Final Exam Review Flashcards
(141 cards)
1
Q
Define Meteorology
A
The study of the atmosphere and processes that cause weather, life cycles of weather systems
2
Q
Climatology
A
Study of Climate, its controls, and spatial and temporal variability
3
Q
Weather
A
State of the atmosphere at some place and point in time.
4
Q
Climate
A
Statistical collective of weather conditions at a site over time
5
Q
Modern tools in Meteorology
A
- Surface Stations
- Weather Ballons
- Satellite images
- Radar
- Supercomputers
6
Q
Radiation
A
The energy in the form of electromagnetic waves that propagates waves at the speed of light and does not need matter to transfer.
7
Q
Radiation Flux
A
Energy transformed in the form of radiation per area per unit time
8
Q
What type of radiation is signified by K↓
A
Solar Radiaiton
9
Q
What type of radiation is signified by L↓
A
Sky Radiation
10
Q
What type of radiation is signified by L↑
A
Terrestrial Radiation
11
Q
What type of radiation is signified by K↑
A
Solar radiation from the ground
12
Q
Radiation emmited by objects are made up of
A
Several Wavelengths
13
Q
Wiens Law
A
The radiation emitted by an object is at a maximum at λmax, which is inversely proportional to the object’s temperature. The hotter the sun radiates at shorter the wavelengths, the cooler the earth
14
Q
Stefan-Boltzman’s Law
A
Objects emit radiation according to their temperature to the power of 4
15
Q
Inverse Square Law
A
The solar radiation flux (W/m^2) decreases rapidly as the inverse square of the distance travelled.
16
Q
Define Zenith angle
A
Angle between the vertical and the sun’s position
17
Q
Cosine law of illumination
A
Describes the effect of solar angle on incoming short wave radiation (K down) received at a location.
18
Q
For a given location why does the zenith angle vary throughout the year?
A
Due to the tilt of the earth’s axis. Variation in cosine function = more impact on received solar radiation the further from the equator.
19
Q
Why does zenith angle increase from close to zero degrees as we move away from the equator?
A
Curvature of the earth
20
Q
When is zenith angle the lowest?
A
Noon because that is when solar radiation is at it’s max
21
Q
Do high latitudes get large daily radiation?
A
Yes Despite large zenith angle they still receive large amounts of daily solar radiation
22
Q
What is the name for solar radiation reflectivity
A
albedo
23
Q
Kirchoff’s Law
A
A good absorber is also a good emitter or an imperfect absorber is also an imperfect emitter.
24
Q
Absorptivity = ___
A
Emmisivity
25
What type of wave is emissivity?
Long wave
26
what type of wave is albedo
small wave
27
Describe the green house effect
It is caused by absorption/ emission of LW by atm towards ground and not due to reflection (high absorption = high emissivity = low reflection)
28
Evaporation is what kind of heat transfer?
Latent heat transfer QE
29
Convection is what kind of heat transfer?
Sensible heat transfer QH
30
Does condensation take in energy or release it?
releases energy
31
What is the transmissivity for opaque bodies
0
32
What is the sensor for solar radiation
pyranometer
33
Silicon Photodiode
An instrument calibrated for natural sunlight, semiconductor devices used for the detection of light in ultra violet, visible and infrared spectral regions.
34
Campbell-Stokes bright sunshine recorder
Instrument that measures the number of bright sunshine hours using a glass sphere and a recording strip
35
Solar Radiation (short wave)
- Can be absorbed, reflected, or transmitted
- Albedo is the ability to reflect
- Absorptivity = 1- a for opaque bodies
36
Terrestrial Radiation (long-wave)
- Radiation emitted is calculated usingSt-B law
- Can be absorbed, reflected or transmitted
- Absorptivity = emissivity
- Reflectivity = 1- e for opaque bodies
37
Infra-red Thermometer (IRT)
Calculated T of a surface (or target) using Stefan-Boltzman law, assumes an emissivity of 1. Sees both emission and reflection
38
Upsetting the natural O3 production/destruction balance
1. Cl atom ggets bumped off CFC molecule by UV radiation
2. Cl atom attacks O3
3. Clorine monoxide anf O2 are formed
4. CLO attacked by free O atom
5. Cl now free to destroy another O3 molecule
39
What causes the Ozone hole
CFC molecules disrupting the production of Ozone
40
Saturation
An equilibrium condition in which the rate of evaporation is balanced by the rate of condensation
41
Saturation water vapor pressure increases exponentially with...
