2nd lecture meteorology

Atmospheric optics

Rainbows sunsets and halos; a spectacular display of colors and visuals in the sky called _______

Front

Define as the transition zone between two air masses of different density

continental polar air mass

cold, dry air mass

Reflection

Tendency of light to bounce off a surface

Scattering of light

Diffrent from reflection, where radiation isbdeflected in one direction

Scatterers

The particle which scatter light are called

Rayleigh scattering

Occurs when certain particles are more effective at scattering a particular wavelenght of light

blue-violetw

Air molecules like oxygen and nitrogen for example are small in size and thus more effective at scattering shorter wavelengths of light

Mie Scattering

Is responsible for the white appearance of clouds

Refraction

Bending of light asit passes from one medium to another

Halos

Refraction of light by atmospheric partices can result in several beautiful optical effects like _______ which are produced when sunlight is refracted by the pencil shaped ice crystal of cirrostratus cloud

Normal

The _________ is a line perpendicular to the boundary between the two subs

Diffraction of light

Slight bending of light as it passes around the the edge of an object

Constructive inteference

If the crests of two waves combine an amplified wave is produced

destrustive interference

However, if a crest of one wave and a trough of another wave combined they cancel each other out to produce no vertical displacement

Crepuscular Rays

Occurs when object such as maountains peaks or clouds partially shadows the sun rays

Halo

Ring of light surrounding the sun or moon

Sundogs

Also known as mock suns or parhelia are a pair of brightly colored spots one on either side of the sun

sun pillar

Vertical shaftvof light extending upward or downward from the sun

Corona

Crown of light around the sun or moon

Cloud iredescence

Is an oprical effect where difraction of sunlight in clouds produce a multitude of color

Rainbow

Is an arc or concentric colored bands that develops when sunlight interacts with rain drops

Primary Rainbow

Brighter than a secondary rain bow and has color changing ffom red on the outside to violet on the inside

Secondary rainbow

Appears outside of a primary rainbow and developes when light entering a raindrop undergoes two internal reflections instead of just one

weather

State of teh atmosphere at a given location and time

High pressure center

Where the pressure has been measured to be the highest realtive to its surrounding

anticyclone

A high pressure center also represents the center of an_____

Clockwise

In high pressure center wind flow_____ around a high pressure center in northen hemisphere

Low pressure center

Is where the pressure has been measured go be the lowest realative to its surrounding

Cyclone

Low pressure center also represents the center of _____

Counterclockwise

In low pressure center winds flow ________ around a low in the northern hemisphere

Pressure gradient

Change is pressure measured across a given distance is called a

Pressure gradient force

The pressure gradient results in a net force that is directed from high to low pressure and this dorce is called

Coriolis force

Once air has been set in motion by the pressure gradient force it undergoes an apparent deflection and thsi defelction is called the ______ and is a result of the earths rotation

geostrophic

Wind gains speed deflection increase until the coriolis force equals the pressure grafient force. Wind will be blowing parallel to the isobar. This wind is reffered to as

Net force

Force at gradual change

Roughness

Amount of deflection surface wind has with respect to the geostriphic wind above depends on the _________ of the terrain

1-2km

Friction effects on air motion decrease as the altitude increase to point usually_____ where it ha sno effevt at all

Boundary layer

The depth of the atmosphere that friction does play a role in atmospheric motion is reffered to as the_______

convergence

It is this surface_______ which lead to rising air which can create cloud and even cause rain and storms to form

sea breeze

The flow of cooler air from over an ocean or lake toward land

Land breeze

On clear calm evening temperature differences between a body of water and neighboring land produce a cool wind that blows offshore

Air mass

Is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture properties throughout

Geostrophic wind

Are wind balanced by the coriolis and pressure gradiemt force

gradient wind

Non geostrophic wind which blow parallel to isobarw

Arctic air mass

Generally exhibit relatively colder temperature with lower dew point temperature and winds generally out of north

Tropical air mass

Generally exhibit relatively warmer temperature, with higher dew point temperature and winds generally out of the south

Continental

Dry

Maritime

Ocean/moist

Tropical

Warm

polar

Cold

Front

Define as the transition zone between two air masses of different density

stationary front

Front that is not moving

cold front

Define as the transition zone where a cols air mass is replacing a warmer air mass

warm front

Define as the transition zone where a warm air mass is replacing a cold air mass

occluded front

Occurs when cold front overtakes a warm front

Dry Line

Boundary that separates a moist air mass from a dry air mass