Meteorology Review Sheet PDF

Meteorology Review Local Wind -​ Horizontal movement of air from HIGH pressure to LOW pressure -​ “Winds blow from high to low” -​ Winds are caused by the unequal heating of the earth’s surface -​ Winds are named based on where they come from -​ Sea Breeze -​ Happens d...

Meteorology Review Local Wind -​ Horizontal movement of air from HIGH pressure to LOW pressure -​ “Winds blow from high to low” -​ Winds are caused by the unequal heating of the earth’s surface -​ Winds are named based on where they come from -​ Sea Breeze -​ Happens during the DAY -​ High pressure is in the ocean (cooler temperatures) -​ Low pressure is over the land (warmer temperatures) -​ Land Breeze -​ Happens during the NIGHT -​ High pressure is in the land (cooler temperatures) -​ Low pressure is over the ocean (warmer temperatures) Monsoons: larger scale versions of land and sea breezes Global Winds -​ Due to the unequal heating of earth’s surface over a large area -​ High pressure is found at the poles (cool sinking air) -​ Low pressure is found at the equator (warm rising air) -​ CORIOLIS EFFECT= The path that wind takes -​ Winds bend to the WEST because the earth rotates to the EAST Air Masses -​ A large body of air that is classified based on temperature and humidity -​ Moisture Content -​ Continental (c)- dry and forms over land -​ Maritime (m)- wet and forms over the ocean -​ Temperature -​ Tropical (T)- warm and forms near the equator -​ Polar (P)- cold and forms near the poles Fronts -​ The boundary between where two air masses meet Station Models -​ We use p13 of the ESRT to find any information about them RULES FOR BAROMETRIC PRESSURE -​ Less than 500→ add a 10 and add a decimal -​ 056→ 1005.6mb -​ Greater than 500→ add a 9 and add a decimal -​ 734→ 973.4mb Severe Weather -​ Tornadoes -​ A violently rotating column of air that touches the ground -​ Forms over the land and moves very quickly -​ Safest place to be during a tornado is in an underground bunker/ basement and away from windows -​ Hurricanes -​ A tropical storm of extremely fast winds that forms over warm moist water -​ Forms in maritime tropical water Weather Variables Temperature: the amount of kinetic energy a substance has -​ A thermometer is the tool used to measure temperature -​ The scales used to measure temperature are Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin -​ We use p13 of the ESRT to convert temperatures Heat: The way energy is transferred Types of Heat Transfer  -​ Conduction: the direct transfer of heat from one substance to another through the act of touching -​ METALS are good conductors of heat -​ Radiation: direct transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves -​ Convection: the transfer of thermal (heat) energy through a liquid or gas -​ Due to changes in DENSITY -​ Calorie/Joule: measures the amount of energy (heat) an object has Specific heat: The amount of energy needed to raise or lower the temperature of a substance 1℃ -​ Liquid water has the highest specific heat -​ This means it takes the longest amount of time and the most energy to raise or lower the temperature -​ Metals with a low specific heat, heat up very quickly and cool off just as quickly. Phase Changes occur when heat is being added or removed Types of phase changes -​ Melting: when a substance changes from a solid to a liquid -​ Freezing: when a substance changes from a liquid to a solid -​ Evaporation: when a substance changes from a liquid to a gas -​ Also known as VAPORIZATION -​ Condensation: when a substance changes from a gas to a liquid -​ Sublimation: when a substance changes from a solid to a gas -​ Deposition: when a substance changes from a gas to a solid Electromagnetic Spectrum (p. 14 in ESRT) -​ The sun gives us energy in the form of electromagnetic waves through radiation -​ Energy comes in three main forms -​ Infrared radiation: Energy in the form of HEAT -​ LOW energy, with LONG wavelength -​ Visible Light -​ RED= LONGEST waves, LOWEST energy -​ VIOLET= SHORTEST waves, HIGHEST energy -​ Ultraviolet Radiation: -​ HIGH energy, SHORT wavelength -​ Causes burns, skin cancer, or eye damage -​ LIGHT AND SMOOTH surfaces are good at REFLECTING light -​ DARK AND ROUGH surfaces are good at ABSORBING light  -​ Good absorbers (dark and rough) are good radiators (they give off heat) Greenhouse Effect: -​ The natural process of warming the earth’s surface. The clouds and atmosphere reflect heat back to the surface keeping the surface of the earth warm. -​ Greenhouse Gases -​ CO2 : Carbon dioxide is naturally found in the atmosphere. Excessive amounts are produced by cars and factories -​ Water Vapor: Clouds trap infrared (heat)energy in the atmosphere -​ Methane: Introduced into the atmosphere by factories to produce electricity -​ STRONGEST GREENHOUSE GAS Relative Humidity & Dew Point (p. 12 in the ESRT) -​ Dew Point: the temperature at which saturation (air is filled with water) is reached -​ The MORE MOISTURE in the air, the closer the DEW POINT will be to the actual air temperatrue -​ Humidity: The amount of water vapor in the air compared to what it can hold -​ As temperature increases, the capacity to hold water also increases -​ As temperature increases, relative humidity decreases -​ As air rises, it cools until its dew point temperature is met. This is where clouds form.  -​ Wet bulb depression is already the subtracted value of Dry bulb- wet bulb -​ A Sling psychrometer is the tool used to determine the relative humidity and dew point How to read p12 of the reference table -​ Dry bulb temperature= Air temperature -​ Wet Bulb Depression= Subtract the Dry bulb- Wet bulb -​ ** If the Wet bulb depression is already provided DO NOT subtract** -​ See example below to read the relative humidity or Dew point chart Air Temperature= 12℃ Wet Bulb Depression= 2℃ Dew Point = 8℃ Clouds: form when condensation (gas to liquid) can occur. -​ This happens when warm, wet, rising air cools and reaches its dew point. -​ Once its dew point is reached, condensation occurs creating a cloud. ****The base of a cloud is the altitude where the air temperature= the dew point****** Air Pressure (p13 of the ESRT) -​ Air pressure is GREATEST at the surface -​ As altitude INCREASES, air pressure DECREASES -​ A barometer is the tool used to measure air pressure -​ High pressure= HAPPY weather -​ Air is sinking and expanding -​ Clear and dry weather -​ Anticyclone -​ Low pressure= LOUSY weather -​ Air is rising and cooling (condensing) -​ Associated, with clouds, wind, and precipitation  -​ Cyclone WIND -​ The horizontal movement of air from an area of HIGH PRESSURE to LOW PRESSURE -​ “Winds flow from high→ low” -​ Wind direction: Measured using a WIND VANE -​ Wind Speed: Measured using an anemometer