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Weather and Climate > Weather and Climate: Ch. 7 > Flashcards

Weather and Climate: Ch. 7 Flashcards

1
Q

Smallest scale of motion

A

Microscale Systems

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2
Q

How long are microscale systems?

A

few seconds to minutes

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3
Q

Examples of microscale systems

A

wind gusts, microbursts, dust devils

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4
Q

Middle-sized systems less than 60 miles across, up to 600 miles wide

A

Mesoscale systems

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5
Q

How long are mesoscale systems?

A

few minutes to several hours

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6
Q

Examples of mesoscale systems

A

thunderstorms, tornadoes, local winds

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7
Q

Largest wind patterns (Macroscale Systems)

A
  1. Synoptic-scale winds
  2. Planetary-scale winds
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8
Q

Characteristics of Synoptic-scale winds

A
  • smaller with diameters of 600 miles
  • easily identified on weather maps
  • midlatitude cyclones and anticyclones
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9
Q

Characteristics of Planetary-scale winds

A
  • extend around entire globe for weeks
  • westerlies and trade winds
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10
Q

Basic cause is unequal heating of surface

A

Global Circulation

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11
Q

Where are subtropical anticyclones centered?

A

near 30° north and south

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12
Q

Exentensive areas of subsiding air

A

Subtropical Anticyclones

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13
Q

What do subtropical anticyclones result in?

A

low RH, fair skies, calm winds, warm temps

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14
Q

World’s major deserts located in…

A

subtropical anticyclones

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15
Q

Subtropical anticyclones are at …

A

Horse Latitutdes

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16
Q

Results from clockwise and outward flow on north side of subtropical high

A

Midlatitude Westerlies

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17
Q

How do Midlatitude Westerlies blow?

A

from west to east in midlatitudes

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18
Q

Midlatitude Westerlies are highly ________

A

variable

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19
Q

Midlatitude Westerlies follow a _____ path due to ______ differences

A

wavy; temp

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20
Q

longest wave patterns

A

Rossby waves

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21
Q

Rossby waves are a part of …

A

Midlatitude Westerlies

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22
Q

Results from clockwise and outward flow on south side of Subtropical High

A

Trade Winds

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23
Q

How do trade winds blow?

A

from east (NE) to west in tropical latitudes

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24
Q

Doldrums are located near ________

A

equator

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25
Q

Trade winds converge (low pressure)

A

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

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26
Q

ITCZ is a part of ________

A

Doldrums

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27
Q

Air subsides and flows away

A

Polar Highs

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28
Q

Polar regions are _____

A

cold

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29
Q

Separates air masses of different temps

A

Polar Front

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30
Q

Colder air to north from warmer air to south

A

Polar Front

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31
Q

Area of low pressure

A

Subpolar Lows

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32
Q

Responsible for much of stormy weather in midlatitudes

A

Subpolar Lows

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33
Q

Move and vary in intensity with seasons

A

Semipermanent Highs and Lows

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34
Q

Pressure and wind belts follow vertical rays of sun

A

Seasonal Shifts

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35
Q

Seasonal Shifts shift _____ in July

A

north

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36
Q

Seasonal Shifts shift _____ in January

A

south

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37
Q

What are precipitation patterns determined by?

A
  1. Semipermanent pressure systems
  2. Distribution of land and water
  3. Air temp
  4. Terrain
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38
Q

High speed winds found in westerlies

A

Jet Streams

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39
Q

Jet Streams are _______ of miles long

A

thousands

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40
Q

Jet streams have a width of __-___ miles

A

60-300

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41
Q

Jet streams have wind speeds of …

A

60-240 mph

42
Q

Jet streams are __ to ___ miles above the surface

43
Q

Jet streams form from…

A

horizontal differences in pressure and temp

44
Q

Where is the Subtropical Jet Stream found

A

near latitude 30° above subtropical high

45
Q

The Subtropical Jet Stream is mainly a _______ event

46
Q

How is a Polar Jet Stream front created

A

by large temp contrasts at surface

47
Q

What does a Polar Jet Stream supply?

A

Supplies energy to drive storms

48
Q

Directs path of storms

A

Polar Front Jet Stream (PFJ)

49
Q

Polar Front Jet Stream ________ in winter when north-south air temp contrasts is _______

A

strengthens; greater

50
Q

Polar Front Jet Stream ________ in summer when temp contrasts are _____

A

summer; less

51
Q

How often does a Polar Front Jet Stream change?

