geo quiz 4 Flashcards
definitions
equator
atmospheric heating
an imaginary horizontal line diving the Earth into a northern and southern hemisphere
axis
atmospheric heating
an imaginary line around which the Earth rotates
equinox
atmospheric heating
when Earth’s axis is perpendicularr to incoming solar radiation
occurs 2x a year in spring and fall
Summer Solstice
atmospheric heating
when the North Pole experiences 24 hours of daylight
during the Sun rays’ highest point
albedo
atmospheric heating
the portion of sunlight incidence/radiation that is reflected by a surface
evaporation
atmospheric heating
point at which water can only reach a certain temperature since molecules will start to break free
weather
weather
short-term changes in the atmosphere
climate
weather
describes what weather will be like over a long period of time in a specific area
the Coriolis Effect
weather
the effect the Earth’s rotation has on ocean currents, atmosphere, and air travel
water vapor capacity
weather
the max amount of water that can be stored in a given air mass at a certain temperature
moisture content
weather
how much water is in the air
relative humidity
weather
how much water vapor is in the air compared to the maximum amount possible
calculated by dividing the moisture content/ water vapor capacity
dew point
weather
the temperature when air becomes saturated
when water content equals capacity
saturation
weather
when air has reached maximum water capacity
precipitation
weather
process when water condenses into liquid droplets when air reaches 100% humidity
adiabatic
weather
a temperature change resulting from changes in pressure alone
Polar cell
weather
the circulation cell that forms between approx. 90-60 degrees North of the equator
Ferrel Cell
weather
cell that forms between 60-30 degrees at the equator
Hadley Cell
the cell that forms between 30 degrees at the equator
air masses
weather
large bodies of air with similar temperatures, pressures, and moisture content
maritime air masses
weather
humid air masses that form over the oceans
continential air masses
weather
air masses that tend to be dry which form over the continents
polar air masses
weather
air masses that tend to be cold that generally form at high latitudes
high latitudes greater than 50 degrees North or South of the equator
tropical air masses
weather
air masses that tend to be warm which form over the tropics latitudes at/near the equator
maritime polar air masses
weather
cold and humid air masses that form over water near the poles
continential polar air masses
weather
cool and dry air masses that form near the poles over the continents
maritime tropical air masses
weather
warm and humid air masses that form over water near the tropics
continential tropical air masses
weather
dry and warm air masses that form over the tropical continents
the lake snow effect
weather
effect where water takes longer to warm up and longer to cool down
adiabatic process
severe weather
as warm air rises rapidly, it experiences increasingly lower pressures, causing it to expand, cool, and condense until reaching saturation when clouds will begin to form
front
severe weather
where two different air masses will meet but do not mix
cold front
severe weather
cold, dense air that hugs Earth’s surface and slides under warmer, less dense air
warm front
severe weather
warm air that is less dense that rises over outgoing cooler air
stationary fronts
severe weather
occurs when cold and warm fronts passively meet
occluded fronts
severe weather
forms when cold fronts overtake warm fronts
low-pressure areas
severe weather
area where very warm air rises up off Earth’s surface
cyclones
severe weather
spinning storm clouds that occur as storms start to rotatate
void
severe weather
created by warm rising air as a part of a cyclone
warm rising air also known as warm departing air
hurricanes
severe weather
cloud masses formed in the tropicse by taking heat from the equator, moving it towards the poles
also known as a tropical cyclone
feeder/rain bands
severe weather
physical indicator of area with more intense rain
hurricane eye
severe weather
the open space in a hurricanes center where warm air rises and displaces cold sinking air
hurricane eye wall
severe weather
area of the most intense updrafts/uplift where warm air rises, spirals, and creates a wall of clouds from the ground up
hurricane zones
severe weather
area where hurricanes are generally generated
between 5-15 degrees North or South of the equator
