Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Ocean Bowl Dos.0 > Wind and Weather > Flashcards

Wind and Weather Flashcards

1
Q

What is the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time?

A

Weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

List the quantitative variables used to describe the weather.

A

Temperature, humidity, cloudiness, precipitation, and wind speed and direction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Meteorology is the study of _______.

A

The atmosphere, processes that cause weather, and the life cycle of weather systems.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Climate is defined quantitatively by the _____.

A

Arithmetic average of the values used to describe weather at some locality over a specified time interval.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

By international convention, the arithmetic average of weather elements are

A

Computed for a 30-year period beginning with the first year of a decade.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Climatology is the study of _______.

A

The climate, its controls, and spatial and temporal variability.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is Z time?

A

Z time is the time standard of meteorology and climatology, and is expressed according to a 24-hour clock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

By international agreement, when are surface weather observations are taken?

A

At least four times per 24 hours, at 0000 Z, 0600 Z, 1200 Z, and 1800 Z.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

By international agreement, how and when are upper-air measurements made ?

A

Via balloon-borne instruments at least two times per 24 hours, at 0000 Z and 1200 Z.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

In the United States, when are surface weather observations are taken?

A

Hourly at the top of the hour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

In the United States, when are composite radar charts are issued?

A

Hourly at 35 minutes past the hour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

In the United States, when are fronts analyzed on weather maps?

A

Every 3 hours beginning at 0000 Z.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are all the main types of pressure systems?

A

Highs/anticyclones and lows/cyclones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the four defining characteristics of air masses?

A
  1. uniform horizontal temperature distribution.
  2. uniform horizontal humidity distribution.
  3. associated with a large high pressure system.
  4. characteristics are determined by the surfaces over which they are formed.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are all four basic types of air masses?

A
  1. Cold and dry
  2. Cold and humid
  3. Warm and dry
  4. Warm and humid
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Cold air masses form at ________, warm air masses form at ________, humid air masses form over _________, and dry air masses form over ________.

A

Higher latitudes, lower latitudes, maritime surfaces, continental surfaces

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the narrow transition zone between air masses that differ in temperature, humidity, or both called?

A

A front

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the three most common fronts?

A
  1. Stationary
  2. Cold
  3. Warm
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

On both sides of this kind of front, winds blow roughly parallel to the front but in opposite directions.

A

Stationary front

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Anticyclones feature _____ and are usually accompanied by _______.

A

Descending air, fair weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Cyclones feature _____ and are usually accompanied by _______.

A

Ascending air, stormy weather

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Highs are described as _____-weather systems.

A

Fair

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Lows are described as _____-weather systems.

A

Stormy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds in a high-pressure system blow in a ___________.

A

Clockwise and outward spiral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds in a low-pressure system blow in a _______________.

A

Counterclockwise and inward spiral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Why are lows which form over arid or semiarid areas an exception to the general rule of lows being stormy-weather systems?

A

intense solar heating of the ground raises the air temperature and lowers the surface air pressure, producing a low that remains stationary over the hot ground

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Define the weather parameter: “maximum temperature.”

A

The highest air temperature over a 24-hour period, usually between the midnight of one day and the midnight of the following day.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Define the weather parameter: “minimum temperature.”

A

The lowest air temperature over a 24-hour period, usually between the midnight of one day and the midnight of the following day.

29
Q

Define the weather parameter: “dew point.”

A

The temperature to which air must be cooled to become saturated with water vapor

30
Q

Define the weather parameter: “frost point.”

A

The temperature to which air must be cooled at constant pressure to become saturated with water vapor and for frost to begin forming on relatively cold surfaces.

31
Q

Define the weather parameter: “relative humidity.”

A

A measure of the actual concentration of the water vapor component of air compared to the concentration the air would have if saturated with water vapor, expressed as a percentage.

32
Q

Define the weather parameter: “precipitation amount.”

A

Depth of rainfall or melted snowfall over a 24-hour period

33
Q

Define the weather parameter: “air pressure.”

A

The weight of a column of air over a unit area of Earth’s surface.

