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19 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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WHAT IS A POLAR FRONT THEORY?
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-exlains the life cycle of cyclones
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WHAT TWO THINGS ARE NEEDED TO INITIATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MID-LATITUDE CYCLONE?
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1. stationary front
2. curvature in jet stream |
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WHAT ARE THE SIX STAGES OF THE POLAR FRONT THEORY?
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1. Polar front
2. Frontal wave 3. Open wave 4. wave cyclone 5. occlusion 6. dissipation |
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WHAT IS THE SECOND STAGE OF THE POLAR FRONT THEORY AND WHAT IS IT CHARACTERIZED BY?
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~the second stage of the polar front theory is the frontal wave stage.
~It is characterized by a wavelike kink along the front. ~It is in this stage the warm and cold fronts develop. |
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WHAT IS THE THIRD STAGE OF THE POLAR FRONT THEORY AND WHAT IS IT CHARACTERIZED BY?
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~The third stage of the polar front theory is the open wave stage.
~It marks the development of a warm sector and deepeining low pressure (central pressure drops further). ~Precipitation begins to form along the cold front and ahead of the warm front due to overrunning. |
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WHAT IS THE FOURTH STAGE OF THE POLAR FRONT THEORY AND WHAT IS IT CHARACERIZED BY?
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~the fourth stage is the wave cyclone stage and is characterized by:
-increase in strength (central pressure dropping) -diminishing warm sector -widespread precipitation -development of a comma-shaped cloud structure as seen from satellite imagery |
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WHAT IS THE FIFTH STAGE OF THE POLAR FRONT THEORY AND WHAT IS IT CHARAVTERIZED BY?
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The fifth stage of the polar front theory is the Ooccluson stage.
It is characterized by: -the storm is most intense as the cold front overtakes the warm front -clouds and precipitation cover a large area of the mid-latitude cyclone |
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WHAT IS THE FINAL STAGE OF THE POLAR FRONT THEORY AND WHAT IS IT CHARACTERIZED BY?
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The last stage of the polar front theory is called the dissipation stage. It represents the death of the cyclone as the storm collapses into a stationary front.
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WHAT IS A THUNDERSTORM?
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A storm containing lightning and thunder.
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DESCRIBE THE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORDINARY (AIRMASS) THUNERSTORM
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1. cumulus stage:
A parcel of warm, humid air rises, it cools and condenses into a single cumulus cloud or cluster of clouds. There is no lighting or thunder during this stage. 2. MATURE STAGE: The thunderstorm is most intense. Lightning and thunder are present during this stage. Heavy rain falls from the cloud. 3. DISSIPATING STAGE: Occurs when the updrafts weaken as the gust front moves away from the strom and no longer enhances updrafts. |
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WHAT THREE CONDITIONS ARE NECESSARY FOR THE DEVELOPMETN OF THUNDERSTORMS?
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1. Moisture
2. lifting mechanism -fronts -mountains 3. instability |
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HOW DO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS DIFFER FROM NON-SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS?
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-severe thunderstorms produces hail at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter
-surface wind gusts of 50 knots or greater -produces a tornado -usually form in areas with a strong vertical wind shear |
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WHERE DOES THE HIGHEST FREQUENCY OF THUNDERSTORMS OCCUR IN THE US? WHY THERE?
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Thunderstorms are most frequent in Florida. This is because areas with it near the gulf and it has warmth and moisture.
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WHY ARE THUNDERSTORMS NOT VERY COMMON ALONG THE WESTERN COAST OF THE US?
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In these areas there isn't the moisture necessary to trigger a thunderstorm.
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WHAT IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR THUNDERSTORMS?
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Moist air
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HOW LONG DO THUNDERSTORMS TYPICALLY LAST?
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an hour
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WHERE DO THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP RELATIVE TO THE CENTER OF A CYCLONE (LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM) AND FRONTS?
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-south of the low
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WHAT IS "WIND SHEAR?"
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-rapid changes in wind speed or wind direction
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ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WHAT DEFINES A THUNDERSTORM AS BEING SEVERE?
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A thunderstorm is severe if it produces hail at least 3/4 inch in diameter, winds of 58 mph of stronger, or a tornado.
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