Studied by 16 people
clouds seen during warm front
nimbostratus, altostratus, cirrostratus, cirrus
weather seen during warm front
moderate precipitation
clouds seen during cold front
cumulonimbus
weather seen during cold front
heavy precipitation
weather seen during occluded front
thunderstorms
clouds seen during stationary front
altocumulus
air mass
a large body of air defined by its temperature and humidity characteristics and bordered by fronts
front
boundary between 2 air masses of different temperatures or humidity that meet up
arctic
air mass from high latitudes
polar
air mass from mid latitudes
tropical
air mass from low latitudes
maritime
air mass from sea
continental
air mass from land
mP
maritime polar air mass
cT
continental tropical air mass
cold front pattern
blue triangles
warm front pattern
red scalloped
occluded front pattern
purple mixed shapes
stationary front pattern
red and blue mixed shapes
air pressure at sea level
14.7 psi
psi
pounds per square inch
atmospheric pressure is same as
barometric pressure
air pressure
the weight of the air above an object
why air exerts pressure
gas has mass
air flows from _ to _
high, low
air pressure decreases
elevation, temperature, humidity increases
why elevation decreases air pressure
fewer air molecules are above you
why temperature decreases air pressure
molecules spread out and become less dense
why humidity decreases air pressure
water vapor weighs less than nitrogen
high pressure system air direction
anticyclone, clockwise in north, down, out at ground
high pressure system weather
sunny
low pressure system air direction
cyclone, clockwise in south, up, in at ground
low pressure system weather
cloudy and rainy
what generates wind
air moving from high to low to equalize pressure
the closer lines in pressure gradient
the faster the winds
coriolis effect
direction of blowing wind is not in a straight line from high to low due to rotation of earth
what affects wind speed and direction
pressure gradient, friction, coriolis effect
In northern hemisphere wind deflects to
right
In southern hemisphere wind deflects to
left
orographic lifting
air is forced to rise over mountainous barrier so clouds form on the windward side of barrier
front wedging
warmer, less-dense air is forced over cooler, denser air
convergence
when air flows in from opposite directions, collides, and rises
local convective lifting
unequal surface heating causes localized pockets of air to rise because of their buoyancy
humidity
how much water vapor is in the atmosphere
isobar
lines on air pressure map that connect areas of equal pressure
pressure gradient
weather map that reports air pressure that looks like topographical map
monsoon
a wind systems that changes direction seasonally
altitude
how high up something is
hurricane
middle size of cyclone, in north atlantic and north east pacific
jet stream
fast flowing “river of air” at the top of the troposphere at boundary between P and T Air masses, goes east to west
tornado
smallest size of cyclone
sea breeze
cycle of a low pressure system above warm ground mixing with high pressure system above cool ocean
mid latitude cyclone
largest size of cyclone (is occluded front) (noreaster)
rain
snow falls into warm air and melts
freezing rain
snow melts in warm air but hits cold air and freezes on ground
sleet
snow melts and refreezes as it travels into cold air
snow
snow falls through cold air and never melts
Note 
Flashcard (24)