Meteorology Flashcards
What are the main gasses in the atmosphere?
nitrogen and oxygen
what are the four main layers of the atmosphere?
troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
thermosphere
what does cumulus mean?
puffy
what does stratus mean?
layered
what does nimbus mean
rain
what does cirrus mean
high, feathery
what does strato mean
low
what does alto mean
middle
what does cirro mean
high level
what does hydrosphere mean
all the water on earth
what is relative humitidy
a value the shows how near the air is to its maximum capacity for holding water
what is dew point
temperature at which condensation occurs
what is saturated air
when there is so much water vapor in the air that the rate of condensation equals the rate of evaporation
what is a sling psychrometer
an instrument that works on the principle that evaporation is a cooling process
what is condensation nuclei
tiny particles that water vapor condenses onto
what is air pressure
weight of the atmosphere per unit of area
what is air pressure measured with?
barometer
what are the two types of barometers
aneroid and mercury
how does air pressure change with altitude?
increases higher you go
is cold temperature a characteristic of high pressure or low pressure system
high
is poor weather a characteristic of a high pressure or low pressure system
low
are warm temperatures a characteristic of high or low pressure systems
low
is fair weather a characteristic of high or low pressure system
high
is air moving in a characteristic of a high pressure or low pressure system
low
is air moving out a characteristic of high or low pressure system
high
is a rising barometer a characteristic of high or low pressure system
high
what is a line connecting points of equal pressure
isobar
Wind always moves from ____ pressure to _____ pressure
high, low
what are winds named by
direction it comes from
why do winds curve
Coriolis effect
what is the Coriolis effect caused by
rotation of the earth
what direction to winds curve in the northern hemisphere
right
what direction do the winds curve in the Southern Hemisphere
left
what wind moves weather across the US
Low level prevailing westerlies and high level jet stream
what is an air mass
a large body of air in the lower troposphere that has similar characteristics throughout these characteristics are determined depending upon the area over which it forms
what clouds are formed with warm fronts
cirrus cirrostratus altostratus nimbostratus
what are the clouds in a cold front
altocumulus cumulonimbus
what is the weather during a cold front
wind, heavy rains, thunderstorms occur after the front passes
what clouds are in a stationary front
cirrus cirrostratus altostratus nimbostratus
what is the weather during a stationary front
rains along the entire front
what type of clouds are there during an occluded front
cumulonimbus
what type of weather occurs during an occluded front
strong winds, heavy rains, tornadoes
