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Flashcards in MN Weather Deck (55)
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1
Q

Why is weather important to study? (4)

A

Distributions of biota
Seasonality
Growing season
Climate change

2
Q

MN Climate

A

Solar radiation

Humid continental

3
Q

Axis Tilt

A

Day length, amount of solar radiation

4
Q

Solar Radiation

A

Net radiation high in summer, missing in winter

5
Q

Humid Continental

A

Warm humid summer, dry cold winters

6
Q

MN Temperature

A

Wide range

7
Q

Where does air come from when hot?

A

SW

8
Q

Where does air come from when cold?

A

Arctic

9
Q

Polar Vortex

A

Low pressure in upper atmosphere near north pole

10
Q

Jet Stream

A

River of air bends around pressure systems

11
Q

Winter Misery Index

A

Data on temp, snow depth, and duration

12
Q

What moderates temp? (4)

A

Water
Topography
North-South Slopes
Albedo

13
Q

Where are moderate temps from water?

A

Lake Superior

14
Q

Cooling Influence Because Of…

A

Evaporation

15
Q

Albedo

A

Reflected sunlight

16
Q

_____% of solar radiation reflected by snow

A

75

17
Q

Growing Season

A

Frost free

18
Q

Avg Range Of MN Precipitation

A

20 inches in NW to 32 inches in SW

19
Q

Drought Frequency

A

1 every 8-9 years

20
Q

70% Of Precipitation Falls In…

A

May-Sept

21
Q

Snow Depth Range

A

60 inches on North Shore to 36 inches in SW

22
Q

Where is MN humidity from?

A

Moist air from the gulf

23
Q

What kind of air holds more moisture?

A

Warm

24
Q

Humidity

A

Amount of water vapor in the air

25
Q

What happens when air cools?

A

Water condenses

26
Q

Dewpoint

A

Temp at which water condenses and forms dew

27
Q

Where is evaporation highest?

A

SW MN

28
Q

P/E Ratio Meaning

A

Precipitation to Evaporation Ratio

29
Q

P/E Ratio Definition

A

How much water is available to plants and organisms

30
Q

Water Availability In NE MN

A

High

31
Q

Water Availability In Central MN

A

Moderate

32
Q

Water Availability in SW MN

A

Low

33
Q

What is the wind direction from May-Oct?

A

S or SW

34
Q

What is the wind direction from Nov-April?

A

NW

35
Q

What is the windiest month?

A

April

36
Q

What is the average wind speed?

A

9-11 mph

37
Q

Influence of movement of air masses is caused by what?

A

Location of jet stream

38
Q

High Pressure System

A
Cool
Dry air
Weather
Light winds
Clockwise rotation in Northern Hemisphere
39
Q

Low Pressure System

A
Warm
Moist air
Stormy weather
Strong winds
Counterclockwise rotation
40
Q

When are the skies mostly clear?

A

July/August

41
Q

When is it mostly cloudy?

A

November/ December

42
Q

High Altitude Clouds

A

Cirrus
Cirrocumulus
Cirrostratus

43
Q

Middle Altitude Clouds

A

Altocumulus

Altostratus

44
Q

Low Altitude Clouds

A

Cumulus

Stratus

45
Q

Cirrus Clouds

A

Wispy

46
Q

Cumulus Clouds

A

Fluffy

47
Q

Stratus Clouds

A

Blanket

48
Q

Nimbo- Clouds

A

Rain

49
Q

Cumulonimbus Clouds

A

Storm

50
Q

Why are there more tornados in the spring?

A

Differential temps

Increase of warm, Gulf moisture into the central part of the country

51
Q

Differential Temps

A

Creates instability

52
Q

Cause Of Tornado

A

Upper atmosphere is cold

Surface is warming up

53
Q

When was the earliest tornado in MN?

A

March 18, 1968

54
Q

When was the latest tornado in MN?

A

November 16, 1931

55
Q

What is the order of tornado frequency?

A

June
July
May
August