Short Questions Flashcards

memorizing the info via active recall

1
Q

Describe the changes in wind direction, pressure tendency, cloud type and coverage, precipitation, and temperature when a middle-latitude cyclone passes an observer.

A

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.

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2
Q

what is an air mass?

A

very large coverage of air.

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3
Q

characteristics of a good air mass region?

A

long, flat and uniform.

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4
Q

list temperature and moisture characteristics of each major air mass

A

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

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5
Q

compare and contrast tornadoes and microbursts

A

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

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6
Q

significance of hygroscopic nuclei in cloud formation

A

attracts water molecules that inspire condensation

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7
Q

distinguish between the geostrophic and gradient winds

A

both share similar traits, however gradient winds are curved

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8
Q

why does a jet stream occur over the polar front

A

because it’s located in the polar front above upper troposphere, and in the middle mid latitude & polar troposphere

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9
Q

how does a jet stream provide support for a cyclone

A

cyclones need strong horizontal divergence which is supplied by a jet stream

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10
Q

what three conditions are required for a tropical cyclone to form?

A

temperature needs to be 27 degrees, wind needs to be near surface to form storm clouds, & low wind shears.

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11
Q

describe the process involved in the formation of warm-cloud precipitation

A

collision-collance: large water droplets collide within clouds at terminal velocity and coalesce with smaller ones

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12
Q

explain why a ridge in the 500-mb flow pattern is associated with an underlying mass of relatively warm air.

A

relatively warm, because air pressure is less dense below the 500 lb column

+ causes the high contour heights

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13
Q

describe the general weather conditions in the southeast sector of a typical mature extra-tropical cyclone.

A

partly cloudy, dewpoints are high, scattered showers, and triggered by solar heating

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14
Q

what is a dry line and how does it influence weather systems?

A

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

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15
Q

describe the primary planetary circulation in the atmosphere.

A

movement of air across the planet; necessary for heat transfer from tropical to polar latitudes.

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16
Q

explain how an el niño develops.

A

develops when warm water builds up on the equator on the eastern Pacific and east wind weakens

17
Q

explain the roll of the curvature effect in the formation of clouds.

A

if curved, water molecules and its neighbors’ bondage on the surface gets reduced

18
Q

describe in detail, how the bergeron-findeisen process works.

A

process where ice crystals develop in mixed phase clouds in response to different vapor pressures over water and ice surfaces

19
Q

list and explain the properties of light which produce the various optical phenomena common to the atmosphere.

A

formed tiny ice crystals reflect and refract sunlight, making halos or sundaes.