Intro (Jetstreams to Tropical storms) Flashcards
Air is squeezed as jetstream enters a bend - air is forced _________
down
as the jetstream moves out of the bend, air is drawn ________
upwards
the three divisions of the atmosphere’s primary circulation are:
- Hadley cell
- Rossby waves
- Polar cell
these waves vary with time in number, position, and amplitude
Rossby waves
thought to be central to the poleward movement of energy above latitude
Wavelike motion and associated eddies
the three divisions of the atmosphere’s secondary circulation
- Air masses
- Extratropical cyclones
- Anticyclones
part of the atmosphere that has relatively little variation in temperature may move away from their source region by the general circulation
Air mass and fronts
formed where two air masses of different temperatures, humidities, and pressures meet
Front
within this front, _______ change rapidly with horizontal location and height
Meteorological parameters
polar maritime and tropical maritime air masses most commonly meet
Polar front
when warm air is situated _____ the cold air, an _____ is created
Above; inversion
are accompanied by cloud formation and precipitation when hot air is forced upwards and cooled
Front systems
areas of low pressures that develop at fronts
Extratropical cyclones
areas of high pressure; divergent surface air flow and lower wind speed than in extratropical cyclone
Anticyclones
in _________, isobars are separated by a certain distance
High pressure
in ________, isobars are closer to each other and can create a cyclone
Low pressure
a storm or system of winds that rotates around a center of low atmospheric pressure; indicators of rain, clouds, and other forms of bad weather
Cyclones
system of winds that rotates around a center of high atmospheric pressure
Anticyclones
winds in a cyclone blow ________ in the Northern hemisphere; and ________ in the Southern hemisphere.
Counterclockwise;
Clockwise
depends on its ability to resist vertical motion
Stability of the atmosphere
can break up the flow of the wind and create wind gusts
Ground topography and large buildings
a coastal breeze flowing from sea to land caused by temperature difference
Sea breeze
a coastal breeze flowing from land to sea
Land breeze
no discernible winter/summer seasonal temperature change; dominated by Hadley cells
Tropical climates
moves seasonally, in coincidence with maximal solar heating; typically hot with high rainfall
(ITCZ)
Intertropical convergence zone
weather systems composed of a cluster of thunderstorms and of wind speeds near the surface of between 63 and 119 km/h (39 and 74 mph); does not have an eye at its center
Tropical storms
where tropical storms develop, where wind speeds are less than 63 km/h (39 mph)
Tropical depressions
formed when a tropical storm intensifies and wind speed reaches 119 km/h
Hurricane
forms when the winds near the center reach 119 km/h (74 mph)
Eye
Change of wind speed and direction with altitude
Wind shear
powers a storm and intensifies it
Latent heat
