Meteorology pt 2 test vocab

Question 1

an area of low pressure around which the winds flow CCW

Answer 1

cyclones

Question 2

high pressure systems which the winds flow CW

Answer 2

anticyclones

Question 3

small area storms formed by the strong upward movement of warm, moist unstable air

Answer 3

thunderstorms

Question 4

hour long storms that form in warm, moist air masses and occur in spring and summer

Answer 4

air-mass thunderstorms

Question 5

storms that occur in lines along a frontal surface and are stronger and last several hours. produce heavy rain and flooding

Answer 5

frontal thunderstorms

Question 6

a discharge of electricity from a thundercloud to the ground or cloud to cloud

Answer 6

lightning

Question 7

a narrow funnel shaped column of spiral winds that extends downward from the cloud base and touches the ground

Answer 7

tornado

Question 8

a tornado over the water that is weaker than a tornado

Answer 8

watersprout

Question 9

scale used for categorizing tornados

Answer 9

fujita scale

Question 10

an intense tropical storm low-pressure are with sustained winds starting @ 74 mph

Answer 10

hurricane

Question 11

currents formed when hurricane piles water up along the shore and blow it inland

Answer 11

storm surge

Question 12

central area of sinking air; 15-20 km wide

Answer 12

eye

Question 13

threat of storm conditions within 24-36 hours

Answer 13

watch

Question 14

due to strike within 24 hours

Answer 14

warning

Question 15

pressure that the air exerts on the Earth

Answer 15

air pressure

Question 16

instrument used to measure air pressure

Answer 16

barometer

Question 17

warmer, humid weather-predictor of storms

Answer 17

falling barometer

Question 18

cooler, drier weather

Answer 18

rising barometer

Question 19

lines of equal pressure

Answer 19

isobar

Question 20

movement of air

Answer 20

wind

Question 21

instrument that measures wind speed

Answer 21

anemometer

Question 22

instrument that measures win direction

Answer 22

wind vane

Question 23

the ultimate energy source for most wind

Answer 23

solar radiation

Question 24

definition of wind and ocean currents due to Earths rotation

Answer 24

Coriolis effect

Question 25

inertia caused by Earth’s rotation

Answer 25

Coriolis force

Question 26

high to low pressure

Answer 26

pressure gradient

Question 27

narrow but of strong, high speed air

Answer 27

jet stream

Question 28

low to the earth

Answer 28

surface winds

Question 29

high above the earth

Answer 29

geostrophic winds

Question 30

cold, but weak winds between 50-60 degrees

Answer 30

polar easterlies

Question 31

belt of very strong winds between 40-60 degrees (overlap)

Answer 31

westerlies

Question 32

warm steady winds between 0-30 degreees

Answer 32

trade winds

Question 33

calm, surface winds @ the equator

Answer 33

doldrums

Question 34

flow of cool air from water to land during the day

Answer 34

Sea breeze

Question 35

flow of cool air from water to land during the night

Answer 35

land breeze

Question 36

periodic warming of the ocean that occurs in the central and Eastern pacific

Answer 36

El Niño

Question 37

surface temperatures in the eastern pacific are colder than average

Answer 37

La Niña

Question 38

graph showing the avg. temp and precipitation, by month, for a specific location

Answer 38

climograph

Question 39

a large body of air that has the same temp and humidity throughout

Answer 39

air mass

Question 40

small balloon carried observatory which carries a radio transmitter

Answer 40

radiosonde

Question 41

boundary between 2 air masses having different temps and humidity

Answer 41

air front

Question 42

zone where a cold air mass replaces a warm air mass

Answer 42

cold front

Question 43

A transition zone where a a warm air mass replaces a cold air mass

Answer 43

warm front

Question 44

occurs when a faster moving cold front has caught up to a slower moving warm front

Answer 44

occluded front

Question 45

front is stalled

Answer 45

stationary front