Unit - Weather

What are the four types of air masses and their abbreviations?

c = continental, m = maritime, T = tropical, P = polar

What type of weather does the continental tropical (cT) air mass bring?

Dry and warm

What do the abbreviations cP, mT, and mP stand for?

cP = continental polar, mT = maritime tropical, mP = maritime polar

What weather conditions are associated with a cold front?

Cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds, brief heavy precipitation, possible thunderstorms, high winds from the north, temperatures cool after passing.

How does a warm front form?

When a warm air mass moves into a cold air mass.

What types of clouds are typically found at a warm front?

High cirrus clouds, altostratus, stratus, nimbostratus.

How do cyclones differ from anticyclones in terms of pressure?

Cyclones are low pressure systems while anticyclones are high pressure systems.

Describe the wind movement around cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere.

Winds move inward towards the low pressure center and flow counterclockwise.

What is a hurricane and what conditions does it require to form?

A storm with winds of 75+ mph that forms over warm ocean waters.

What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning?

A hurricane watch indicates a hurricane is expected in 24-36 hours; a hurricane warning indicates it is expected within 24 hours.

How can you identify cloud cover percentage on a station model?

Indicated by the percentage of the circle that is filled; unfilled = 0%, completely filled = 100%.

What is indicated by a long stick on a station model?

Wind speed of 10 mph.

What does the pressure number indicate in a station model?

It is abbreviated from a digit between 950-1050; add a 9 or 10 in front depending on its size.

What type of weather do stationary fronts typically bring?

Light winds, stratus clouds, and possible precipitation that may persist for days.

What indicates the presence of a warm air mass on a weather map?

A big H indicates clear conditions.

Define isotherm and isobar.

Isotherm: a line representing equal temperature; Isobar: a line representing equal pressure.