ESCI LAB Test Study Guide

Flashcards containing key definitions and concepts from the ESCI LAB study guide, covering topics like air masses, weather fronts, and climatic zones.

Front

The boundary between two air masses of different densities.

Cold Front

A front where a cold air mass advances on a warm air mass, causing heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Warm Front

A front where a warm air mass advances on a cold air mass, resulting in increasing temperatures and light precipitation.

Stationary Front

A front where two different temperature air masses meet and there is little movement until one air mass overtakes the other.

Occluded Front

A front that occurs when a cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass and meets the cool air ahead of the warm front.

Wind

The horizontal movement of air from high pressure to low pressure.

Wind Direction

The direction from which the air is coming.

Wind Speed

The speed of wind, measured in knots, with specific barbs indicating different speeds.

Low Pressure

A condition where air rises, leading to unsettled weather, clouds, and precipitation.

High Pressure

A condition where air sinks, resulting in drier weather and clear skies.

Hurricane

A tropical cyclone formed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale

A scale that categorizes hurricanes from 1 (weakest) to 5 (strongest).

Evapotranspiration

The transfer of water vapor through evaporation or transpiration from plants.

Runoff

The flow of water over land, either as sheet flow or channelized flow.

Water Table

The surface of groundwater, or the top of the saturated layer.

Climate

Weather conditions in an area over at least a 30-year period, mainly defined by temperature and precipitation.

Hadley Cells

Air circulation patterns where air rises at the equator and sinks around 30° N/S, affecting global climate.

Rainforest

A biome with high rates of precipitation and vegetation, typically located near the equator.

Desert

An area characterized by very little precipitation, not necessarily hot.

Climograph

A graphical representation of the temperature and precipitation for a particular location.

Isotherms

Lines connecting areas of equal temperature on a map.