Natural Disasters TEST 2

4 Main Gases in order from most abundant to least

Nitrogen, Oxygen, Argon, Carbon Dioxide

4 main gases percentages

Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Argon (1%), Carbon Dioxide (<1%)

Layers of Atmosphere in Order

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

Layers of Atmosphere distances

Troposphere (0-11 km/ 7miles), Stratosphere (11-50 km/ 30miles), Mesosphere (50-80 km/ 50miles), and Thermosphere (80 km and above).

Main Fact of Troposphere

The lowest layer of the atmosphere, where weather occurs and temperature decreases with altitude.

Main fact of Stratosphere

The second layer of the atmosphere, characterized by a temperature increase with altitude and the presence of the ozone layer.

Main fact od Mesosphere

The third layer of the atmosphere, where temperature decreases with altitude

Main fact of Thermosphere

The fourth and outermost layer of the atmosphere, temperature increases with altitude, the ionosphere is in the lower layer, air molecules are ionized by solar energy, and the Northern Lights occur here, including the D, E, and F layers.

Ozone layer

Layer of molecular ozone that absorbs ultraviolet light from UV. The UV breaks the O2 bond, creating free radicals that bonds to another O2 molecule. creating ozone.

Phase Changes of Water

The transitions between solid, liquid, and gas phases of water, including melting, freezing, evaporation, condensation, sublimation, and deposition.

Energy Expenditure of Phase changes of water

Liquid to/from Gas: ±600 cal/gram

Liquid to/from Solid: ±80 cal/gram

Sublimation/Deposition: ±680 cal/gram

Latent Heat

Heat absorbed or released during phase change of water.

What drives weather

Water Vapor rises due to heat from sun until it reaches the L.O.C. where water vapor turns into liquid droplets(cloud). Latent heat from condensation drives vertical development creating storms and weather.

What does cloud height equal

Air temp = dew point

dew point definition

Temperature at which air cannot hold anymore water

6 types of precipitation

Rain, Snow, Hail, Sleet, Glaze/freezing rain, Rime

Rain

Must have radius between 0.05mm and 5 mm.

Snow

It is 6 sided in shape and grows through accumulation. Texture and Form are dependent on temperature.

Sleet

(FREEZES BEFORE HITTING GROUND)

Forms when warm air is ver cooler air

Glaze

(FREEZES UPON IMPACT OF GROUND

A covering of ice over all objects, forms from thin subfreezing air layer

Hail

Forms from convection currents within Thunderstorms, Size between 1-5cm

Rime

Deposit of ICE CRYSTALS on any object whose surface is lower than freezing. Forms from supercooled fog

what do clashing air masses do?

Create Weather

All air mass types

mE, mT, mP, cP, cT, and cA air masses.

Air Mass Characteristics

They assume the temp and moisture of its Source Region

Global Wind Belts

0-30° Trade Winds, 30-60° Westerlies, 60-90° Polar Easterlies

Frontal Wedging

Occurs when a colder air mass lifts a warmer air mass, leading to cloud formation and precipitation.

Warm Front

Warm Moist Air, WInd Shifts from EAST TO SOUTHWEST

Cold Front

Cold Dry Air, Wind shifts from SOUTH TO WEST

Occluded Front

Cold Front overtakes Warm Front. Warm air is forced a loft

Stationary Front

Air mass does not move Shown as line with blue triangles and red semi circles on opposite sides of the line.Winds move from opposite directions on opposite sides of the front.

Stages of a thunderstorm

1. Cumulus- (forming) Updrafts from latent heat only

2. Mature- (Its on) Updrafts and downdrafts

3. Dissipating- (falling apart) downdrafts only.

Ordinary Thunderstorm

20,000- 40,000ft, lasting 45 minutes

Severe Thunderstorm

40,000- 60,000ft - lasting 60 minutes

Supercell Thunderstorm

60,000ft -80,000ft, lasts hours

Thunderstorm Overshoot

Cloud is still vertically developing but anvils prematurally.

