meteorology traditionally involves the study of weather systems, such as extratropical high and low pressure systems, jet streams associated waves fronts.

part 1 Flashcards by noor belhasa

Synoptic meteorology

meteorology traditionally involves the study of weather systems, such as

extratropical high and low pressure systems,
jet streams
associated waves
fronts.

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mesoscale meteorology

the study of convective storms,
land–sea breezes,
gap winds,
and mountain waves

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The earth system exhibits a continuous……………………….spectrum of motion that defies simple categorization.

spatial and temporal

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Weather forecasting

necessitates understanding a wide range of processes and phenomena acting on a variety of spatial and temporal scales.

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forecasting for a coastal location requires information concerning

the near-shore water temperature,
the potential for land–sea breeze circulations,
and the strength and orientation of the prevailing synoptic-scale wind flow.

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The prediction of precipitation type can benefit from

knowledge of atmospheric thermodynamics and cloud physics.

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Other types of prediction, including ……………………………………… and ……………………………, also require knowledge that spans a broad spectrum of meteorological processes.

air quality forecasting and seasonal climate prediction

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quasigeostrophic (QG) equations

simplified version of the full primitive equations

igoners small terms

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momentum equations are

continuous

ideal gas

hydrostatic

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geostraphic wind is a balance between

corriolis and PGF

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scale analysis

a systematic strategy to determine which terms in the equations, often associated with specific physical processes, are most important and which are negligible in a given meteorological setting.

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scale analysis is a systematic strategy to determine which terms in the equations, often associated with specific physical processes, are most important and which are negligible in a given meteorological setting. By

characterizing the temporal and spatial scales associated with specific weather systems, we can systematically neglect “small” terms in the governing equations in the study of those systems.

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for synoptic- and planetary-scale weather systems, such as cyclones and anticyclones, we know that in the ……………………………, flow above……………………tends to be fairly close to a state of ……………………………balance

midlatitudes, ~1 km altitude, geostrophic

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—flow above ~1 km altitude tends to be fairly close to a state of geostrophic balance, whereas for mesoscale weather systems, such as thunderstorms, it …………………………………………………….

does not, even in the same geographical location

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geostrophic balance ignores

friction

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whereas for mesoscale weather systems, such as thunderstorms, it does not, even in the same geographical location. Why?

cannot ignore friction

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This is one example of why students in the atmospheric sciences are required to derive equations, because it is important to know what ……..

assumptions were made in the development of a given technique
this information is needed to deduce which tools are appropriate for which situations.
the ability to apply a systematic approach to the governing equations allows atmospheric scientists to develop new equations and techniques to study unique problems.

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The length scale can be related to

the size of a weather system, or how far an air parcel would travel within the system during a given time interval.

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The time scale

can be related to how long it would take an air parcel to circulate within the system

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Scale: Microscale

length:

less than 1 km

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Scale: Microscale

time:

less than 1 hour

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Scale: Microscale

example phenomena:

Turbulence, PBL

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Scale: Mesoscale

Length:

1 - 1000 km

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Scale: Mesoscale

time:

1 h - 1 day

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Scale: Mesoscale example phenomena:

Thunderstorm, land-sea breeze

Scale: synoptic length:

1,000-4,000

Scale: synoptic time:

1 day-1 week

Scale: synoptic Example phenomena:

Upper level trough, ridges, fronts surface lows and highs

Scale: Planetary Lenght:

less than 4000 km

Scale: planetary time:

less than 1 week

Scale: planetary Example phenomena:

polar front jet streams, trade winds

the dependent variables in the system

* the four **independent** variables are the three spatial directions * and time, denoted as x, y, z, and t, respectively

governing equations are applied to a flat "cartesian" earth for

* qualitative work, * or if we study weather systems that are sufficiently small in spatial scale, we can neglect the distortion that results.

shows unit vectors in an orthogonal Cartesian coordinate system. For some applications, the i and j unit vectors may be

grid relative

the horizontal coordinate directions here will be taken to align with

latitude and longitude lines

A and B represent

K^{^} (z, + upward)

C and D represent

j^{^} (y, +northward)

