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Weather > Weather > Flashcards

Weather Flashcards

1
Q

What is the make up of the Earth’s Atmosphere?

A

78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen and 1% other gases.

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2
Q

What are the atmospheric levels?

A

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere.

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3
Q

What is the tropopause?

A

The thin layer of atmosphere at the top of the tropopause that seals in most water vapor.

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4
Q

What is the major force that sets the atmosphere in motion?

A

Uneven heating

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5
Q

What is convection?

A

The circulating motion that results when warm air rises and is replaced by cooler air.

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6
Q

What is Coriolis?

A

A deflective force created by the difference in rotational velocity between the equator and the poles.

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7
Q

What are the four major types of pressure systems?

A

High, Low, ridge and trough.

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8
Q

What direction does wind move because of pressure gradient?

A

From areas of high to low pressure.

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9
Q

What is a Katabatic Wind?

A

Any wind blowing down an incline, they occur when cold dense air spills over a mountain and flows down the slope displacing the air ahead of it.

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10
Q

What are the three states in which water is found in the atmosphere?

A

Solid, liquid and gas.

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11
Q

What are the processes by which water can change it’s state?

A

Evaporation, sublimation, condensation, freezing, and melting.

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12
Q

What is evaporation?

A

The changing of liquid water to invisible water vapor.

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13
Q

What is condensation?

A

The changing of water vapor to liquid.

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14
Q

What is sublimation?

A

Changing of ice directly to water vapor or water vapor to ice…skipping the liquid state.

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15
Q

What is Relative Humidity?

A

The actual amount of moisture in the air compared to the total amount that could be present at that temperature.

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16
Q

What is dewpoint?

A

The temperature at which air reaches a state where it can hold no more water. When reached the air contains 100% of the moisture it can hold at that temperature and is saturated.

17
Q

What are condensation nuclei?

A

Very small droplets of water or if temperature is low enough ice crystals that form clouds.

18
Q

At what temperature/dew point spread is the air reaching it’s saturation point?

A

4 degrees F and 2 degrees C.

19
Q

What is stability?

A

The atmosphere’s resistance to vertical motion.

20
Q

What is a major factor to the stability of air?

A

Temperature

21
Q

When do you see the greatest instability?

A

When air is both warm and moist.

22
Q

What is adiabatic heating or cooling?

A

change in air temperature during expansion or compression of air, with no heat being added or removed from the air.

23
Q

What is the formula for calculating cloud bases?

A

Surface Temp - Surface Dew point / 4.5 x 1000

24
Q

What is a stationary front?

A

The front that separates two opposing forces of air masses that are relatively balanced.

25
Q

What is a frontal occlusion?

A

When a fast moving cold-front catches up to a slow-moving warm front.

26
Q

What is a source region?

A

The area where an air mass acquires the properties of temperature and moisture that determines it’s stability.

27
Q

What are the two divisions of air masses?

A

Polar and Tropical.

28
Q

From which type of land mass does a continental air mass originate?

A

One that contains cold, dry and stable air.

29
Q

What does Maritime versus continental indicate when describing air masses?

A

Moisture levels.

30
Q

What are the factors that affect the change of an air mass?

A

It’s Speed
Nature of the region it moves over
Temperature difference between the air masses and the new surface
Depth of the air mass

31
Q

What is the name of the boundary between two air masses?

A

A front.

32
Q

What are the main types of fronts?

A

Cold, Warm, stationary and occluded.

33
Q

What is an occluded front?

A

When cold and warm fronts merge.

34
Q

What are frontal discontinuities?

A

The comparative rapid changes in meteorological characteristics of an air mass.

35
Q

What is a squall line?

A

A narrow band of active thunderstorms that contains very severe weather, it usually forms 50 - 200 miles ahead of a fast moving cold front.

36
Q

What hazardous conditions can be found in thunderstorms?

A

Lightning, hail, turbulence, gusty surface winds, and possible tornados.

37
Q

How far apart should thunderstorms be before attempting to flying between them?

A

40 miles.

Weather (19 decks)

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