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26 Cards in this Set

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  • Back
Under what conditions will the vortex of a tornado form?
When air masses of very different temperature and humidity conditions meet.
In what ways are a hurricane and tornado alike?
Both contain winds that spiral very rapidly
What is the main source of heat energy for weather on the earth?
The sun
How do clouds form?
Water evaporates from the earth’s surfaces, rises with rising, warm air and changes from gas to liquid at high altitudes, where temperatures are cool. Low pressure is also necessary
Describe the water cycle.
Water evaporates, condenses at high altitudes on dust particles, and is released back to earth as precipitation.
Why do convection currents form?
They form from the uneven heating of the earth’s surfaces.
What is the main cause of tornadoes?
Tornadoes form from thunderstorms, when two air masses of sharply different temperature and humidity meet, normally over land.
What is El Nino?
It is an event that occurs every few years, in which the waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean become warmer. This event changes weather patterns worldwide, causing droughts, floods, blizzards, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
What instruments do meteorologists use to study and forecast the weather?
Doppler radar, satellites, satellite images, weather maps and more…
How might warm Gulf Stream air affect weather in Massachusetts?
It would bring warmer temperatures to Massachusetts
Which states are most affected by tornadoes and make up tornado alley?
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri
Why do more tornadoes from in Tornado Alley than any other place on earth?
In Tornado Alley, warm, moist air masses from the south meet cool, dry air masses from the north and west more frequently than other places on the earth.
Draw a sea breeze and describe the movement of air and why that happens
Warm air rises over the land and cool air from over the water takes its place, causing wind
Draw a land breeze and describe the movement of air and why that happens.
Warm air rises over the ocean and cool air from over the land takes its place, causing wind
When do land breezes occur (day or night)?
At night
When do sea breezes occur (day or night)
During the day
Describe what conditions cause convection currents.
Hot rising and cold air sinking
Compare what happens to soild and water when heated and cooled
Soild heats and cools fater than water. Water takes a long time to heat and a long time to cool. Soil heats quickly during the day and loses its heat at night.
Why does water take a long time to heat and a long time to cool compared to soil?
This happens because water has a high specific heat, meaning it gains heat and releases heat at a slow rate. Soil absorbs heat quickly and also gives off heat to the environment at rapid rates.
What is the key vocabulary you should use when describing weather maps?
Wrm front, cold front, high pressure, low pressure, clouds, etc
Warm front:
A boundary that occurs when a moving, warm air mass overrides a cold air mass ahead of it.
Cold front:
The leading edge of a cold air mass. It occurs when a cold air mass pushes a warm air mass ahead of it.
High pressure system:
An area of high atmospheric pressure. Highs generally create cooler, dryer temperatures, with little or no clouds.
Low Pressure System:
A system in which air pressure decreases toward the center associated with unsettled weather, usually formed by a mass of warm air being forced up by cold air.
Clouds:
A cloud is a visable mass of condenced droplets or frozen crystals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of the Earth.
Why does weather move across the United States as it does?
Weather moves across the US from the west to the east as a result of westerlies (global winds that flow from the west to the east) and the jet stream (a long, narrow current of very strong winds in the upper troposphere). These winds are created by convection currents in the atmosphere. Convection currents are a circulating flow of air or water resulting from temperature differences; also called a convection cell.