Weather academics + review Flashcards
Natural Air is:
Dry air + Condensation Nuclei + Water Vapor
Troposphere height at equator:
ca. 60.000 ft
Troposphere height at the poles:
ca. 25.000 ft
3 reasons for the 3-cell theory of circulation:
- Uneven heating of sun
- Coriolis force
- Tilt of earth
Low pressure on northern hemisphere rotates _____
Counter-clockwise
High pressure on northern hemisphere rotates _____
Clockwise
30* - 60* N latitude has primarily ______ winds.
Western
Where in the atmosphere does the weather occur?
Troposphere
4 types of heat transfer:
Radiation
Conduction
Convection
Advection
Where would you find the strongest thermal current?
Over land surface during daylight hours
OLR is short for:
Observed Lapse Rate
How is heat transfered through radiation:
As electromagnetic waves
What is insolation?
The radiation comming from the sun to the earth
what is terrestrial radiation?
The radiation leaving earth into the space
A layer of air, characterized by increase in temp by altitude is called:
Temperature inversion
How is change in pressure depicted on a weather chart?
Isobars - Drawn 4 Mb apart
PGF short for
Pressure gradient force
PGF is defined as:
The rate at which air will accelerate depends on rate at which pressure changes with distance
Strong/Steep pressure gradient force is when:
Isobars are closely spaced together and there are stronger winds
Weak/flat pressure gradient force is when:
Isobars are separated further apart and the winds are more calm
at a high pressure situation the winds are moving ____ and ____ to the isobars, and ____ and ____ in low pressure situation
Clockwise , parallel
Counterclockwise , parallel
In theory, at what altitude stops surface friction?
2.000 ft AGL
When below 2.000 ft AGL how is the winds changed when surface friction is applied:
High Pressure:
Low pressure:
- High pressure: The winds diverge out from the center
- Low pressure: The winds converge towards the center
High pressure on northern hemisphere is a (cyclone/anticyclone)
Anticyclone
Low pressure on northern hemisphere is a (cyclone/anticyclone)
Cyclone
Left crosswind is an indication that you are flying towards:
Lower pressure
What is deposition?
When a gas goes to solid without being liquid first
What is sublimation?
When a solid goes to gas without being liquid first
How is flight performance affected by moisture in the atmosphere
Gives less air density which is not good for flying
Adiabatic process is described as:
When the temperature of a gas is changed without the addition or deletion of heat energy.
(When air rises og falls and heats/cools because of the pressure changes)
Dry adiabatic lapse rate:
3*C/1000ft
Moist adiabatic lapse rate:
1.5*C/1000ft