Weather Flashcards
What is a front?
When cold air masses and warm air masses collide
What is the standard lapse rate?
2 degrees Celsius per 1000 feet
What part of the atmosphere do we fly in?
Troposphere
What is the chemical makeup if the atmosphere?
1% Trace
21% Oxygen
78% Nitrogen
What remains constant as altitude increases?
The percentage of Oxygen, the pressure (or spacing of the molecules; farther from each other) is less.
Think: Air is thinner as you go up in altitude
How is air heated and how does this affect the weather?
Air is heated unevenly by incoming solar radiation, heated air rises and moves creating weather phenomena
How is a cloud made?
When a partial of air gets cold enough, that it can no longer hold as much water vapor, or when it cools below the dew point.
What is the Coriolis Force?
It is the force created by the rotation of the Earth’s Surface. It deflects air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, causing it to curve. This deflection is greatest at the poles and diminishes to zero at the equator.
How much does one square in of atmosphere weigh?
14.7 lbs
How much does pressure lower per 1,000 ft?
Pressure lowers by 1 in per 1,000 feet, this is why the altimeter must be adjusted as the plane climbs and descends.
Stability of air depends on its ability to what?
Resist Vertical Motion
Atmospheric Stability Basics
Cold Air Under Warm Air = everyone is happy, no fighting
Warm Air Under Cold Air = not happy they want to trade and end up with ascending and descending air (turbulence)
What are the qualities of Stable Air?
Stratiform Clouds and Fog
Continuous Precipitation
Smooth Air
Fair to Poor Visibility (when in Haze and Smoke)
What are the qualities of Unstable Air?
Cumuliform Clouds
Showery Precipitation
Rough Air (Turbulence)
Good Visibility (except in blowing obstructions)
Rising Air
Expands and Cools as altitude increases (due to a decrease in air pressure)
