GEOG EXAM 2 – Flashcards
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air pressure
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Gravity (elevation), Motion, size and number of air molecules -- determine temperature and density of air, determine air pressure
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Measurement of Pressure
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Mercury Barometer, Aneroid Barometer
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Measurement of wind
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all, but only horizontal, anemometer, wind vane
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Horizontal winds
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Pressure gradient (Force; PGF), Coriolis Acceleration, Friction --- Driving Forces Within the Atmosphere
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Coriolis Force
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The apparent deflection of moving objects (wind, ocean currents, airplanes) from traveling a straight path, in proportion to the speed of the Earth's rotation at different latitudes (speed= distance/time).... ONLY ON OBJECTS ALREADY MOVING
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Pressure Gradient Force
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Drives air from areas of higher barometric pressure (more dense air) to areas of lower barometric pressure (less dense air), thereby causing winds. Without this there would be no wind... CAN GET THE WIND FOING FROM ZERO
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Friction force
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drags on the wind as it moves across surfaces; it decreases with height above the surface. Without Friction, winds would simply move in paths parallel to isobars and at high rates of speed
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Isobar
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Line of constant barometric pressure; spacing between isobars indicates the pressure difference, or pressure gradient.. moves wind from high to low pressure, like crowded elevator
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Primary High P and Low P Areas
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Equatorial - low p trough, Subtropical high p cells, Subpolar low p cells, polar high p cells
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Atmospheric patterns of motion
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Hadley cells, ferrel cells, polar cells
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Equatorial low p trough
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Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), Trade winds
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Hadley cells
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Include: Intertropical convergence Zone (ITCZ) or Equatorial Low Pressure Trough - year round low pressure, Trade winds (NE and SE), subtropical highs, year round high pressure eg: over Sahara
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Subtropical High P Cells
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Atlantic High: Bermuda high & Azores High, Pacific high, Westerlies
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Sub polar Low P Cells
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Polar front, Aleutian low, Icelandic low
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Upper Atmospheric circulation
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Jet stream
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Jet Streams
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Sharp differences in temp and pressure at boundaries between major cells. Creates: strong winds over a broad height range in upper troposphere (miles up...), west to east
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Local Winds
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Land-sea breezes, mountain-valley breezes
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Heat Properties of Water
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Ice- the solid phase, Water - the liquid phase, Water Vapor - the gas Phase: vaporization, condensation... In nature: Latent heat of sublimation
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Density and Water
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Density of water increases with decreasing temperature until ice forms which is less dense than warm water
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Relative Humidity
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Saturation, Daily and Seasonal Relative Humidity Patterns... Vapor Pressure/Saturation Vapor Pressure expressed as percentage- X 100%
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Expressions of relative humidity
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Vapor Pressure, specific humidity, Instruments for measuring humidity
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Vapor Pressure
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Water vapor exerts pressure on the air which is expressed in millibars (mb), actual pressure of water on air
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Saturation Vapor Pressure
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Pressure that must be exerted in order to saturate (fill up) the air also in mb - maximum potential pressure of water on air--- maximum water vapor that COULD exist in air
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Condensation
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More moisture or decrease in temp will cause this
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Dew-point temperature
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Temp. at which current moisture content would cause saturation
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Humidity Patterns
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Daily patterns- lowest relative humidity in Afternoon when Temp highest
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Specific Humidity
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An index for representing atmospheric moisture, expressed as the number of grams of water per kg of air... oxygen, hydrogen, hydrogen
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Humidity Instruments
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Sling Psychrometer, Dry bulb and wet bulb, Dry bulb measures air temperature, wet bulb measures temp after water evaporates from cloth- the more evaporative cooling occurs, the lower the humidity, if dry bulb = wet bulb, RH = 100%
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Adiabatic processes (DAR)
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Dry Adiabatic Rate, Moist Adiabatic Rate... (Stable and unstable atmospheric conditions) - Atmospheric stability
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Adiabatic
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occurs without gain or loss of (external) heat, when air is compressed it warms; when air expands, it cools
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Moist Adiabatic Lapse Rate (MAR)
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6C/1000 meters, used for saturated air, condensation is happening so there is a release of latent heat which slows the lapse rate
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Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR)
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Rate of temperature decrease with altitude at a given time and location, this is for non-rising air
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Cloud
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A visible collection of condensed water vapor particles suspended in the atmosphere, an aggregate of tiny moisture droplets and ice crystals; classified by altitude and shape
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Importance of clouds
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Climate: Radiation Balance - reflection, "greenhouse" processes, Hydrologic Cycle: Precipitation- rain/snow, Weather: Indicators of weather, influence on weather, impact on humans (aviation, traffic)
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stratiform clouds
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Horizontally developed, flat and layered
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Cumluliform clouds
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vertically developed, puffy and globular
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Cirrus clouds
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fair weather clouds, appear thin and wispy, high in the sky; high altitude clouds very cold, made of ice particles
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Stratus & Altostratus Clouds
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Not so nice weather clouds. Uniform gray clouds thats cover the entire sky; can bring rain or drizzle. Caused by gentle uplifting. Not really experienced much in Boulder.
