Weather and Climate: Ch. 1 Flashcards
(97 cards)
1
Q
___ likely has the greatest variety of weather in the world
A
U.S.
2
Q
Study of the atmosphere and its phenomena
A
Meteorology
3
Q
State of atmosphere at a given time and place
A
Weather
4
Q
Weather is always _______
A
changing
5
Q
Average of all weather data
A
Climate
6
Q
Climate helps describe environment of a ________ or _______
A
place or region
7
Q
Climate includes _________
A
extremas
8
Q
What are the 6 Elements of Weather and Climate
A
- Air temperature
- Humidity
- Type and amount of cloudiness
- Type and amount of precipitation
- Pressure
- Speed and direction of wind
9
Q
Annual average of about __ lives lost in U.S. due to weather events
A
500
10
Q
1 killer world wide
A
Excessive heat
11
Q
Almost half the lives taken due to weather events in the US are due to _________ ____
A
excessive heat
12
Q
NOAA
A
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Weather Radio)
13
Q
What is the NOAA’s maximum range?
A
40 miles
14
Q
Issued by Storm Prediction Center when hazardous weather is considered possible (counties)
A
Weather Watch
15
Q
Issued by National Weather Service when hazardous weather is imminent or taking place
A
Weather Warning
16
Q
Who issues Weather Warnings?
A
- local stations
- Springfield’s comes from Lincoln, IL)
17
Q
What are Earth’s 4 spheres?
A
- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Lithosphere
- Biosphere
18
Q
Life-giving gases that surrounds Earth
A
Atmosphere
19
Q
Earth and atmosphere waters
A
Hydrosphere
20
Q
Soils and rocks that make up Earth’s crust
A
Lithosphere
21
Q
All living things
A
Biosphere
22
Q
Collection of numerous interacting parts, or subsystems, that form a complex whole
A
System
23
Q
What 2 sources power the Earth System?
A
- Sun drives external processes
- Earth’s interior drives internal processes
24
Q
Mixture of many gases
A
Air
25
What happens to air in the atmosphere?
Tiny solid and liquid particles are suspended
26
Earth's atmosphere is a _____, gaseous envelope
thin
27
What are the Earth's nonvariable elements in the atmosphere?
- 78% Nitrogen (N2)
- 21% Oxygen (O2)
28
What are the Earth's variable elements in the atmosphere?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Water Vapor (H2O)
- Ozone
- Aresols
29
Characteristics of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- important greenhouse gas
- traps a portion of Earth's outgoing energy
- keeps us warm
30
Characteristics of water vapor in the atmosphere
- invisible gas that varies
- provides clouds and precipitation
- important greenhouse gas
- absorbs heat
- releases large amounts of latent heat
31
Characteristics of Ozone in the atmosphere
- stratosphere
- protects life from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation
32
Characteristics of aerosols in the atmosphere
- Tiny solid or liquid suspended particles
- surface for water vapor to condense (clouds)
- absorb and reflect incoming solar radiation
- contribute to atmosphere optics (sunset)
33
Characteristics of Pressure
- Weight of air molecules on Earth
- Decreases with increasing height
34
What is Standard Value (at sea level)?
1013.25 mb used on surface weather maps
35
What is Earth's average surface temperature?
59℉ (15℃)
36
Where does almost all weather occur?
troposphere
37
What is the troposphere's average altitude?
7.5 miles
38
What is the lowest layer of the atmosphere?
Troposphere
39
At what temperature does temperature decrease at in the troposphere?
decreases at an average of 3.5℉ / 1000m (6.5℃ / 1000m)
40
In the troposphere, decrease in air temperature with increasing height:
Sunlight warms earth's surface, and surface warms air above it
41
Air temperature increases with height
Temperature inversion
42
Characteristics of a Radiosonde
- Instrument collects weather data above surface
- Carried by a balloon to altitude of 10,000 ft
43
How far does the stratosphere extend?
about 30 miles above the surface
44
In the stratosphere, temperature increases with ______
height
45
What is ideal in the stratosphere because of weather?
jet travel
46
high winds that guide storm systems
jet stream
47
Where is the jet stream?
stratosphere
48
Where is the ozone layer?
stratosphere
49
How far does the mesosphere extend above the surface?
about 50 miles above the surface
50
"Hot layer"
Thermosphere
51
Why is the thermosphere called the "hot layer"?
because oxygen molecules absorb solar rays
52
Auroras found here
Ionosphere
53
Wind blows due to ________ differences in pressure
horizontal
54
Greater the difference in pressure = _______ _____
stronger winds
55
Winds blow from _____ pressure to _____ pressure
high to low
56
What are the 2 types of pressure systems?
- Highs (or anticyclones)
- Lows (or cyclones)
57
higher air pressure compared to surrounding areas
H or HIGH
58
lower air pressure compared to surrounding areas
L or LOW
59
Characteristics of high pressure systems
- fair weather systems
- surface winds blow clockwise and out (Northern hemisphere)
- calm conditions typical
60
Characteristics of low pressure systems
- Storms weather systems
- cloudy and unsettled weather
- surface winds blow counterclockwise and in (Northern hemisphere)
61
Highs and lows generally more ____ across US
east
62
Highs follow _____
lows
63
lows follow ____
highs
64
converting a liquid to gas (water vapor)
Evaporation
65
Characteristics of condensation
- water vapor changes to liquid state
- air is cooled
- clouds, fog, frost, dew
66
Water in a liquid or solid form atmosphere to surface
Precipitation
67
Types of precipitation
rain, snow, hail
68
Temperature must be cooled for clouds and precipitation to form
Saturation
69
Temperature at which water vapor condenses
dew point temperature
70
Air temp =
dew point
71
air is saturated:
clouds, fog, frost, dew
72
huge volume of air that is relatively uniform in temp and humidity
Air masses
73
Narrow zone of transition between air masses
Fronts
74
Fronts differ in ...
temp, humidity, or both
75
Fronts form where ________ air masses meet
contrasting
76
Air movements often produce...
cloudiness and precipitation
77
How is a warm front formed?
by advancing WARM AIR
78
Warm fronts have ______ lifting
gradual
79
In a warm front, clouds and precipitation are ...
light to moderate
80
Where do clouds and precipitation occur in a warm front?
over a broad area
81
How is a cold front formed?
by advancing COLD AIR
82
Cold fronts have ______ lifting
rapid
83
In a cold front, most clouds and precipitation occur as a ...
narrow band along or just ahead of front
84
Cold and warm fronts are anchored at ______ of a _______ pressure system
center; low
85
If pressure code begins with a number between 0 and 5, add a __
10
86
If pressure code begins with a number between 6 and 9, add a __
9
87
Add a ______ before last digit of pressure codes
decimal
88
Pressure code: 356
1035.6 mb
89
Pressure code: 865
986.5 mb
90
Can give advance warning of a tornado before a funnel touches the ground
Doppler Radar
91
Give a view of Earth from space
Satellites
92
UTC
Universal Coordinated Time
93
UTC is commonly called ...
"zulu" time
94
Observations around world at same time
Universal Coordinated Time
95
For Springfield, Il, what is the formula for standard time
z - 6 hours
96
For Springfield, Il, what is the formula for daylight savings time
z - 5 hours
97
When is Daylight Savings Time
2nd Sunday in March to 1st Sunday in November
