Test 4

Question 1

synoptic

Answer 1

“broad view”, defined by an array of observations

Question 2

synoptic climatology

Answer 2

study of local/regional climates using atmospheric conditions over broader area

Question 3

air mass

Answer 3

large body of air whose properties of temp and humidity are the same in all directions

Question 4

source regions (1/3)

Answer 4

1. usually flat and uniform & under H pressure for months

Question 5

source regions (2/3)

Answer 5

2. area where body of air can remain stationary for long periods & adopt characteristics of underlying surface

Question 6

source regions (3/3)

Answer 6

3. most in high or low latitudes

Question 7

Latitude

Answer 7

(A) Arctic, Polar (P), Tropical (T), Equatorial (E)

Question 8

moisture

Answer 8

continental (c), maritime (m)

Question 9

which ones only exist?

Answer 9

mP, mT, cP, cT

Question 10

fronts: stationary

Answer 10

little movement, generally seperates cP and mT air

Question 11

fronts: cold (occluded)

Answer 11

generally moves N–>S

Question 12

fronts: warm (overruning)

Answer 12

generally moves S–>N, most often mP/cP air is retreating allowing mT air to invade, produces clouds well in advance of front

Question 13

mid-latitude cyclones

Answer 13

large, moving atmospheric vortices w centers of low atmospheric pressure, most possess a cold front extending S/SW and warm front E/SE, rising motion occurs near center of L and along the fronts–density differences=clouds, precip

Question 14

cyclone characteristics

Answer 14

1. clouds/precip near center and along fronts, 2. counterclockwise, 3. cP, mT, and mP air masses

Question 15

cyclogenesis

Answer 15

dependent upon the upper atmosphere, esp the jet stream -usually located over the surface frontal boundary

Question 16

strength of the cyclone dependent on 2 things:

Answer 16

magnitude of the ridge/trough pattern (meriodonal, zonal) &&&& air mass contrast (cp vs mt)

Question 17

meriodonal

Answer 17

strong

Question 18

zonal

Answer 18

weak

Question 19

demise of a mid latitude cyclone

Answer 19

evetually surface area is cold air, temp contrast has been pushed further South away from storms center

Question 20

genetic climate classification

Answer 20

air masses, fronts, and the circulation around H and L pressure centers form the basis of this

Question 21

teleconnection

Answer 21

long distance, relationships between weather patterns –ENSO relates Darwin and Tahiti

Question 22

Tropical teleconnections-southern oscillation (SO)

Answer 22

atmospheric component of the El Nino phenomenon, relates to the Walker circulation

Question 23

extratropical teleconnections–Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation

Answer 23

cyclical pattern of (+&-) sea surface temp anomalies in the N. Atlantic Ocean, not much known, plays role in global warming/climate change debate