Earth Science Midterm

Wind

the natural movement of ait

Winds are caused by =

the uneven heating of the atmosphere

Uneven heating creates differences in =

pressure

Isobar

a contour line connecting points of equal pressure

Isobaric Map

a map that displays differences in pressures using contour lines called Isobars

The closer the isobars the winds become =

faster

Pressure gradient force

the force exerted by differences in pressure which causes air to move

Coriolis Effect

the affect of Earths rotation which causes the parent deflection of anything in motion (winds, ocean currents) relative to earth’s surface

Local Wind

any wind that travels a distance of 100 km or less and therefore are not noticeably affected by Earth rotation

Large Scale Wind

Winds that travel a distance greater than 100 km

Storm Rotation Direction in the Northern Hemisphere

Counter Clockwise

Storm Rotation Direction in the Southern Hemisphere

Clockwise

Air Mass

large region of the troposphere with similar weather characteristics

maritime

sea

Continental

over land

What is common about all air masses whose first letter is a lower case m

they form over water

What is common about all air masses whose first letter is a lower case c

they form over land

continental

over land

Source Region

location where an air mass originates

cA

continental atctic

mP

maritime polar

cA descrption

very cold very dry

mP description

cool and humid

cP

continental polar

cP description

cold and dry

mT

Maritime tropical

mT description

warm and humid

cT

continental tropical

cT description

hot and dry

mE

Maritime Equatorial

mE description

hot and very humid

cAA

Continental Antarctic

cAA description

very cold and very dry

Front

a boundary between unlike air masses

Cold front

the leading edge of a cooler air mass that is displacing a warmer air mass

The closer to the Isobars the ____ the winds

stronger

the higher the pressure gradient force, the ____ the winds

stronger

The wind blows towards the ____ pressure area

Low pressure

Pressure Gradient Force

the force exerted by differences in pressure which causes air to move

Wind

the natural movement of the air

Winds are caused by

the uneven heating of earth’s surface

The uneven heating creates what

differences in pressure

Winds will blow from regions of ____ pressure to regions of ____ lower pressure

higher, lower

What color is the high pressure symbol colored

Blue

What color is the low pressure symbol colored

red

water temps = ___ pressure

lower

lower temps = ___ pressure

higher

Isobar

a contour line connecting points of equal pressure

Isobaric Map

a map that displays differences in pressure

In the northern hemisphere winds go in what direction around a high pressure area

clockwise

In the northern hemisphere, winds go what direction around a low

counterclockwise

Cumulo

heap or pile

Strato

layer

Cirro

curl

Nimbo

cloud

Alto

High or tall

Cumuliform Clouds

vertically developed tall or puffy clouds formed due to strong convective forces

Stratiform clouds

layered clouds that form due to strong adjective forces

Stratus

light gray blanket like low altitude clouds that bring no precipitation or little

Nimbostratus

dark gray blanket like low to middle altitude clouds that bring steady precipitation

Cumulus

puffy cottonball

Culumonimbus

towering anvil shaped low to high altitude thunderstorm clouds that bring thunder lightning, hail, and heavy precipitation

Cirrus

thin, wispy, high altitude clouds composed predominantly of ice crystals that bring fine weather but suggest the approach of precipitation

Formula to Calculate the Height of Cloud Base

LCL(meters) = (T - Td)/0.8 × 100

Celsius to Fahrenheit

F = (1.8 x C) + 32

Fahrenheit to Celsius

C = F - 32/1.8

Meteorology

the study of the atmosphere with emphasis of weather forecasting

Meteorologist

Experts who study the atmosphere, mostly weather

Weather

the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place

Climate

the long term/average weather conditions of a region

Observation

information acquired by using your 5 senses 

Inference

conclusions drawn based on observation and prior knowledge

Hypothesis

a proposed explanation or interpretation that is testable through further explanation

Theory

a single unified explanation for a wide variety of observation

Beaufort Scale

a scale ranging from 0-12 that allows and individual to estimate the current wind speeds of land and at sea

Windchill

the cooling affect of the wind

Thermometer

measures temperature

Barometer

Air Pressure

Hygrometer

humidity

Sling Psycrometerr

relative humidity and dewpoint

Wind vane

determines wind direction

Anemometer

measures wind speeds

Rain Gauge

measures the amount and the rate of rain fall

Snow Gauge

measures height and rate of snowfall

Sonde

the instruments attached to a weather ballon