HNRS: Broadcast Meteorology Exam 2

Air masses

Large bodies of air with similar temperature and humidity

Fronts

Boundaries between different air masses

Mid-latitude cyclone

Large rotating storm along the polar front

Norwegian cyclone model

Lifecycle: stationary → wave → open → occluded → dissipated

Polar high

Cold, dense high-pressure air at poles

Polar front

Boundary between cold polar and warm midlatitude air

Equatorial low

Low-pressure zone with rising air near equator (ITCZ)

Subtropical high

High-pressure zone with sinking air near 30°

Subpolar low

Low-pressure zone near 60° with frequent storms

Polar jet stream

Fast-moving upper-level wind controlling storms

Subtropical jet stream

Upper-level wind at lower latitudes

Maritime tropical (mT)

Warm, humid air mass

Continental polar (cP)

Cold, dry air mass

Continental arctic (cA)

Extremely cold, dry air mass

Maritime polar (mP)

Cool, moist air mass

Continental tropical (cT)

Hot, dry air mass

Stationary polar front

Boundary between air masses that is not moving

Vorticity

Measure of atmospheric rotation

Divergence

Air spreading apart, causing rising motion

Convergence

Air coming together, causing sinking motion

Relative vorticity

Spin relative to Earth's surface

Zonal flow

Straight west-to-east atmospheric flow

Meridional flow

Wavy north-south atmospheric flow

Single-cell thunderstorm

Short-lived, isolated storm

Multicellular cluster

Group of thunderstorms in different stages

Multicellular line

Organized line of storms (squall line)

Supercell thunderstorm

Rotating storm capable of tornadoes

Squall line

Long line of intense thunderstorms

Lifted condensation level (LCL)

Height where clouds form

Level of free convection (LFC)

Level where air rises freely

Equilibrium level (EL)

Height where rising air stops

Convective inhibition (CIN)

Energy preventing convection

Convective available potential energy (CAPE)

Energy available for storms

Tornado formation

Rotation from wind shear + supercell structure

Tropical cyclone

Warm-core low-pressure storm (hurricane)

Tropical cyclone formation

Requires warm water, moisture, low wind shear

El Niño

Warm phase of ENSO with weakened trade winds

Southern Oscillation

Pressure changes linked to ENSO

Walker circulation

East-west tropical atmospheric circulation

La Niña

Cool phase of ENSO with stronger trade winds

ENSO cycle

Alternating El Niño and La Niña phases

Climate controls

Factors like latitude, elevation, and ocean currents

Köppen system

Climate classification based on temperature and precipitation

Mild midlatitude

Moderate climates (e.g., humid subtropical)

Humid subtropical

Hot summers, mild winters, wet

Severe midlatitude

Large seasonal temperature differences

Humid continental

Cold winters, warm summers

Atmospheric optics

Study of light behavior in atmosphere

Scattered light

Light spread in many directions (blue sky)

Reflected light

Light bouncing off surfaces

Refracted light

Light bending through mediums

Diffracted light

Light spreading around objects

Absorbed light

Light energy taken in by matter

Polar climates

Very cold climates near poles

Mirages

Optical illusion from light bending in air layers

Halo formation

Rings around sun/moon from ice crystals

Sun dogs

Bright spots beside the sun

Sun pillars

Vertical columns of light

Rainbow formation

Refraction, reflection, dispersion of light

Corona formation

Diffraction rings around sun/moon