Module 7 Flashcards
1a. define: aphelion
the point at which the earth is farthest from the sun
1b. define: perihelion
the point at which the earth is closest to the sun
1c. define: lines of longitude
imaginary lines that run north and south across the earth
1d. define: lines of latitude
imaginary lines that run east and west across the earth
1e. define: Coriolis effect
the way in which the rotation of the earth bends the path of winds, sea currents and objects that fly through different latitudes
1f. define: air mass
a large body of air with relatively uniform pressure, temperature and humidity
1g. define: weather front
a boundary between two masses
- What is the difference between weather and climate?
the weather changes from day to day, while climate does not
- What are the three main factors that affect earth’s weather?
thermal energy, uneven distribution of thermal energy, and water vapor in the atmosphere
- Be sure you can identify each of the cloud types in figure 7.1.
Be sure that given a picture or drawing of a cloud, you can determine which of the four major cloud types of a cloud it is.
- If stratus clouds are dark, what are they called?
nimbostratus
- If you find lenticular clouds higher than normal, what are they called?
altolenticular cloud
- What does “insolation” stand for?
incoming solar radiation
- In the northern Hemisphere, is the length of the days greater than or less than 12 hours between June 21 and September 22? Are the day lengths increasing or decreasing during that time?
the days are greater than 12 hours long but are decreasing in length
- In the southern hemisphere, between what dates are the day lengths less than 12 hours but increasing?
from June 21 to Sept. 22.
- Is the northern hemispheres summer during aphelion or perihelion?
aphelion
- What causes wind?
temperature differences cause winds
- Why isn’t there a constant stream of wind blowing from the poles to the equator?
the temperature of air changes as it changes latitude
- What causes the wind patterns to bend in different regions of the globe?
the coriolis effect bends the wind patterns
- Suppose you are in Alaska and would like to fire a missile to hit a target at the equator, due south of your location. Ignoring the effects of wind and air resistance, in which direction should you aim the missile?
southeast
- At nighttime, high elevations usually cool faster than low elevations. thus, at night, the land on a mountain is usually cooler than the land in the valley next to the mountain. Will the local wind produced by this effect blow from the mountain into the valley or from the valley up to the mountain?
the wind will blow from the mountain to the valley
- Is the humidity high or low in a continental polar air mass? Is the air mass warm or cold?
humidity is low, air mass is cold
- Is the humidity high or low in a maritime tropical air mass? Is this air mass warm or cold?
humidity is high, air mass is warm
- Over a period of a couple of days, the clouds slowly build and then a gentle, long rain ensues that lasts about 20 hours. What kind of front causes this weather?
warm font
- Over a period of a few days, you notice cirrus clouds forming, followed by stratus and nimbostratus clouds. In a few hours, however, dark cumulonimbus clouds form, heralding a thunderstorm. What kind of front caused this?
occluded font
- In less than a day, dark cumulonimbus clouds form and unleash a thunderstorm that lasts only a few hours. After the thunderstorm is over and the sky clears, do you expect cooler or warmer temperatures as compared to the temperature before the clouds began forming?
you should expect cooler temperatures
