weather Flashcards
(32 cards)
What happens to warm air compared to cold air?
Warm air rises because it is less dense than colder air.
What type of pressure does warm air have?
Warm air has a low pressure.
What type of pressure does cold air have?
Cold air has a higher pressure.
What causes differences in air density?
Unequal heating of the Earth’s surface.
What occurs when air condenses?
It forms clouds, increasing humidity and likely precipitation will follow.
What effect does the Earth’s rotation have on winds?
It causes the winds to curve.
Define an air mass.
A large body of air with similar temperatures, pressure, and humidity throughout.
What are fronts?
Boundaries between two air masses that have different temperatures and densities.
What is a warm front?
The transition area where a mass of warm air moves to replace a mass of cold air.
How is a warm front represented on a weather map?
Using a solid red line with half circles pointing in the direction of the cold air that will be replaced.
In which direction do warm fronts typically move?
From southwest to northeast.
What weather can a warm front initially bring?
Some rain and clouds, followed by clear skies and warm temperatures.
What is a cold front?
The transition area where a mass of cold air moves in to replace a mass of warm air.
How is a cold front represented on a weather map?
Using a solid blue line with triangles pointing in the direction of the warm air that will be replaced.
In which direction do cold fronts typically move?
From northwest to southeast.
What weather can a cold front bring?
Cold temperatures, torrential rains, and high wind speeds.
What forms a high-pressure system?
Cool, dense air in the atmosphere moves downward and away from the system’s center.
What typically occurs in a high-pressure system?
Few or no clouds form, leading to fair weather.
What forms a low-pressure system?
Warmer, less dense air draws inward and up into the atmosphere.
What is the result of the upward movement of air in a low-pressure system?
Condensation and cloud formation as it reaches cooler parts of the atmosphere.
What are isobars?
Lines that indicate areas of equal pressure.
What do closed circles of isobars indicate?
A pressure center, either a high-pressure system (blue ‘H’) or a low-pressure system (red ‘L’).
What does it mean when isobars are closer together?
The wind speeds are faster.
In which direction does wind travel regarding pressure systems?
From the center of a high pressure system to the center of the low pressure system.
