Science Unit Test 3

Front 1

What two characteristics are used to classify air masses?

Back 1

The two characteristics that are used to classify air masses, are temperature and humidity.

Front 2

Classify the four major types of air masses according to whether they are dry or humid.

Back 2

Continental tropical - dry
Continental polar - dry
Maritime tropical - humid
Maritime polar - humid

Front 3

What type of air mass would form over the northern Atlantic Ocean?

Back 3

Maritime polar

Front 4

What is a front?

Back 4

Two air masses with different temps and humidity collide. The boundary where the air masses meet becomes a front.

Front 5

Name the four types of fronts and describe the type of weather each brings.

Back 5

Cold front - abrupt weather changes (thunderstorms), but when it passes it brings clear skies &shift in wind & lower temps
Warm front - Brings warm and humid weather and it may become rainy or cloudy for several days
Stationary front - rain, snow, fog, or clouds (many days of rain)
Occluded front - cloudy weather and rain or snow may fall

Front 6

What type of front would most likely be responsible for several days of rain and clouds?

Back 6

Stationary front

Front 7

What is a cyclone?

Back 7

A swirling center of low air pressure

Front 8

How does air move in an anticyclone? How does this movement affect the weather?

Back 8

Clockwise in the North
Counter clockwise in the South
It brings dry, clear weather

Front 9

Compare cyclones and anticyclones. What type of weather is associated with each?

Back 9

Cyclones are low-air pressure
Anti-cyclones are high-air pressure
Cyclones are associated with clouds, winds, and precipitation
Anti-cyclones are associated with dry, clear weather

Front 10

What is a thunderstorm?

Back 10

A thunderstorm is a small storm often accompanied with heavy precipitation and frequent thunder and lightning.

Front 11

List two dangers associated with thunderstorms.

Back 11

Flood and lightning

Front 12

What safety precautions should you follow during a thunderstorm?

Back 12

Avoid places that might attract lightning. Avoid objects that conduct lightning such as metal objects or bodies of water. Try to stay inside.

Front 13

What weather conditions are most likely to produce tornadoes?

Back 13

Tornadoes are most likely where thunderstorms are likely, since they both form in cumulonimbus clouds. They occur when the ground is warm.

Front 14

Why do tornadoes occur most often in the area known as the "tornado alley"?

Back 14

Because cold, dry air moves south from central Canada and warm, humid air moves north from north Mexico. When these two air masses meet, the cold air moves under the warm air forcing it to rise.

Front 15

What is a hurricane?

Back 15

A hurricane is tropical cyclone that has wind speeds of 119 km per hour or faster.

Front 16

How do hurricanes form?

Back 16

Hurricanes begin over warm ocean water as a low-pressure area, or a tropical disturbance. It grows in size and strength, becoming a tropical storm, which then MAY become a hurricane.

Front 17

What is lake-effect snow?

Back 17

When a cold, dry air mass from central Canada moves SE across one of the Great Lakes, it picks up water vapor and heat form the lake. As soon as the air mass reaches the other side of the lake, the air rises and cools again. The water vapor condenses and falls as snow, usually within 40 km of the lake.

Front 18

Why doesn't lake effect snow fall to the north or west of the Great lakes?

Back 18

In order for lake-effect snow to fall, the air mass needs to pass through the Great Lakes, and if snow fell of the north or west of the great lakes, its impossible to already have passed through them.

Front 19

What should you do if you are caught in a snowstorm?

Back 19

If you are caught in a snowstorm, try to find shelter from the wind, cover exposed parts of your body and try to stay dry. If you are in a car, keep the engine running ONLY if the exhaust pipe is clear of snow.

Front 20

What is a meteorologist?

Back 20

A meteorologists are scientists who study the causes of weather and try to predict it.

Front 21

What tools do meteorologists rely on to forecast the weather?

Back 21

Meteorologists rely on maps, charts, and computers to analyze weather data and to prepare weather forecasts.

Front 22

List three technologies used to gather weather data.

Back 22

Three technologies used to gather weather data, are weather balloons, weather satellites, and automated weather stations.

Front 23

Describe the types of weather data gathered by satellites.

Back 23

Modern satellites collect data on temp, humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, wind direction, and provide images of clouds and storm systems.

Front 24

How does the large amount of weather data gathered by various modern technologies affect the accuracy of weather forecasts?

Back 24

The more data you have, the more accurately you can predict it.

Front 25

What is the symbol for a cold front on a weather map?

Back 25

The symbol for a cold front on a weather map, is a blue line with blue triangles pointing to the direction of the cold air flow.

Front 26

How is wind direction indicated on a weather map?

Back 26

Wind direction on a weather map is indicated by the way the stick is pointing on the weather map symbol. (coming from)

Front 27

According to Figure 22, what is the weather like in Chicago? How might this change in a few hours?

Back 27

According to Figure 22, weather in Chicago is very cool and a cold front is moving towards it. In a few hours, it might snow in Chicago.

Front 28

What is the symbol for an occluded front? Stationary front?

Back 28

Occluded front - repeating semi-circles (red) and triangles (blue) on the same side
stationary front - same but rotating on different sides

Front 29

What is a storm surge?

Back 29

A storm surge is a dome of water that sweeps across the coast where the hurricane lands.