Water Cycle
What are the 4 steps of the Water/Hydrologic Cycle?
Evaporation/Transpiration, Condensation, Precipitation, Accumulation
What type Air Mass symbol (i.e. mT, mP, cT, cP) represents dry/cold air?
cP
What type of "front" has a Warm Front colliding with a Cold Front?
Cold Front
What causes Prevailing Winds?
Uneven Heating of Earth and Rotation of Earth
What around the world serves as a coat to protect us from harmful outside elements in space and keeps Earth's temperature relatively stable?
Atmosphere
What is the water's state of matter during Evaporation/Transpiration?
Gas (Water Vapor)
What type Air Mass symbol (i.e. mT, mP, cT, cP) represents wet/moist/humid air that is also warmer?
mT
What type of "front" has a Cold Front and a Warm Front going the same direction; however, the Warm Front is slowly catching up to the Cold Front?
Warm Front
Why is Earth unevenly heated?
Spherical shape (like a basketball)
Why is it warmer near the surface warmer than it is up in altitude?
Earth's ground/water absorbs most of the Sun's penetrating thermal energy and then passes it to the atmosphere it is touching.
What causes the gaseous water vapor to transition to liquid clouds?
Warmer gaseous water vapor loses enough thermal energy to the surrounding colder air up in altitude, which causes the gaseous water vapor to transition to a liquid..
In general terms, where would a dry and warmer air mass be found in the U.S.A.?
In the southeast near the desert areas like Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas.
Why does a Warm Front bring with it long periods of precipitation and warmer weather?
The Warm Front is a slower-moving front, and the clouds gradually build up as the Warm Front slowly overtakes the Cold Front. This causes condensation and eventually precipitation. It also brings warmer air.
Go to the map of USA and show where the Westerlies and Jet Stream approximately are....and which direction they flow.
reference map. These Global/Prevailing Winds flow from the west to the east.
In reference to Local Winds, why do we say "Happy Highs" and "Lousy Lows"?
High pressure sinks and brings dry air/sunny skies, while Low pressure brings clouds/rain due to warmer air rising and condensation.
What is the difference between Evaporation and Transpiration?
Transpiration is when plants release water into the atmosphere as a gas (water vapor)/
What type of Air Mass heavily impacts the southern city of Florida (Miami)?
mT
Why do Cold Fronts bring with it violent weather?
The colliding Warm Front is quickly driven upward, which causes condensation to happen really quick. This makes very tall clouds as thermal energy flows from the lifting Warm Front to the colder air up in altitude.
How is wind created on the surface?
High Pressure flows to Low Pressure.
Why does High Atmospheric Pressure sink and Low Pressure rise?
High-pressure air is colder, so it is denser than the warmer/less dense Low-pressure air.
What causes Precipitation?
Liquid water drops in the clouds get so big that gravity pulls them downward towards the ground.
Go on the whiteboard and show where North, East, South, West are....and show where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are.
Reference any map.
When a Cold Front occurs, why does the cold air mass stay close to the ground and push the Warm Front up in altitude?
Cold Front has denser air than the Warm Front.
If on the coast and it is 2 P.M., which is warmer, the ground or the large body of water? Do you expect a Sea Breeze or Land Breeze in this situation?
Land is warmer. Sea Breeze.
T/F) During a 24-hour day, does the temperature change for both the land and water (i.e. oceans, etc.)?
True. The ground heats up and cools off more; however, the water does slightly increase and decrease in temperature.