Meteorology Basics Quiz

The study of atmospheric phenomena, including weather, climate, and atmospheric processes.

Short-term changes in the atmosphere, like temperature, humidity, and wind. It's what you see right now outside.

The long-term average weather patterns of a region, typically over 30 years. Think of the general climate of your city.

Areas where air pressure is lower than surrounding areas. Air rises here, leading to clouds and precipitation.

Areas where air pressure is higher than surrounding areas. Air sinks here, leading to clear skies and calm weather.

The uneven distribution of solar radiation on Earth's surface due to the tilt of Earth's axis. This causes different parts of the Earth to receive different amounts of sunlight.

The transfer of heat around the globe, primarily through air and ocean currents. This helps to regulate global temperatures and create weather patterns.

The sun's energy striking Earth's surface at a smaller angle spreads over a larger area, resulting in less heat per unit area.

A large body of air with uniform temperature and humidity characteristics.

The region where an air mass forms and acquires its properties.

Air masses formed over tropical bodies of water. They are warm and moist.

Air masses formed over land in tropical regions. They are hot and dry.

Air masses formed over cold ocean waters in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. They are cold and moist.

Air masses formed over land in northern Canada and Alaska. They are cold and dry.

Air masses formed over the Arctic region. They are very cold and dry.

When an air mass travels over a different surface, it can take on some of the characteristics of that surface, changing its temperature and humidity.

The change in an air mass's temperature and moisture content as it moves over a different surface.

An apparent deflection of objects or fluids due to Earth's rotation.

Wind systems that blow from the poles towards the equator.

Wind systems that blow from west to east between 30° N and 60° N and 30° S and 60° S.

Wind systems that blow from east to west between 30° N and 30° S.

The process by which cold, continental polar air gains heat and moisture as it moves over warmer water.

The global wind systems are influenced by the Coriolis effect, causing them to flow in curved patterns.

The different wind systems are located at specific latitudes due to variations in heat and pressure.

A belt of calm, weak winds around 30° North and South, caused by sinking air from the trade winds creating an area of high pressure.

The process where trade winds from the north and south meet near the equator, forcing air upwards and creating an area of low pressure.

A large area of low pressure near the equator where trade winds converge, causing rising air and frequent thunderstorms.

Strong, fast-moving, high-altitude westerly winds created by a large temperature difference in the upper atmosphere and the Coriolis effect.

Major jet streams that separate the polar easterlies from the prevailing westerlies, located near the poles.

Minor jet streams that occur where the trade winds meet the prevailing westerlies, found at lower latitudes.

The effect of the Earth's rotation on moving objects, causing them to veer to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

The winds that blow consistently from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and southeast in the Southern Hemisphere, towards the equator.

Areas where cold, dense air pushes warm air upwards, creating a steep slope.

Areas where warm air overrides cold air, forming a gradual slope.

A boundary between two air masses with similar temperatures and pressures, resulting in minimal movement.

A narrow region where two air masses of different densities collide.

A collision of two air masses, forming a narrow region with different temperatures and densities.

Jet streams influence weather systems by transporting air masses of different temperatures, affecting weather patterns and influencing their intensity.

Storms often develop along jet streams, drawing energy from the contrasting temperatures within the air masses.

A weather front where a fast-moving cold air mass overtakes a warm front, forcing the warm air upwards and colliding with another cold air mass already in front of it.

Rotating high- and low-pressure systems form in the atmosphere due to rising or sinking air, combined with the Coriolis effect.

Low-pressure systems have rising air. Air from outside the system replaces the rising air, spiraling inward toward the center and then upwards.

In high-pressure systems, sinking air moves away from the system's center when it reaches Earth's surface.

Air in the northern hemisphere moves counterclockwise around a low-pressure center and clockwise around a high-pressure center.