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Cumulus
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Fair weather clouds. Surface heats up, convection drives warm air upward, air cools and water vapor condenses, a cloud is born!
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Cumulonimbus Development
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Surface heats up, convection drives warm air upward, anvil shaped top. Strong updrafts - heavy rain, hail.
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Fog
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A cloud layer on the ground; several types: advection fog (warm air moves over cold), evaporation fog, valley fog, radiation fog
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Valley Fog
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over mountains
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What must break in order for water to change from solid to liquid to gas?
A)
Ionic bonds within water molecules
B)
Covalent bonds between water molecules
C)
Covalent bonds within water molecules
D)
Hydrogen bonds between water molecules
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D)
Hydrogen bonds between water molecules
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What causes the development of most clouds and precipitation in the atmosphere?
A)
rising air
B)
rising albedo
C)
rising oceans
D)
rising density
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A)
rising air
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Why would a parcel of air rise relative to other air in the atmosphere?
A)
A parcel of air will rise if it has a higher density than the surrounding air.
B)
A parcel of air will rise if it has a lower density than the surrounding air.
C)
A parcel of air will rise if the air in the parcel has a lower mass than the surrounding air.
D)
A parcel of air will rise if the air in the parcel has a higher mass than the surrounding air.
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B)
A parcel of air will rise if it has a lower density than the surrounding air.
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What will happen to a parcel of air as it rises?
A)
A rising parcel of air will expand and cool.
B)
A rising parcel of air will expand and heat.
C)
A rising parcel of air will contract and heat.
D)
A rising parcel of air will contract and cool.
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A)
A rising parcel of air will expand and cool.
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If two parcels of air start at the same temperature at 2000 meters above Earth's surface, which would end up with a higher temperature, an unsaturated parcel of air at Earth's surface or a saturated parcel of air 4000 meters above Earth's surface?
A)
A saturated parcel of air 4000 meters above Earth's surface would be warmer, since adiabatic temperature changes are greater for saturated than for unsaturated air, regardless of any temperature difference due to changes in elevation.
B)
An unsaturated parcel of air at Earth's surface would be warmer, since adiabatic temperature changes are greater for unsaturated than for saturated air, regardless of any temperature difference due to changes in elevation.
C)
An unsaturated parcel of air at Earth's surface would be warmer, since air cools as it rises and warms as it descends, regardless of any temperature difference due to saturation.
D)
A saturated parcel of air at 4000 meters above Earth's surface would be warmer, since air warms as it rises and cools as it descends, regardless of any temperature difference due to saturation.
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C)
An unsaturated parcel of air at Earth's surface would be warmer, since air cools as it rises and warms as it descends, regardless of any temperature difference due to saturation.
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In general, when will clouds begin to form out of a parcel of air?
