Weather Flashcards
Weather
short-term, day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere
Climate
long-term average (e.g., 30 years) atmospheric conditions
Meteorology
scientific study of the atmosphere
Air mass
homogenous body of air with respect to temperature, moisture and stability, and it distinctly reflects the characteristics of its source region.
What are some key weather variables?
- Temperature
- Air pressure
- Relative humidity
- Wind speed and direction
- Cloud cover and type
Weather conditions reflect….?
dynamics within and between air masses
Moisture ‘m’
maritime (wet)
Moisture ‘c’
continental (dry)
Temperature/latitude ‘A’
Arctic
Temperature/latitude ‘P’
Polar
Temperature/latitude ‘T’
Tropical
Temperature/latitude ‘E’
Equatorial
Temperature/latitude ‘AA’
Antarctic
Continental polar (cP) air masses form only in the…?
Northern Hemisphere
Maritime polar (mP) air masses in the Northern Hemisphere exist over the…?
northern oceans
Two maritime tropical (mT) air masses
mTGulf/Atlantic and the mTPacific
mTPacific is lower or higher in moisture content to the mt gulf?
lower
air masses migrate from…?
air masses migrate from source regions and take on the characteristics of the land over which they pass
To form precipitation air masses do what?
lift and rise in altitude to reach the dew-point temperature, condense, and form clouds
What are the 4 different types of Atmospheric Lifting Mechanisms?
- Convergent Lifting
- Convectional Lifting
- Orographic Lifting
- Frontal Lifting (Cold and Warm Fronts)
Whats Convergent Lifting?
- Air flows toward an area of low pressure.
* Low pressure centre: air converging and ascending, cooling and condensation occurring.
Whats Convective Lifting?
- Cool air moves over a warm surface, is heated and ascends
* Air cools adiabatically and condensation occurs
Whats Orographic Lifting?
- Oro means “mountain.”
* Orographic lifting occurs when air is forced to ascend upslope as it is pushed against a mountain.
Whats Chinook winds (Oro lift.)?
descending air flow on the leeward side of the mountain is dry and hot compared to what it was at the same elevation on the windward side.
Whats Frontal Lifting?
the transition zone between two air masses of different densities.
Cold Fronts (Frontal lifting)
Cold air forces warm air aloft
leading edge of an advancing cold air mass
Warm Fronts (frontal lifting)
Warm air moves up and over cold air
leading edge of an advancing warm air mass
