Chapter 7 Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is Scales of Circulation?
Refers to the sizes and lifetime of individual circulations
What also increases when the sizes of the circulation increases
The lifetime
What is mesoscale
It is the horizontal dimensions between 1 to 1000 nautical miles
What is macroscale
It is greater
What is microscale
It is smaller
What is general circulation
It is the wind system that extends over the entre globe
What is the horizontal scale of general circulation
It is approximately 10,000 nautical miles (macroscale)
What is the time scale of a global circulation
1 year
The equator to pole temperatures gradient creates what
pressure gradient
What is polar cell
It is defined by air rising to 60 degrees N and sinking over the pole
What is defined when air sinks in a region of diverging surface winds that corresponds with a subtropical high pressure; near 30 degree force
Horse latitude
What happens when it’s near 60 degrees N
Pressures are low and surface winds converge, bringing warm airmasses from tropical regions into contact with cold airmasses from polar regions
what is Monsoon circulation
It’s a macroscale wind pattern that undergoes a seasonal reversal in direction
What is global circulation system
It is a combination of the general and monsoon circulations
What does airflow through the upper level waves cause
Storms and cold air to move to lower latitudes in the vicinity of the wage troughs
What is a jet stream
it is a narrow band of high speed winds that reaches its greatest speed near the tropopause
What it the speed range of a jet stream
60 knots to about 240 knots