A)
when a rising parcel of air has reached a temperature above its Lifting Condensation Level
B)
when a rising parcel of air has reached a temperature above its dew point
C)
when a rising parcel of air has reached a temperature below its Lifting Condensation Level
D)
when a rising parcel of air has reached a temperature below its dew point
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D)
when a rising parcel of air has reached a temperature below its dew point
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Which process can add heat to a rising body of air?
A)
condensation
B)
precipitation
C)
rising
D)
depressurizing
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A)
condensation
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Which of these types of fog would you find after a clear night, especially over moist ground?
A)
advection fog
B)
evaporation fog
C)
radiation fog
D)
upslope fog
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C)
radiation fog
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What is the heat energy involved in the change of state, or phase, in water?
A)
mechanical heat
B)
latent heat
C)
fusion heat
D)
sensible heat
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B)
latent heat
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When water condenses, it __________ heat energy and __________ the surrounding air.
A)
absorbs; cools
B)
releases; heats
C)
absorbs heats
D)
releases; cools
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B)
releases; heats
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Relative humidity is
A)
the mass of water vapor relative to the mass of air.
B)
the mb of pressure of water vapor relative to the total air pressure.
C)
the mass of water vapor relative to the temperature of the air.
D)
the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the water vapor capacity of the air.
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D)
the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the water vapor capacity of the air
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A humidity measure that remains constant as temperature and pressure change, and which is expressed as a mass of water vapor per mass (g/kg) of air, is
A)
specific humidity.
B)
vapor pressure.
C)
relative humidity.
D)
the dew-point.
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A)
specific humidity.
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If the saturation vapor pressure increases while the amount of water vapor in the air remains constant, this would indicate
A)
that the temperature had decreased as a result of the loss of heat energy.
B)
that the temperature had increased.
C)
that the air was cooling by expansion.
D)
none of the above
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B)
that the temperature had increased.
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An air parcel is considered unstable when it
A)
continues to rise until it reaches an altitude at which the surrounding air has a similar temperature and pressure.
B)
it resists displacement upward.
C)
either remains as it is, or changes its initial position.
D)
it ceases to ascend.
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A)
continues to rise until it reaches an altitude at which the surrounding air has a similar temperature and pressure.
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The dry adiabatic rate (DAR) is
A)
a term that refers to the temperature decrease in the still, calm air that surrounds a moving air parcel.
B)
6 C° per 1000 m (3.3 F° per 1000 ft).
C)
10 C° per 1000 m (5.5 F° per 1000 ft.).
D)
the rate used for a saturated parcel of air.
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C)
10 C° per 1000 m (5.5 F° per 1000 ft.).
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As air rises up the windward side of a mountain, it will move into a region of __________ air pressure and will therefore be cooled by __________.
A)
higher; compression
B)
higher; expansion
C)
lower; expansion
D)
lower; compression
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C)
lower; expansion
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The wet adiabatic rate __________.
A)
is always the same as the environmental lapse rate
B)
is higher than the dry rate
C)
varies with temperature
D)
is less than the dry rate
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D)
is less than the dry rate
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A parcel of air, with less than 100% relative humidity, that is rising because of heat energy derived from the surface is
A)
stable.
B)
conditionally unstable.
C)
unstable.
D)
raining
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C)
unstable.
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When the environmental lapse rate is between the dry and moist adiabatic lapse rates conditions are described as
A)
unstable.
B)
stability.
C)
adiabatic.
D)
conditionally unstable.
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D)
conditionally unstable.
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Areas between 25° to 35° latitude usually become __________ because this area is dominated by air that is sinking and being __________.
A)
rain forests; cooled by expansion
B)
deserts; heated by compression
C)
rain forests; heated by compression
D)
deserts; cooled by expansion
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B)
deserts; heated by compression
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Weather is
A)
the long-term atmospheric condition, including extremes that may occur.
B)
the climate of a region.
C)
a reference to temperature patterns only.
D)
the short-term condition of the atmosphere.
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D)
the short-term condition of the atmosphere.
