Vocabulary

Question 1

Natural hazards

Answer 1

dynamic activities of the planet that make human society vulnerable

Question 2

Mitigation

Answer 2

reduce the risk of direct consequence of extreme events

Question 3

Adaptation

Answer 3

adjusting to the average condition

Question 4

Disaster

Answer 4

hazard with large magnitude, increasing population, improper land use, lack of preparedness, or willful negligence of warming

Question 5

Prediction

Answer 5

specific time, location, and magnitude

Question 6

Forecast

Answer 6

range of probability for an event

Question 7

Deterministic prediction

Answer 7

predict the future state of the environment based on current observation and known first principles

Question 8

First principles

Answer 8

Newton’s laws, thermodynamics, etc.

Question 9

Ensemble forecast

Answer 9

ensemble of deterministic predictions with slightly different initial conditions or models

Question 10

Risk

Answer 10

(frequency or probability of event) x (consequence)

Question 11

Consequence

Answer 11

cost, loss, damage, etc. per event

Question 12

Acceptable risk

Answer 12

amount of risk that an individual or society is willing to take

Question 13

Magnitude-Probabillty relationship

Answer 13

probability decreases with magnitude

Question 14

Magnitude-Consequence relationship

Answer 14

consequence increases with magnitude

Question 15

Energy

Answer 15

ability to move, heat, radiate

Question 16

Sublimation

Answer 16

ice to vapor

Question 17

Deposition

Answer 17

frosting; vapor to ice

Question 18

Freezing

Answer 18

water to ice

Question 19

Melting

Answer 19

ice to water

Question 20

Condensation

Answer 20

vapor to water

Question 21

Evaporation

Answer 21

water to vapor

Question 22

Relative humidity (RH)

Answer 22

a measure of how close to saturation the air is

Question 23

Dew point

Answer 23

temperature at which relative humidity = 100

Question 24

Conduction

Answer 24

air in direct contact with skin

Question 25

Convection

Answer 25

‘windchill’

Question 26

Latent heat

Answer 26

evaporation of water

Question 27

Thermal radiation

Answer 27

electromagnetic energy (light) radiated by matter unless temperature is absolute 0

Question 28

Radiation

Answer 28

waves in electromagnetic field

Question 29

Planetary Albedo

Answer 29

fraction of solar energy reflected back to space

Question 30

Momentum

Answer 30

Mass x Velocity

Question 31

Pressure (P)

Answer 31

force per unit area, rate of exchange of momentum by colliding molecules through unit surface

Question 32

Density

Answer 32

mass per volume

Question 33

Coriolis Force

Answer 33

a fictitious force that applies to a moving object relative to a rotating surface

Question 34

Climatology

Answer 34

repeatable (predictable) changes, e.g. diurnal and seasonal cycles

Question 35

Weather

Answer 35

chaotic (predictable only for awhile) changes days to weeks

Question 36

Interannual variability

Answer 36

year-to-year changes, natural vs. anthropogenic

Question 37

Extratropical cyclones

Answer 37

low pressure systems

Question 38

Tropical cyclones

Answer 38

low pressure systems like hurricanes, typhoons

Question 39

Tropical disturbance

Answer 39

organized mass of thunderstorms over 24 hours

Question 40

Tropical depression

Answer 40

closed low pressure center

Question 41

Tropical storm

Answer 41

maximum sustained winds

Question 42

Barometric effect

Answer 42

low pressure elevates sea surface

Question 43

Trough

Answer 43

low pressure, cyclone

Question 44

Ridge

Answer 44

high pressure, anticyclones

Question 45

Warm front

Answer 45

ahead of the storm center; warm air mass slides up on cold air; long, persistent rain

Question 46

Cold front

Answer 46

behind the storm center; cold air plunges underneath warm air; severe thunderstorm, gust, tornadoes, etc.

Question 47

Occluded front

Answer 47

when the cold front catches up with the warm front