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New approach > Weather Patterns > Flashcards

Weather Patterns Flashcards

1
Q

Where does moisture in the atmosphere come from?

A

Mostly from evaporation of ocean water. Also: evaporation of lakes, rivers, etc.; sweat and liquid waste from animals; evaporation of water produced by plants

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2
Q

Evaporation

A

Liquid water changes to gas (vapor) below water’s boiling point of 100 C. Some water particles gain enough velocity to escape the surface forces holding the water particles together as liquid and become gas.

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3
Q

Condensation

A

Water vapor molecules in the atmosphere slow down and cool. They change back to liquid water (condense)

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4
Q

___ air can hold more water vapor than ___ air. A ___ sample of air is holding all the water vapor possible at that temp. When this sample is cooled, some water vapor ___

A

hot
cold
saturated
condenses

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5
Q

Grain

A

Unit used to measure how much water vapor a given volume of air is holding. There are 480 grains in an ounce. At 100 F, 1 foot cubes of air holds a max of about 20 grains

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6
Q

Relative humidity

A

A comparison of how much water vapor a sample of air is holding to its max capacity at that temperature

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7
Q

An air sample at 100 F with a relative humidity of 50% is holding ___

A

Half as much water (about 10 grains) as the total (about 20 grains) it can hold at 100F

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8
Q

Define hygrometer. State two types.

A

Instrument that measures relative humidity - hair hygrometer; physcrometer

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9
Q

Ew

A

Water vapor that condenses near the ground; can be seen on objects, like on grass and leaves in morning

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10
Q

Dew point

A

The temperature at which water vapor starts to condense. Related to the capacity of air at the current temperature

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11
Q

Frost

A

Dew that freezes when it is formed when the air temp is below 32F

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12
Q

Condensation Nuclei

A

Formed when water vapor condenses above the ground and clings to particles in the air such as dust and salt

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13
Q

Fog

A

Usually formed at night when the temperature gets cooler; water vapor condenses and creates drops of moisture suspended in the air close to the Earth

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14
Q

Smog

A

A combination of smoke and fog. A type of air pollution near citiies that pump waste into the air.

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15
Q

Clouds

A

Formed from condensed water vapor. As air rises from the Earth is expands and cools. When the temperature falls below its dew point, water vapor condenses on nuclei present in the atmosphere

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16
Q

Name four basic cloud types

A

Nimbus
Cirrus
Cumulus
Stratus

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17
Q

Nimbus

A

rain or snow cloud

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18
Q

Cirrus

A

Fair weather cloud. They look like tufts, are present at high altitudes, and consist of ice crystals

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19
Q

Cumulus

A

Fluffy, lower altitude, fair weather cloud

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20
Q

Stratus

A

Cloud appearing in sheets. When covering large parts of the sky, they may signify bad weather

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21
Q

Precipitation

A

When rain, hail, snow, etc. falls to the ground

22
Q

Name five types of precipitation

A 
rain
sleet
hail
drizzle
snow
23
Q

Drizzle

A

Drops of rain with very small diameters

24
Q

Sleet

A

Ice pellets formed when rain freezes while falling

25
Q

Hail

A

Formed in a cloud that has strong updrafts of air. Rain is forced high in the cloud, where it freezes. It falls, is coated with water and is forced up again to refreeze. Hailstones have several layers of ice formed in this way and may become quite large.

26
Q

Snow

A

Water vapor in clouds condenses on nuclei and freezes

27
Q

At temperatures close to freezing, snowflakes are ___. At very low temps, they are ___,

A

Large

Small

28
Q

Air mass

A

A large section of air in the troposphere where temperature and humidity are relatively constant

29
Q

How are air masses ID’d?

A

By their location of origin. Either from land (continental) or sea (maritime), or by region (polar, arctic, tropical)

30
Q

State the type of weather this air mass brings: Maritime polar

A

Cold, rain and snow, cloudy

31
Q

State the type of weather this air mass brings: Maritime tropical

A

Warm, rain, cloudy

32
Q

State the type of weather this air mass brings: Continental polar

A

Cold, dry, clear

33
Q

State the type of weather this air mass brings: Continental tropical

A

Hot, dry, clear

34
Q

Weather front

A

The place where two air masses meet. Storms often occur here

35
Q

Name four basic types of weather front.

A

Cold front
Warm front
Stationary front
Occluded front

36
Q

Define cold front. What type of weather results?

A

The place where a faster-moving cold air mass overtakes a warmer mass. The denser cold mass lifts the warm mass higher; the warm mass forms clouds and heavy rain or snow. Sudden temp drop often results. The storms last a few hours and clear, cool, dry weather follows.

37
Q

Define warm front. What type of weather results?

A

Where a faster-moving warm air mass overtakes a cooler air mass. Maritime polar air ahead of the front causes the warm air to rise. Stratus clouds are formed gradually until rain or snow falls. Lasts about 24 hours. Then temperature rises, wind direction changes, and skies are partly cloudy.

38
Q

Define occluded front. What type of weather results?

A

When a cold air mass overtakes a warm mass, the warm mass is lifted enough that the cold mass behind it comes in contact with the cold mass in front of it. Weather is a combination of cold and warm front weather.

39
Q

Define stationary front. What type of weather results?

A

A cold and warm mass of similar velocities meet and remain in the same relative position for a while. The warm air rises slowly, producing weather similar to warm front weather.

40
Q

Thunderstorm

A

A local storm (originates in maritime tropical air masses) that lasts a short time. Produced by rapid air movements in cumulonimbus clouds. Accompanied by thunder, lxning, strong winds, heavy rain, hail

41
Q

How are thunder and lightning created?

A

Raindrops form in the thunder clouds. Strong air currents force them to split; turbulence generates areas of positive and negative electrical charge. When this becomes great, electrical discharges (within or between clouds) occur and lightning results. Heat released rapidly expands air and produces sound waves or thunder

42
Q

How can you determine approx. how close a lxning discharge is by observing thunder and lightning?

A

After you see a lightning flash, count the seconds until you hear thunder. For each second, estimate 1100 feet. Remember, a mile is 5280 feet, so it takes about 5 seconds for thunder to travel a mile

43
Q

Tornado

A

A violent storm where wind speeds exceed hundreds of miles per hour. Also called twister because the air whirls in a narrow cone.

44
Q

How are tornadoes formed?

A

Hot, humid air is lifted and condenses

45
Q

How do tornadoes destroy buildings?

A

A low pressure funnelshaped air current touches the ground. Air pressure inside a building is higher and the walls are forced out. The building explodes.

46
Q

Hurricane

A

A tropical cyclone. A large, low-pressure air mass with heavy rain and strong winds. May be over 300 mi in diameter.

47
Q

How are hurricanes formed?

A

Hot, moist air over tropical waters rises, cools, and condenses releasing great heat

48
Q

What is the center of a hurricane called?

A

Eye

49
Q

What is another name for a hurricane?

A

Typhoon

50
Q

Climate

A

The general characteristics of weather in a region. Includes average temperatures and amount of precipitation

51
Q

Name three basic types of climate, their locations, and temps.

A

Polar: North and South poles; cold
Temperate: Middle latitudes; mixed
Tropical: At/near the Equator, hot

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