Question | Answer |
meteorologist | scientist who forecasts weather |
synoptic weather forecasting | looking at synopsis (summary) of weather variables at specific time at several locations |
Station model | symbols using in synoptic weather maps |
In a station model, temperature is recorded in ____ | Fahrenheit |
In a station model, visibility is recorded in ____ | miles |
In a station model, dew point is recorded in ____ | Fahrenheit |
In a station model, barometric pressure is recorded in ____ | mb- only the last three numbers |
In a station model, precipitation is recorded in ____ | how many inches in the last three hours |
Field on field map | a region of space that has a measurable quantity at every point |
isolines | lines that connect all point of equal value on a map |
isotherms | isolines for temperature |
isobars | isolines for pressure |
The closer the isobars, the (weaker, stronger) the winds | stronger |
thunderstorm begins as a ___________ | convection cell (warm air rises, expands, cools and sinks) |
lightning | air gets heavy, rain begins to fall and causes friction with the air moving upward |
lightning-definition | large electrical discharge that occurs between two oppositely charged surfaces |
The upper part of the cloud carries (negative, positive) charge while lower part is (negatively, positively) charged | positive, negatively |
Tornadoes | small brief disturbances that develop over land from an intense thunderstorm |
tornadoes result because of | warm air that is forced upward and causes a sharp decrease in air pressure. Form over water near Equator during summer months. |
Hurricanes occur when | air over warm oceans is heated, pressure decreases. |
Wind speed of hurricanes | 119 km/hr |
Climate | the average conditions in an area over a long period of time |
climate is determined by _____ and _____ | temperature and precipitation |
Other factors that influence climate are | latitude, wind patterns, geography, and ocean currents |
Latitude | the distance north or south measured in degrees from the equator |
The higher the latitude, the _____ the climate | cooler |
When does summer solstice occur? | June 21 |
When does the autumnal equinox occur? | Sept. 21-23 |
When does the winter solstice occur? | Dec. 21 |
When does the vernal equinox occur? | Mar. 21-23 |
Prevailing winds | winds that blow mainly from one direction |
Prevailing winds influence _____ and _____. | moisture and temperature |
Elevation | height of surface landforms above sea level |
As elevation (increases, decreases) the atmosphere becomes less dense, less able to hold heat (cooler) | increases |
Three major climate zones based on latitude | tropical, temperate, and polar |
biome | large region characterized by a specific type of climate and plants and animals that live there |
tropical zone | warm zone located around the equator, extends from the Tropic of Cancer to Tropic of Capricorn |
Tropical rainforest | warm and wet |
Tropical desert | less than 25 inches rainfall per year |
Tropical savannas | grasslands with warm, dry season |
Temperate zone | between the Tropics and Polar zone |
Temperate forests | large amounts of rain, seasonal temperature differences |
Temperate grasslands | prairies, steppes, veldt, pampas- too little rainfall for trees to grow, seasonal temperatures, most fertile soil of all biomes |
Chapparals | cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers, very rocky |
Temperate desert | cold desert located in rain shadow of mountain |
Polar zone | coldest average temperature |
tundra | very dry, 24 hours of daylight of darkness |
permafrost | permanently frozen layer of soil, water cannot drain |
taiga | long cold winters and short warm summer |
microclimate | small regions with unique climate characteristics |