Meteorology Today, Ahrens Chap 9 Flashcards
What are Eddies in the atmosphere
Turbulent whirl of air
How do eddies form in the atmosphere
Whenever wind encounters a solid object, an eddy forms on the leeward side
What is mechanical turbulence in the atmosphere
Whenever wind encounters a solid object, a turbulent eddy forms on the leeward side
What is thermal turbulence in the atmosphere
Surface heating during the day causes thermal turbulence as heat convection currents rise from the surface and mix with the air flowing over the surface, which can create eddies
Stability of air and connection to eddies
More unstable air creates stronger Eddies
3 Factors that determine frictional influence on wind
Surface heating, Strong wind Speeds, rough and hilly terrain
What is wind shear
when wind changes speed or direction unexpectedly
What happens to wind when it blows over a ridge
Increases in speed
How can wind over lakes cause formation of clouds
When wind moves over a lake, the speed increases. When it reaches the other side, friction comes back into play and the air bunches up, which forces the air upward on the downwind side of the lake
Surface lows and highs are generally very _______
shallow, not extending very far above the surface. At some point high pressure systems change into low pressure at height and vice versa
Why are winds at the land-sea boundary the strongest compare to those more inland
sea breeze causes heavy winds to form
which is stronger land or sea breeze
sea breeze, nighttime temperature differences are smaller than daytime
What are katabatic winds
Strong downslope winds
What are chinook winds
warm, dry, downslope wind that
descends the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains
What are foehn winds
Larger group of winds that includes chinook and santa ana winds. Basically dry and warm downslope winds
What gives Chinook winds their warm and dry qualities
Adiabatic Heating on their transportation downslope. Precipitation and condensation on the Upwind side of the mountain causes the air to be especially dry
What side of the mountain do Chinook and Foehn winds act upon
Down wind, the side opposite of the wind
What are santa ana winds
A warm, dry wind that blows downhill from the east or northeast into southern California as the air descends from elevated desert plateau
What are monsoons
wind system is one that changes direction seasonally, blowing
from one direction in summer and from the opposite direction in winter
Where do monsoons mostly affect
Eastern and Southern Asia, near the oceans
How do monsoons work
During the winter, the air over lands becomes
much colder than the air over the adjacent ocean, producing
a clockwise circulation of air and fair weather(dry season). In summer, the wind-flow pattern reverses itself as air over the continents becomes much warmer than air above the water. The surrounding air responds by flowing counterclockwise into
the low center. This condition results in moisture-bearing winds
advancing from the ocean into the continent during the late
spring.(Wet seasons)
