Coriolis Parameter
Where do we expect the greatest and weakest Coriolis Force?
Greatest: Poles
Weakest: Equator
Where does Geostrophic wind occur?
Above the boundary layer.
How is a warm cloud characterized?
A cloud that is completely below the freezing level.
In terms of land and water, what type of breeze do we have during the day and why?
Sea breeze (onshore flow). Land heats up more than the water due to waters higher heat capacity. This creates high pressure over land aloft, while the water has a lower pressure aloft. Wind flows from high to low pressure, creating a high pressure on the surface of the water and a low pressure on the surface of the land.
The Coriolis force deflects winds to the _____ in the northern hemisphere and to the ____ in the southern hemisphere.
Right, left
Geostrophic wind is the resultant wind from which two wind components?
The PGF force and the Coriolis Force
How is a cold cloud characterized?
A cloud that exists all or partly above the freezing level.
In terms of land and water, what type of breeze do we have during the night and why?
Land breeze (offshore flow). Land cools down more than the water due to waters higher heat capacity. This creates low pressure over land aloft, while the water has a high pressure aloft. Wind flows from high to low pressure, creating a high pressure on the surface of the land and a low pressure on the surface of the water.
The stronger the wind, the _______ the force (deflection)
By keeping the change in pressure constant but decreasing the distance, PGF increases or decreases?
PGF increases.
When freezing rain falls and freezes on the surface, what process occurred here?
Accretion. Ice crystals collide with super cooled droplets. Being supersaturated (RH>100%), this precipitation freezes on contact with a surface.
What creates a valley breeze?
Warmer temperatures in the valley expand and flow upward towards the mountain during the day.
What is the Coriolis parameter?
f = 2Ω x sin(θ)
Ω= angular velocity of earth
θ= latitude in degrees
True or False: PGF winds flow perpendicular to isobars (lines of constant pressure.
True.
What process occurs for sleet to fall?
Fracturing. Falling ice particles collide and fracture into smaller pieces.
The surface of the mountain cools off faster which produces a downward wind.
The Coriolis parameter is...
-In the northern Hemisphere
-In the southern Hemisphere
-At the equator
-At the north pole
-At the south pole
f>0
f<0
f= 0
f= 2Ω
f= -2Ω
Geostrophic Wind equations (U and V)
Ug= (-g/f) (ΔZ/Δy)
Vg= (g/f) (ΔZ/Δx)
What process assists in the creation of snowflakes?
Aggregation. Falling crystals collide and stick together to other crystals.
What helps aid thunderstorms/ lightning in Florida?
Sea breeze convergence