Exam 3 review guide Flashcards
(26 cards)
4 Mountain chains from east coast to west?
- Coast Range
- Sierra Nevada
- Wasatch Range
- Rocky Mountains
Which Mountain chain receives the most snow annually?
Sierra Nevada
3 Physical Reasons why Sierra Nevada gets Most snow?
- Proximity to Ocean
- Elevation
- Steepness of winward slope
Which mountain range receves the most rain annually?
Coast range
In the winter, why is the 0 degree isotherm higher in the west coast over san fransisco, than over Denver?
The pacific is relatively warm in winter, thus the freezing levels there are higher.
What is the name of the type of storms that produce heavy snow in Denver?
Upslopes
3 ways Santa Ana winds are different than Chinook Winds?
- Santa Anas blow from east to west, which is opposite the windflow of Chinooks
- Santa Anas are more frequent (events per year) than Chinooks
- Santa Anas are less intense (lower velocity) typically than Chinooks
Give 3 weather features that are required for Chinook winds to form.
- An inversion just above mtn top levels (say 600mb). This accelerates the flow, and directs it downward
- Strong surface PGF (high to west, low to east)
- Strong winds at mtn top level (say 700mb)
Give 3 factors that determine the temperature of air reaching the leeward base of a mountain in a mountain windstorm.
- Upstream air temperature
- Latent heat adds to air during ascent on windward side
- Adiabatic compression on leeward side
Tend to grow far from frontal boundaries
Airmass Storms
Always have a mesocyclone (rotating Updraft)
Supercells
Tend to occur to the south of a developing extratropical cyclone
Frontal Squall lines
Produce the most total Great Plains rainfall in midsummer
Mesoscale Convective Storm
Require a pre-existing large scale front to form
Frontal Squall Lines
They Do not require a pre-existing large scale front to form
- airmass storms
- Mesoscale Convective Storms
Tend to form at frontal boundary intersections
Supercells
Have a downdraft that is collected with the updraft
Airmass Storms
they Tend to grow in low wind shear environments
- Airmass Storms
- Mesocale Convective Storms
They typically have a line of sever storms followed by lighter rain
- Frontal Squall Lines
- Mesoscale Convective Storms
Is associated with derechos and bookend vortices
Mesoscale Convective Storms
They tend to be most prevelent around mid-may on the great plains
- Frontal Squall Lines
- Supercells
They tend to occue in the afternoon or early evening
- Airmass Storms
- Mesoscale Convective Storms
- Supercells
- Frontal Squall Lines
Tend to move from SW to NE over the great plains
- Supercells
- Frontal Squall Lines
Produce the worlds strongest tornados and largest hail
Supercells