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Air masses are classified according to their_____.
A)
temperature and source region
B)
temperature alone
C)
moisture and temperature
D)
temperature, humidity, and stability
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A)
temperature and source region
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A mT air mass __________ than a cT air mass.
A)
forms over tropical rainforests and is usually more humid
B)
forms under the equatorial low and is usually less humid
C)
forms over an ocean and is usually more humid
D)
forms over tropical rainforests and is usually less humid
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C)
forms over an ocean and is usually more humid
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Which one of the following causes lake effect snow?
A)
cP air masses absorbing heat and humidity from the Great Lakes
B)
mT air masses being chilled by the cold lakes, causing rain to turn to snow
C)
air rising over the Great Lakes drawing in cA air masses, which release snow over the lakes
D)
cT air masses interacting with mP air masses over the Great Lakes
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A)
cP air masses absorbing heat and humidity from the Great Lakes
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Given a cP air mass and cT air mass with the same relative humidity, which air mass would have higher specific humidity?
A)
The cP air mass would have the higher specific humidity.
B)
The cT air mass would have the higher specific humidity.
C)
The specific humidity of both would be the same because their relative humidities are the same.
D)
It is impossible to say what would usually be true of their specific humidities.
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B)
The cT air mass would have the higher specific humidity.
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Which of the following statements about orographic lifting is correct?
Incorrect Response
A)
The rain shadow is on the windward slope.
B)
Air typically becomes cooler and moister as it passes over a mountain.
C)
The rain shadow is on the leeward slope.
D)
The leeward side receives much more rain than the windward side.
answer
C)
The rain shadow is on the leeward slope.
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The term "orographic" refers to
A)
convection stimulated principally by local heating.
B)
vertical lifting due to converging air masses
C)
lifting along the edges of conflicting air masses.
D)
forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrier.
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D)
forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrier.
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What is a front?
A)
the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures
B)
the boundary between two land masses of different temperatures
C)
the boundary between two air masses of different size
D)
the boundary between two water masses of different temperatures
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A)
the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures
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Why does rain occur near a warm front?
A)
Falling cold air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain.
B)
Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain.
C)
Rising warm air warms, resulting in cloud formation and rain.
D)
Falling cold air warms, resulting in cloud formation and rain.
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B)
Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain
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Which of the following statements about lifting mechanisms is correct?
A)
The most important lifting mechanism in the tropics is frontal lifting.
B)
Lifting is always caused by a terrain feature like a mountain.
C)
Air parcels need to be lifted to cool adiabatically
D)
Convectional lifting typically produces morning rainfall.
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C)
Air parcels need to be lifted to cool adiabatically
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The Intertropical Convergence Zone is characterized by
A)
warm dry rising air.
B)
cold, dry sinking air.
C)
cold, dry rising air.
D)
warm, wet rising air.
answer
D)
warm, wet rising air.
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Summer afternoon thundershowers in the Colorado are more than likely a result of
Incorrect Response
A)
orographic lifting.
B)
convectional lifting.
C)
subtropical high pressure disturbance.
D)
frontal lifting.
answer
B)
convectional lifting.
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Which of the following terms is paired with its correct definition?
A)
convergent lifting = air lifted by local surface heating
B)
convectional lifting = air lifted at the leading edges of contrasting air masses
C)
frontal lifting = air lifted by flow into a region of low pressure
Correct Response
D)
orographic lifting = air lifted over a barrier
answer
D)
orographic lifting = air lifted over a barrier
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After a warm front passes, the temperature __________ and the pressure __________ (relative to the conditions that existed prior to the passage of the front).
A)
increases; decreases
B)
increases; increases
C)
decreases; increases
D)
decreases; decreases
answer
A)
increases; decreases
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After a cold front passes, the temperature __________ and the pressure __________ (relative to the conditions that existed prior to the passage of the front).
A)
decreases; increases
B)
increases; decreases
C)
decreases; decreases
D)
increases; increases
answer
A)
decreases; increases
