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WorksheetsMeteorology Exam Flashcards
Total questions: 63
Worksheet time: 1hrs 24mins
What is an air mass?
A large body of air with uniform temperature and humidity.
A small pocket of water vapor in the atmosphere.
A type of cloud formation.
A sudden change in wind direction.
Why don't we get maritime Arctic (mA) air masses?
Where do air masses form?
In source regions with uniform surface conditions and light winds.
Over mountain peaks with rapidly changing weather.
In the middle of large cities with heavy pollution.
Above the open ocean during hurricanes.
What are the classifications of air masses?
Humidity: Continental (dry), Maritime (moist); Temperature: Tropical, Polar, Arctic.
Humidity: Equatorial (wet), Desert (dry); Temperature: Subtropical, Antarctic.
Humidity: Oceanic (wet), Mountain (dry); Temperature: Equatorial, Temperate.
Humidity: Urban (moist), Rural (dry); Temperature: Highland, Lowland.
Why are mid-latitudes not good source regions?
Because surface temperature and moisture vary greatly.
Because they receive the most direct sunlight year-round.
Because they are always covered in ice and snow.
Because they have consistently high humidity levels.
Name five air masses affecting North America.
cP, cA, mP, mT, cT
cP, mE, mT, cT, mA
cA, mP, mE, cT, mT
cP, cA, mE, mT, cT
What is a front?
What are the four major types of fronts?
Cold, Warm, Stationary, Occluded
Polar, Tropical, Maritime, Continental
Cyclonic, Anticyclonic, Tropical, Polar
Warm, Cold, Dry, Moist
Describe a cold front.
Describe a warm front.
What is a stationary front? (Fill in the blank)
A non-moving boundary between air masses, often with wind/temperature shifts.
A rapidly moving cold air mass overtaking a warm air mass.
A boundary where two air masses mix completely and lose their characteristics.
A front that always brings heavy precipitation and thunderstorms.
What is an occluded front? (Fill in the blank)
Cold front overtakes warm front. Involves cold, cool, and warm air.
Warm front overtakes cold front. Involves only warm air.
Stationary front with no movement of air masses.
Cold front forms only over oceans.
Cold-type vs warm-type occlusion? (Fill in the blank)
What is a dryline? (Fill in the blank)
Boundary between warm dry and warm moist air. Common in TX/OK/KS in spring.
A line of thunderstorms that forms over mountains.
A boundary between cold and warm ocean currents.
A region of persistent fog in coastal areas.
What happens to dew point across a dryline?
What does a lower dew point mean? (Fill in the blank)
Less water vapor in the air.
More water vapor in the air.
Higher temperature in the air.
Increased air pressure.
Who created the concept of air masses and fronts? (Fill in the blank)
What is a mid-latitude cyclone? (Fill in the blank)
Why are fronts linked to low-pressure systems?
What is the Polar Front Theory? (Fill in the blank)
Cyclones form along the polar front and evolve through 6 stages.
It describes the movement of ocean currents near the equator.
It explains the formation of deserts in polar regions.
It is a theory about the melting of polar ice caps.
What are the six stages of a mid-latitude cyclone?
Stationary front -> Frontal wave -> Open wave -> Mature -> Occlusion -> Dissipation.
Warm front -> Cold front -> Occlusion -> Dissipation -> Open wave -> Mature.
Occlusion -> Stationary front -> Mature -> Frontal wave -> Dissipation -> Open wave.
Frontal wave -> Open wave -> Stationary front -> Mature -> Dissipation -> Occlusion.
What strengthens a surface low into a cyclone?
Where is upper-air divergence most likely?
East of an upper-level trough.
Directly beneath a surface high-pressure center.
West of an upper-level ridge.
At the surface of a cold front.
How long do cyclones last?
What helps deepen (intensify) a surface low?
More air leaving aloft than entering at the surface.
More air entering aloft than leaving at the surface.
Decreased evaporation at the surface.
Increased surface pressure.
What tool helps forecasters analyze weather data?
AWIPS (Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System).
Photoshop.
Excel Spreadsheet.
Google Maps.
What is the persistence method?
What is the trend method?
What is the analogue method?
Compares current weather to a past similar event.
Uses only computer models to predict weather.
Measures temperature using analog thermometers.
Predicts weather based on planetary positions.
What is numerical weather prediction?
Why is NWP flawed? (Fill in the blank)
Equations are imperfect and data is missing from remote areas.
It uses only historical weather data.
It ignores atmospheric pressure changes.
It relies solely on satellite images.
What 3 conditions are needed for thunderstorms?
Stages of an ordinary thunderstorm?
Why is latent heat important in thunderstorms?
What is wind shear? (Fill in the blank)
Change in wind speed or direction with height.
A sudden drop in temperature at ground level.
A type of precipitation caused by cold fronts.
