Weather Flashcards
(183 cards)
1
Q
the 5 big guiding principles of Meteorology:
A
- Hot air rises
- Rising air expands & cools
- As air rises, air pressure at the surface is lowered
- Air travels from high pressure to low pressure
- Cool air holds less moisture than warm air
2
Q
Hot air is less ___ than cold air
A
dense
3
Q
Add heat to gas and what 2 things happen?
A
- molecules move faster
2. molecules spread out
4
Q
Wind forms as ___ pressure air moves to areas of ___ pressure
A
high; low
5
Q
the layers of the Atmosphere: from the top, down
A
Thermosphere (550km from Earth) Mesosphere (80km from Earth) Stratosphere (50km from Earth) Troposphere (12km from Earth)
6
Q
the layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that you live in
A
Troposphere
7
Q
the coldest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere; lies directly below the uppermost layer
A
Mesosphere
8
Q
the uppermost layer of the atmosphere
A
Thermosphere
9
Q
the layer that contains most of the atmosphere’s ozone; above the layer that you live in
A
Stratosphere
10
Q
Why does air pressure decrease as altitude increases?
A
Air pressure decreases as you go up because the majority of air is closest to the Earth’s surface due to gravity.
11
Q
Explain why the temperature decreases & increases as you travel throughout the layers of the atmosphere.
A
The temp. decreases as you travel up in the troposphere b/c there is less air molecules the higher you go up.
The temp. increases in the stratosphere due to the ozone layer absorbing UV rays.
It decreases again in the mesosphere due to the few slow moving molecules.
It increases in the thermosphere due to the rapidly moving ions. Even though there are few air molecules, they are moving so rapidly that the temp. increases; however, it would still FEEL cold.
12
Q
What gases is the atmosphere mainly composed of & what are their percents?
A
78% Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
1% Miscellaneous
13
Q
Radiation:
A
the transfer of energy as ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
14
Q
Radiation moves energy through space in…
A
waves, heating the Earth’s surface
15
Q
Through this method of heat transfer…
A
the earth recieves energy from the sun
15
Q
The radiation absorbed by the land, water, and atmosphere is changed into…
A
thermal energy
16
Q
50% of Radiation is…
A
absorbed by the Earth’s surface
17
Q
25% of Radiation is…
A
scattered & reflected by clouds & air
18
Q
20% of Radiation is…
A
absorbed by ozone, clouds, & atmosphere
19
Q
5% of Radiation is…
A
reflected by the Earth’s surface (snow & pool/ocean water)
20
Q
Conduction:
A
the transfer of thermal energy from one material to another by DIRECT CONTACT
21
Q
Air is heated by conduction near…
A
the earth’s surface
22
Q
Thermal energy ALWAYS moves from ___ to ___ areas
A
warm to cold areas
23
Q
When air molecules come into contact with a warm surface…
A
thermal energy is transferred into the atmosphere
24
Where is air heated by conduction?
near the earth's surface
25
Convection:
the transfer of thermal energy by the circulation or movement of a fluid (liquid or gas)
26
Convection currents are caused by...
the unequal heating of the atmosphere
27
Most thermal energy in the atmosphere moves by...
convection
28
What are the 4 steps in convection?
1. Heated air becomes less dense & rises
2. Air cools, becomes more dense & sinks
3. As the cool air sinks, it pushes the warm air up
4. The cool air is eventually heated again by the ground & again begins to rise
29
This continual process for convection creates a circular movement called a...
convection current
30
How are convection currents created?
by the uneven heating of the atmosphere
31
Air Pressure Demonstration: What were the 2 methods of heat transfer used to heat the water in the soda can?
* Conduction (can was touching hot plate)
| * Convection (convection currents when boiling the water)
32
Air Pressure Demonstration: As the water started to boil, which phase change was occuring?
Evaporation
33
Air Pressure Demonstration: Where was the GREATEST amount of air pressure?
Outside the can because it was a lower temperature than inside the can.
34
Air Pressure Demonstration: Where was the LEAST amount of air pressure?
Inside the can because it had a higher temperature than outside the can.
35
Air Pressure Demonstration: Explain why the can collapsed.
Air travels from high pressure to low pressure, so when the can became surrounded by the low pressure air that was above the cooler temp. water, more air went into the can, causing it to collapse.