E and F represent

i^{^} (x, +eastward)

omega = dp/dt is (.....) upward

negative

w=dz/dt is (.......) upward

positive

a variety of vertical coordinates measures are used in place of the ..........

vertical distance z

a variety of vertical coordinate measures are used in place of the vertical distance z to determine .....

determine position along the vertical coordinate axis

popular choice of vertical coordinates

pressure, sigma (a terrain-following ratio of pressure to surface pressure), potential temperature, or a hybrid among these

the k unit vector maintains

right angles with the horizontal unit vectors.

vertical coordinates are known as......

isobaric coordinates

an important practical advantage is that historically, it was easier to measure .................................. than ............................for in situ measurements taken aloft.

pressure than altitude

a rawinsonde can measure

pressure with a baroswitch

aircraft are designed to measure

pressure and fly along surfaces of constant pressure

The wind velocity components are based on

the time rate of change in the distance along the respective coordinate axes following the airflow

Wind velocity components (equations)

The following are the

wind velocity components

dx/dt indicates

change in zonal (east–west) distance

dx/dt is positive for motions toward the.....

east

dy/dt indicates

meridional (north - south)

dz/dt indicates

vertical components

omega is

the vertical motion in isobaric coordinates

omega (ω), is defined as

the following equation represents

omega

Omega, The pressure-coordinate vertical velocity is ......................for upward motion

negative

The pressure-coordinate vertical velocity is negative for upward motion, because

pressure decreases with height

notations for the 2D horizontal and 3D wind vectors

the following represents

notations for the 2D horizontal and 3D wind vectors

the following equations indicate the

direction

Coriolis parameter is related to

the projection of the earth’s rotation onto the vertical (kˆ) axis

coriolis parameter is given by

f = 2Ωsin ϕ

the following is the f = 2Ωsin ϕ

corriolis parameter

corriolis is ....... over the equator

zero

explain each term in the "corriolis parameter"

latitude is denoted ϕ and Ω is the earth’s rate of angular rotation, 2*π* radians day^–1, with a day here being the *sidereal day* (23 h 56 min). The numerical value of Ω is 7.292x10⁻⁵ rads⁻¹.

basic variables include

pressure (p), temperature (T), density (ρ), and specific volume (α= 1/ρ ).

density is defined as

the mass of air m per unit volume, a cubic meter

dewpoint (Td) is the

Measures of absolute water vapor content

specific humidity (q), and mixing ratio (r) are similar in

magnitude

specific humidity (q) is the

mass of vapor per unit mass (kg) of air mv/m

mixing ratio is given by

the mass of vapor per unit mass of dry air, mv/md.

Values of the mixing ratio and specific humidity can be defined for

saturated conditions

relative humidity is

A measure of the degree of saturation

Unless otherwise stated, the units to be used in this text are those of the System Internationale (SI), which is summarized in Table 1.2. The only frequent exception in this text is

* millibar (mb), equivalent to the hectopascal (hPa, or 100 Pa) * degrees Celsius (°C), which are equivalent in size to kelvins (K)

Quantity: length Unit: SI unit and notation:

Meter m

Quantitiy: time Unit: SI unit and notation:

second s

Quantitiy: Mass Unit: SI unit and notation:

Kilogram kg

Quantity: Temperature Unit: Si units and notation:

Kelvin K

Quantity: Velocity Unit: SI units and notation:

Meter/second m/s

Quantity: force Unit: SI units and notation:

Newoton N (kg m/s²)

Pressure Unit: SI unit and notation:

(force/area) pascal Pa (Nm² or kg/m s)

energy or work unit: SI units and notation

Joule J(Nm or kg m²/s²)

the ideal gas law is also known as

equation of state

the ideal gas law

provides a useful relation between the pressure, temperature, and density

The ideal gas law equation

the following equation is for

ideal gas law

explain each term in the equation

Rd is the dry-air gas constant Tv is the virtual temperature ( The temperature that a parcel of dry air would have if it were at the same pressure and had the same density as moist air. ) T_v= T (1+0.61q). Rd = 287 J/ kg.K.

The momentum equations in Cartesian form