Where does upper level convergence tend to occurs and what causes it?
Tends to occur on the west side of an upper level trough (or the east side of an upper level ridge). upper level convergence occurs when faster winds approach slower winds
100
What six things do we include in our forecasts?
temperature, humidity, cloudiness, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction
100
What is the key factor found in severe thunderstorms?
wind shear because then the updraft does not reman vertical
100
What is a tornado?
a rapidly rotating column of air extending down from a cumulus cloud; it is a small area of intense low pressure with a circulation that reaches the ground
200
What are the four different types of Fronts?
cold, warm, stationary, occluded
200
where does upper level divergence tend to occur and what causes it?
tends to occur on the east side of an upper level trough (or the west side of an upper level ridge). upper level divergence occurs when faster winds move away from slower winds.
200
What is a watch?
indicates that atmospheric conditions favor hazardous weather occurring over a particular region during a specified time period, but that the actual location and time of the occurrence is uncertain
200
Where are the four places lightening can strike?
within a cloud, cloud to cloud, cloud to surrounding air, or cloud to ground
200
What are the ideal conditions for a tornado?
warm, humid surface air is overlain by cooler, drier air aloft (conditionally unstable conditions) combined with strong vertical wind shear
300
What is a squall line?
a line of active showers and thunderstorms that develop parallel to and often ahead of an advancing cold front
300
The development of mid-latitude cyclones tends to shift with the location of the _____ _______ throughout the seasons.
jet stream
300
What is a Doppler Radar?
a radar that determines the velocity of falling precipitation either toward or away from the radar unit by taking into account the Doppler Shift
300
What are the three main types of thunderstorms?
1. ordinary (air-mass) thunderstorms
2. severe thunderstorms
3. supercell thunderstorms
300
What are the three stages in a Tornado's life cycle?
also called extratropical cyclones or middle-latitude cyclones
400
What are geostationary satellites?
Satellites placed in orbit over the equator, they remain at a fixed point above the earth because they travel at the same rate that the earth rotates
400
What are the three stages of an ordinary (air-mass) thunderstorm?
Cumulus stage, mature stage, and dissipation stage
400
How does rotation form?
- vertical directional wind shear
- vertical wind speed shear
- vortex tubes: the wind shear cause the air near the surface to rotate about a horizontal axis
500
what is the polar front theory?
the majority of weather in the mid-latitudes (Florida to Alaska) is generated by mid-latitude cyclones
500
What are the six stages of the polar front theory?
1. stationary front
2. frontal wave
3. open wave
4. mature
5. advanced occlusion
6. dissipation
500
What is a sounding?
two-dimensional vertical profile of temperature, dew point temperature, and winds
500
Thunderstorms are convective storms that form in rising air. What are the six forcing mechanisms for moving air upward?
1. random, turbulent eddies that lift small pockets of air
2. unequal heating at the surface
3. the effect of terrain or the lifting of air along shallow boundaries of converging surface winds
4. diverging upper-level winds, coupled with converging surface winds and rising air
5. large-scale uplift along mountain barriers or gently rising terrain
6. warm air rising along a frontal zone
500
Where is Tornado Alley and where is Dixie Alley?
Tornado Alley: Texas to Nebraska
Dixie Alley: Mississippi and Alabama