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Chapter 21 : Weather

Terms in this set (61)

Differences in air pressure throughout Earth creates ________
wind patterns
cold air near the poles sinks and creates ______ centers
high pressure
unequal heating of Earth's surface causes _______ in air pressure
differences
air moves from areas of _____ pressure to areas of ________ pressure
high low
the general movement of Earth's air is from the ___ to the _____
poles
equator
An _____ is a large body of air throughout which temp. and moisture are similar
Air Mass
______ regions have cold, dry air masses
Polar
_________ regions have warm, moist air masses
Tropical
Polar areas are sources for ________ air masses
cold
Tropical areas are sources for ______ air masses
warm
____ air masses form over oceans
Maritime
________ air masses form over land
continental
Continental polar (cP) ___ and _____
cold dry
Continental Tropical (cT) ______ and _______
warm dry
_____ air masses form over large land masses
Continental
Continental air masses have very low __________
humidity
Continental air masses move _______ weather into other regions
dry
________ air masses form over large bodies of water
Maritime
Maritime air masses have high _______
humidity
When maritime air masses move to new areas they bring _____, _________, and __________
humidity
precipitation
fog
Maritime Polar (mP) ____ and _________
wet
cold
Maritime Tropical (mT) ________ and ______
wet
warm
When 2 different air masses meet, density differences keep the air masses seperate. This creates a ________
front
_______ weather usually takes place along various types of fronts
Mid-latitude
Fronts do not exist in the ________
tropics
When a cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass, a ______ front forms
cold
A long line of heavy thunderstorms is called a _________ line
squall
__________ fronts form when a warm air mass overtakes a cold air mass
Warm
_____ fronts cause violdent weather
Warm
_______ front - air moves slowly or not at all.
Stationary
______ front - forms when fast moving cold fronts overtake a warm front and lifts warm air completely off the ground
Occluded
The area where polar air meets tropical air masses is called a ______ front
polar
_____ of air develop at polar fronts
waves
______ cyclones are areas of low pressure that have rotating wind, which moves towards the center of the low pressure area.
Midlatitude
_________ occur when the air sinks and flows outward from the center of a high pressure area
Anticyclones
Anticyclones bring ____ weather
dry
_________ weather is any weather that can cause property damage or loss of life
Severe
A heavy storm with rain thunder, lighting, and strong winds is called a __________
thunderstorm
1st stage of a thunderstorm : __________ stage

warm, wet air rises and water in the atmosphere condenses to form cumulus clouds
cumulus
2nd stage of a thunderstorm: ________ stage

condensation continues as clouds rise and become dark cumulonimbus clouds
Mature
3rd stage of a thunderstorm: _________ stage

strong downdrafts stop air currents from rising and the storm dissipates (breaks up) as water vapor decreases in the atmosphere
Dissipating
During a thunderstorm clouds discharge electricity in the form of _____________
lightning
A tropical storm with winds faster than 120km/h and spiral in towards an intense low pressure center is called a ____________
hurricane
Hurricanes are rated on the _________ scale
Saffir Simpson
_________ are rotating columns of air that reach very high speeds and form a funnel shaped cloud
tornadoes
Air temperature is measured using a _________
thermometer
_______ are used to measure atmospheric pressure
Barometers
Wind speed is measured using an ________
anemometer
Wind direction is determined by using a ________ _______
wind vane
Scientists study the conditions of the upper atmosphere to determine _______ and _____ wind patterns
global
local
Helium-filled weather balloons carry an instrument packaged called a __________ to the upper atmosphere
radiosonde
A ______ measures relative humidity, air pressure, and air temperature
radiosonde
__________ is used to detect thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.
Radar
Radar stands for
Radio Detection and Ranging
Computers store data created by ______
satellites
Weather data collected by weather stations is transferred onto _____ ______
weather maps
Scientists use lines on weather maps to connect points of equal measurement (______)
isotherms
Lines that connect points of equal atmospheric pressure are called __________
isobars
A ______ uses radar to focus on timing of precipitation and severe weather
nowcast
A ________ _______ predicts weather for the next 48 hours
Daily Forecast
An ______ _______ predicts weather for 3 - 5 days into the future
Extended forecast
THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH...