Weather and Climate

Question 1

Definition of weather:

Answer 1

Atmospheric conditions, along with short-term changes of a certain place and a certain time.

Question 2

What are 3 things that influence weather?

Answer 2

Air temperature, air pressure, wind speed and direction, humidity, cloud coverage, precipitation.

Question 3

Definition of dew:

Answer 3

Tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces at night, when atmospheric vapor condenses

Question 4

Definition of dew point:

temperature

Answer 4

The temperature at which air is saturated and condensation can occur

Question 5

Definition of precipitation:

Answer 5

Water, in liquid of solid form, that falls from the atmosphere

Question 6

What is a high-pressure system and what kind of weather does it bring?

Answer 6

Large body of circulating air with high pressure at its center and lower pressure outside - brings HAPPY weather :)

Question 7

What is a low-pressure system and what kind of weather does it bring?

Answer 7

Large body of circulating air with low pressure at the center and high pressure outside - brings LOUSY weather :(

Question 8

Definition of tropical air mass:

Answer 8

Warm - formed at the equator

Question 9

Definition of maritime air mass:

Answer 9

Formed over water - moist

Question 10

Definition of continental air mass:

Answer 10

Formed over land - dry

Question 11

Definition of polar air mass:

Answer 11

Cold - poles

Question 12

What are the 4 types of severe weather?

(the answer is really long)

Answer 12

-Blizzard: Violent winter storm with freezing temps and snow.
-Hurricane: Intense tropical storm with winds exceeding over 119 kilometers per hour.
-Tornado: Violent, whirling column of air in contact with the ground (when updrafts start rotating).
-Thunderstorm: Electrical storm with 3 stages- 1. Cumulus stage- cloud formation and updraft - 2. Mature stage- downdrafts appear, winds, rain, and lightning dominates - 3. Dissipation stage- updraft stops, storm dies down.

Question 13

Know the 4 fronts and their symbols.

Answer 13

1. Cold front- cold air pushes underneath warm air, temperatures remain low.
2. Warm front- warm air rises, weather becomes warmer and more humid
3. Stationary front- warm on one side, cold air on the other side, cloudy skies and light rain
4. Occluded front- warm air mass caught between 2 cold fronts, brings precipitation

Question 14

Know how to read and write a weather forecasting sheet.

Answer 14

Make sure to bring the key for the test!

Question 15

Definition of climate:

Answer 15

Long-term average weather conditions that occur in a particular region

Question 16

What are 4 things that affect climate?

Answer 16

1. Close to mountains
2. Close to water
3. Latitude- closer to the equator=warmer climates-closer to the poles=colder climates
4. Altitude- temperature decreases as altitude increases (higher=colder)

Question 17

Definition of specific heat:

thermal energy 1kg

Answer 17

Amount of thermal energy needed to raise the temp of 1kg of a material by 1 degree celsius

Question 18

Definition of rain shaddow:

Answer 18

An area of low rainfall on the downwind slope of a mountain

Question 19

Definition of micro climate- and an example of one:

Answer 19

Localized climate that is different from the climate of a large area (ex. forest, urban heat island)

Question 20

Definition of El Nino:

high and low pressures

Answer 20

An occasional climatic event (3-8 years) in which the trade winds weaken, reversing the normal pattern of high and low pressures across the Pacific ocean

Question 21

How have humans impacted climate?

Answer 21

-Burning of fossil fuels increase amount of carbon dioxide
-Deforestation: the large-scale cutting and/or burning of forests which also increases carbon dioxide
-Aerosols: tiny liquid or solid particles released from burning of fossil fuels which prevent sun’s energy from reaching earth