Lecture 11: Mid-Latitude Cyclones Flashcards

1
Q

____ is the leading edge of a cold air mass and a ____ is the leading edge of a warm air mass.

A

Cold front, warm front

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2
Q

True or False:

A day or two ahead of a cold front’s arrival, high cirrus clouds appear.

A

True

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3
Q

True or False: When a could front appears, precipitation usually is heavy, containing large droplets, and can be accompanied by hail, lightning, and thunder.

A

True

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4
Q

True or False: The aftermath of a cold front’s passage usually brings southerly winds in the Northern Hemisphere and northerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere as anticyclonic high pressure advances.

A

False, northerly winds in the Northern Hemisphere and southerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere as anticyclonic high pressure advances.

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5
Q

True or False: As a cold front approaches, the density difference between them the dense cold air mass displaces the less dense warm air mass forcing it to rise vertically

A

True

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6
Q

______ is a zone slightly ahead of a fast-advancing cold front, where wind patterns are rapidly changing and blustery and precipitation is strong.

A

Squall line

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7
Q

____ is a low pressure system that forms when a cool air mass (cP) collides with a warm, moist air mass (mT).

A

Midlatitude cylone

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8
Q

What are the four stages of a midlatitude cyclone?

A

Cyclogenesis
Open Stage
Occluded Stage
Dissolving Stage

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9
Q

Describe the cyclogenesis stage of a midlatitude cyclone

A

Disturbance begins to develop along polar front. Warm air near surface begins to rise, creating instability.

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10
Q

Describe the open stage of a midlatitude cyclone

A

counterclockwise flow, moist air from the south into low-pressure centre while cold air advances southeard west of centre

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11
Q

Describe the occluded stage of a midlatitude cycle

A

faster moving cold front wedges underneath slower warm front, cold air pushes warm air upwards causing precipitation

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12
Q

Describe the dissolving stage of a midlatitude cyclone.

A

dissolves when the cold air mass cuts off the warm air mass from its source of energy and moisture

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13
Q

A Midlatitude cyclone is also known as what?

A

A wave cyclone

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14
Q

____ are maps depict the distribution of air pressure, fronts, centres of high and low pressure and present data from climate stations.

A

Weather maps

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15
Q

What happens to temperature, moisture, wind direction, air pressure and clouds/precipitation when a warm front approaches?

A

Temperature: increases after warm front passes

Moisture: humidity and dew point temp increase with passage of warm front

Wind Direction: SE (E) winds before front, SW winds after front

Air Pressure: decrease in air pressure as the centre of low approaches

Clouds and Prec: gradual increase in cloud cover, precipitation near front, then partial clearing

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16
Q

What happens to temperature, moisture, wind direction, air pressure and clouds/precipitation when a cold front approaches?

A

Temperature: decreases after cold front passes

Moisture: humidity and dew point temp decrease with passage of cold front

Wind Direction: north winds winds after front

Air Pressure: decrease in air pressure as the centre of low approaches

Clouds and Prec: abrupt increase in cloud cover, precipitation near front, then partial clearing

17
Q

A tropical cyclone is otherwise known as?

A

Hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone dependant on its location

18
Q

____ is a very intense vortex

A

Tornado