Term
| What are the differences between weather and climate? |
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Definition
weather is of the moment
and climate is of the cycle of the year.
Weather is what is going on outside right now.
Climate is what one would expect it to be like.
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Term
| Solar radiation is not received equally on all parts of the earth's surface. Explain/ |
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Definition
Because of the angle of the tilt of the earth's axis, some parts receive stronger (being closer to the sun) more concentrated (covering a smaller area because of being more in line with the rays of the sun)levels of solar radiation.
The equator receives the strongest most concentrated rays.
The polar regions the least and most varied.
reflection and absorption play a role
depending upon cloud cover and what the reflective quality of the ground is the short wave radiation reaching the earth and reflecting and the long wave radiation generated and reflecting back vary |
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Term
| How do pressure and wind systems control climate? |
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Definition
Atmospheric pressure and wind are both significant controlling factors of Earth’s weather and climate. Although these two physical variables may at first glance appear to be quite different, they are in fact closely related. Wind exists because of horizontal and vertical differences (the pressure gradient) between a high pressure area and a low pressure area.a pressure gradient which is the measure of the difference of the pressure flowing from the high to the low over the distance that separates them which is in effect the wind between the two.
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Term
| How do ocean currents affect climate? |
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Definition
Ocean currents carry warmer water from the tropics into colder regions. The heat from that warmer water escapes into the atmosphere as it travels, creating warmer, rainier weather than might otherwise be expected.
The best example of a current is the Gulf Stream. This is a current of water that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and heads north in the Atlantic toward Western Europe and The United Kingdom[image]. It then circles around and goes back to the Gulf. A current, therefore, is water that goes in a cycle. It goes north and then loops around and goes south and then loops around and goes north again.
When the current heads north from the Gulf of Mexico, the water is typically very warm because of how near it is to the equator. However, more than just the water being warm, the air that goes with the warm water is also warm. So, warm water and water air are moving north into a region that is farther from the equator. It’s like having the heat on in one room of the house and then opening all the doors so that the heat can flow into them. The opposite also occurs where colder ocean water masses are drawn down and in to replace the warm currents, Those cold currents cool the atmosphere land where they pass.
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Term
| How do landforms and water bodies affect climate? |
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Definition
If there are mountains blocking an area, then the windsw and mositer will not get through. If you are by a body of water, then the air will be colder.
Bodies of water affect climate in many ways, but perhaps the most significant impact is based on the fact that large bodies of water act as heat sinks. In other words, large bodies of water tend to store heat in warm periods and release it in cold periods. This is because the thermal capacity of water is high, meaning it takes a lot of energy to change the temperature of water. So, during the summer, land areas near a large body of water may not heat up as much as areas that are not close to water, because the water itself is adsorbing much of the heat energy. This will cause the climate to be more moderate in summer near the coast, for example. Likewise in winter, the water near the coast will slowly release this energy, causing coastal areas to be less cold, in general, than inland areas. So, in summary, large bodies of water tend to moderate temperatures in both summer and winter in nearby land areas, compared to areas that are farther inland.
One big way land forms affect climate is the rain shadow. The prevailing winds of the west coast of the U.S. are from west to east. The air blowing over the Pacific ocean picks up water vapor evaporating from the ocean and when it hits the mountains of California, it gets deflected up which causes it to cool and form rain clouds. This results in the western slopes of the mountains getting lots of rain. And the air is dry after it passes the mountains, so there are deserts just east of the west coast mountains. This can be seen strikingly from the Laguna mountains just east of San Diego where you can park on an overlook and see green trees just to the west and a desert just to the east.
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Term
[image]
According to the climograph, the warmest month in Toronto is? |
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Definition
| JULY at about 22 Centigrade |
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Term
[image]
According to the climograph, the coldest month in Toronto is? |
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Definition
| JANUARY at about -7 Centigrade |
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Term
[image]
According to the climograph, the average April temperature in Toronto is? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to the climograph, the wettest month in Toronto is? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Easter Canada and new England" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Tropical Continental" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Cold, dry" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "SW USA and Northern Mexico" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Cold, wet" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Winter" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Summer" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Anytime of year" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Warm, wet" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to this North American Air Masses chart you would place "Maritine Tropical (gulf)" in blank ...? |
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Definition
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Term
[image]
According to the symbols on the map, the skies at Regina are? |
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Definition
8/8ths
skycover (completely overcast)
The circle symbol in the center represents the amount of total cloud cover reported in eighths. This cloud cover includes all low, middle, and high level clouds. In this example, 7/8th of the sky was covered with clouds.