Air Temperature
42
List sensors for air temperature
1. Liquid in glass thermometer:
- Alcohol = rider for min
- Mercury + restriction in capillary tube for max
2. Bi-metal strips (thermograph)
3. Thermistor
4. Thermocouples
43
Dew point hygrometer
An instrument that measures the dew-point of the air via a mirror and light detector.
Mirror T = Dewpoint T
44
Electronic Temperature and RH probe
- thermistor for temperature
- Hygistor for RH
45
Sling psychrometer
Responds to vapour pressure
46
What are four fog types
1. Upslope fog
2. Radiation fog
3. Advection fog
4. Evaporation fog
47
Describe upslope fog
Saturation is reached through cooling
48
Describe Radiation Fog
- saturation reached through cooling of the surface
- colder denser air drains down slopes and collects in valleys 'valley fog'
49
Describe Advection Fog
- saturation reached through cooling (warm air cool surfsce
- advection = horizontal air movement
- shallow water is cooler than deeper water
50
Describe Evaporation Fog
- also known as steam for or sea smoke
- saturation reached through vapour addition to cold air
- cold air over warm surface
51
List the layers of the atmosphere from warmest to coldest
1. Troposphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere
52
At the top of the atmosphere k0 = ___
The solar constant = 1400
53
In what layers of the atmosphere foes the temperature increase as you gain altitude?
- Stratosphere - due to reactions with UV radiation interacting with ozone
- thermosphere - generates lots of energy and heat
54
In what layers of the atmosphere does the temperature decrease as you gain altitude?
- troposphere - heated from below
- mesosphere
55
In the atmosphere temperature is proportional to:
Average kinetic energy of particles
56
Define Mixing Ratio
Mass of water per mass of dry air
57
Is mixing ratio conserved when volume changes
yes
58
What is the standard height of temperature measurement
1.5 meters
59
Thermal Radiometers
Radiation warms black sensor that measures temperature difference between the sensor and the body of the instrument.
60
Hygrothermograph
An instrument that records humidity and temperature.
61
Psychrometer
An instrument used to measure relative humidity consisting of a wet bulb and a dry bulb thermometer
62
Hygristor
Measures how electrical resistance changes when a carbon coated glass slide is exposed to humid air.
63
Stevenson Screen
A type of shelter which contains meterological instruments and keeps them from getting damaged by weather
64
Requirements for weather station placement (3)
1. Sensor is level to the ground
2. Ensure there are no shadows anytime of year
3. Sensor is mounted in the south direction. (northern hemisphere)
65
How does proximity to water affect climate?
Due to waters high heat capacity a large amount of energy is stored in water during the summer and then is released in winter which moderates the climate.
66
How do ocean currents affect climate
Depending if the current is warm or cold it can make a location colder or warmer than you would expect from just latitude alone.
67
Why is the ozone hole worse over the poles?
1. Air is trapped in polar vortex and does not mix with warmer aire from tropics
2. Negative net radiation means lots of cooling during winter
3. South pole: stronger vortex and cooling
4. Ice in Polar stratospheric clouds accumulate ClONO2 which is source of Cl
5. Antarctica - largest area ozone hole is in spring (Oct) as chlorine accumulates over darkness of winter and then goes into overdrive to destroy Ozone
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Adiabatic
No heat in or out
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What happens when Tair = Tdew
Clouds form
70
In a stable environment if vertical motion starts, it tends to..
fall back down
71
In an unstable environment if vertical motion start, tends to ....
