CH 1 Atm
Layers of the atmosphere from surface to space
Troposphere, Tropopause, Stratosphere, Stratopause, Mesosphere, Mesopause, Thermosphere, (Exosphere).
An inversion is a sign of what type of atmospheric stability?
Stable Air
1 millibar = ___ feet of elevation
30 feet.
The pressure difference between a strong High pressure center (1030 mb) and an intense Low pressure center (970 mb) is 60 mb = 1800 ft
What are the 4 cloud families?
Low - Stratus
Mid - Alto
High - Cirro
Vertical Development
The atmosphere is always trying to restore _______?
Equilibrium
What is the leading cause of instability in the atmosphere?
Heating of the earth's surface
International Standard Atmosphere for Pressure in all 3 units (" Hg, mb, psi)?
29.92" Hg, 1013.25 mb, 14.7 PSI
Why does cold air sink and warm air rise? (hint: temperature, density)
Cold air - less molecular movement (lower temp) = more dense.
Warm air - more molecular movement (higher temp) = less dense
The study of weather (p.1)
SLR, DALR, MALR values. Define ELR.
Standard LR: -2C/+1000 ft
Dry Adiabatic LR: -3C/+1000 ft
Moist (Saturated) Adiabatic LR: -1.5C/+1000 ft
Environmental LR = What the LR actually is for the day
What are the 5 airmasses that affect the Continental US?
What is the standard Pressure lapse rate?
-1" Hg / +1000 ft
*exponential, not linear
Percentage of water vapor in the air fluctuates from _____ to _____
0% - 4%
LCL - What is it and what happens?
Lifting Condensation Level. Height of cloud bases. Where OAT = Dewpoint so air parcel is fully saturated, and begins rising at MALR.
What initially causes the formation of a frontal depression?
An upper air feature (p.84: Stage I)
Name the 7 fog types, and briefly explain each
Steam - cold air over warm water
Upslope - moist air forced up over terrain
Precipitation-induced
Radiation - clear/calm/cool/humid nights
Advection - warm air over cold surface
Ice - ice crystals suspended in air
Freezing - supercooled LWD suspended in air
Atmospheric Circulation: On a global level because of _____ and on a local level because ____
Global: Solar incidence/Unequal heating of the earth by the Sun
Local: Different surfaces absorb, retain, and reflect solar rays differently
Name the cloud type, turbulence level, visibility, precipitation type, and position of warm air vs cold air in both Stable and Unstable atmospheres
Stable: Stratiform, Smooth, Poor, STEADY, Cold below Warm
Unstable: Cumuliform, Turbulent, Clear, SHOWERY, Warm below Cold
List 3 differences between High and Low pressure systems
High: 1. Cold air aloft sinking down, 2. Rotates CW from center outwards (divergence) in Northern Hemisphere, 3. Fair weather, calmer winds
Low-pressure: 1. Warm air at the surface rotates inward, CCW (convergence) in N. Hemi., 2. Air rises up (convection), 3. Synoptic/bad weather, strong winds