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12-1 Flashcards
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Term | Definition |
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meteorology | The study of atmospheric phenomena. The root word of meteorology is the Greek word "meteoros", which means high in the air. |
weather | short term variations in atmospheric phenomena that interact and affect the environment and life on Earth. |
climate | The long-term average of variations in weather for a particular area. |
why is the Earth's surface heated unevenly? | The Earths axis of rotation is tilted relative to the plane of Earth's orbit. Also, Earth is a sphere and different places on the Earth are at different angles to the sun. |
what is an air mass? | A large volume of air that has the same characteristics, such as humidity and temperature. Most air masses form over tropical regions and polar regions. |
what does the source region have to do with the air mass over it? | By it being the area over which the air mass forms. |
Tropical Air Masses- what are their qualities and where do they form? | A large volume of air that has the same characteristics, such as humidity and temperature, especially when its heated (thermal). |
Continental Polar Air Masses- what are their qualities and where do they form? | Form over the interior of Canada and Alaska. In winter, these air masses can carry frigid air southward. In the summer, however, cool, relatively dry, continental polar air masses bring relief from hot, humid weather. |
Continental Tropical Air Masses- what are their qualities and where do they form? | The Southwestern United States and Mexico are a source region of continental tropical air, which is hot and dry, especially in the summer. Is warm and dry in the winter. |
Maritime Polar Air Masses- what are their qualities and where do they form? | Polar air masses form over the cold waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific. The one that forms over the North Pacific primarily affects the West Coast of the United States, occasionally bringing heavy rains in winter. |
Maritime Tropical Air Masses- what are their qualities and where do they form? | Origins are tropical bodies of water, such as the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. In the summer they bring hot, humid weather to the eastern two-thirds of North America. The winters are warm/humid. |
Arctic Air Masses- - what are their qualities and where do they form? | Earth's ice/snow-covered surfaces above 60° N LAT-> Siberia/Arctic Basin=source regions->arctic air masses.Winters=areas receive small solar radiation->continues radiated heat energy.Becomes really cold/brings frigid temps. ->winter.Summers(cold/dry). |