34
Q

Define the weather parameter: “wind direction.”

A

direction the wind blows from

35
Q

Define the weather parameter: “sky cover.”

A

Sky cover is described using different the fraction of the sky that is covered in clouds

36
Q

Define the weather parameter: “weather watch.”

A

A notice issued by the National Weather Service when hazardous weather is considered possible

37
Q

Define the weather parameter: “weather warning.”

A

A warning issued by the National Weather Service when hazardous weather is imminent or actually taking place

38
Q

What is the average air pressure at sea level in atmospheres, millibars, millimeters of mercury, pascals, pounds per square inch, and torr?

A

1 atm, 1013.25 mbar, 760 mm of Hg, 101325 Pa, 14.6959 psi, 760 Torr

39
Q

On average, 10 inches of freshly fallen snow melt down to about how many inches of water?

A

1 inch

40
Q

If the sky cover is described as clear, then what is the fraction of cloud cover?

A

0

41
Q

If the sky cover is described as a few clouds, then what is the fraction of cloud cover?

A

1/8 to 1/4

42
Q

If the sky cover is described as scattered clouds, then what is the fraction of cloud cover?

A

3/8 to 1/2

43
Q

If the sky cover is described as broken clouds, then what is the fraction of cloud cover?

A

5/8 to 7/8

44
Q

If the sky is completely cloud covered, then in the vernacular of sky cover it is said to be _______.

A

Overcast

45
Q

What is a GOES satellite?

A

A satellite revolving around Earth at the same rate and in the same direction as the planet so it is always over the same spot

46
Q

What is the point on the planetary surface directly below a satellite?

A

The sub-satellite point

47
Q

What does GOES in GOES satellite stand for?

A

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite

48
Q

What is a POES satellite?

A

A satellite which orbits in a nearly north-south orbit passing close to the poles. on-board sensors sweep out successive overlapping north/south stripes.

49
Q

How often do POES satellites pass over the same area on Earth?

A

Sun-synchronous - 2 times

Others - it sometimes takes several days

50
Q

What type of satellite image uses sunlight reflected by Earth’s surface?

A

Visible satellite image

51
Q

What type of satellite image uses infrared radiation?

A

Infrared satellite image

52
Q

What type of satellite image uses specific wavelength bands of infrared radiation emitted by water vapor?

A

Water vapor satellite image

53
Q

_____________ functions by emitting pulses of microwave energy which are then reflected by atmospheric targets such as raindrops, snowflakes, or hailstones.

A

Weather radar

54
Q

What category of cloud forms in horizontal layers?

A

Stratiform clouds

55
Q

What category of cloud appears puffy?

A

Cumuliform clouds

56
Q

Stratiform clouds develop where

A

Air ascends gently over a broad region.

57
Q

Cumuliform clouds develop where

A

Air ascends vigorously over a smaller region

58
Q

What type of cloud often develops ahead of a warm front?

A

Stratiform clouds

59
Q

What type of cloud often develops along or just ahead of a cold front?

A

Cumuliform clouds

60
Q

What are small, white, fair-weather clouds resembling puffs of cotton floating in the sky, which usually vaporize rapidly near sunset?

A

Cumulus clouds

61
Q

During certain atmospheric conditions, cumulus clouds build vertically and merge laterally, eventually forming a thunderstorm cloud, called a _________.

A

Cumulonimbus cloud

62
Q

What direction Do monsoon winds blow in the winter?

A

West (toward Africa)

63
Q

What do the trade winds fuel along the Peruvian Coast?

A

Upwelling

64
Q

What are hurricanes called in the indo-pacific region?

A

Cyclones

65
Q

What are hurricanes called in Japan?

A

Typhoons

66
Q

How fast do winds have to blow to be considered a hurricane?

A

119 km/hr

67
Q

3 factors considered on the saffir-Simpson scale?

A

Pressure
Wind
Storm surge size

68
Q

What temperature are tropical waters?

A

20 degrees Celsius

69
Q

What temperature are polar waters?

A

5 degrees Celsius

Ocean Bowl Dos.0 (32 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions