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31 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Meteorology |
Study of Atmospheric Process |
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Weather |
current state of the atmosphere |
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Climate |
Long Term Weather patterns |
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Atmospheric gases |
78% Nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% trace gas |
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Structure of the Atmosphere |
80 Mi High: Thermosphere
20 Mi High: Mesosphere 20 Mi High: Stratosphere/Ozone Layer 5-10 Mi High: Troposphere |
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Elements of Weather |
1. Temp 2. Atmospheric Pressure 3. Wind 4. Water/Moisture |
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What is temperature |
Measurement of Molecular Movement |
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Insolation |
Short wave radiation. Light. Earth receives 47% insolation |
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Terrestial Radiation |
Long wave radiation that heats the atmosphere |
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Reasons for temp Variation |
1. Latitude Sun angle and length of day 2. Land and water distribution 3. Ocean Currents 4. Elevation |
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Atmospheric Pressure |
Force exerted by the atmosphere upon a surface |
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What holds the atmosphere together |
Gravity |
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How can pressure be measured and quantified? |
1. PSI 2. Inches of Mercury 3. Milibars |
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Why do changes in pressure occur? |
1. Altitude or Elevation 2. Temperature |
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What happens to atmospheric pressure as you increase in elevation? |
it decreases |
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Qualities of a High Pressure system |
1. Descending 2. Clear 3. Divergent Air 4. Anti-Cyclone |
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Qualities of a Low Pressure System |
1. Ascending Air 2. Storm Potential 3. Convergent Air 4. Cyclone |
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Wind |
Movement of air in response to pressure differences |
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How does air flow? |
from high to low |
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Coriolis Effect |
An Apparent reflection of winds caused by rotation of the earth. Winds and fluids have a deflection to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. |
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Adiabatic lapse |
5.5 degrees for every 1000 ft Lifting condensation level |
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Lcl |
altitude at which clouds form (condensation occurs |
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Dewpoint |
Temperature for cloud formation |
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How are clouds classified? |
shape and altitude |
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Shapes of cloud |
1. Cumulus = puffy 2. Stratus = Not puffy 3. Cirrus = mare's tails |
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Altitudes of clouds |
1. High (20,000 Ft) = Cirro 2. Middle (6,500 ft) = "alto" 3. Low = Only has cumulonimbus (thunderheads) |
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Condensation Nuclei |
Surface or particle around which condensation occurs. 1 rain drop is 1 million condensation nuclei |
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What are the 3 ways of lifting air? |
1. Convection 2. Orographic Lifting 3. Frontal Precipitation |
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What is Convection in terms of Lifting Air? |
Warm air rises adiabatically until it reaches dewpoint. Occurs in warm moist areas and desert regions. creates Cumulonimbus clouds |
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What is orographic lifting? |
Air rises as it encounters a slope. Dry side is leeward or "rainshadow" |
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What is Frontal Precipitation? |
when 2 large air masses of different temperatures and moisture meet. The warmer mass is lifted above the cooler one.
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