Keep going
72
What if adiabatic = environmental lapse rate
Neutral atmosphere neither stable or unstable
73
Unstable atmosphere
Air rises, finds itself warmer than surrounding air and keeps rising
74
Stable atmosphere
As air rises the parcel finds itself cooler than air around and falls back down
75
In a neutral atmosphere
as air rises, parcel finds itself at the same temperature, no pressure to move up or down
76
Conditionally stable
Unsaturated = stable
Saturated = unstable
77
What can cause stability
- Radiative cooling of surface
- Advection over cold surface
78
What can cause instability
Cooling of air aloft
- wind bringing in colder air aloft (advection)
- clouds emitting radiation ro space
Warming of surface:
- solar heating of ground
- warm air advection
- fire
79
What is subsidence inversion
Environmental temperature warms with height
80
Pre-requisites for clouds
Need rising air which:
- rising air adiabatically cools to reach dew point temp
- rising air supports droplets falling at terminal velocity
81
Convective clouds
Flat bottom b/c that is where the air begins condensing
- Convection means air is moving vertically
82
Pyrocumulus
Cloud formation because of lots of heating close to the surface causing unstable conditions
83
orographic lifting
Lifting air over a mountains
84
Chinook Wind
- Warm dry winds
- b/c air had a certain amount of thermal energy and moisture as it went ip formed cloud and rained out
- heat stays moisture leaves
heat came from energy added hoing to lower state
85
Lenticular Clouds
formed on the downwind side of the mountain
- only formed in a stable atmosphere
- very close to saturation air as it follows wavey pattern every time it rises it will form a cloud at saturation
- cloud droplets formed then evaporated over and over
86
Contrail Clouds
- Burning fossil fuel forms particles that act as a nucleus for clouds
87
What temps are best for forming precipitating clouds
-10 to -20
88
In cloud temperatures below freezing
- In a cloud at around -10, there are lots of supercooled droplets only a few ice crystals
higher vapour pressure required over droplets for equilibrium, so driving gradient pushes vapour towards ice (deposition)
- Reduced vapour over water droplets means more evaporation
- this provides more vapour for the ice crystal, and the crystal grows at the droplets expense
89
Collision Coalescence
- 10 micro m droplet terminal velocity and easily float in updrafts
- Larger droplets sweep up smaller ones by colison coalescence process, after B-F process gets things started
- C-C alone can maka raindrops in very turbulent clouds but often insufficient to make rain in most clouds
90
Rain drop diameter
greater than or equal to 0.5mm
91
Drizzle Drop diameter
smaller than 0.5mm
92
Virga
Rain that evaporates before hitting the ground
93
Flurries
Light intermittent snowfall with light accumulations
94
Snow Squall
Similar to rain shower, more intense, produces snow accumulations
95
Blizzard
- Combination of drifting and blowing snow lasting 4+ hours, winds >40km/h
96
Freezing Rain
- Layer is thicker and warmer
- Drops don't have time to freeze again till it comes into contact at the surface
97
Rime
- Where the bushes and trees have thin coating of ice
- comes from fod in subzero conditions
- supercooled cloud drops/ liquid droplets
- Supercooled droplets float around and freeze upon contact
98
Hail
- cumulonimbus clouds
- hail is layers of ice with creation at the middle when it moves about the clouds other drops come in contact and stick to it cause hail
- Needs updrafts to keep the hail up long enough to grow
A lot of supercooled ice droplets
99
Simple Rain Gauge
Has a funnel that leads to a measuring tube able to see preciselyy how much rain fell by funneling into a thinner tube
100
Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge
Everytime it tips it sends a signal that it tips and everytime it tips we know how much rain fell
101
Weighing Gauge
Collection area on a scale as more rainfall scale measures the weight
- instrument distorts wind flow and changes precipitiation reading things on outside of gauge stops this distortion
102
Sonic Snow Depth Sensor
Emits sound waves and how long it takes for a soundwave to hit the snow and come back
103
Radar
- Radio detection and ranging
- Reflects of microwave radiation form cloud droplets and precipritation
104
Ordinary Thunderstorm 3 Stages
Stage 1: Cumulus Stage
Cumulus stage rising thermals generate cumulus clouds
- cloud growing upwards, but not yet producing precipitation
Stage 2: Mature
- marked by downdraft of cold air
- entrainment draws in drier air, cloud drops evaoporate cooling the air
- precipitation also pulls air down
- rapidly sinking air creates gust fronts
3 stage: Dissipating
- Cold gust fronts cut off supply of warm air
- only downdraft remains, no new supply of energy and moisture
- storm dissipates
105
Outflow boundary
Merged gust fronts arising from downbursts from a multicell complex can produce an outflow boundary which can generate new storms
106
Squall Line
Series of multicell storms along a cold front
107
Air pressure ___ with height
Decreases
108
Isobars
Contours showing equal pressure
109
Low pressure = ___ weather
High pressure = ___ weather
bad
better
110
Hydrostatic Balance
Any mass of air is a balance between gravity and pressure gradient force
111
Cyclones
Winds moving into low center (counter clockwise)
112
Anti-Cyclones
Winds move out from high center (clockwise)
113
Geostrophic Winds are __ to isobars
Parallel
114
What makes wind blow?
