Meteorology: Cloud, Precipitation, and Wind Pattern Key Concepts

Cloud droplet size is NOT affected by

Cloud top height

Clouds below freezing level (>0°C) are made of

Water droplets

Main factor determining hail size

Updraft strength

Measured intensity of falling precipitation

Radar reflectivity

Precipitation that freezes on contact

Freezing rain

Precipitation that refreezes in atmosphere

Sleet

Thunderstorm that produces snow

Thundersnow

Cloud producing largest raindrops

Cumulonimbus

Not a raindrop shape

Teardrop

Precipitation only in thunderstorms

Hail

Anticyclonic flow occurs around

Ridges and highs

Coriolis effect (Northern Hemisphere)

Turns wind right

Cyclonic flow occurs around

Troughs and lows

Main force driving wind

Pressure gradient force

Friction affects winds most at

Surface

Isobaric surfaces tilt

Upward in warm, downward in cold

Surface low pressure causes

Convergence, divergence aloft, rising air

High pressure aloft corresponds to

Ridges

Sea-level pressure accounts for

Elevation

Constant pressure surfaces

Isobaric

90° wind direction

Easterly

Warm downslope Rocky Mountain winds

Chinook winds

Dust devils form in

Hot, clear days

Dust storm from thunderstorms

Haboob

Hurricanes are

Synoptic scale

State with no land breeze

Oklahoma

North American Monsoon location

Southwest US and Northern Mexico

Turbulence scale

Microscale

Winds spreading wildfires in Southern California

Santa Ana winds

Wind direction describes

Where it comes from

30°N is associated with

High pressure and sinking air

Jet stream near 30°N

Subtropical jet

Least rainfall latitude

30°N

Reversal of Pacific circulation

El Niño

Enhancement of Pacific circulation

La Niña

Gulf Stream impacts

Georgia

ITCZ location

0°

Not caused by ocean-atmosphere interaction

None of the above

Main winds over the United States

Westerly

Most rainfall latitude

0°

Cold front overtaking warm front

Occlusion

Coldest air mass

Continental arctic

Dew point front

Dry line

Air mass forming over ocean

Maritime

Purple front (triangles and semicircles)

Occluded front

Seattle weather air mass

Maritime polar

Southwest US summer air mass

Continental tropical

Strongest thunderstorms form along

Cold front

Tropical cyclone air mass

Maritime tropical

Warm front symbol

Red semicircles