Science Olympiad Meteorology Review

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What is the troposphere?

The lowest atmospheric layer where temperature decreases with height and weather occurs

What is the stratosphere?

The atmospheric layer above the troposphere where temperature increases with height

What is a temperature inversion?

A condition where air temperature increases with height instead of decreasing

What is atmospheric thickness?

The vertical distance between two pressure levels

What is the main composition of Earth atmosphere?

Nitrogen oxygen argon and trace gases

What are atmospheric pollutants?

Substances added to the air that harm health or environment

What is insolation?

Incoming solar radiation received by Earth

How does the atmosphere affect insolation?

It reflects absorbs and scatters solar energy

What causes daily temperature patterns?

Earth rotation causing day and night

What causes seasonal temperature patterns?

Earth axial tilt and revolution around the Sun

What is Earth axial tilt?

The angle of Earth axis relative to its orbit

What is specific heat?

The amount of energy needed to change temperature of a substance

Why does water moderate climate?

High specific heat allows slow temperature change

What is density of water anomaly?

Water is densest at four degrees Celsius

What is sensible heat?

Heat that changes temperature

What is latent heat?

Heat absorbed or released during phase change

How does latent heat affect weather?

It fuels storms and cloud formation

What is relative humidity?

The percentage of water vapor in air compared to maximum possible

What is dew point?

The temperature at which air becomes saturated

What is wet bulb temperature?

The lowest temperature air can reach by evaporation

What is water vapor?

The gaseous form of water in the atmosphere

What is an atmospheric river?

A long narrow region of concentrated moisture transport

What is virga?

Precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground

What is dew?

Liquid water formed by condensation on surfaces

What is frost?

Ice formed when water vapor deposits on surfaces

What is fog?

A cloud that forms at ground level

How do high clouds form?

They form from ice crystals at high altitudes

How do middle clouds form?

They form from water droplets and ice crystals

How do low clouds form?

They form from water droplets near the surface

How do vertically developed clouds form?

They grow from strong upward motion

What is cirrus?

Thin wispy high level ice crystal clouds

What is cirrostratus?

High thin clouds that create halos

What is cirrocumulus?

High clouds with small rippled patterns

What is altostratus?

Gray middle level clouds covering the sky

What is altocumulus?

Puffy middle level clouds in groups

What is nimbostratus?

Thick clouds producing steady precipitation

What is stratus?

Low uniform gray clouds

What is stratocumulus?

Low lumpy clouds with breaks

What is cumulus?

Puffy clouds with flat bases

What is cumulonimbus?

Tall clouds producing heavy rain and lightning

What are lenticular clouds?

Lens shaped clouds over mountains

What are orographic clouds?

Clouds formed by air rising over terrain

What is pyrocumulonimbus?

A thunderstorm cloud formed from intense fire heat

What is advection fog?

Fog formed when warm moist air moves over cold surface

What is radiation fog?

Fog formed by nighttime cooling of the ground

What is frontal fog?

Fog formed by evaporation near a front

What is freezing fog?

Fog made of supercooled droplets that freeze on contact

What is precipitation fog?

Fog formed from rain evaporation

What is steam fog?

Fog formed when cold air moves over warm water

What is valley fog?

Fog trapped in low terrain areas

What determines precipitation intensity?

Rate of water reaching the ground

How does rain form?

Droplets grow and fall by collision

How does snow form?

Ice crystals grow and fall in cold air

What are snow grains?

Small white ice particles

What is drizzle?

Very small liquid drops

What are ice pellets?

Frozen raindrops that bounce

What is graupel?

Soft ice pellets formed by riming

What is hail?

Layered ice formed in strong updrafts

What is freezing rain?

Rain that freezes on contact

What is freezing drizzle?

Light rain that freezes on contact

What are training thunderstorms?

Storms that repeatedly move over the same area

What is flash flooding?

Rapid flooding after heavy rain

What is river flooding?

Gradual rise of rivers from prolonged rain

What is a snowstorm?

Heavy snow with reduced visibility

What is an ice storm?

Freezing rain causing ice accumulation

What causes red sunsets?

Scattering of shorter wavelengths

What are sundogs?

Bright spots beside the Sun caused by ice crystals

What causes rainbows?

Refraction and reflection in water droplets

What causes halos?

Light bending through ice crystals

What are crepuscular rays?

Sunbeams seen through clouds

What is a green flash?

Brief green light at sunset or sunrise

What causes auroras?

Charged particles interacting with Earth magnetic field

What is a mirage?

An optical illusion from temperature gradients

What is atmospheric pressure?

Force exerted by air weight

What is a pressure gradient?

Change in pressure over distance

What is a trough?

An elongated area of low pressure

What is a ridge?

An elongated area of high pressure

What is a cyclone?

A low pressure system with rising air

What is an anticyclone?

A high pressure system with sinking air

What is the Coriolis Effect?

Apparent deflection due to Earth rotation

How does friction affect wind?

It slows wind near the surface

What is a maritime air mass?

An air mass formed over water

What is a continental air mass?

An air mass formed over land

What is a tropical air mass?

An air mass from low latitudes

What is a polar air mass?

An air mass from high latitudes

What is an Arctic air mass?

An extremely cold dense air mass

How do air masses differ?

They vary in temperature moisture and stability

What is a cold front?

Cold air advancing under warm air