Changes in pressure/ change in distance
115
Coriolis Force
- Apparent force because we are on a rotating planet
- workd opposite to pressure gradient frce
- never speeds up or slows doen wind only deviates it
116
Air Masses
An air mass is an extremly large body of air whose propertieds of temp and humidity are fairly similar in any horizontal direction at any given altitude
117
Front
A transition zone between two air masses of different densities
118
Cold Front
- Sharp change in temp and humidity
- Sharp change in wind direction and speed
- pressure falling then rising
119
Warm Fronts
- More gradual change in temp and humidity
- Change in wind direction and speed
- pressure falling then rising
120
Occluded Fronts
The cold front has caught up with the warm front and started pushing the warmer air up
121
TROWAL
pushes a trough of warm air up.
TR - trough
O - of
W - warm air
AL - aloft
122
Cold Type Occlusion
- Both fronts moving left to right but cold front is moving faster
- lots of precipitation combined warm front and cold front typ e precipitation
- Occlusion is frontal boundary on the ground once cold front has met with warm front
123
Polar Front Theory
- A model that tells us how mid-lat. cyclones develop
- Polar front = front that goes all the way around the northern hemisphere that seperates cool northern air from warm southern air
- When a low pressure center develops along the frontal boundary, the air moving into the low spins the fronts
- When the occlusion pushes the low away from the strong frontal zone, the storm begins to die
- The stages of the cyclone. Movement of cold/warm air indicated by blue/red arrows precipiation indicated by green shading. Isobars shown by black solid line.
124
Warmer air mass = ___ pressure/heights
Colder air mass = ___ pressure/height
Higher
Lower
125
Define Jet stream
band of faster winds
126
Anticyclone = ___ pressure region
Cyclone = ___ pressure region
High
Low
127
What places have a higher chance of creating cyclone
- temperature contrast
- East of big mountain ranges - air flow over mountain ranges creates spin + LP center
128
Convergence - wind ___
Divergence - Wind___
Slows
Speeds up
129
Rossby Redux
- Long waves moving slowly
- Path of long waves is slowly changing overtime
- short waves move fast
- embedded in the background of long waves are shortwaves that are more active.
130
Short Waves
- Smaller troughs through the long waves that move much faster
131
Upper air shortwave and the polar front
- Cyclone begins with a stationary polar front and steady flow
- Isotherms are parallel to isoheights, not moving warm or cold air in
- if a shortwave moves in it deepens the trough, convergence and divergence generates surface H and L centers
- This starts the polar front moving generating warm and cold fronts
- Warm and cold fronts
- warm and cold advection by moving cold air south and warm air north
132
Barotrophic
Parallel isoheights and temperature contours therefore no advection. Transport of heat horizontally by wind
133
Baroclinic Instability = Baroclinic Atmosphere
- Winds and isoheights not parallel to temp curvature
- Shortwave push south and crosses temp contours
- Cold air is transported into the region of convergence deepening the trough when isoheights drop
- bigger waves = more divergence and convergence
- warmer air is brought into the region of divergence, strengthening the ridge
134
Advection
Transport of heat horizontally by the wind
135
Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP)
Considers: Domain size, resolution, initial conditions, model assumptions
- Atmospere is divided as fallen cubes
- Using physics they step atmospheric conditions by a minute
- Small differences in our intial state makes us very wrong in our predictions in a few days
136
Persistence Forecast
its sunny today so it will be sunny tomorrow
137
Climatological Forecast
It usually rains 6 days a month in november so there is a 20% chance of rain.
138
Watch
Atmospheric conditions are favorable for hazardous weather at a particular location and time period but actual location and timing are uncertain
139
Warning
Hazardous weather is actually occurring or imminent within the forecast area
140
A (watch or warning) is often issued well in advance of the event
watch
140
a (watch or warning) is actually occurring or imminent within the forecast area
warning
