Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

EOSC 114 > Storms 2 > Flashcards

Storms 2 Flashcards

1
Q

what is a remote sensor?

A

an instrument from outside of the storm that can measure the storm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are some REMOTE sensors that measure storms?

A

Radar
Satellite

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What do radars see?

A

rain inside storm
up and downdraft stem of mushroom cloud

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Using radars, the Disaster Intensity Scale for… indicates …

A

Radar-Echo Strength (dBZ)
- indicate rainfall rate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are squall lines?

A

a line of many thunderstorms
- forms along a cold front
- hail, lots of lightning, possibly tornadoes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Three types of supercells

A
  1. Low precipitation
    - lots of hail
  2. Classic
    - rainy downdraft, rain free updraft
  3. high precipitation
    - updraft surrounded by rain
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what are mixed mode or hybrid storms?

A

Contains features of 2 or more types of supercells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Downpours can cause

A

flash floods
- dBZ scale is extreme

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

can arc clouds occur at the anvil?

A

no!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

describe thunderstorm diagram

A

Thunderstorm
|
V arc cloud + warm air
precipitation downburst gust front + haboob

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

downdraft speeds

A

20-90 km/h

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

horizontal wind speeds near ground

A

up to 250km/h

i.e. outburst

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Microbursts

A

small diameter downbursts
~ 1km

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are downbursts?

A

cold & dense air sinking

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Why do downbursts occur?

A

Tstorm can create dense air where rain falls
- due to evaporative cooling

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Hazards of downbursts

A

often invisible but a hazard to aircraft

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are Gust Fronts?

A

leading edge of cold, horizontal, straight-line winds

18
Q

Why do gust fronts occur?

A

downburst air hits ground & spreads outward in straight lines, in all directions

19
Q

What can gust fronts look like?

A
  1. haboob = if dry ground
  2. arc cloud = if moist air
  3. gustnado
20
Q

Safety measures

A

avoid weak buildings & trees that can fall

21
Q

Arc clouds are along…

A

gust fronts

22
Q

What are haboobs

A

sand storms that occur at edge of gustfronts

23
Q

What is the fuel for storms?

A

moist air

24
Q

Storms can ____ (4 things)

A
  1. draw in humid air
  2. cause air to condense
  3. release heat into the storm
  4. result in precipitation & violent winds
25
Q

Humidity

A

amount of water vapour in the air

26
Q

What is the mixing ratio (humidity)

A

amount of water vapour
÷
amount of all OTHER gases (not including water)

27
Q

Saturation

A

the maximum humidity that air can hold

  • Equilibrium between Evaporation and Condensation (i.e. the rate matches)
28
Q

What is important in controlling atmospheric humidity?

A

saturation value

29
Q

How does Saturation Mixing Ratio increase with Temperature?

A

increases exponentially

30
Q

What air can hold more water vapour at equilibrium, warm or cold?

A

warmer air!

31
Q

When it is not cloudy, what does this mean in terms of air and water vapour?

A

unsaturated
air is holding less water vapour

32
Q

when it is cloudy or foggy, what does this mean in terms of air and water vapour?

A

air contains max amount of water vapour (i.e. is saturated)

33
Q

Advection

A

movement of air by the wind
ex/ water vapour can be advected into a Tstorm by the wind

34
Q

Adiabatic cooling

A

removing heat by evaporating water

when a thermal of unsaturated air rises adiabatically (with no heat transfer to the environment), the thermal cools roughly 10C/km of rise

35
Q

What process releases latent heat?

A

condensation

36
Q

Why does condensation occur?

A

cooler air can hold less water vapour, so they condense into droplets

i.e. oversaturated!
When the saturation humidity value < actual humidity

37
Q

What does condensation do? (3 things)

A
  1. release latent heat into sensible heat -> make storms warmer
  2. reduce humidity down to equilibrium (saturation) value
  3. increase liquid cloud drops, can grow to be rain drops
38
Q

What is a mesocyclone

A

A rotating thunderstorm

39
Q

What is the typical humidity value?

A

1/ (78+21) ~ 1/99

40
Q

Most thunderstorms contain how many cells?

A

2 or more
Multicell thunderstorms

EOSC 114 (30 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions