Quiz 3 Flashcards
Lines connecting points of equal pressure are called what?
Isobars.
The unit of pressure commonly found on a surface weather map is what?
Millibars.
Pressure changes…
Less rapidly in the horizontal direction than in the vertical.
The amount of pressure change that occurs over a given horizontal distance is called the what?
Pressure gradient
What is the apparent force created by the earths rotation?
Coriolis force
When the jet stream moves in a north to south direction, the wind pattern is called what?
Meridional
The wind around a surface of low pressure center blows in which direction in the Southern Hemisphere, and in which direction in the northern hemisphere?
S. Hemisphere: clockwise
N. Hemisphere: counterclockwise
The surface air around a strengthening low pressure area normally __________, while aloft, above the system, the air normally __________.
Converges, Diverges
What is the ITCZ?
Inter tropical convergence zone.
List the scales of atmospheric motion from smallest to largest.
- Microscale
- Mesoscale
- Synoptic
- Global
A sea or land breeze is caused by what?
Temperature differences
The name given to a wind system that seasonally changes direction is what?
Monsoon
Chinook winds are _______ caused by ____________.
Warm, dry, downslope winds; compressional heating
The jet stream winds are strongest in what season?
Winter
Major ocean currents that flow parallel to the coast of the United States are what?
The California and Gulf Stream currents
During a major El Niño event…
Extensive warming of the ocean water over the tropical pacific moves east toward South America due to a strong counter current.
A cold, moist air mass that forms over water is called what?
mP (aka meridian, Polar)
The greatest contrast in both temperature and moisture will occurs along the boundaries separating which air masses?
mT and cP
An air mass is characterized by similar properties of ___________ and ___________.
Temperature, moisture
The rising of warm air up and over cold air is called _________ and is associated with a _________ front.
Overrunning, warm
A stationary front does not move because of what?
The winds are blowing parallel to the front
What type of weather front would be responsible for the following conditions: HIGH CLOUDS INCREASING AND COLD IN THE MORNING. CLOUDS INCREASING AND LOWERING IN THE AFTERNOON WITH A CHANCE O RAIN/SNOW AT NIGHT. PRECIPITATION ENDING THE NEXT MORNING, BECOMING MUCH WARMER. THE WINDS SHIFT FROM LIGHT EASTERLY DIRECTION TO SOUTHEAST AND FINALLY SOUTHWEST DIRECTION THROUGHOUT THE TIME PERIOD.
Warm front
Air ________ above an area of low pressure and ________above an area of high pressure.
Rises, sinks
A small, faster moving disturbance imbedded in a long wave is called a what?
A shortwave
The air _______ at an area of high pressure in both the north and south hemispheres.
Diverges
The PGF is …
Pressure Gradient Force
The _________ jet stream is stronger during the _________.
Polar front, winter
At 60 degrees latitude in both the northern and Southern Hemisphere is a semi-permanent area of ______ pressure.
Low
Winds in the upper levels are ________ while surface winds are _________.
Geostrophic, ageostrophic
