Weather Dynamics Unit 1 Flashcards
-What is the boundary between two different air masses called?
Front
Which instrument measures atmospheric pressure?
Barometer
True or False: An anemometer measures wind speed.
True
Which instrument measures relative humidity?
Hygrometer
What type of front occurs when a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass?
Warm front
What is the boundary between two different air masses called when neither is advancing into the other?
Stationary front
Which instrument measures wind direction?
Wind vane
True or False: A psychrometer measures relative humidity
False
What instrument measures the amount of precipitation that has fallen?
Rain gauge
A line on a weather systems map showing places of equal atmospheric pressure
Isobar
A typical unit of measurement of air pressure in the metric system
Kilopascals / kPa
Technology that collects weather data from a distance without actually being in physical contact with the object being observed.
Remote Sensing Technology
Helium-filled weather device which contains a radiosonde.
Weather Balloon
A type of forecast which forecasts up to six hours.
Nowcasting
Means “human-caused”
Anthropogenic
A forecast that predicts how weather conditions will change over a period of 3 to 7 days.
Long Range Forecast
A device which measures relative humidity.
Hygrometer
A device which measures relative humidity and dew point; is a type of hygrometer
Psychrometer
A type of front which forms when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slow-moving warm front and the warm air is obstructed.
Occluded Front
A change in weather conditions that a region experiences over a long time.
Climate Change
The portion of the sky that is covered with clouds.
Sky cover
What is sky cover measured out of?
Out of 10. Ex; a sky full of clouds would be 10/10 cover
A device which contains alcohol or mercury and expands as the temperature increases.
Thermometer
The title for a scientist who studies weather dynamics and makes weather forecasting predictions
Meteorologist
How quickly air is moving and the direction from which it originates
Wind speed and direction
A type of front when a moving cold air mass quickly pushes up warm air (steep slope), and can lead to thunderstorms.
Cold front
A forecast that predicts how weather conditions will change over a period of up to 48 hours.
Short Range Forecast
Predicting future weather based on ongoing observations of atmospheric conditions
Weather Forecasting
The force of the atmosphere on the surface below it.
Atmospheric pressure
The temperature at which dew forms; occurs when air is saturated (RH=100%)
Dew point Temperature
What unit is Relative humidity measured in?
Percent %
A type of forecasting that is accurate for only a few hours.
Persistence forecasting
Compares the actual amount of water vapor in the air with the maximum amount of vapor air can hold at a given temperature.
Relative humidity
Observations that involve the senses; uses words
Qualitative observations AKA Quality
Observations that involve measuring the physical conditions of the atmosphere with a variety of instruments and observations; uses numbers
Quantitative Observations AKA Quantity
The average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance
Temperature
Any liquid or solid water that falls to Earth
Precipitation
The amount of water vapour in the air.
Humidity
Modern attempts to control or change the weather
Weather modification
Patterns of weather conditions in a large region over a long period of time. Can be years, decades, centuries, or even longer.
Climate
Current conditions of the atmosphere in a specific place and at a specific time.
Weather
Process in which certain gases in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit heat from the Sun and heat radiated from Earth’s surface.
Greenhouse effect
A gas, such as carbon dioxide, which absorbs heat and contributes to an increase in the temperature of the atmosphere
Greenhouse gases
What units are used to measure wind speed and direction?
Km/h or Mph,
N E S W
When isobars are close together, what kind of weather can be expected?
High winds, low pressure
What conditions are necessary for precipitation to occur?
Relative humidity being 100%, and Dew Point Temperature being reached
How to find relative humidity/dew point on a chart?
Subtract wet bulb from dry bulb and locate the difference on the chart along with the dry bulb.
Weather VS Climate
Both atmospheric conditions;
Weather is day to day
Climate is over many years
What units are used to measure precipitation?
mm/cm
What units are used to measure precipitation?
mm/cm
Name the Earths 5 spheres and their nicknames
Atmosphere (air)
Biosphere (life)
Hydrosphere (water)
Lithosphere (land)
Trophosphere (Weather layer)
The first layer of the atmosphere, where all weather occurs!
Trophosphere
Describe Earths energy budget, not too hot and not too cold!
70% of suns energy absorbed!
30% of sun’s energy reflected!
Albedo
The reflectivity of an object
Light colours have high albedo, high reflectivity
Dark colours have low albedo, high absorption
Heat Capacity
the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of something by one degree.
Example of a high heat capacity substance. Retains heat for a long period; takes a long time to heat up and long time to cool down as it requires a loss of energy to cool down
Water! Water is also a great heat sink due to these reasons.
What is greatest near the Earths surface due to gravity?
Atmospheric pressure
Describe a low pressure system
Humid air rises, brings precipitation
Describe a high pressure system
Dry air falls, bringing clear skies
Name the prevailing winds
Air moves from H->L
Label H, L, H, L on map
Northeast Trade winds
Westerlies
Polar Easterlies
What effect is now more extreme due to human activity?
Greenhouse effect
Name 4 Greenhouse Gases
Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Halocarbons
What airs do spread out isobars bring?
Calm airs
high pressure vs low pressure (weather)
High = clear skies + falling air
Low = precipitation + rising air
What are 3 ways to monitor climate change?
Tree rings
Ice cores
Fossils
Describe tree rings
Dark rings = slow growth and hotter conditions
Light rings = rapid growth and favourable conditions
Describe ice cores
Holds records of atmospheric gases, types of plants (from pollen), volcanic eruptions (from dust and ash), and temperature and humidity (size of ice crystals) at that time
Describe one effect weather has on Agriculture, the Marine Industry, and Transportation.
Crops fail w/o proper rainfall and temperatures e.g. dry harvest szn
Weather often determines when and if a person can engage in the fishing industry
Weather can damage transportation infrastructure e.g. roads flooded
What are the three factors which should be analyzed when looking at a weather map to construct a weather forecast?
Weather fronts - indicates areas of precipitation and temperature changes
Pressure systems - high: clear weather
low: precipitation and higher humidity
Isobars - wind speeds and patterns
How do humans add to the amount of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, NO2, halocarbons) in the atmosphere?
Burning of fossil fuels via transportation, generating power, manufacturing goods, overconsumption, etc
How does a psychrometer work?
It works by measuring the temperature difference between a dry thermometer bulb and a wet thermometer bulb that has lost some moisture due to evaporation.
What is a heat sink
Any substance that can absorb and retain energy without changing state
A thin band of air made up of numerous layers based on temperature. Without this protective blanket, life on Earth would not exist as it protects us from heat and radiation emitted from the sun and contains the air we breathe.
Atmosphere
The lowest layer of our atmosphere We humans live in this, and nearly all weather occurs in this lowest layer.
Troposphere
Air currents that blow in mainly one direction
Prevailing winds
As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure …?
Decreases
