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weather class > chapter 5 > Flashcards

chapter 5 Flashcards

1
Q

persistence method of forecasting

A

when conditions are unlikely to change

  • in the middle of an air mass
  • under a stationary front
  • under an occluded low
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2
Q

Analogue method of forecasting

A

recognizes different patterns from the past

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3
Q

climatological method of forecasting

A

based on long term average conditions

  • examples
  • the normal high for today
  • november is usually cloudy, so today is cloudy
  • our spring winds are usually out of the SW, so today the winds are coming out of the SW
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4
Q

trend method of forecasting

A

Wx will move based on current speed and direction

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5
Q

Dynamical method of forecasting

A

based on Thermodynamic Equations

3-d grid simulation of the atmosphere

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6
Q

Statistical method of forecasting

A

-for individual Wx elements
~ex. high temp. and wind speed
-model output statistics
-often given as probability

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7
Q

Ensemble Method of forecasting

A

computer generated maps

  • many models
  • many iterations
  • human guidance
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8
Q

Limitations to Wx forecast

A

-complexity of the atmosphere system
(impossible to model every interaction)
-Chaos
(some inputs and their consequences are not predictable)
-forecast should therefore include a level of confidence

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9
Q

How does wind influence air pollution?

A
  • dilutes
  • transports
  • concentrates at barriers
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10
Q

how does precipitation influence pollution?

A

can clean the air

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11
Q

how does topography influence air pollution?

A 
-can trap pollution
~Los angeles
-inhibit dilution
~Appalachian mountains
-create inversion from cold air drainage
~denver
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12
Q

how does stability influence air pollution?

A

-Unstable-lots of vertical mixing
-Stable-no vertical mixing
(worse with temperature inversions)

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13
Q

radiation temperature inversion

A 
-when grounds cools quickly at night
clear sky
long nights
dry air
calm winds
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14
Q

Advection temperature inversion

A
  • cold air blowing near the ground
  • most often from the north
  • produces our first hard freeze
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15
Q

cold air drainage temperature inversion

A

wind produced by either gravity or mountains that cool down the area

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16
Q

subsidence temperature inversion

A

develops when a widespread layer of air descends and warms up

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17
Q

-Primary pollutant

Particulates

A
  • Sources: industry and agriculture

- effects: respiratory and heart disease

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18
Q

-Primary pollutant

Carbon Monoxide

A
  • Source: incomplete burning

- effects: suffocation

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19
Q

-Primary pollutant

Sulfur Dioxide

A
  • Sources: coal burning, volcanoes, sea spray

- Effects: Sulfuric acid rain

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20
Q

-Primary pollutant

Volatile Organic Compounds

A
  • mostly hydro carbons
  • sources: trees, evaporation, incomplete burning
  • effects: noxious, flammable, carcinogenic
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21
Q

-Primary pollutant

Oxides of Nitrogen

A
  • sources: soil bacteria, fossil fuel burning
  • NO effects: carcinogenic, respiratory problems
  • N02 effects: nitric acid rain
22
Q

primary pollutants of wild fires

A
  • Carbon monoxide: effects locally

- Dangerous small particles: can travel hundreds of miles in smoke

23
Q

Primary pollutants of transportation

A
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Volatile organic compounds(voc)
  • Carbon Monoxide
24
Q

Primary pollutants from power generation and industry

A
  • nitrogen oxides
  • sulfur oxides(mostly from coal)
  • dangerous small air particles
25
Q

the source of acid rain

A

caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain

26
Q

6 major Koppen climate classes

-A

A

Tropical humid climate

  • no winter
  • all MMT>64 degree F
  • wet seasons controlled by position of ITCZ
27
Q

6 major Koppen climate classes

-B

A

Dry Climate

  • 26% of earths land surface
  • PET>MAP
  • why dry?
    • under STH
    • next to cold current
    • long way from the ocean
    • rain shadow
28
Q

6 major Koppen climate classes

-C

A

Mild Mid-Latitude

  • also called subtropical
  • humid with mild winters
    • near the ocean
  • Warm/cold seasons
29
Q

6 major Koppen climate classes

-D

A

Severe Mid-latitude

  • Also called continental
  • cold winters
  • wide temperature ranges
  • 4 seasons
    • Polar front position
  • only in northern hemisphere
30
Q

6 major Koppen climate classes

-E

A

Polar climate

  • always cold
  • small MAP
  • very small PET
31
Q

6 major Koppen climate classes

-H

A

Highland

  • elevation 8200ft
  • colder temperature
  • possible precipitation
  • insolation depends on the slope
  • wind is stronger and more variable
32
Q

how does the highland climate differ from other climates?

A

unstable terrain with high peaks and valleys

33
Q

What changes in the atmospheric composition can alter the climate?

A
  • green house gases
  • sulfate aerosols
    • acid rain
    • haze
  • other aerosols(particulates)
    • block sunlight
    • condensation nuclei
34
Q

How can plate tectonics change the climate?

A
  • change your latitude
  • changes ocean currents
  • volcanic outgassing
    • green house gasses, sulfates, particulates
  • mountain building
35
Q

3 orbital cycles

A

-Eccentricity(path around the sun)
-100,000 year cycle
-Obliquity(axis tilt)
-41,000 year cycle
-Precession(axis wobble)
23,000 year cycle

36
Q

Positive climate feedback

A

When the initial change becomes stronger

-example: look at notes

37
Q

Negative climate feedback

A

When the initial change becomes weaker

-example: look at notes

38
Q

what 4 conditions are needed for an ice age and how are these conditions met?

A

Need

  • wet winter
  • cool summers
  • large land mass near the pole
  • trigger mechanism

How?

  • small axis tilt
  • summer at Aphelion
  • plate techtonics
39
Q

once earth orbit is favorable what events can trigger an ice age

A
  • Low CO2 concentration
  • Low insolation
  • abrupt ocean current change
  • volcanic activity
  • nuclear winter
40
Q

what are some areas of uncertainty in our current understanding of global warming?

A
  • Missing carbon
  • Sulfate haze cooling effect
    • balances green house warming
  • ground warming faster than air
  • CO2 and methane both increase with temperature
  • Complex feedback
    • Biggest problem: clouds
41
Q

what are 5 anticipated effects of global warming?

A
  • temperature increase .5 to 8.5 degree F
  • sea level rise 10 to 32 inches
  • equatorial and polar regions wetter
  • arid climate (Koppen B) even drier
  • oceans more acidic
  • more intense weather
    • Droughts, floods, storms….
42
Q

NOAA

A

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

43
Q

NWS

A

National Weather Service

44
Q

WMO

A

World Meteorological Organization

45
Q

MOS

A

Model output statistics

46
Q

Photochemical smog

A

It is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles and ground-level ozone

47
Q

AQI

A

Air quality index
- is a number used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become

48
Q

Milankovitch

A

theory describes the collective effects of changes in the Earth’s movements upon its climate

49
Q

Nuclear winter

A

a period of extremely low temperatures and little light that, it has been suggested, would occur as a result of a nuclear war

50
Q

ITCZ

A

Inter-tropical Convergence Zone
-The region where the northeasterly and southeasterly tradewinds converge, forming an often continuous band of clouds or thunderstorms near the equator

51
Q

MAP

A

Mean Areal Precipitation

-The average rainfall over a given area, generally expressed as an average depth over the area

weather class (2 decks)

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