meteorology - 9.1 Flashcards
meteorology -
the study of physics, chemistry, and dynamics of atmospheric phenomena
atmospheric phenomena –>
classified as types of meteors
hydrometers -
clouds and precipitation
lithometers -
smoke, haze dust, and other particles
electrometers -
thunder and lighting
weather -
short term variations in atmospheric phenomena that interacts and affects the environment and life on earth
climate -
the long term average of variations in weather for a particular area
the 2 factors that affect how the sun heats the earth –>
–> the earths axis is tilted at 23 degrees
–> the number of hours of daylight a place on earth receives differs throughout the year (due to the earths position around the sun)
air mass -
a large volume of air that has the same characteristics such as humidity and temp
source region -
the area over which the air mass forms
the five types of air masses -
arctic, continental polar, continental, tropical, maritime-polar, maritime tropical
coriolis effect -
causes fluids and objects moving in an apparent curved path due to the rotation of the earth (air masses move CLOCKWISE in the NORTH hemisphere and COUNTER CLOCKWISE in the SOUTH hemisphere)
polar easterlies -
global wind systems that lie between latitudes 60N and 60S and the poles
prevailing westerlies -
global wind systems that lie between latitudes 30N and 60S
trade winds -
global wind systems that lie between latitudes 30N and 30S and the equator
doldrums -
bands of clouds and thunderstorms are produced in low pressure areas near the equator
jet stream -
strong, narrow, westerly wind bands that occur above large temp contrasts (speeds up to 400km)
front -
a narrow region between 2 air masses of different densities
cold front -
cold, dense, air displaces warm air (intense thunder and rain)
warm front -
warm air displaces cold air (widespread and light precipitation)
stationary front -
when 2 air masses meet and stalls (difference in temp/pressure, light winds/precipitation)
occluded front -
occurs when a cold air mass forces a warm air mass upward (strong winds, heavy precipitation)
thermometer -
an instrument that measures temp in degrees (F or C)
barometer -
an instrument that measures air pressure
anemometer -
an instrument that measures wind speed
hygrometer -
an instrument that measures humidity
automated surface observation system -
collects data 24 hours a day and provides essential weather data for aviation, weather forecasting and research
radiosonde -
weather instrument whose sensors measure air pressure, humidity, temp, wind speed, and wind direction in the upper atmosphere
weather radar -
(rader) - radio detection and rading –> radio waves are transmitted at the speed of light
doppler effect -
change in wave frequency that occurs due to relative motion of the wave as it moves towards/away from an observer, (used to determine the speed precipitation moves towards/away from an observer, provides a good estimate of wind speed)
infrared imagery -
uses infrared radiation to help make observations at night
visible light imagery -
uses sensors that provide a measure of water vapor
station model -
record of weather data for a specific place at a specific time, using meteorological symbols
isopleth -
lines that connect points of equal or constant values
isobar -
a line on a weather map connecting areas of equal pressure
isotherm -
a line on a weather map connecting areas of equal temp
digital forecasts -
weather forecasts that use numerical data to predict how atmospheric variable change over time (main method used)
analog forecast -
weather forecast that compares current weather patterns to patterns that occurred in the past
short term forecasts -
most accurate/detailed forecast, due to the constant changing weather systems
long term forecasts -
less reliable forecast that is based on past conditions
