Weather

Question 1

Weather

Answer 1

short-term, day-to-day conditions of the atmosphere

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

long-term average (e.g., 30 years) atmospheric conditions

Question 3

Meteorology

Answer 3

scientific study of the atmosphere

Question 4

Air mass

Answer 4

homogenous body of air with respect to temperature, moisture and stability, and it distinctly reflects the characteristics of its source region.

Question 5

What are some key weather variables?

Answer 5

• Temperature
• Air pressure
• Relative humidity
• Wind speed and direction
• Cloud cover and type

Question 6

Weather conditions reflect….?

Answer 6

dynamics within and between air masses

Question 7

Moisture ‘m’

Answer 7

maritime (wet)

Question 8

Moisture ‘c’

Answer 8

continental (dry)

Question 9

Temperature/latitude ‘A’

Answer 9

Arctic

Question 10

Temperature/latitude ‘P’

Answer 10

Polar

Question 11

Temperature/latitude ‘T’

Answer 11

Tropical

Question 12

Temperature/latitude ‘E’

Answer 12

Equatorial

Question 13

Temperature/latitude ‘AA’

Answer 13

Antarctic

Question 14

Continental polar (cP) air masses form only in the…?

Answer 14

Northern Hemisphere

Question 15

Maritime polar (mP) air masses in the Northern Hemisphere exist over the…?

Answer 15

northern oceans

Question 16

Two maritime tropical (mT) air masses

Answer 16

mTGulf/Atlantic and the mTPacific

Question 17

mTPacific is lower or higher in moisture content to the mt gulf?

Answer 17

lower

Question 18

air masses migrate from…?

Answer 18

air masses migrate from source regions and take on the characteristics of the land over which they pass

Question 19

To form precipitation air masses do what?

Answer 19

lift and rise in altitude to reach the dew-point temperature, condense, and form clouds

Question 20

What are the 4 different types of Atmospheric Lifting Mechanisms?

Answer 20

• Convergent Lifting
• Convectional Lifting
• Orographic Lifting
• Frontal Lifting (Cold and Warm Fronts)

Question 21

Whats Convergent Lifting?

Answer 21

• Air flows toward an area of low pressure.

* Low pressure centre: air converging and ascending, cooling and condensation occurring.

Question 22

Whats Convective Lifting?

Answer 22

• Cool air moves over a warm surface, is heated and ascends

* Air cools adiabatically and condensation occurs

Question 23

Whats Orographic Lifting?

Answer 23

• Oro means “mountain.”

* Orographic lifting occurs when air is forced to ascend upslope as it is pushed against a mountain.

Question 24

Whats Chinook winds (Oro lift.)?

Answer 24

descending air flow on the leeward side of the mountain is dry and hot compared to what it was at the same elevation on the windward side.

Question 25

Whats Frontal Lifting?

Answer 25

the transition zone between two air masses of different densities.

Question 26

Cold Fronts (Frontal lifting)

Answer 26

Cold air forces warm air aloft | leading edge of an advancing cold air mass

Question 27

Warm Fronts (frontal lifting)

Answer 27

Warm air moves up and over cold air | leading edge of an advancing warm air mass