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Block 4 > Lesson 22 > Flashcards

Lesson 22 Flashcards

(75 cards)

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1
Q

Name the Five Layers of Earth’s Atmosphere.

A

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere

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2
Q

______ is the lowest layer of the earth’s atmosphere.

A

Troposhere

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3
Q

Troposphere

A
  • contains almost all clouds and precipitation - air pressure and density decrease with altitude - temperature generally decreases with altitude
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4
Q

______ is the transition boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere.

A

Tropopause

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5
Q

________ extends from the tropopause up to 31 miles above the earth’s surface.

A

stratosphere

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6
Q

_____ is a stable layer generally devoid of significant weather.

A

Stratosphere

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7
Q

Stratosphere

A

temperature increases with altitude; stable layer generally devoid of weather

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8
Q

What is standard atmosphere used for?

A

-pressure altimeter calibrations -aircraft performance calculations -aircraft design -weather related processes

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9
Q

Jet Stream

A

relatively strong winds concentrated within a narrow, horizontal band in the upper troposphere

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10
Q

Name the two jet streams.

A

-polar jet stream : 30 & 60 degrees latitude -subtropical jet stream: 20 & 40 degrees latitude

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11
Q

Jet Streams often produce _________.

A

Clear Air Turbulence (CAT)

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12
Q

Water Vapor

A

water in the invisible gaseous form

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13
Q

Evaporation

A

the change of liquid water to water vapor

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14
Q

Sublimation

A

the change of ice to water vapor

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15
Q

Sublimation

A

the change of ice to water vapor

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16
Q

Water vapor constitutes a small percentage of the atmosphere, from trace amounts to _____ by volume.

A

4%

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17
Q

Temperature

A

measure of the hotness or coldness of the air

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18
Q

The air’s capacity to hold water vapor is directly related to its _____.

A

temperature (warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air)

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19
Q

Saturation

A

the maximum possible quantity of water vapor that a parcel of air can hold at any given temperature and pressure

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20
Q

What does saturated and unsaturated mean?

A
  • Saturated: air parcel contains all the water vapor it can hold - Unsaturated: has the capacity to hold more
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21
Q

Dew Point

A

the temperature to which a given parcel of air must be cooled at constant pressure and constant water vapor content in order for saturation to occur

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22
Q

Relative Humidity

A

the ratio, usually expressed as a percentage, of water vapor actually in the air compared to the amount of water vapor the air could hold at a particular temperature and pressure

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23
Q

The difference between air temperature and dew point temperature is popularly called the _______.

A

spread

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24
Q

The difference between air temperature and dew point temperature is popularly called the _______.

