Earth Science Exam 3

Questions from exam 3 on the final

Weather

Weather

• state of atmosphere at specific given time or place

Climate

• description of aggregate weather conditions

What drives weather patterns

• unequal heating

Rotation

• spinning of earth on axis

Revolution

• movement in orbit around sun

Three mechanisms of heat transfer

• conduction: transfer of heat through matter molecular activity

• convection: mass movement or circulation within substance

• radiation: transfer of heat through space by electromagnetic waves

Greenhouse effect

• atmosphere heated from ground up

Climate change

• increase in greenhouse gases being released

Ozone depletion

• occurred worldwide, some decreases locally

• pollution (CFC's)

• increase risk of skin cancer

Fog

• low lying cloud

Condensation level

• the height at which the relative humidity of an air parcel will reach 100%

Four mechanisms that cause air to rise

• orographic lifting: elevated terrains act as barriers to flow of air

• frontal wedging: warmer, less dense air forced over cooler, denser air

• convergence: pileup of horizontal air flows result in upward movement

• localized convective lifting: rising of small pockets of hot air

Three cloud classifications

• cirrus

• cumulus

• stratus

Cumulonimbus

• dense, towering vertical cloud

• storms

Wind

• air moves horizontally

• high to low pressure

• greater the pressure distance, stronger the winds

Friction

• only affects winds close to earth's surface

• affects wind speed and direction

(low) cyclones

• centers of low pressure

• winds blow inward, counterclockwise

(high) anticyclones

• centers of high pressure

• winds blow outward, clockwise

Different types of front

• warm front: warm air occupies territory formerly covered by cool air

• cold front: dense cold air moves to areas occupied by warm air

• stationary front: position of front does not move

• occluded front: active cold front overtakes warm front

Mid latitude cyclones

• primary weather producers for eastern US

• very large

• associated with cold front

• bring rain, changes in temperature, clouds, winds, tornadoes

Funnel cloud

• rotating storm that never touches the ground

Tornado

• violent windstorms take form of rotation column or air extends downward from cumulonimbus cloud

• rated depending on their size and strength, which cannot be measured

• measured using intensity scale (Enhanced Fujita)

Dust devil

• strong, well formed, relatively long lived whirlwind

Fire whirl

• fire acquires vorcicity and forms tornado-like verticality oriented rotating column of air

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

• how hurricanes are ranked based on their wind speeds

Hurricane

• associated with a low

• slow down on land

• intensity depends on strength of storm and shape of seafloor