Week 4 Flashcards
Surface friction
Creates drag for winds
Northern hemisphere upper-air pattern
High- clockwise
Low-anticlockwise
Rotation and naming
Low pressure-cyclones
High pressure- anticyclones
Northern hemisphere friction-layer pattern
High- clockwise
Low- anticlockwise
Stable air masses sink to the earth surface
High pressure
Unstable air masses rise upwards
Low pressure
Saturation vapour pressure
Pressure of water vapour above water surface
Humidity
A quantity representing the amount of water available in the atmosphere as a gas
Comparison between actual water vapour and max capacity of water vapour at a given temp
Relative humidity
Relative humidity
Actual water vapour in air divided by capacity times 100
Dew point temperature
Air mass temp at which it will reach 100% saturation given its moisture content
Lifting condensation level
Elevation at which am air mass coolant dew point
2 characteristics to form clouds
Must be at saturation point (dew point)
Have a surface on which to condense (hygroscopic particles)
Hygroscopic particles
Cellulose fibres (cotton, paper)
Sugar honey caramel
Salts
Low clouds to high clouds
Strato Alto Cirro Cumulus Nimbo