Squall Line

Cold front moved so fast it subducts a warm front creating rolling tubes of air.

Tornados 3 characteristics

1. 100- 300mph

2. upwards air currents

3. pressure change

EF- scale

A scale used to classify the strength of tornadoes based on the damage they cause, ranging from EF0 (weak) to EF5 (incredible).

2 Types of Tornados

GROUND UP- forms form squall lines

CLOUD DOWN- Crossing winds in a front will create tornado

Tornado Equation

Velocity = MVr

Pressure change from tornado

Creates outward explosion in buildings

Fujita Scale

A scale that rates the intensity of tornadoes based on the damage they cause and estimated wind speeds. Scale from F0-F5

Pressure in Troposphere range

950 - 1050 mb

Lighting types

CLOUD TO GROUND- electrons move from cloud to ground (flash of light moves from ground up)

GROUND TO CLOUD- electrons move from ground to cloud ( flash of light moves from cloud down)

CLOUD TO CLOUD- electrons move from cloud to cloud( flash of light moves opposite to movement of electrons)

Return Stroke

Flash of light from lighting that moves opposite to the movement of electrons

30-30 rule for lighting

30 seconds - seek shelter

30 minutes - stay there

Scientific name for a hurricane

Tropical cyclone

Conditions needed for a hurricane

-80° water, must be a large stretch of ocean, large amounts of moisture continuously, wind speed minimum of 73 mph

Why is the Eye wall of a hurricane significant

The eye wall is significant because it is the area surrounding the eye of the hurricane, where the most intense winds and heaviest rainfall occur, leading to the greatest damage.

Parts of a hurricane

The parts of a hurricane include the eye, eye wall, and rainbands, each contributing to the storm's structure and behavior.

How can we track hurricanes

-Satellites

-aircraft reconnaissance

-Doppler radar

Saffir - Simpson Scale

A classification system for hurricanes that rates their intensity on a scale from 1 to 5 based on sustained wind speeds and potential damage.

Storm Surge

30-50 miles wide, creates most damage, ocean rises 2in per millibar drop. accounts for 90% of hurricane deaths.

2 types of Floods

FLASH FLOOD- Large rainfall over short period of time. Lasts hours to days.

REGIONAL FLOOD- Heavy rainfall for weeks to months. lasts weeks to months.

Stream Equilibrium Elements and definition

Discharge - How much water is flowing in the river. Volume/per unit time

Load - Sediment that the river is carrying

Gradient - The slope of the river

Braided Streams

A type of river channel characterized by multiple interwoven channels. Caused by to much load causing seidiement to build up.

Meandering River

A river channel characterized by looping curves and bends, formed by the erosion of the outer banks and deposition on the inner banks, typically found in areas with gentle slopes.

What is fire

Rapid combustion of oxygen with carbon, hydrogen and other elements that produces flame, heat and light.

Fire Triangle

FUEL, OXYGEN, HEAT

Wildfire Types

1. Ground Fire- Moves Laterally

2. Wall Fire- Moves Laterally and Vertically

3. Crown Fire- moves through the tops of trees laterally

What is a Fire Gap

A fire gap is a controlled area that helps to stop or slow the spread of wildfires. It can include cleared land or natural barriers.

Fire Laddering

The process in which fire moves up objects to get taller and taller such as bushes, trees or buildings.

Guaranteed Impact

Asteroid has to be more than 350 tons to guarantee entry through earth’s atmosphere

Asteroids come from where

The Asteroid belt

Meteoroid definition

(OUT IN SPACE)- Pieces of asteroids and comets orbiting the sun.

Meteor definition

(IN EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE)- Shooting stars blazing through Earth's atmosphere

Meteorite definition

(HIT SURFACE OF EARTH)- Object actually hits the surface of the earth

Types of Asteriods

Metallic (Iron) - Easier to get through atmosphere than stony

Rocky (Stony) - Harder to pass through atmosphere than metallic.

Torino Scale

Assesses comet and asteroid impact hazard on a scale of 0-10.