Weather and Air Masses Flashcards
What is weather?
The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place.
What is climate?
The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.
What kind of weather does a cold front bring?
Thunderstorms, violent storms, heavy rain, snow, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
What kind of weather does a warm front bring?
It brings light precipitation and snow showers.
What kind of weather does a stationary front bring?
It brings rain or snow for days.
What kind of weather does an occluded front bring?
It brings cooler temperatures and clouds but may have characteristics that are similar to a warm front or a cold front.
What does mT stand for? What are its characteristics? Where does it form?
maritime tropical; This air mass is warm and humid and is formed over warm waters.
What does mP stand for? What are its characteristics? Where does it form?
maritime polar; This air mass is cool and humid and forms over water (the northern Atlantic and norther Pacific oceans).
What does cT stand for? What are its characteristics? Where does it form?
continental tropical: This air mass is hot and dry and forms over land (usually desert southwest and northern Mexico).
What does cP stand for? What are its characteristics? Where does it form?
continental polar; This air mass is cold and dry and forms over land (polar regions and Canad
Hurricanes get stronger over land. (true or false)
false
What is the calmest part of a hurricane?
The eye
What is lightning?
Transfer of electricity generated by the rapid rushes of air in the cumulonimbus cloud. Due to electron transfer.
What is thunder?
Sound waves that are the result of super-heated molecules from lightning formation.
What is hail?
Pellets of frozen rain that fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds. (Water droplets get lifted up above the freezing line, falls when it gets heavy.)
If you are in your house during a tornado, where is the safest place to go?
Go to the lowest floor, stay away from windows.
If you are in your car during a tornado, where is the safest place to go?
Pull over and find a sturdy structure; lay in a ditch or low lying area; NOT under your car.
What is a hurricane?
A violent storm that forms over the ocean. Rotates rapidly around a center with very low pressure.
What is a tornado?
A mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system.
What is a thunderstorm?
A storm with thunder and lightning and that brings heavy rain or hail.
How do thunderstorms form?
Caused by an updraft that occurs when warm, moist air rises in an unstable environment/atmosphere.
How do tornadoes form?
Forms when wind speed and direction change suddenly with height. Strong updrafts tilt the rotating air from a horizontal to a vertical position. Forms within the rotation of winds.
What is an air mass?
A large volume of air that has the same characteristics such as humidity and temperature.
What are the “ingredients” needed to form a hurricane?
Warm water, converging winds (creates spinning), open water (time to develop).
The area with the calmest weather is found in the eye of a hurricane. (True or False)
true
What is a microclimate?
It is a climate within a small area that differs significantly from the climate around it. (Examples: maritime, continental)
What are the three stages of frontal thunderstorms?
- Cumulous
- Mature
- Dissipating
What is the mature stage?
Fully developed cumulonimbus clouds have formed and precipitation is occuring
What weather system forms the lowest pressure?
Tornados
What are the two different types of lightning?
Cloud to cloud, cloud to ground
Where are hurricanes strongest?
The outside edge
