Meteorology Midterm

the difference in average temperature between the warmest month (often July in the Northen Hemisphere) and the coldest month (often January)

annual range of temperature

As the difference between the air temperature and the dew point increases, the relative humidity:

decreases

an atmospheric condition that exists when the environmental lapse rate is less than dry adiabatic rate but greater than the moist adiabatic rate

conditionally unstable atmosphere

the absolute temperature scale that contains no negative numbers is the ___ which makes it convenient for scientific computing

Kelvin scale

All of the weather we are familiar with on Earth occurs in the ____.

troposphere

the most abundant gases in the earths present day atmosphere (by volume) are__

nitrogen and oxygen

Earths first atmosphere (approximately 4.6 billion years ago) was most likely composed of___

hydrogen and helium

The word "weather" is defined as

the condition of the atmosphere at any particular time and place

which characteristic of air provides a measure of the average speed of the atoms and molecules

temperature

the greenhouse effect is directly enhanced (made stronger) by __

addition of water vapor to the atmosphere

the transfer of heat by the mass movement of a fluid such as water and air

convection

the average of the highest and lowest temperature observed in a given 24-hour period- typically from midnight to midnight

mean (average) daily temperature

as the air temperature increases the airs capacity for water vapor

increases

nighttime radiation inversions occur on most _ nights

clear, calm

___ accounts for the majority of the water vapor added to the atmosphere each year

evaporation from the ocean

Thin, wispy clouds blown by high winds into long streamers, called mare's tails, are ____.

cirrus

the __ force is the force that causes the wind to blow

pressure gradient

a __ wind blows at a constant speed parallel to straight line isobars, with the pressure gradient force (PGF) and the Coriolis force in balance

geostrophic

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The wind around a surface low pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere blows__ the center

counterclockwise and inward toward

a parcel rises and cools by __ degrees Celsius per 1000m if its saturated

5

an atmospheric condition that exists when the environmental lapse rate is less than the moist adiabatic rate. this results in a lifter parcel of air being colder than the air around it

absolutely stable atmosphere

Mastered (5)

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Select these 5

the air pressure at the summit of mount Everest is__ than the air pressure at sea level

lower

All things with a temperature ____ absolute zero emit energy no matter how big or small.

above

Which gas in the upper atmosphere shields Earth's surface from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays?

ozone

the vertical profile of __ is variable in each layer of earth's atmosphere

air temperature

The freezing of pure water is 32° on the ____ scale.

Fahrenheit

Not studied (33)

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the heat energy released when liquid changes to water vapor is called the latent heat of __

vaporization

the energy of motion is known as

kinetic energy

Average atmospheric CO2 concentrations have ____ over the past 100 years.

increased

atmospheric concentrations of __ can vary significantly depending on time and location

water vapor

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the transfer of heat from molecule to molecule within a substance

conduction

the horizontal transfer of any atmospheric property by wind

advection

energy propagated in the form of electromagnetic waves

radiant energy (radiation)

the average temperature of any station for the entire year, which represents the average of the twelve monthly average temperatures

mean (average) annual temperature

the difference between the daily maximum and minimum temperature is greatest next to the ground and becomes progressively smaller as we move away from the surface

daily (diurnal) range of temperature

the heat index is a combination of air temperature and

relative humidity

___ occurs when dew freezes

frozen dew

the sky is overcast and it is raining. the cloud above you is a __ cloud

nimbostratus

particles that serve as surfaces on which water vapor may condenses are called _

condensation nuclei

on a clear, calm night particularly in high- elevation desert locations such as Winnemucca, Nevada, where the summer air is dry and thin, the ground and air above cool very dramatically mainly by which process?

radiation

Cold and cloudy nights are warmer than cold and clear nights (other factors being equal) because ____.

clouds absorb outgoing infrared energy and radiate it back to the surface

seasons on earth are regulated

both length of daylight hours and the angle sunlight strikes earths surface

When naming clouds, the term "stratus", or "strato", means ____ clouds.

layer

which term is used during cold weather to describe the estimate of energy needed to cool indoor air to comfortable level

heating degree day

maximum air temperature in a given day usually occurs __ solar heating

2-4 hours after maximum

what type of fog is produced over land when radiational cooling reduces the air temperature to or below its dew point

radiation

falling raindrops are __ because that is the profile that maximizes air resistance

hamburger bun shaped

A parcel of air expands and cools, or compresses and warms, with no interchange of heat with its outside surroundings. What is this called?

adiabatic process

a parcel rises and cools by __ degrees Celsius per 1000m if it is unsaturated

5

convective clouds form

by surface heating

a raindrop that freezes before reaching the ground is called

sleet

which cloud type would most likely form in a unstable atmosphere

cumulonimbus

If the earth's gravitational force were to increase, atmospheric pressure at the ground would

increase

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the pressure gradient forces is directed from higher pressure toward lower pressure

at all places on earth

anticyclonic flow means __ in either the Northen Hemisphere

counterclockwise flow

The ____ force is an apparent force created by Earth's rotation.

Coriolis

the surface air around a strengthening low pressure area normally__ while, above the system the air normally _

converges; diverges

the phrase "rain shadow" is associated with which type of precipitation

orographic

an atmospheric condition that exists when the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic rate. this results in a lifter parcel of air being warmer than the air around it

absolutely unstable environment