A

spread

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25
When the temperature dew point spread decreases, relative humidity _______ .
increases
26
When the temperature dew point spread decreases to \_\_\_\_\_, the air becomes saturated, and condensation will form dew or fog.
zero
27
Condensation
the change of water vapor to liquid water
28
What is the raw material for clouds and precipitation?
water vapor
29
Cloud
a VISIBLE mass of tiny water droplets and/or ice particles in the atmosphere above the earth's surface
30
When do clouds form?
when air is cooled to its dew point and becomes saturated
31
Cloud Formation
a parcel of rising air expands and cools as pressure decreases with altitude; temperature dew point decreases
32
Cloud Dissipation
a parcel of sinking air warms as it encounters increasing pressure and is compressed (temperature dew point spread increases)
33
Cloud Dissipation
a parcel of sinking air warms as it encounters increasing pressure and is compressed (temperature dew point spread increases)
34
Name the 3 cloud forms:
-cirriform -cumuliform -stratiform
35
Cirriform
-high level clouds which form above 20,000 ft -composed of ice crystals -thin and white -no significant icing
36
Cumuliform
-white fluffy cotton balls or heaps -indicates upward vertical motion or thermal uplift of air -tops can reach over 60,000 ft -may produce icing, turbulence, and other hazards
37
Stratiform
-latin for "layer" or "blanket" -featureless low layer that can cover sky -produces widespread IFR weather -little or no turbulence, but can produce icing
38
Which cloud form often produces widespread IFR weather?
stratiform
39
A parcel of _____ air expands and cools as pressure decreases with height.
rising
40
A parcel of _____ air expands and cools as pressure decreases with height.
rising
41
Wind
air in motion relative to the surface of the earth
42
The _____ component of the wind is typically very small compared to the ______ component.
vertical; horizontal
43
High
a maximum of atmospheric pressure on a surface weather chart; also known as an anti cyclone
44
Air flow around a high diverges in a ______ motion and sinks.
clockwise (sinking air compresses and warms)
45
Low
a minimum of atmospheric pressure on a surface weather chart; also known as a cyclone
46
Air flow around a low converges in a ________ motion and rises causing air to cool and eventually condense into clouds and precipitation.
counterclockwise (rising air expands and cools)
47
Air Mass
a large body of air that has similar horizontal temperature and moisture characteristics
48
Air Mass Source Region
region where air masses originate and acquire their properties of temperature and moisture. these properties are acquired by prolonged contact (days to weeks) with the underlying surface
49
Air Mass Source Region
region where air masses originate and acquire their properties of temperature and moisture. these properties are acquired by prolonged contact (days to weeks) with the underlying surface
50
Name the Air Masses temperature and moisture properties of their source regions.
--Temperature properties: Arctic (A), Polar (P), Tropical (T) --Moisture properties: Continental (c), Maritime (m)
51
Name the Air Masses temperature and moisture properties of their source regions.
--Temperature properties: Arctic (A), Polar (P), Tropical (T) --Moisture properties: Continental (c), Maritime (m)
52
Cold air mass moving over a Warm surface often produce ________ associated with: -turbulence -good visibility -cumuliform clouds and showers
unstable air
53
A ____ air mass moving over a cold surface often produces stable air associated with: -smooth air -poor visibility -stratiform clouds, fog, and drizzle
warm
54
Front
a boundary or transition zone between two air masses of different density, and thus (usually) of different temperature
55
Name the 4 types of Fronts and a brief description:
-Cold Front: a front that moves in such a way that colder air replaces warmer air -Warm Front: a front that moves in such a way that warmer air replaces colder air -Stationary Front: a front which is stationary or nearly so -Occluded Front: a composite of two fronts as a cold front overtakes a warm front or stationary front
56
Fronts are usually detectable by:
-significant temperature differences -winds -pressure typically decreases as a front approaches and increases after it passes
57
Fronts are usually detectable by:
-significant temperature differences -winds -pressure typically decreases as a front approaches and increases after it passes
58
\_\_\_\_\_ have a steep slope and air is forced upward abruptly.
Cold Fronts
59
What are some characteristics of a Cold Front?
-narrow band of cumulus clouds, showers and thunderstorms -good visibility -turbulence
60
\_\_\_\_\_\_ typically have a gentle slope so the air rising along the frontal surface is gradual.
warm fronts
61
Characteristics of Warm Fronts
-favor the development of widespread layered or stratiform cloudiness and precipitation along and ahead of the front if the rising air is stable -poor visibility -smooth air -steady precipitation
62
At the _____ front, the cold air undercuts the retreating cold air mass associated with the warm front, further lifting the already rising warm air.
occluded
63
A ______ front is a boundary between two different air masses, neither of which is strong enough to replace the other.
stationary
64
A ______ front is a boundary between two different air masses, neither of which is strong enough to replace the other.
stationary
65
Which front moves in such a way that warmer air replaces colder air?
warm front
66
Precipitation
any of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid that fall from the atmosphere and reach the ground
67
Precipitation Formation requires 3 ingredients:
-water vapor -lift -growth process
68
The _____ distribution of temperature will often determine the type of precipitation that occurs at the surface.
vertical
69
Snow
occurs when the temperature remains below freezing throughout the entire depth of the atmosphere
70
Ice Pellets
* precipitation of transparent or translucent pellets of ice, which are round or irregular, rarely conical, and which have a diameter of 0.2 in or less * occur when there is a shallow layer aloft with above freesing temps, with a deep layer of below freezing air based at the surface
71
Freezing Rain (FZRA)
rain that freezes on contact with the ground or exposed objects; occurs when there is a deep layer aloft with above freexing temperatures with a shallow layer of below freezing air at the surface
72
Rain (RA)
preciptation either in the form of drops larger than 0.02 inch or smaller drops which in contrast to drizzle are widely separated; occurs when there is a deep layer of above freezing air based at the surface
73
The ________ is staffed by controllers and is the designated interface between CWSU meteorologists and: - ARTCC controllers - FAA facilities within the ARTCC area of responsibility
Center WEather Coordinator (CWC)
74
CWSU's issue: (2)
- Center Weather Advisories (CWAs) - Meteorological Impact Statements (MISs)
75
What NWS entity provies consultation, forecast and advise to Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCCs) regarding weather impacts?
Center Weather Service Unit (CWSU)

Block 4 (5 decks)

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