. [see the complete list of symbols]
to see all symbols go to
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/synoptic/sfc_plot_symbols.htm#n
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Term
[image]
According to the symbols on the map, over the last three hours, the atmospheric pressuure at Regina was? |
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Definition
risen 5 mb
This number and symbol (to the right of the central circle) tell how much the pressure has changed (in tenths of millibars) in the past three hours and the trend in the change of the pressure during that same period (is a symbol just after that number and not given on this weather map). In this example, the pressure was +5 millibars HIGHER than it was three hours ago.
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Term
[image]
According to the symbols on the map, the atmospheric pressure at Regina is? |
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Definition
922.5 mb
At the upper right is the atmospheric pressure reduced to mean sea level in millibars (mb) to the nearest tenth with the leading 9 or 10 omitted. In this case the pressure would be 922.5 mb. If the pressure was plotted as 022 it would be 1022.5 mb. When trying to determine whether to add a 9 or 10 use the number that will give you a value closest to 1000 mb.
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Term
[image]
According to the symbols on the map, the wind direction at Regina is from the? |
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Definition
These lines indicate wind direction and speed rounded to the nearest 5 knots. The longest line, extending from the sky cover plot, points in the direction that the wind is blowing FROM. Thus, in this case, the wind is blowing FROM the north by northeast. The shorter lines, called barbs, indicate the wind speed in knots (kts). The speed of the wind is determined by the barbs. Each long barb represents 10 kts with short barbs representing 5 kts. In this example, the station plot contains two long barbs so the wind speed is 10 kts, or about 8-12 kts
(9-14 mph). [more about wind barbs]
go to
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/synoptic/sfc_plot_symbols.htm#ddff |
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Term
| What are the differences between a warm front and a cold front? |
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Definition
| COLD FRONT The leading edge of an advancing cold air mass that is under running and displacing the warmer air in its path. Generally, with the passage of a cold front, the temperature and humidity decrease, the pressure rises, and the wind shifts (usually from the southwest to the northwest in the Northern Hemisphere). Precipitation is generally at and/or behind the front, and with a fast-moving system, a squall line may develop ahead of the front. Related terms: occluded front and warm frontA cold front will move faster than a warm front because the air mass behind the cold front is denser and therefore once moving pushes ahead.WARM FRONT The leading edge of an advancing warm air mass that is replacing a retreating relatively colder air mass. Generally, with the passage of a warm front, the temperature and humidity increase, the pressure rises, and although the wind shifts (usually from the southwest to the northwest in the Northern Hemisphere), it is not as pronounced as with a cold frontal passage. Precipitation, in the form of rain, snow, or drizzle, is generally found ahead of the surface front, as well as convective showers and thunderstorms. Fog is common in the cold air ahead of the front. Although clearing usually occurs after passage, some conditions may produced fog in the warm air. Related terms: occluded front and cold frontA warm front will move slower than a clod front because the warm air mass is stickier and will therefore move in jumps and starts like waves. |
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Term
| Which moves faster? A cold front or a warm front? |
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Definition
Cold fronts and occluded fronts generally move from west to east, faster while warm fronts move poleward and are stickier thus move in jumps and stops, or like waves. |
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Term
| Why would a cold front move faster? |
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Definition
| Because of the greater density of air in their wake, cold fronts and cold occlusions move faster than warm fronts and warm occlusions. Mountains and warm bodies of water can slow the movement of fronts.[2] When a front becomes stationary, and the density contrast across the frontal boundary vanishes, the front can degenerate into a line which separates regions of differing wind velocity, known as a shearline. This is most common over the open ocean. |
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Term
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Definition
| The name for a tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 74 miles per hour (65 knots) or greater in the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. This same tropical cyclone is known as a typhoon in the western Pacific and a cyclone in the Indian Ocean. |
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Term
| Explain the formation of a hurricane. |
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Definition
Hurricanes need four conditions to form:
- low air pressure
- warm temperatures
- moist ocean air
- tropical winds (near the equator).
Hurricanes form in the tropics, over warm ocean water (over 80ºF or 27ºC) and at latitudes between 8° and 20°, Hurricanes form mostly from June through November (hurricane season). These powerful storms are fueled by the heat energy that is released when water vapor condenses (turns into liquid water -- rain).
A hurricane goes through many stages as it develops:
1. It starts as a tropical wave, a westward-moving area of low air pressure.
2. As the warm, moist air over the ocean rises in the low air pressure area, cold air from above replaces it. This produces strong gusty winds, heavy rain and thunderclouds that is called a tropical disturbance.
3. As the air pressure drops and there are sustained winds up to 38 miles per hour, it is called a tropical depression.
4. [image]When the cyclonic winds have sustained speeds from 39 to 73 miles per hour, it is called a tropical storm (storms are given names when they begin to have winds of this speed).
5. [image]The storm becomes a hurricane when there are sustained winds of over 73 miles per hour.