36
What is wind?
moving air from high to low pressure
37
Winds are named by...
where they come from
38
How is wind created?
by differences in air pressure
39
Wind is generally caused by the uneven ___ of the Earth
uneven heating
40
___ sun rays = hotter temperatures
direct
41
___ sun rays = cooler temperatures
indirect
42
Air that is warm & less dense ___ and creates an area of ___ pressure.
Air that is warm & less dense rises and creates an area of low pressure.
43
Air that is cold & more dense ___ and creates an area of ___ pressure.
Air that is cold & more dense sinks and creates an area of high pressure.
44
There is a change in global air patterns approximately every ___.
30° latitude
45
What are convection cells?
the circular patterns of air movement caused by the rising & sinking of air
46
Global Winds:
* are part of a pattern of air circulation that moves across the Earth
* blow over longer distances in a specific direction
47
Local Winds:
• blow over short distances & can blow from any direction
• types: sea breeze, land breeze,
valley breeze, mountain breeze, etc.
48
Where are the Doldrums?
near the equator
49
Why is the air calm in the doldrums?
there is very little change in temperature
50
Doldrums - area of low pressure at the ___
Equator
51
Doldrums - very little wind there because of ___ rising air
warm
52
Doldrums - "doldrums" mean foolish because...
it would be foolish to sail in that region
53
Where are the trade winds?
above and below the equator
54
Above the equator the trade winds are steady ___ winds. Below the equator, the trade winds are steady ___ winds. (direction)
northeast; southeast
55
Trade Winds - between ___ & the equator
30° latitude
56
Trade Winds - early ___ used them to sail from Europe to the Americas
traders
57
Trade Winds - go from ___ to ___
east to west
58
The ___ ___ are another area of calm. The air is cooling & ___ here.
horse latitudes; sinking
59
Horse Latitudes - areas of ___ pressure caused by sinking air at ___ N & ___ S
high; 30°; 30°
60
Horse Latitudes - the winds are very ___
weak
61
Horse Latitudes - How was this area named?
Legend: ships carrying horses from Europe to America got stuck due to lack of wind & would throw horses overboard to save drinking water & make the ship lighter
62
Where are the Westerlies the prevailing wind?
over much of the middle and higher latitudes
63
Westerlies - wind belts found between ___ and ___ N & S latitude
30° & 60° N & S latitude
64
Westerlies - flow in the ___ direction of the trade winds (___ to ___)
opposite; west to east
65
Westerlies - bring most of ___ weather
our
66
What is the Polar Front?
where the warm air of the westerlies meets the cold air of the polar easterlies
67
This causes ___ weather in the region where the ___ prevail.
unstable weather; westerlies
68
Polar Easterlies - wind belts found in both hemispheres between the ___ and ___.
poles & 60° latitude
69
Polar Easterlies - named for the ___ and ___ they come from.
direction & area
70
Jet Streams - narrow belts of high ___ winds in the upper troposphere & lower stratosphere
speed
71
Jet Streams - ___ north and south
shift
72
Jet Streams - control the ___ & ___ of storms (inportant to meteorologists who track storms)
direction & movement
73
Jet Streams - pilots fly with the jet stream when possible to ___ time & fuel
save
74
Coriolis Effect - ___ winds are affected by the coriolis effect
global
75
Coriolis Effect - the apparent ___ of winds because of the Earth's ___.
curving; rotation
76
Coriolis Effect - winds in the Northern hemisphere appear to curve to the ___
right
77
Coriolis Effect - winds in the Southern hemisphere appear to curve to the ___
left
78
A convection current is an alternating cycle in which ___ air is constantly being replaced by ___ air
warmer; cooler
79
Heat is released (energy is lost) in which phase changes?
condensation, freezing, deposition
80
Heat is absorbed (energy is added) in which phase changes?
evaporation, melting, sublimation
81
What is precipitation? What is the phase change?
rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls from the clouds onto the Earth's surface; liquid to solid
82
What is infiltration?
the movement of water into the ground due to the pull of gravity
83
What is runoff?
water that flows across land & collects in rivers, streams, & eventually the ocean
84
What is groundwater?
the water located within the rocks below the Earth's surface
85
What are glaciers? What is the phace change?
an enormous mass of moving ice; solid to liquid
86
What is an example of perspiration? What is the phase change?
sweating; liquid to gas
87
What is transpiration? What is the phase change?
the process by which plants release water vapor into the air through their leaves; liquid to gas
88
What is wind?
moving air (moves high & low pressure)
89
What is Humidity?
the amount of water vapor or moisture in the air
90
As water evaporates, does the humidity of the air increase or decrease?
