Meteorology basic DP Flashcards
What is meteorology?
The study of the atmosphere.
What is the lapse rate?
Change in temperature with height.
What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere?
Troposphere.
What is the highest layer of the atmosphere?
Exosphere.
What is the primary source of Earth’s heat?
The Sun.
What is the main component of the atmosphere?
Nitrogen.
What is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
Oxygen.
What is humidity?
Amount of water vapor in the air.
What is precipitation?
Any form of water falling from the sky.
What is a barometer used to measure?
Air pressure.
What is a thermometer used to measure?
Temperature.
What is a hygrometer used to measure?
Humidity.
What is an anemometer used to measure?
Wind speed.
What is a wind vane used to measure?
Wind direction.
What is a rain gauge used to measure?
Rainfall.
What are cirrus clouds?
High-altitude, thin, wispy clouds.
What are cumulus clouds?
Puffy, white clouds that look like cotton balls.
What are stratus clouds?
Flat, layered clouds that often bring drizzle.
What type of cloud is associated with thunderstorms?
Cumulonimbus.
What is a front?
The boundary between two air masses.
What is a cold front?
When a cold air mass pushes into a warm air mass.
What is a warm front?
When a warm air mass pushes into a cold air mass.
What is a hurricane?
A tropical cyclone.
What is a tornado?
A violently rotating column of air.
What is a blizzard?
A severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility.
What is dew point?
The temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor.
What is relative humidity?
The amount of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount it can hold.
What is an air mass?
A large body of air with similar temperature and humidity.
What is a jet stream?
A narrow band of strong winds high in the atmosphere.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The trapping of heat in the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is climate change?
Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.
Who invented the barometer?
Evangelista Torricelli.
What is the study of weather called?
Meteorology.
What is the study of climate called?
Climatology.
What is a weather map?
A map that shows weather conditions across a region.
What is a Doppler radar?
A type of radar used to detect precipitation and wind.
What is a weather balloon?
A balloon carrying instruments to measure atmospheric conditions.
What is a satellite?
An object that orbits the Earth and collects weather data.
What is a drought?
A prolonged period of abnormally dry weather.
What is a flood?
An overflow of water that submerges land.
What is hail?
Frozen precipitation in the form of ice pellets.
What is sleet?
Rain that freezes as it falls.
What is fog?
A cloud that forms near the ground.
What is a thunderstorm?
A storm with lightning, thunder, heavy rain, and sometimes hail.
What is a hurricane?
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.
What is an anticyclone?
A high-pressure area.
What is a cyclone?
A low-pressure area.
What is the Coriolis Effect?
The deflection of moving objects due to the Earth’s rotation.
What is the ozone layer?
A layer in the stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.
What is global warming?
The gradual increase in Earth’s average surface temperature.
What are some of the potential impacts of climate change?
Rising sea levels, more frequent and intense heatwaves, and changes in precipitation patterns.
What are some ways to reduce the impact of climate change?
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase renewable energy use, and improve energy efficiency.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes long-term weather patterns.
What is the role of the atmosphere in regulating Earth’s temperature?
It traps heat from the Sun and helps to maintain a stable climate.
What is the difference between a cold front and a warm front?
A cold front is where cold air mass pushes into a warm air mass, while a warm front is where warm air mass pushes into a cold air mass.
What is the difference between a hurricane and a typhoon?
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone that occurs in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans, while a typhoon occurs in the western Pacific Ocean.
What is the difference between a tornado and a hurricane?
Tornadoes are smaller, more intense, and have a narrower path than hurricanes.
What is the difference between dew and frost?
Dew is water droplets that form on surfaces when the air cools at night, while frost forms when the temperature drops below freezing.
What is the difference between a blizzard and a snowstorm?
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with strong winds and low visibility.
What is the difference between a heatwave and a cold wave?
A heatwave is a period of abnormally hot weather, while a cold wave is a period of abnormally cold weather.
What is the difference between a meteorologist and a climatologist?
A meteorologist studies current weather conditions, while a climatologist studies long-term weather patterns.
What is the difference between a thermometer and a thermograph?
A thermometer measures temperature at a specific point in time, while a thermograph records temperature over a period of time.
What is the difference between a barometer and an aneroid barometer?
A barometer measures air pressure, while an aneroid barometer is a type of barometer that doesn’t use liquid.
What is the difference between a cumulus cloud and a cumulonimbus cloud?
Cumulus clouds are puffy, white clouds, while cumulonimbus clouds are towering, dark clouds associated with thunderstorms.
What is the difference between a cold front and a stationary front?
A cold front is where cold air mass pushes into a warm air mass, while a stationary front is where two air masses meet but neither advances.
What is the difference between wind and wind chill?
Wind is the movement of air, while wind chill is the perceived temperature caused by the wind.
What is the difference between precipitation and condensation?
Precipitation is any form of water that falls from the sky, while condensation is the process of water vapor changing from a gas to a liquid.
What is the difference between the troposphere and the stratosphere?
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, while the stratosphere is the layer above the troposphere.