A measure of atmospheric pressure changes.
How does wind shear affect storms? (Fill in the blank)
Separates updraft/downdraft, allowing long-lasting severe storms.
Increases humidity, causing storms to weaken quickly.
Reduces cloud formation, preventing storm development.
Lowers air pressure, making storms less likely to form.
Types of severe thunderstorms? (Fill in the blank)
Multicell, Squall Line, Supercell.
Cumulus, Stratus, Cirrus.
Fog, Drizzle, Hailstorm.
Tornado, Hurricane, Typhoon.
What is a gust front? (Fill in the blank)
What is a microburst? (Fill in the blank)
Localized strong downdraft <4 km wide.
A type of tornado that lasts for hours.
A large-scale hurricane system.
A gentle, widespread rain event.
What is a tornado? (Fill in the blank)
Rotating air column from cumuliform cloud reaching ground.
A type of earthquake caused by tectonic plates shifting.
A large wave caused by underwater volcanic eruptions.
A sudden drop in temperature during a thunderstorm.
When are tornadoes most common? (Fill in the blank)
March to July.
August to December.
January to March.
September to November.
Where are tornadoes most frequent? (Fill in the blank)
Tornado Alley (central Great Plains).
Sahara Desert.
Amazon Rainforest.
Himalayan Mountains.
What is a hurricane? (Fill in the blank)
Tropical cyclone with winds 120 km/hr (75 mph).
A type of earthquake occurring in the ocean.
A large snowstorm with freezing temperatures.
A volcanic eruption under the sea.
Other names for hurricanes? (Fill in the blank)
Typhoon (West Pacific), Cyclone (Indian Ocean/Australia).
Tornado (Midwest USA), Monsoon (South Asia).
Blizzard (Arctic), Sandstorm (Desert).
Earthquake (Asia), Tsunami (Pacific).
Why don't tropical cyclones have fronts?
What fuels a hurricane? (Fill in the blank)
Latent heat from condensation + warm ocean water.
Cold air from the poles.
Wind from the jet stream.
Solar energy absorbed by land.
What are the parts of a hurricane?
Eye, Eyewall, Rainbands.
Core, Spiral, Gusts.
Center, Wall, Showers.
Vortex, Belt, Drizzle.
What is the eye? (Fill in the blank)
Calm center with light winds, clear skies.
The outermost layer of a hurricane.
A type of weather instrument.
A type of cloud formation.
What is the eyewall?
Ring of intense storms with strongest winds and rain.
Calm center of the storm with clear skies.
Outer bands of light rain and wind.
Area where the storm first forms.
What are rainbands? (Fill in the blank)
Spiraling bands of heavy rain and wind.
Narrow streams of cold air in the upper atmosphere.
Areas of high pressure with clear skies.
Regions of calm weather within a storm.
What are the 5 conditions for hurricane formation?
1. Warm ocean water >26.5C 2. Unstable air 3. Moist mid-troposphere 4. Coriolis force 5. Weak wind shear
1. Cold ocean water <20C 2. Stable air 3. Dry mid-troposphere 4. No Coriolis force 5. Strong wind shear
1. Warm ocean water >30C 2. Stable air 3. Dry upper atmosphere 4. No wind shear 5. High pressure system
1. Warm ocean water >26.5C 2. Stable air 3. Moist lower troposphere 4. No Coriolis force 5. Strong wind shear
What weakens hurricanes?
Cool water, landfall, dry air, high wind shear, interacting with other systems.
Warm water, low wind shear, moist air, remaining over the ocean.
Increasing sea surface temperatures, low pressure, and high humidity.
Rapid intensification, eyewall replacement cycles, and strong convection.
What causes most hurricane deaths?
Drowning.
Falling trees.
Lightning strikes.
Animal attacks.
How much storm surge from 1 mb pressure drop?
(a)
How does a hurricane die?
Moves over land or cool water, encounters dry air or shear.
It gains energy from the sun.
It collides with another hurricane and disappears.
It turns into a tornado.
Why don't we get maritime Arctic (mA)?
Sea ice blocks moisture and cold air holds little vapor.
The Arctic Ocean is too warm to form mA air masses.
Maritime Arctic air masses are blocked by mountain ranges.
There is too much precipitation in the Arctic to allow mA formation.
What happens to dew point across a dryline?
It drops significantly, indicating drier air.
It rises significantly, indicating more moisture.
It remains unchanged.
It fluctuates randomly.
Why are fronts only linked to low-pressure systems? [Diagram: convergence/divergence]
Which two images show cyclonic flow?
(a)
Where is pressure highest in a hurricane?
Eyewall
Eye
Rainbands
Storm surge
Where is pressure gradient strongest?
(a)
What was Katrina's storm surge from pressure drop?
(a)
What's the most dangerous threat to airplanes in thunderstorms?
