Short Questions Flashcards
memorizing the info via active recall
Describe the changes in wind direction, pressure tendency, cloud type and coverage, precipitation, and temperature when a middle-latitude cyclone passes an observer.
precipitation: light rain accompanies warm fronts, while heavy rain are found more when cold fronts pass; resulting in storms or heavy snowfall.
tempurature: has a possibility of fluctuating.
cloud type: cumulus-type clouds develop, coverage may vary.
wind direction: may shift from east to south, then west
pressure tendency: usually drops when a cyclone comes to pass.
what is an air mass?
very large coverage of air.
characteristics of a good air mass region?
long, flat and uniform.
list temperature and moisture characteristics of each major air mass
maritime tropical: moist and hot
maritime arctic: moist and extremely cold
maritime polar: moist and cool
continental artic: dry and cold
continental polar: dry and cool
compare and contrast tornadoes and microbursts
small mass of air that comes into contact with the ground; damage include wrecked buildings, flat crops, downed tires & debris spread out
microbursts; very small, difficult debris, interference with aircraft travel
significance of hygroscopic nuclei in cloud formation
attracts water molecules that inspire condensation
distinguish between the geostrophic and gradient winds
both share similar traits, however gradient winds are curved
why does a jet stream occur over the polar front
because it’s located in the polar front above upper troposphere, and in the middle mid latitude & polar troposphere
how does a jet stream provide support for a cyclone
cyclones need strong horizontal divergence which is supplied by a jet stream
what three conditions are required for a tropical cyclone to form?
temperature needs to be 27 degrees, wind needs to be near surface to form storm clouds, & low wind shears.
describe the process involved in the formation of warm-cloud precipitation
collision-collance: large water droplets collide within clouds at terminal velocity and coalesce with smaller ones
explain why a ridge in the 500-mb flow pattern is associated with an underlying mass of relatively warm air.
relatively warm, because air pressure is less dense below the 500 lb column
+ causes the high contour heights
describe the general weather conditions in the southeast sector of a typical mature extra-tropical cyclone.
partly cloudy, dewpoints are high, scattered showers, and triggered by solar heating
what is a dry line and how does it influence weather systems?
boundary of moist and dry air that crosses the north and south; results in sharp humidity drop, clear skies and wind blowing south to southeast
describe the primary planetary circulation in the atmosphere.
movement of air across the planet; necessary for heat transfer from tropical to polar latitudes.