A

week to week and even day to day

52
Q

What is the general rule if PFJ stream is south of you?

A

weather tends to be relatively cold

53
Q

What is the general rule if PFJ stream is north of you?

A

weather tends to be relatively warm

54
Q

Jet streams play a major role in transfer of heat (meander):

A
  • Cold air south
  • Warm air north
55
Q

How does the Zonal Flow Pattern flow?

A

Flow west to east, nearly parallel to latitudes

56
Q

Air masses in Zonal Flow Pattern:

A
  • Cold air masses stay north
  • Warm air masses remain south
57
Q

Zonal Flow Pattern tends to be a ______ weather pattern

58
Q

Westerlies flow in a pattern of troughs (Lows) and ridges (Highs)

A

Meridional Flow Pattern

59
Q

Air in Meridional Flow Pattern:

A
  • Cold air surges south
  • Warm air streams north
60
Q

Stage set for development of storm systems

A

Meridional Flow Pattern

61
Q

Arabic word for season

62
Q

Wind system that changes direction seasonally

63
Q

Where is the Asian Monsoon?

A

South and East Asia

64
Q

What causes the Asian Monsoon?

A
  • Difference in heating of land versus sea
  • Topography
  • Seasonal Shifts in ITCZ
65
Q

Dry winds that blow off continents

A

Winter Monsoon

66
Q

Warm moisture-laden air blows from sea to land

A

Summer monsoon

67
Q

Summer monsoons have _______ precipitation

68
Q

About _____ of the world’s population lives in regions affected by Asian monsoons

69
Q

North American Monsoon exists in…

A

Southwest U.S.

70
Q

North American Monsoon brings…

A

rain in summer

71
Q

What are the 5 local wind systems?

A
  1. Sea and Land Breeze
  2. Mountain and Valley Breezes
  3. Katabatic (fall) Wind
  4. Chinook winds
  5. Santa Ana Winds
72
Q

In a Sea Breeze, lan surfaces warm up _____ than water

73
Q

When are Sea Breeze events?

A
  • Summer event in midlatitudes
  • Tropical event year round
74
Q

Local horizontal air pressure gradient between land and water

A

Sea Breeze

75
Q

How does a Sea Breeze flow?

A

from cool water (H) to warm land (L)

76
Q

When does a Sea Breeze reach its maximum strength?

A

by mid afternoon

77
Q

Temps can drop by ____ during the max strength of a Sea Breeze

78
Q

When does a Land Breeze occur

A

at night when land cools more rapidly than water

79
Q

Cool offshore Breeze develops along with a return air flow

A

Land Breeze

80
Q

Valley Breeze is best developed in ________

81
Q

air on mountain slopes heated more than over Valley floor

A

Valley Breeze (Day)

82
Q

Valley Breeze (Day):

A

South Side (sun)

83
Q

nocturnal sinking of cool air creates a mountain breeze

A

Mountain Breeze (night)

84
Q

Cold, dense air over a highland area moves due to gravity

A

Katabatic (fall) Wind

85
Q

Katabatic (fall) Wind is a ______ event

86
Q

Warm, dry wind that flows down leeward sides of mountains in U.S. and Canada

A

Chinook winds

87
Q

Means “snow eater”

88
Q

Can produce rapid temp changes

A

Chinook winds

89
Q

Hot, dry winds that blows from east into Southern California

A

Santa Ana Winds

90
Q

Strong high pressure system centered of Great Basin

A

Santa Ana Winds

91
Q

have/can produce wildfires (socal)

A

Santa Ana Winds

92
Q

Gust from 80 to 90 mph

A

Santa Ana Winds

93
Q

Caused by intense solar heating of ground

A

Desert Winds

94
Q

whirling mass of dust laden air commonly over flat, dry terrain

A

Dust Devil

95
Q

Are dust devils linked to clouds?

96
Q

strong wind in combination with dust or sand storm

97
Q

A haboob is a ____ thunderstorms downdraft

98
Q

Irregular warm episode off west coast of South America

99
Q

Weather changes over a large portion of Earth (El Nino):

A
  • Drier and mild in Midwest
  • Wetter in Southern California
100
Q

Waters off South America become unusually cool

101
Q

Almost opposite an El Nino event

Weather and Climate (11 decks)

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