The End of a Storm:
When a hurricane travels over land or cold water, its energy source (warm water) is gone and the storm weakens, quickly dying.
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Term
| Describe the effects of a majour hurricane on people. |
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Definition
Hurricanes are very fascinating to track and to view on satellite, but beyond the fascination there is some harsh reality to these storms. Hurricanes are among the most powerful and deadliest forces in nature, which bring various kinds of effects to the area it makes landfall over. Some of these effects such as copious amounts of rain can be beneficial during a drought, but most of the time these effects are unwanted. Below, are some of the common effects from a hurricane.
- Storm surge and tidal flooding--This is the most devastating and notable effect from a hurricane. Storm surge is the rising wall of water that comes ashore with a land-falling hurricane, and is responsible for 90 percent of all hurricane related deaths.
- High Winds--This is the most important effect of a hurricane since it determines how powerful the storm is, and how much storm surge and damage it can cause. Winds in a hurricane can reach up to 200 mph. Buildings being blown apart and debbris flying can hit and kill people out in the storm, as well as being electrictted from faallen electtrical wires.
- Tornadoes--This is probably the least thought of effect of a hurricane, but they do occur. Tornadoes occur in a hurricane as a result of the tremendous energy and instability created when a hurricane makes landfall. Most tornadoes that occur out of hurricanes reaching land and then dissipating are only minimal in strength. Stil the tornadoses can hurt or kill people in their path, from wind,and water surging.
- Heavy rain and flooding--This is the effect of a hurricane that is completely taken for granted. After hurricanes make landfall, and their winds abate, the tremendous amounts of rainfall become a major factor, and can cause significant flooding as a result. Thus land slides occur as wet soil lets go (people on the road and repair crews can be taken with the land slid), or large boulders are washed down from hills and mountains (again killing or hurting people and or repair crews in their path), low lying homes or homes in the path of a valley fill with water and mud and can be washed away - with people in them.
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Term
| Describe the effects of a major hurrican on property. |
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Definition
Hurricanes are very fascinating to track and to view on satellite, but beyond the fascination there is some harsh reality to these storms. Hurricanes are among the most powerful and deadliest forces in nature, which bring various kinds of effects to the area it makes landfall over. Some of these effects such as copious amounts of rain can be beneficial during a drought, but most of the time these effects are unwanted. Below, are some of the common effects from a hurricane.
- Storm surge and tidal flooding--This is the most devastating and notable effect from a hurricane. Storm surge is the rising wall of water that comes ashore with a land-falling hurricane.
- High Winds--This is the most important effect of a hurricane since it determines how powerful the storm is, and how much storm surge and damage it can cause. Winds in a hurricane can reach up to 200 mph. Blowing buildings apart and debrris around, which causes further damage.
- Tornadoes--This is probably the least thought of effect of a hurricane, but they do occur. Tornadoes occur in a hurricane as a result of the tremendous energy and instability created when a hurricane makes landfall. Most tornadoes that occur out of hurricanes reaching land and then dissipating are only minimal in strength, and carry the effect of the hurrican further inland.
- Heavy rain and flooding--This is the effect of a hurricane that is completely taken for granted. After hurricanes make landfall, and their winds abate, the tremendous amounts of rainfall become a major factor, and can cause significant flooding as a result. Thus land slides occur as wet soil lets go, or large boulders are washed down from hills and mountains, low lying costal buildings or buildings in the path of a valley filling with water and mud as the watter flows down from above and can then be washed away.
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Term
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Definition
it is what the temperature,precipitation, prevailing winds, humidity, air pressure, etc. are like at this moment.
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Term
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Definition
| it is the yearly expected cycle of what the temperature, precipitation, prevailing winds, humidity, air pressure, etc. will be like. |
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Term
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Definition
The leading edge of an advancing cold air massthat is under running and displacing the warmer air in its path. Generally, with the passage of a cold front, the temperature and humidity decrease, thepressure rises, and the wind shifts (usually from the southwest to the northwest in the Northern Hemisphere). Precipitation is generally at and/or behind the front, and with a fast-moving system, asquall line may develop ahead of the front.
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Term
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Definition
The leading edge of an advancing warm air mass that is replacing a retreating relatively colder air mass. Generally, with the passage of a warm front, the temperature and humidityincrease, the pressure rises, and although thewind shifts (usually from the southwest to the northwest in the Northern Hemisphere), it is not as pronounced as with a cold frontal passage. Precipitation, in the form of rain,snow, or drizzle, is generally found ahead of the surface front, as well as convectiveshowers and thunderstorms. Fog is common in the cold air ahead of the front. Although clearing usually occurs after passage, some conditions may produced fog in the warm air.
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