Weather

Question 1

Air mass classification

Answer 1

Air mass: large bodies of air with a homogenous mix of temperature, humidity and stability (reflects characteristics of source region)

Moisture:
-m = maritime (wet)
-c = continental (dry)
Temperature
-A = Arctic 
-P = Polar
-T = Tropical
-E = Equatorial
-AA = Antarctic

Question 2

Lifting mechanisms

Answer 2

Adiabatic cooling
Clouds
Precipitation
Mechanicms
-convergent
-convectional
-orographic
-frontal

Question 3

Convergent

Answer 3

Air flowing into low pressure area

Intense lifting: cumulonimbus, precipitation

Question 4

Convectional

Answer 4

Convection!

Warm air, less dense –> rises

Question 5

Orographic

Answer 5

Mountain: when terrain forces a moving mass upwards

Question 6

Frontal

Answer 6

Meeting of cold and warm air masses
Fronts: the “leading” edge of a moving air mass

Cold front –> warm air mass, abrupt = cumulonimbus and storms
Warm front –> cold air, gradual = stratus and drizzly rains

Question 7

Midlatitude Cyclonic Systems

Answer 7

Extra-tropical cyclones: between 30 and 60 degrees latitude

Mild rain –> thunderstorms

Question 8

Cycle of MCS

Answer 8

Cyclogenesis: development of a low pressure zone and advancement of a polar front

Open stage: warm air moving north

Oclusion: fronts overlap and precipitation ends

Question 9

Extreme weather

Answer 9

Becoming more frequent

• wildfires in California
• milder winters in Midwest
• tropical cyclones in Hawaii
• flooding in Canada
• Heat waves in Argentina/Europe
• Flooding/rainfall in Southern France

Question 10

Tornadoes

Answer 10

Cumulonimbus clouds
Intense upward drafts
Mesocyclone: rain, winds, lightning, hail
Tornado