Meteorology Flashcards

Flashcards for Meteorology Lecture Review

Atmosphere

The envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc.

Troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, where all weather occurs; temperatures decrease as altitude increases.

Stratosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the troposphere, containing the ozone layer; temperatures increase as altitude increases.

Mesosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the stratosphere; temperature decreases as altitude increases and it is the coldest layer.

Thermosphere

The layer of the atmosphere above the mesosphere; temperatures increase as altitude increases and it is the warmest layer.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the thermosphere, with no definite end.

Ionosphere

The lower thermosphere, an area of electrically charged particles.

Tropopause

The upper limit of the troposphere.

Stratopause

The upper limit of the stratosphere.

Mesopause

The upper limit of the mesosphere.

Reflection

Occurs when energy is reflected back into space.

Atmospheric Absorption

Occurs when energy is absorbed by the atmosphere.

Land/Water Absorption

Occurs when energy is absorbed by the surface; land heats and cools more rapidly than the ocean.

Radiation

The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves.

Conduction

The transfer of heat through direct contact.

Convection

The transfer of heat by the flow of a heated material (gas or liquid).

Climate

An average of the weather over a long period of time in a certain area.

Hail

Lumps of ice formed by rain drops that get blown back up into the cloud, freeze, and accumulate layers of rain.

Rain

Liquid drops where temperatures are above freezing all the way through the atmosphere.

Snow

Water vapor changes directly to a solid.

Sleet

Freezes, melts, then re-freezes in below freezing lower atmosphere.

Freezing Rain

Freezes, melts, then re-freezes upon contact with freezing temperatures at the surface.

Relative Humidity

A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the total amount of water that the air can hold at that temperature.

Dew Point

The temperature at which the air is saturated and condensation occurs.

Continental Artic (CA)

Air masses from very high latitudes that are extremely cold and dry.

Continental Polar (CP)

Air mass from land areas that are at high latitudes and are cold and dry.

Maritime Polar (mP)

Air mass that comes from cold oceans and are cold and humid.

Continental Tropical (CT)

Air mass that comes from warm land areas and are hot and dry.

Maritime Tropical (mT)

Air mass that comes from warm seas/oceans and are warm and humid.

Cold Front

Occurs when cold air mass pushes under warm air mass, producing narrow bands of storms.

Warm Front

Occurs when warm air mass goes over a cold air mass, producing wide bands of precipitation.

Occluded Front

Occurs when two cold air masses merge, forcing warm air up, producing strong winds and heavy precipitation.

Stationary Front

Occurs when warm and cold air masses meet and stop, producing light wind and precipitation.

Air Pressure

The result of collisions of air molecules with objects and with each other.

Sea Breeze

Comes from the sea during the day, as warm air over land is pushed up by cooler air coming in off of water.

Land Breeze

Comes from the land at night, as warm air over sea is pushed up by cooler air coming from the land.

Mountain Breeze

Moves down the mountain at night.

Valley Breeze

Moves up the mountain in the morning.

Coriolis Effect

The effect of earth's rotation on the movement of air masses, causing a change in wind direction.

Enhanced Fujita Scale

Used to classify the strength of tornadoes based on wind speeds.

Hurricane

Large, swirling, low pressure system form over tropical oceans with winds at least 120 km per hour.

Saffir-Simpson Scale

Used to classify the strength of hurricanes based on wind speeds.s

Thunderstorm

Heavy rain, lightning, thunder, and hail develop at warm moist air masses along a fast moving cold front.

Tornado

Violent, whirling wind moving over a narrow path of land (water spout if it occurs over water) form along fronts with wind up to 500 km per hour.

Isobar

Lines connecting points of equal pressure.

Isotherm

Lines connecting points of equal temperature.

Psychrometer

Instrument used to measure humidity.

Barometer

Instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure.

Thermometer

Instrument used to measure air temperature.

Anemometer

Instrument used to measure wind speed.

Weather vane

Instrument used to measure wind direction.

Rain gauge

Instrument used to measure the amount of precipitation.

Greenhouse effect

High CO₂ levels produced by human activities increase CO₂ levels leading to this.

Ozone

Blocks harmful UV radiation; CFC's decreasing its levels.