Questions and Answers
What is air pressure?
What is an anticyclone?
A high-pressure area
What is the Coriolis effect?
The tendency of a moving object to curve due to the Earth's rotation
What is a cyclone?
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What is the dew point?
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What does humidity measure?
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What does meteorology study?
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What is precipitation?
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In which direction does the jet stream flow in the United States?
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What is an anvil-shaped head a feature of?
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What happens when the difference in weather conditions on two sides of a front increases?
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What does rising warm air produce?
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Name the four major factors affecting weather.
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What is true about low-pressure areas?
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In which layer of the atmosphere does nearly all weather occur?
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At what temperature does water boil?
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What is the air pressure at sea level?
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When air is saturated, the relative humidity is 100%.
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What do you call water vapor that freezes directly into ice crystals?
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What is an air mass?
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Which type of clouds are most likely formed by a cold front?
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What are large destructive cyclones called?
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What is necessary for accurate forecasts?
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What is the movement of air around an anticyclone?
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Where is the warmest part of the troposphere?
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Hail is mostly associated with which weather condition?
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When a hurricane reaches land, it dies out.
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What is a stationary front?
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What is relative humidity?
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What are nimbostratus clouds associated with?
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What indicates major changes in the weather?
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What conditions are associated with stable air?
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Study Notes
Weather Terminology and Concepts
- Air Pressure: The weight of the air pressing down on the Earth's surface, measured in pounds per square inch.
- Anticyclone: A high-pressure area characterized by descending air, typically leading to clear skies.
- Coriolis Effect: The phenomenon causing moving objects to curve due to the Earth’s rotation, impacting weather patterns.
- Cyclone: A low-pressure area that usually generates stormy weather.
Atmospheric Conditions
- Dew Point: The specific temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture, resulting in condensation.
- Humidity: Refers to the amount of moisture present in the air, crucial for weather dynamics.
Meteorology Focus
- Meteorology: The scientific study focused on the atmosphere and weather systems, essential for understanding climate and forecasting.
- Precipitation: Any moisture that falls from clouds, including rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Air Movement and Weather Patterns
- Jet Stream Flow (U.S.): Predominantly flows from west to east, influencing weather patterns across the country.
- Rising Warm Air: Creates low pressure areas, often leading to cloud formation and precipitation.
- Low Pressure Areas: Associated with stormy weather, rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Weather Fronts and Systems
- Front Severity: The greater the difference in weather conditions on either side of a front, the more severe the resulting weather.
- Stationary Front: A boundary between air masses where no significant movement occurs, leading to prolonged weather patterns.
Cloud Types and Weather Phenomena
- Cumulus and Cumulonimbus Clouds: Forms typically associated with cold fronts, indicating potential thunderstorms.
- Nimbostratus Clouds: Result from the gentle lifting of warm, moist air over cooler air, often leading to steady precipitation.
- Hail: Generally associated with thunderstorms, can cause significant damage.
Temperature and Atmospheric Layers
- Troposphere: The lowest layer of the atmosphere where nearly all weather events occur, contains the warmest air at the bottom.
- Boiling Point of Water: Occurs at 100 degrees Celsius under standard atmospheric conditions.
Air Mass Characteristics
- Air Mass: A large body of air with uniform temperature and humidity that remains in one area for an extended time.
- Relative Humidity: A comparison of the actual water vapor present in the air to the maximum it can hold, expressed as a percentage.
Severe Weather Systems
- Hurricanes and Typhoons: Large destructive cyclones that lose strength upon making landfall, leading to reduced impact.
- Changes in Barometric Pressure: Rapid shifts indicate significant weather changes, crucial for forecasting.
Atmospheric Stability and Air Movement
- Stable Air Indicators: Characterized by stratus clouds, cold air beneath warm air, and minimal vertical air movement, resulting in fog.
- Air Movement around an Anticyclone: Travels in a clockwise direction, contrasting the counterclockwise rotation of low-pressure systems.
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