Weather and Climate: Ch. 1 Flashcards
___ likely has the greatest variety of weather in the world
U.S.
Study of the atmosphere and its phenomena
Meteorology
State of atmosphere at a given time and place
Weather
Weather is always _______
changing
Average of all weather data
Climate
Climate helps describe environment of a ________ or _______
place or region
Climate includes _________
extremas
What are the 6 Elements of Weather and Climate
- Air temperature
- Humidity
- Type and amount of cloudiness
- Type and amount of precipitation
- Pressure
- Speed and direction of wind
Annual average of about __ lives lost in U.S. due to weather events
500
1 killer world wide
Excessive heat
Almost half the lives taken due to weather events in the US are due to _________ ____
excessive heat
NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Weather Radio)
What is the NOAA’s maximum range?
40 miles
Issued by Storm Prediction Center when hazardous weather is considered possible (counties)
Weather Watch
Issued by National Weather Service when hazardous weather is imminent or taking place
Weather Warning
Who issues Weather Warnings?
- local stations
- Springfield’s comes from Lincoln, IL)
What are Earth’s 4 spheres?
- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Lithosphere
- Biosphere
Life-giving gases that surrounds Earth
Atmosphere
Earth and atmosphere waters
Hydrosphere
Soils and rocks that make up Earth’s crust
Lithosphere
All living things
Biosphere
Collection of numerous interacting parts, or subsystems, that form a complex whole
System
What 2 sources power the Earth System?
- Sun drives external processes
- Earth’s interior drives internal processes
Mixture of many gases
Air
What happens to air in the atmosphere?
Tiny solid and liquid particles are suspended
Earth’s atmosphere is a _____, gaseous envelope
thin
What are the Earth’s nonvariable elements in the atmosphere?
- 78% Nitrogen (N2)
- 21% Oxygen (O2)
What are the Earth’s variable elements in the atmosphere?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Water Vapor (H2O)
- Ozone
- Aresols
Characteristics of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- important greenhouse gas
- traps a portion of Earth’s outgoing energy
- keeps us warm
Characteristics of water vapor in the atmosphere
- invisible gas that varies
- provides clouds and precipitation
- important greenhouse gas
- absorbs heat
- releases large amounts of latent heat
Characteristics of Ozone in the atmosphere
- stratosphere
- protects life from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation
Characteristics of aerosols in the atmosphere
- Tiny solid or liquid suspended particles
- surface for water vapor to condense (clouds)
- absorb and reflect incoming solar radiation
- contribute to atmosphere optics (sunset)
Characteristics of Pressure
- Weight of air molecules on Earth
- Decreases with increasing height
What is Standard Value (at sea level)?
1013.25 mb used on surface weather maps
What is Earth’s average surface temperature?
59℉ (15℃)
Where does almost all weather occur?
troposphere
What is the troposphere’s average altitude?
7.5 miles
What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere?
Troposphere
At what temperature does temperature decrease at in the troposphere?
decreases at an average of 3.5℉ / 1000m (6.5℃ / 1000m)
In the troposphere, decrease in air temperature with increasing height:
Sunlight warms earth’s surface, and surface warms air above it
Air temperature increases with height
Temperature inversion
Characteristics of a Radiosonde
- Instrument collects weather data above surface
- Carried by a balloon to altitude of 10,000 ft
How far does the stratosphere extend?
about 30 miles above the surface
In the stratosphere, temperature increases with ______
height
What is ideal in the stratosphere because of weather?
jet travel
high winds that guide storm systems
jet stream
Where is the jet stream?
stratosphere
Where is the ozone layer?
stratosphere
How far does the mesosphere extend above the surface?
about 50 miles above the surface
“Hot layer”
Thermosphere
Why is the thermosphere called the “hot layer”?
because oxygen molecules absorb solar rays
Auroras found here
Ionosphere
Wind blows due to ________ differences in pressure
horizontal
Greater the difference in pressure = _______ _____
stronger winds
Winds blow from _____ pressure to _____ pressure
high to low
What are the 2 types of pressure systems?
- Highs (or anticyclones)
- Lows (or cyclones)
higher air pressure compared to surrounding areas
H or HIGH
lower air pressure compared to surrounding areas
L or LOW
Characteristics of high pressure systems
- fair weather systems
- surface winds blow clockwise and out (Northern hemisphere)
- calm conditions typical
Characteristics of low pressure systems
- Storms weather systems
- cloudy and unsettled weather
- surface winds blow counterclockwise and in (Northern hemisphere)
Highs and lows generally more ____ across US
east
Highs follow _____
lows
lows follow ____
highs
converting a liquid to gas (water vapor)
Evaporation
Characteristics of condensation
- water vapor changes to liquid state
- air is cooled
- clouds, fog, frost, dew
Water in a liquid or solid form atmosphere to surface
Precipitation
Types of precipitation
rain, snow, hail
Temperature must be cooled for clouds and precipitation to form
Saturation
Temperature at which water vapor condenses
dew point temperature
Air temp =
dew point
air is saturated:
clouds, fog, frost, dew
huge volume of air that is relatively uniform in temp and humidity
Air masses
Narrow zone of transition between air masses
Fronts
Fronts differ in …
temp, humidity, or both
Fronts form where ________ air masses meet
contrasting
Air movements often produce…
cloudiness and precipitation
How is a warm front formed?
by advancing WARM AIR
Warm fronts have ______ lifting
gradual
In a warm front, clouds and precipitation are …
light to moderate
Where do clouds and precipitation occur in a warm front?
over a broad area
How is a cold front formed?
by advancing COLD AIR
Cold fronts have ______ lifting
rapid
In a cold front, most clouds and precipitation occur as a …
narrow band along or just ahead of front
Cold and warm fronts are anchored at ______ of a _______ pressure system
center; low
If pressure code begins with a number between 0 and 5, add a __
10
If pressure code begins with a number between 6 and 9, add a __
9
Add a ______ before last digit of pressure codes
decimal
Pressure code: 356
1035.6 mb
Pressure code: 865
986.5 mb
Can give advance warning of a tornado before a funnel touches the ground
Doppler Radar
Give a view of Earth from space
Satellites
UTC
Universal Coordinated Time
UTC is commonly called …
“zulu” time
Observations around world at same time
Universal Coordinated Time
For Springfield, Il, what is the formula for standard time
z - 6 hours
For Springfield, Il, what is the formula for daylight savings time
z - 5 hours
When is Daylight Savings Time
2nd Sunday in March to 1st Sunday in November
