SAMRA (Meteorology) Flashcards
What is the approximate ceiling of the tropopause?
36,000ft
Where is the isothermal lapse rate in the stratosphere approximately:
65,000ft
What is an isothermal?
Where temperature is constant with height
What is the temperature at the tropopause?
-56.5 degrees
What is the lapse rate within the tropopause?
1.98 degrees per 1,000ft
Does mean sea level pressure change when it gets warmer but station altimeter remains the same?
When it becomes warmer at the station, the MSLP decreases due to the less dense air.
MSLP uses 12hr average temperature!!!!
How are isobars spaced out regarding pressure?
Each line is 0004 QNH from each other.
What causes highs and lows to form?
- Sudden changes in velocity (spin)
- Sudden accelerations and decelerations in wind speed (jet streaks)
Occurs high up in atmosphere
What forces act on the wind?
- Pressure gradient force (PGF)
- Coriolis force (CF)
- Friction
- Thermal wind gradient force (TWGF)
- Centrifugal forces around H & L (Cf)
What is an isotach?
Line of equal wind speed
For the same PGF, would the wind speed around a surface low be greater or less than a surface high?
HIGH PRESSURE WILL HAVE GREATER WIND SPEED
Because pressure gradient force goes inward on a low, and it goes outward on a high, going with the coriolis force!
If air mass is moist and stable with mechanical turbulence present in lower levels, what type of clouds can you expect to be present?
Stratus and stratocumulus
Fronts that affect Canada in general:
Continental arctic cA
Maritime arctic mA
Maritime polar mP
Maritime tropic mT
What is a front?
A transition zone between two air masses where temperature changes
What is a cold front:
Leading edge of an advancing cold air mass
What is a warm front:
Trailing edge of a retreating cold air mass
What is frontolysis:
Temperature contrast (difference) between two air masses decreases and front disappears (temps merge together)
What is frontogenesis:
Temperature contrast (difference) between two air masses increases and a front is formed
Factors affecting weather severity at cold front:
- Speed of front
- Moisture content of the WARM AIR MASS
- Stability of the WARM AIR MASS
environment in which the front exists matters most; i.e. where the cold front is moving towards
Where can squall lines exist ahead of a cold front?
100 to 200 NM ahead of the cold front
Remember bad weather always occurs in the warm air because it can hold more moisture; when you feel the pressure drop after a squall line, the conditions are going to get better
A fast moving cold front having a warm air mass that is moist and unstable could give rise to ___.
A squall line
What happens to wind, temperature and pressure as a cold front passes?
Temp decreases
Winds veer and increase
Pressure increases due to colder air being more dense
NOTE:
Temperature decrease may not begin for 2 to 3 hours after frontal passage
Surface wind tends to remain strong after cold front passage due to high pressure behind frontal wave!! i.e. that coriolis and PGF being higher around a high pressure
What happens to wind, temperature and pressure as a warm front passes?
Temperature increases
Winds veer and increase (same as cold front)
Pressure decreases
Temperature may not begin to warm for 2 to 3 hours after frontal passage
A cold front with a steep frontal surface is approaching your location; frontal passage has occurred. has WX passed, occurring now or yet to arrive?
Yet to arrive; something to do with steep frontal passage