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NIFE Academics > Weather 2: Weather Mechanics > Flashcards

Weather 2: Weather Mechanics Flashcards

1
Q

What are gradient winds?

A
  • Winds that flow perpendicular to the pressure gradient force and parallel to the isobars of the pressure system
  • Found above 2,000’ AGL
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2
Q

What is the flow direction of gradient winds in a low pressure system?

A

Counter-clockwise

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3
Q

What is the flow direction of gradient winds in a high pressure system?

A

Clockwise

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4
Q

What forces causes the flow direction of gradient winds?

A
  1. Pressure gradient force
  2. Coriolis force
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5
Q

What are surface winds?

A
  • Winds that flow at a 45° angle across isobars
  • Found below 2,000’ AGL
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6
Q

What is the flow direction of surface winds in a low pressure system?

A

Counter-clockwise around and into the low system

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7
Q

What is the flow direction of surface winds in a high pressure system?

A

Clockwise around and out of the high system

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8
Q

What forces causes the flow direction of surface winds?

A
  1. Pressure gradient force
  2. Coriolis force
  3. Surfrace friction
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9
Q

Jet Stream

A

A narrow band of strong winds of 50kts or more that stays vertically and horizontally around the hemisphere in wave-like patterns (flows west to east)

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10
Q

What are some characteristics of the jet stream? (Average wind speed, average height, segments, thickness)

A
  • Average wind speed: 100-150kts but can reach up to 250kts
  • Average height: 30,000’ MSL
  • 1000-3000 miles (length)
  • 100-400 miles (width)
  • 3000-7000 ft (thickness)
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11
Q

Sea breeze

A
  • An onshore wind blowing from sea to land
  • Can reach 15-20kts
  • Usually occurs during the day

Caused by the warmer air over the land rising (because it is less dense) and the colder air from the ocean moving in and going under the rising warmer air

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12
Q

Land Breeze

A
  • An offshore wind blowing from land to sea
  • Usually not as strong as the sea breeze
  • Usually occurs during the night

Caused by the warmer air over the ocean rising (because it is less dense) and the colder air from the land moving in

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13
Q

What are the cloud types and their respective altitudes?

A
  1. Low Clouds (surface - 6,500’ AGL)
  2. Middle Clouds (6,500’ AGL - 20,000’ AGL)
  3. High Clouds (above 20,000’ AGL)
  4. Special clouds with extensive vertical development
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14
Q

What determines cloud height?

A

The height of the base of the cloud

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15
Q

What are the cloud forms?

A
  1. Cumuliform
  2. Stratiform
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16
Q

Describe cumuliform clouds.

A
  • Comes from moist, unstable air
  • Associated with showery precipitation
  • Large puffy clouds with more definite shapes
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17
Q

Describe stratiform clouds.

A
  • Comes from moist, stable air
  • Associated with steady precipitation
  • Widespread with no definable shape
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18
Q

Describe Special Clouds with Extensive Vertical Development.

A

Clouds that usually has a base at low/middle cloud height and has tops that extend through high cloud heights

Three main types:
1. Nimbostratus
2. Towering cumulus
3. Cumulonimbus

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19
Q

Describe Low Clouds.

A
  • From surface to 6,500’ AGL
  • Mainly made of water droplets
  • If you see “nimbo” or nimbus” that means violent/heavy precipitation from these clouds
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20
Q

Describe Middle Clouds.

A
  • From 6,500’ AGL to 20,000’ AGL
  • Made of ice crystals, water droplets, or both
  • Has the prefix “alto”
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21
Q

Describe High Clouds.

A
  • Above 20,000’ AGL
  • Made of ice crystals
  • Has the prefix “cirro” or contains the word “cirrus”
22
Q

What are the characteristics of precipitation?

A
  1. Showery
  2. Continuous
  3. Intermittent
23
Q

Describe the following precipitation characteristic: showery.

A
  • Has a sudden beginning and ending
  • Abruptly intensity changes
  • Associated with cumuliform clouds
24
Q

Describe the following precipitation characteristic: continuous.

A
  • Steady precipitation with a gradual change in intensity (if any change at all)
  • Associated with stratiform clouds
25
Q

Describe the following precipitation characteristic: intermittent.

