Monitoring Weather Flashcards
Depending on local topography, what is the maximum broadcast range of the NOAA weather radio?
65km
Which direction do surface winds blow around a low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere?
Counterclockwise and inward
How long does it take weather systems to cross the United States on average?
Several days
Which direction do weather systems generally travel in the mid-latitudes of the Earth?
East
What is another way that air pressure can be thought of?
Weight of the overlying air
What do weather radars monitor the movement of?
Precipitation
Which direction do surface winds blow around a high-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere?
Clockwise and outward
Do lows that track from west to east across southern Canada generally produce more, less, or the same amount of precipitation compared to lows that track along the Gulf of Mexico coast?
Less
When does the day’s minimum temperature occur?
Around sunrise
How is water vapour satellite imagery used?
To track the movement of water vapour at higher altitudes of the atmosphere
What is the name of a cloud that is in contact with the Earth’s surface?
Fog
What are high altitude, wispy-appearing clouds most composed of?
Tiny ice crystals
What is the difference between “weather” and “climate”?
Weather is the state of the atmosphere at some place and time, whereas climate is the expected weather of a certain place.
What is a warm front?
When advancing warm air slides over cold air
What is a cold front?
Advancing cold air pushing under warm air
What cloud usually forms from a cold front?
Cumulonimbus
At what height does a geostationary satellite usually orbit?
36,000km above the Earth’s surface
Where are geostationary satellites the most useful?
In the tropics and subtropics
At what height does a polar-orbiting satellite usually orbit?
1000km above the Earth’s surface
How many times do sun-synchronous satellites sample each point on Earth?
Twice daily
What does visible satellite images show?
Reflected sunlight, which can be used to estimate cloud top heights
What is the downside of visible satellite images?
Can only be used during the day
What do infrared satellite images show?
Temperature emitting from an object, which can be used to estimate cloud top heights
What does a weather radar use to create composite radar images?
Echoes
What are low clouds composed of?
Water droplets
What are fair-weather cumulus clouds composed of?
Super-cooled water droplets
What is a weather watch?
An alert explaining that severe weather may develop
What is a weather warning?
An alert explaining that severe weather is occuring
What is a special weather statement?
An advisory of weather that may be of some inconvenience or concern