As water evaporates, the humidity of the air increases.
91
What is Relative Humidity?
the amount of moisture the air contains compared with the maximum amount it can hold at that particular temperature
92
How can the relative humidity become higher? (2 ways)
1. more water vapor in the air at a particular temperature
| 2. lower temperature with a particular amount of water vapor in the air
93
What is Condensation?
the change of state from a gas to a liquid
94
What % relative humidity will there be condensation?
Condensation is when a gas changes to a liquid when the air is saturated with 100% relative humidity.
95
What is Dew Point?
the temperature at which air must cool to be completely saturated
96
How is there condensation on a glass with ice in it?
the ice in a glass of water causes the air surrounding the glass to cool to its dew point, making the relative humidity 100% & causing condenstion to form
97
What is Saturated?
when air holds all the water it can at a given temperature
98
What is the relative humidity of saturated air?
Saturated air has a relative humidity of 100%
99
How is relative humidity found using a Psychrometer?
by taking the difference between the Dry-Bulb temperature and the Wet-Bulb temperature. then a chart is used to find the relative humidity.
100
What happens to relative humidity as air temperature increases?
relative humidity decreases as air temperature increases
101
What is a River?
a large natural stream of water flowing in a definite course that empties into an ocean, lake, or another body of water
102
What are Tributaries?
smaller streams or rivers that flow into bigger ones
103
What is a Watershed?
the land drained by a river system - the main river & tributaries are within it
104
What are Wetlands?
the area around the mouth of a river tht has fertile soil and marsh, freshwater, and saltwater habitats
105
What is a Delta?
a fan shaped deposit of sediment where a river slows down as it reaches a large body of water
106
What is an Ocean?
a large body of salt watet
107
What is Sediment?
sand/minerals
108
Why are river systems & the water cycle classified as CLOSED LOOP SYSTEMS? Tell the difference between open & closed systems.
River systems & the water cycle are both classified as closed loop systems because neither of them are dependent on things outside of their system. In the river system & water cycle, water flows continuously & the systems are never-ending. They don't need, for example, a human to continue the cycle by moving water from 1 place to another. An open loop system is dependent on outside factors to continue it's cycle.
109
What are the basic ingredients for weather?
temperature, pressure, volume, density
110
What do all weather events have in common?
clouds
111
Altitude: Stratus Cloud
below 6,500 ft (low)
112
Composition: Stratus Cloud
water droplets
113
What they look like: Stratus Cloud
grey clouds that cover the entire sky; layered
114
Weather/Precipitation: Stratus Cloud
drizzle (very light rain)
115
Altitude: Nimbostratus Cloud
below 6,500 ft (low)
116
Composition: Nimbostratus Cloud
water droplets
117
What they look like: Nimbostratus Cloud
dark grey; wet-looking; layered
118
Weather/Precipitation: Nimbostratus Cloud
continuously falling rain or snow (light to moderate)
119
Altitude: Stratocumulus Cloud
below 6,500 ft (low)
120
Composition: Stratocumulus Cloud
water droplets
121
What they look like: Stratocumulus Cloud
low lumpy clouds; usually some blue sky in between
122
Weather/Precipitation: Stratocumulus Cloud
can become nimbostratus
123
Altitude: Altocumulus Cloud
6,500 - 18,000 ft (middle)
124
Composition: Altocumulus Cloud
water droplets
125
What they look like: Altocumulus Cloud
grey puffy masses; sometimes in waves or bands
126
Weather/Precipitation: Altocumulus Cloud
indicates possible thunderstorms by late afternoon
127
Altitude: Altostratus Cloud
6,500 - 18,000 ft (middle)
128
Composition: Altostratus Cloud
water droplets & ice crystals
129
What they look like: Altostratus Cloud
layered across the sky; bumpy
130
Weather/Precipitation: Altostratus Cloud
often form ahead of storms with continuous precipitation
