Weather Patterns Flashcards
The four types of air masses influence the weather in ______ _______
North America
Science classify air masses according to _______ and _________
Temperature
Humidity
What are the four major types of air masses?
Maritime tropical
Maritime polar
Continental tropicals
Continental polar
When an air mass move into an area and ________ with other air masses, it causes the weather to _______
Interacts
Changes
In the US, air masses are commonly moved by the _________ _______ and _____ ______
Prevailing Westerlies
Jet Streams
Air masses generally move from ____ to _____
West to east
When two ______ _______ collide that have different tempeture and humidity, they ________ mix easily
Air masses
Do not
The boundary where the air masses meet becomes a ______
Front
______ and _______ weather often develop along a front
Storms
Changeable
What are the 4 types of fronts?
Cold front
Warm front
Stationary front
Occluded front
_________ is dense and tends to _____
Cold air
Sink
_________ is less dense and tends to ________
Warm air
Rise
When fast moving cold air mass runs into a slow moving warm air mass, the denser cold air slides under the warm air and pushes it upward
( what front is this? )
Cold front
Warm air mass caught between 2 cold air masses
what front is this?
Occluded front
Fast moving warm air mass overtakes slow cold air mass
what front is this?
Warm front
Cold air mass and hot air mass meet, but cannot move each other
( what front is this? )
Stationary front
A ______ is a violent disturbance in the atmosphere
Storm
Storms involve sudden changes in _____________ that causes rapid _____________
Air pressure
Air movement
What are the 2 types of storms?
Thunderstorms
Tornadoes
What is Tornado Alley?
An area in the US where tornadoes occur more often than other parts of the US
( only a small corner of Arkansas is part of tornado alley
Small storms often with heavy rain, thunder, and lightning
what type of storm I this?
Thunderstorm
________ is a sudden spark, or electric discharge, as positive and negative charges move around
Lightning
_________ is the rapid heating of air by lighting that expands suddenly and explosively
Thunder
A _______ is a rapidly whirling, funnel shaped cloud that reaches down from a storm cloud to touch Earth’s surface
Tornado
A _________ is a tornado that occurs over a lake or ocean
Waterspout
Tornadoes most commonly develop in ________ _________ ________
Thick cumulonimbus clouds
_________ most commonly develop on thick cumulonimbus clouds
Tornadoes
A waterspout is a tornado that occurs over a ______ or _______
Lake or ocean
What causes tornadoes to drop down from the cloud?
Air pressure changes
This area is where cold, dry air from Canada and warm, humid air from the Gulf meets most of the time
Tornado Alley
A _________ means that tornadoes are possible in your area
Tornado watch
A _________ mean that a tornado has been seen or spotted on radar in your area
Tornado warning
A tornado watch means that tornadoes are _______ in your area
Possible
A tornado warning means that a tornado has been ______ ______ in your area
Seen or spotted
Where is the safest place to be during a tornado?
Interior room
Storm shelter
Basement
