Meteorology pt 2 test vocab Flashcards
an area of low pressure around which the winds flow CCW
cyclones
high pressure systems which the winds flow CW
anticyclones
small area storms formed by the strong upward movement of warm, moist unstable air
thunderstorms
hour long storms that form in warm, moist air masses and occur in spring and summer
air-mass thunderstorms
storms that occur in lines along a frontal surface and are stronger and last several hours. produce heavy rain and flooding
frontal thunderstorms
a discharge of electricity from a thundercloud to the ground or cloud to cloud
lightning
a narrow funnel shaped column of spiral winds that extends downward from the cloud base and touches the ground
tornado
a tornado over the water that is weaker than a tornado
watersprout
scale used for categorizing tornados
fujita scale
an intense tropical storm low-pressure are with sustained winds starting @ 74 mph
hurricane
currents formed when hurricane piles water up along the shore and blow it inland
storm surge
central area of sinking air; 15-20 km wide
eye
threat of storm conditions within 24-36 hours
watch
due to strike within 24 hours
warning
pressure that the air exerts on the Earth
air pressure
instrument used to measure air pressure
barometer
warmer, humid weather-predictor of storms
falling barometer
cooler, drier weather
rising barometer
lines of equal pressure
isobar
movement of air
wind
instrument that measures wind speed
anemometer
instrument that measures win direction
wind vane
the ultimate energy source for most wind
solar radiation
definition of wind and ocean currents due to Earths rotation
Coriolis effect
inertia caused by Earth’s rotation
Coriolis force
high to low pressure
pressure gradient
narrow but of strong, high speed air
jet stream
low to the earth
surface winds
high above the earth
geostrophic winds
cold, but weak winds between 50-60 degrees
polar easterlies
belt of very strong winds between 40-60 degrees (overlap)
westerlies
warm steady winds between 0-30 degreees
trade winds
calm, surface winds @ the equator
doldrums
flow of cool air from water to land during the day
Sea breeze
flow of cool air from water to land during the night
land breeze
periodic warming of the ocean that occurs in the central and Eastern pacific
El Niño
surface temperatures in the eastern pacific are colder than average
La Niña
graph showing the avg. temp and precipitation, by month, for a specific location
climograph
a large body of air that has the same temp and humidity throughout
air mass
small balloon carried observatory which carries a radio transmitter
radiosonde
boundary between 2 air masses having different temps and humidity
air front
zone where a cold air mass replaces a warm air mass
cold front
A transition zone where a a warm air mass replaces a cold air mass
warm front
occurs when a faster moving cold front has caught up to a slower moving warm front
occluded front
front is stalled
stationary front