131
Altitude: Cirrus Cloud
above 18,000 ft (high)
132
Composition: Cirrus Cloud
ice crystals
133
What they look like: Cirrus Cloud
thin; wispy
134
Weather/Precipitation: Cirrus Cloud
fair, pleasant weather
135
Altitude: Cirrostratus Cloud
above 18,000 ft (high)
136
Composition: Cirrostratus Cloud
ice crystals
137
What they look like: Cirrostratus Cloud
thin; sheet-like; can see the sun/moon through clouds (halo around moon)
138
Weather/Precipitation: Cirrostratus Cloud
predicts rain or snow within 12-24 hours
139
Altitude: Cirrocumulus Cloud
above 18,000 ft (high)
140
Composition: Cirrocumulus Cloud
ice crystals
141
What they look like: Cirrocumulus Cloud
small, rounded white puffs
142
Weather/Precipitation: Cirrocumulus Cloud
fair, but cold weather
143
Altitude: Cumulus Cloud
below 6,500 ft (vertically developed)
144
Composition: Cumulus Cloud
water droplets
145
What they look like: Cumulus Cloud
puffy clouds; look like cottonballs
146
Weather/Precipitation: Cumulus Cloud
fair weather
147
Altitude: Cumulonimbus Cloud
6,000 - 50,000 ft (vertically developed)
148
Composition: Cumulonimbus Cloud
water droplets & ice
149
What they look like: Cumulonimbus Cloud
towering, dark clouds
150
Weather/Precipitation: Cumulonimbus Cloud
heavy rain; thunderstorms; hail; tornadoes
151
If you were outside for a day & were looking at the clouds fro time to time, what would you see that would indicate precipitation was on the way?
the clouds would become darker & their altitudes would become lower
152
What is an air mass?
a large body of air that has similar temperature & moisture throughout the whole air mass
153
What is a front?
sharp transition zone
154
Where do air masses form?
the land or the sea
155
What is a Maritime air mass?
an air mass that forms over water; it is wet/moist
156
What is a Continental air mass?
an air mass that forms over land; it is dry
157
What is a Polar air mass?
an air mass that forms over polar regions; it is cold
158
What is a Tropical air mass?
an air mass that develops over the Tropics; it is warm/hot
159
Describe the maritime Tropical (mT) air mass.
warm & moist
160
Describe the continental Tropical (cT) air mass.
hot & dry
161
Describe the maritime Polar (mP) air mass.
cold & showery (wet; precipitation)
162
Describe the continental Polar (cP) air mass.
cold & dry
163
What is a front?
a front is a boundary between 2 different air masses
164
All of the ___ & ___ is the same behind the front
moisture & air temperature
165
How does a cold front form?
the cold air mass moves under a warm air mass & moves the less dense warm air out
166
Weather: As the cold front passes there is a sudden drop in...
temperature
167
Weather: As the cold front passes there is heavy...
precipitation
168
Weather: As the cold front passes there is a sharp drop in...
humidity
169
Weather: As the cold front passes there are shifting/increased...
winds
170
After the cold front passes, what is the weather like?
1. colder temperatures
2. decrease in precipitation
3. lowered humidity
171
How does a warm front form?
a warm air mass meets & overrides a cold air mass
172
Weather: As the warm front passes temperature...
steadily increases
173
Weather: As the warm front passes there is light...
precipitation over a large area
174
Weather: As the warm front passes there is minimal change in...
humidity
175
After the warm front passes, what is the weather like?
1. temperature becomes warmer
2. no precipitation
3. usually nice weather
176
How does a stationary front form?
a cold front meets a warm front and stalls - no movement
177
Weather: As the stationary front passes there is similar weather as a...
warm front
178
Weather: As the stationary front passes there is little...
precipitation
179
Weather: As the stationary front passes the weather may last...
over several days
180
How does an occluded front form?
the cold air mass from the cold front meets the cool air that was ahead of the warm front. the warm air rises as these air masses come together
181
Type of Weather for an Occluded Front: mature...
storm development
182
Type of Weather for an Occluded Front: weather similar to a...
cold front
