 
density differences 
land configuration 
astronomical forces
55
Q

gyres

A

oceanic circulation system

56
Q

equatorial currents

A

currents remain near the equator due to weak Coriolis force
water accumulates on eastern side of continents near the equator (western intensification)
accumulated water spills northward or southward (ex. Gulf Stream & Kuroshito)

57
Q

upwelling flows

A

cool, nutrients - rich water is brought upward

occurs when water is swept away from a coast

58
Q

downwelling flows

A

excess water travels downward

occurs when water has accumulated as with the equatorial current

59
Q

thermohaline circulation

A

deep currents resulting from differences in salinity and temperature
Freshening: decrease in salt content of ocean water resulting fro freeze-thaw processes
fresh water is less dense than saltwater
climate change can threaten global ocean circulation patterns

60
Q

ENSO (El Nino - southern Oscillation)

A

large scale ocean- atmosphere climate interaction

warmer SST in centraal and eastern Pacific affects temp & precipitation on a global scale

61
Q

cirrostratus

A

formed from fused sheets of ice crystals

milky, veil - like appearance

62
Q

cirrocumulus

A

while tufts with mackerel appearance

occur in lines or groups

63
Q

fog

A

a cloud layer on the ground
air temp and DPT @ ground level are nearly equal
near ground, air is saturated
for affects visibility

64
Q

types of fog

A 
radiation 
rime 
ice- crystal 
advection 
evaporation
65
Q

radiation fog

A 
a surface cools --> air above the surface cools 
air above surface reaches DPT 
occurs: 
over moist ground 
on clear nights 
does not occur over water
66
Q

rime fog

A 
similar process to radiation 
fog super-cooled water droplets often turn into frost 
occurs: 
cold weather 
air temp @ surface is below freezing 
air is moist 
clear skies
67
Q

ice-crystal fog

A

air becomes full of ice crystals that forms by sublimation
reduces visibility substantially
occurs: low temp

68
Q

advection fog

A

occurs when: warm moist air moves over cool oceans–> air cools to DPT –> advection fog
warm moist air moves to higher elevations –> adiabatic cooling to DPT –> upslope fog
cool dense air moves down into a valley –>valley fog

69
Q

evaporation fog

A

involves advection and evaporation
cold air over warm water boy
water evaporates from water body
moisture content of overlying air increases

70
Q

weather vs climate

A

WEATHER: SHORT-TERM, DAY TO DAY CONDITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE
CLIMATE: LONG TERM AVERAGE (E.G. OVER decades) of weather conditions and extremes in a region

71
Q

elements contributing to weather

A 
temp
air pressure 
relative humidity 
wind speed and direction 
seasonal factors such as insolation
72
Q

air masses

A

distinctive bodies of air with homogenous temp, humidity, and stability
air masses initially reflects the characteristics of their source region
interaction of air masses produce weather patterns

73
Q

classification of air Masses

A

moisture

temp of their sources regions

74
Q

moisture

A
  • '’m’’ for maritime (wet)

- ‘‘c’’ for continental (dry)

75
Q

temp

A 
''A'' for arctic 
''p'' for polar 
''t'' for tropical 
''E'' for equatorial 
''AA'' for Antarctic
76
Q

polar highs

A

frigid & dry
descend and diverge clockwise or counter clockwise
antarctic high is stronger than Arctic high

77
Q

subpolar lows

A

cool and moist

weaker in summer, stronger in winter

78
Q

subtropical highs

A

dry and hot
westerlies and trade winds
stronger in summer, weaker in winter

79
Q

what direction does low pressure system air moves?

A

moves up

80
Q

ITCZ Band

A

intertropical convergence zone
energy surplus
warm, low-density, low pressure air
converging and rising air creating clouds

81
Q

westerlies

A

prevailing surface winds flowing from subtropics to higher latitude
stronger in the winter

82
Q

jet stream

A

higher altitude
irregular concentrated bands of westerly winds
stronger in winter
300 km/ hour

83
Q

dew point temperature

A

temperature at which a given mass of air becomes saturated and net condensation begins to form water droplets

84
Q

maximum specific humidity

A

maximum amount of moisture possible at that specific temperature

85
Q

explain how cyclones and anticyclones develop

A

Winds in an anticyclone blow just the opposite. Vertical air movements are associated with both cyclones and anticyclones. In cyclones, air close to the ground is forced inward toward the center of the cyclone, where pressure is lowest. It then begins to rise upward, expanding and cooling in the process.

86
Q

describe regional wind patterns

A

At the ground level, however, the movement of the air toward the equator in the lower troposphere deviates toward the west, producing a wind from the east. The winds that flow to the west (from the east, easterly wind) at the ground level in the Hadley cell are called the Trade Winds.

87
Q

driving forces within the atmosphere

A

gravitational force
pressure gradient force
Coriolis force
friction force

88
Q

gravitational force

A

Exerts virtually uniform pressure on atmosphere at Earth’s surface
•Responsible for atmospheric pressure

89
Q

pressure gradient force

A
  • The pressure gradient results in a net force that is directed from high to low pressure and this force is called the pressure gradient force.
  • The pressure gradient force is responsible for triggering the initial movement of air
90
Q

Coriolis Force

A
  • Coriolis Force is an effect of Earth’s rotation
  • Deflects a moving object to the right of its moving direction in the Northern Hemisphere
  • Deflects a moving object to the left of its moving direction the Southern Hemisphere
91
Q

friction force

A
  • Friction force drags on wind at surface
  • Decreases with height above surface
  • Friction effects extend to ~ 500 m
92
Q

2 types of local winds

A

land and sea breezes

mountain and valley breezes

93
Q

evapotranspiration

A

the process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.

94
Q

transpiration

A

is the process by which moisture is carried through plants from roots to small pores on the underside of leaves, where it changes to vapor and is released to the atmosphere.

95
Q

Potential Evapotranspiration (POTET)

A

Amount of water that could evaporate and transpire given unlimited soil moisture

96
Q

Actual Evapotranspiration (ACTET)

A

Evapotranspiration that occurs given a limited amount of soil water

97
Q

trade winds

A
  • Winds that converge at the equatorial low
  • Can arise form Northeast (in N.H.) or Southeast (in S.H.)
  • Most consistent winds on Earth
98
Q

Hadley cells

A

is a global scale tropical atmospheric circulation that features air rising near the Equator, flowing poleward at a height of 10 to 15 kilometers above the earth’s surface, descending in the subtropics, and then returning equatorward near the surface.

99
Q

high level clouds include:

A

Cirrus, Cirruscumulus and cirrusstratus

100
Q

In the Southern Hemisphere, the air associated with an anticyclone primarily moves:

A

towards the centre, counterclockwise

101
Q

climate change

A

change in statistical property of the atmosphere ex. temperature

102
Q

Hugging the ground, air mass 1 quickly approaches air mass 2. When they meet, air mass 2 to is expected to quickly lift. This can best be described as a:

A

occluded front

1180 (2 decks)

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