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Earth Science > Weather and Air Masses > Flashcards

Weather and Air Masses Flashcards

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1
Q

What is weather?

A

The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place.

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2
Q

What is climate?

A

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time.

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3
Q

What kind of weather does a cold front bring?

A

Thunderstorms, violent storms, heavy rain, snow, damaging winds, and tornadoes.

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4
Q

What kind of weather does a warm front bring?

A

It brings light precipitation and snow showers.

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5
Q

What kind of weather does a stationary front bring?

A

It brings rain or snow for days.

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6
Q

What kind of weather does an occluded front bring?

A

It brings cooler temperatures and clouds but may have characteristics that are similar to a warm front or a cold front.

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7
Q

What does mT stand for? What are its characteristics? Where does it form?

A

maritime tropical; This air mass is warm and humid and is formed over warm waters.

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8
Q

What does mP stand for? What are its characteristics? Where does it form?

A

maritime polar; This air mass is cool and humid and forms over water (the northern Atlantic and norther Pacific oceans).

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9
Q

What does cT stand for? What are its characteristics? Where does it form?

A

continental tropical: This air mass is hot and dry and forms over land (usually desert southwest and northern Mexico).

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10
Q

What does cP stand for? What are its characteristics? Where does it form?

A

continental polar; This air mass is cold and dry and forms over land (polar regions and Canad

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11
Q

Hurricanes get stronger over land. (true or false)

A

false

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12
Q

What is the calmest part of a hurricane?

A

The eye

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13
Q

What is lightning?

A

Transfer of electricity generated by the rapid rushes of air in the cumulonimbus cloud. Due to electron transfer.

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14
Q

What is thunder?

A

Sound waves that are the result of super-heated molecules from lightning formation.

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15
Q

What is hail?

A

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.)

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16
Q

If you are in your house during a tornado, where is the safest place to go?

A

Go to the lowest floor, stay away from windows.

17
Q

If you are in your car during a tornado, where is the safest place to go?

A

Pull over and find a sturdy structure; lay in a ditch or low lying area; NOT under your car.

18
Q

What is a hurricane?

A

A violent storm that forms over the ocean. Rotates rapidly around a center with very low pressure.

19
Q

What is a tornado?

A

A mobile, destructive vortex of violently rotating winds having the appearance of a funnel-shaped cloud and advancing beneath a large storm system.

20
Q

What is a thunderstorm?

A

A storm with thunder and lightning and that brings heavy rain or hail.

21
Q

How do thunderstorms form?

A

Caused by an updraft that occurs when warm, moist air rises in an unstable environment/atmosphere.

22
Q

How do tornadoes form?

A

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.

23
Q

What is an air mass?

A

A large volume of air that has the same characteristics such as humidity and temperature.

24
Q

What are the “ingredients” needed to form a hurricane?

A

Warm water, converging winds (creates spinning), open water (time to develop).

25
Q

The area with the calmest weather is found in the eye of a hurricane. (True or False)

A

true

26
Q

What is a microclimate?

A

It is a climate within a small area that differs significantly from the climate around it. (Examples: maritime, continental)

27
Q

What are the three stages of frontal thunderstorms?

A
  1. Cumulous
  2. Mature
  3. Dissipating
28
Q

What is the mature stage?

A

Fully developed cumulonimbus clouds have formed and precipitation is occuring

29
Q

What weather system forms the lowest pressure?

A

Tornados

30
Q

What are the two different types of lightning?

A

Cloud to cloud, cloud to ground

31
Q

Where are hurricanes strongest?

A

The outside edge

Earth Science (8 decks)

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