A
  • Stops and restarts at least once during the hour
  • Associated with cumuliform or stratiform clouds
26
Q

What are the methods of lifting?

A
  1. Frontal
  2. Orographic
  3. Convergence
  4. Thermal

“You’re FOCT’d”

27
Q

Convergence lifting

A

When air masses combine and push air upwards

28
Q

Frontal lifting

A

When a cold front’s slope lifts the air ahead of the cold air mass

29
Q

Orographic lifting

A

When the force of the wind against a mountainside pushes the air upwards

30
Q

Thermal lifting

A

When air rises as it is warmed over a surface

31
Q

What kind of conditions are associated with cumuliform clouds?

A

Unstable conditions

32
Q

What kind of conditions are associated with stratiform clouds?

A

Stable conditions

33
Q

If the lifted air is colder than the surrounding air, what kind of stability would it be? Why?

A

Stable

Since the colder air is more dense than the surrounding air, it will settle back down to its original position once the lifting force is removed

34
Q

If the lifted air is warmer than the surrounding air, what kind of stability would it be? Why?

A

Unstable

Since the warmer is less dense than the surrounding air, it will continue to rise after the lifting force is removed

35
Q

If the lifted air is the same temperature than the surrounding air, what kind of stability would it be? Why?

A

Neutrally Stable

Since the air has the same density, it will settle at whatever point it is at when the lifting force is removed

36
Q

What are the flight conditions that are associated with a stable atmosphere?

A
  • Warm fronts
  • Warm air
  • Smooth air (no turbulence)
  • Poor visibility
  • Rime icing
  • Steady winds
  • Steady precipitations
  • Stratus clouds

“What Would Sarah Palin Repeat, Something Stupid Silly

37
Q

What are the flight conditions that are associated with a unstable atmosphere?

A
  • Cold fronts
  • Cold air
  • Rough turbulence
  • Good visibility (outside of clouds)
  • Clear icing
  • Showery precipitation
  • Gusty winds
  • Cumulus clouds

“Captain Crunch, Really Good Cereal, Super Good Cereal”

38
Q

Front

A

An area of discontinuity that forms between two contrasting air masses

39
Q

What are the frontal discontinuities used to classify fronts?

A
  • Temperature: can indicate intensity of front
  • Dew point: indicates RH of the air
  • Pressure: decreases as you enter front and increases as you pass through front
  • Wind: expect a 90° wind shift

“TouchDowns Win Playoff games.”

40
Q

Cold front

A

The leading edge of an advancing cold air mass that slides underneath warm air pushing it upwards and causing unstable conditions, cumuliform clouds, and showery precipitation.

Usually moves towards the SE @ 20kts with a 90° wind shift

The colder, more dense air moves in underneath the warmer air and pushes it upwards

41
Q

Squall lines

A

Lines of fast moving thunderstorms

42
Q

Where do squall lines form?

A

Often develop 50 - 300 miles in front of cold fronts

43
Q

How do squall lines form?

A

When cold air ahead of the cold front downdrafts and lifts additional warm air. This warm air creates it’s own updrafts and downdrafts which start the thunderstorm development cycle

44
Q

Warm front

A

The boundary of an advancing warm air mass that is overtaking and replacing a colder air mass

Usually moves @ 15kts with a 90° wind shift from SE to SW

The warmer, less dense air rides up and on top of the cold air mass and creates an area of cloudiness as it moves over the frontal surface

45
Q

Stationary front

A

A front in which neither air mass is replacing the other at the frontal border

Has a 180° wind shift

46
Q

Occluded front

A

A front where a faster moving cold front overtakes a slower moving warm front

Usually moves at the speed of whatever front is on the ground and has a 180° wind shift

Two types: (1) cold and (2) warm –> named after whichever front remains in contact with the ground

47
Q

What weather is associated with a cold front?

A

More severe weather in a narrow band

48
Q

What weather is associated with a warm front?

A

Broad cloudiness with a steady precipitation that gradually increases until the front passes

49
Q

What weather is associated with an occluded front?

A

Weather from both warm and cold fronts

50
Q

What weather is associated with a stationary front?

A

Similar weather to a warm front but at a lower intentsity

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