Test 3 Flashcards
1
Q
Evaporation
A
A cooling process for the environment
2
Q
Condensation
A
A warming process for the environment
3
Q
The Rate of Evaporation Depends on…
A
- Air/water temp.
- Degree of saturation of the air
- Amount of mixing (windiness)
4
Q
Absolute Humidity
A
- Weight of water in a given volume of air
- Does not change as air rises and descends
- Water vapor remains constant
5
Q
Specific Humidity
A
- Weight of water in a given weight of air
- Does not change as air rises and descends
6
Q
Relative Humidity (RH)
A
Percentage of water in air compared to the amount of the air were saturated
7
Q
Cool Air
RH = ?
A
100%
8
Q
Warm Air
RH = ?
A
70%
9
Q
Mixing Ratio
A
The weight of water vapor per unit weight of dry air
10
Q
Specific Humidity = ?/?
A
Mass of Water Vapor
———-
Total Mass of Air
11
Q
Mixing Ratio = ?/?
A
Mass of Water Vapor
————-
Mass of Dry Air
12
Q
Relative Humidity = ?/?
A
Water Vapor Content
————-
Water Vapor Capacity
13
Q
Constant temperate, increasing vapor pressure, RH _______
A
Increases
14
Q
Increasing temperate, constant vapor pressure, RH _____
A
Decreases
15
Q
Vapor Pressure
A
The pressure exerted by water vapor in the air; measures the moisture present
16
Q
Saturation Vapor Pressure
A
The max pressure exerted by water vapor; represents the point where the air is completely saturated with moisture and can hold no more water vapor
17
Q
Can condensation occur in a high temperate above 300F/C?
A
Yes! Vapor pressure reached to saturation
18
Q
AT
A
Atmospheric Temp.
19
Q
DPT
A
Dew Point Temp.
20
Q
SH
A
Specific Humidity (Mass of Water Vapor/Mass of Air)
21
Q
SSH
A
Saturation Specific Humidity (max water capacity)
22
Q
Adiabatic Processes
A
Whenever air rises or falls it experiences a temp. change
23
Q
Air expansion causes temperature to ….
A
Drop
24
Q
Windward air rises in two adiabatic conditions…
A
Dry and wet
25
Leeward air descends in one’ adiabatic condition
Dry
26
Why is dry air “heavier” than moist air?
Water molecules are lighter than nitrogen and oxygen molecules
27
What conditions must exist for condensation to occur?
1. Air must be saturated (RH = 100%)
2. There must be a surface on which condensation can take place
28
Radiation Fog
Forms when the Earth’s surface cools rapidly at night thru radiation, air near the ground reaches saturation and condenses into visible fog (clear skies, calm winds)
29
Advection Fog
Forms when warm, moist air moves over a colder surface and cools below its dew point, caused by the transfer of heat/advection in a horizontal motion (cloudy skies, moderate to strong winds)
30
Upslope Fog
Forms when moist air is forced to rise up a slope, causing it to cool adiabatically until it reaches its dew point and condenses into fog (windward) created by rising air cooling
31
Evaporation Fog
Forms when water vapor is added to cold air, causing the moist air to cool and reach 100% humidity (cold air/warm air)
32
Cirriform Clouds
High-altitude clouds made up of ice crystals, appear before low-pressure areas
33
Stratiform Clouds
Low-altitude clouds, not vertically developed, formed in relatively stable conditions
34
Cumuliform Clouds
Low-altitude clouds, warm air roses as the land heats up (diurnal convection), fair weather/stormy
35
High Clouds
Cirrus
36
Middle Clouds
Altocumulus, altostratus, nimbostratus
37
Low Clouds
Cumulus, cumulonimbus, stratocumulus, stratus
38
Clouds of Vertical Development
Cumulus and Cumulonimbus
39
Forms of Precipitation
Rain, snow, sleet and hail
40
Collision and Coalescence of Water
The process where small water droplets in a cloud bump into each other and then stick together to form larger droplets
41
Causes of Lifting Air and Precipitation
1. Convective Lifting and Precipitation
2. Orographic Lifting and Precipitation
3. Convergence of Air
4. Frontal
42
Convective Lifting and Precipitation
Warm, moist air near the Earth’s surface rises due to its lower density, cools and condenses to clouds, precipitation
43
Orographic Lift and Precipitation
A process that occurs when air is forced to rise over a mountain or other terrain feature, can lead to precipitation
44
When upper level divergence is stronger than surface convergence, the surface pressure….
drops and the low intensifies
45
Air Mass
a large, distinct parcel of air w/ 3 attributes
1. More than 1000 miles in diameter
2. Uniform properties in the horizontal direction
3. Appears as a recognizable entity that is distinct from surrounding air
46
m
Maritime (sea), which originates over water, relatively dry in nature
47
c
Continental (land), originates over land, relatively dry in nature
48
E
Equatorial (very warm)
49
T
Tropical (warm)
50
P
Polar (cold)
51
A
Artic (very cold)
52
Fronts
When different air masses come together; a boundary zone separates
53
Changes that occur when an air mass moves out of its source region
1. Thermal modification
2. Dynamic modification
3. The addition of subtraction of moisture
54
Fronts are defined by differences in
Temp, humidity, density, stability
55
Warm Front
A warmer air mass is the aggressor and invades a region occupied by colder air mass (gentle, less violent weather)
56
Cold Front
Cold air mass actively moves in on a warmer air mass and push it upward (steeper, denser, heavier, violent)
57
Stationary Front
Frontal boundary fails to move, occurs when both air masses have small gradient of temp. and pressure btwn them
58
Occuluded Front
Occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front, trapping the warm air mass in btwn
59
Extratropical Cyclones
- Cycolnic movement
- Moves w/in the Westerlies
- Cold front moves faster in the system
- Life cycle of 4-7 days
60
Tropical Depression
Wind speeds less than 36mph
61
Tropical Storm
Wind speeds btwn 36-74mph
62
Hurricane
Wind speeds greater than 74mph
63
Hurricanes
- prominent low pressure center
- spirals inward
- require winds of 74mph
- smaller than extratropical cyclones w/ diameters of 100-600miles
- eye w/ a diameter of 10-25 miles
- energy comes from latent heat
- never form over the equator
- must form over the ocean
64
The Fujita Wind Intensity Scale
01 - Weak, 23 - Strong, 45 - Violent
65
Microburst
A localized, short-lived and intense downdraft of air that occurs within a thunderstorm
66
Lightning
- Earth’s surface has a positive charge
- Ice crystals in the top of a thunderstorm cloud (+), hailstones below (-)
67
Where does/does not a hurricane develop?
Develops over warm areas, doesn’t develop over South Pacific Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean
68
Where does mid-latitude cyclone develop?
Over the land
69
What are the necessary ingredients for forming a hurricane?
1. Ocean water needs to be warm > 27C
2. Approx. 50m deep
3. Weak vertical wind shear
4. Position > 8 N/S
70
The “eye” is a patch of clear sky, Eye Wall is…
violent and most destructive and intense low pressure system
71
What is tornado intensity scale?
Enhanced Fujita Scale
72
What is hurricane intensity scale?
Saffir-Simpson Scale/Category
73
Where is Tornado Ally centered?
Central U.S. (Texas, OK, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota)
74
Which is the most destructive tornado/cyclone that has ever been recorded in human history?
Daulatpur-Saturia tornado in Bangeldish
75
What type of cloud are you expecting to have w/ a tornado?
Cumulonimbus clouds
