meteorology UNIT Flashcards
nitrogen
78% of atmosphere
oxygen
21% of the atmosphere
Trace gases in atmosphere (less than 1% total)
carbon dioxide, argon, water vapor
gases that vary in the atmosphere
water vapor, ozone, and carbon dioxide
maritime tropical
warm and humid
maritime polar
cold and humid
continental tropical
warm and dry
continental polar
cold and dry
coalescence
the formation of a large droplet by the combination of smaller droplets
cold front
forms when cold air moves under warm air which is less dense and pushes air up (produces thunderstorms heavy rain or snow
warm front
a front where warm air moves over cold air and brings drizzly rain and low cloud cover
occluded front
a front where a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses and brings cool temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow
freezing rain
raindrops that freeze after they hit the ground or other cold surfaces
sleet
Formed when rain falls through a layer of freezing air
hail
precipitation of layered ice pellets by movement through above and below freezing air in a cumulonimbus cloud
low clouds
stratus, stratocumulus, nimbostratus
Middle Clouds
altocumulus, altostratus
high clouds
cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus
Cumulus
clouds that look like fluffy, rounded piles of cotton
Altocumulus
A middle cloud, usually white or gray. Often occurs in layers or patches with wavy, rounded masses or rolls.
Stratus
Clouds that form in flat layers and often cover much of the sky.
hurricane formation starts…
near Africa
hurricanes travel
west, then north
Tornado season in the U.S is worst in
spring
Hurricane Rating Scale
Saffir - Simpson; Categories 1-5
Tornado rating scale
enhanced fujita
Winds are named for
where they come from
high pressure system
generally brings clear skies and calm air or gentle breezes; air sinks towards the ground
