Professional Documents
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1) The __________ heats Earth’s surface 2) Earth’s surface transfers that energy to
the __________ 3) Differences in __________ drive the weather.
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
B. The Atmosphere
Earth’s atmosphere has four layers identified by changes in __________.
1) Troposphere
- Layer closest to Earth’s surface, where weather occurs.
- Temperature __________ ( ) with increasing (⇑) altitude.
- Air pressure __________ ( ) with increasing (⇑) altitude.
2) Stratosphere
- The second layer from Earth’s surface.
- Temperature __________ ( ) with increasing (⇑) altitude.
Why?:
- Air pressure __________ ( ) with increasing (⇑) altitude.
3) Mesosphere
- The third layer from Earth’s surface.
- Temperature __________ ( ) with increasing (⇑) altitude.
- Air pressure __________ ( ) with increasing (⇑) altitude.
4) Thermosphere
- The fourth layer from Earth’s surface.
- Temperature __________ ( ) with increasing (⇑) altitude.
Chapter 19: The Atmosphere in Motion
C. Air Pressure
A force caused by the __________ of air molecules being
pulled to the Earth by _________.
- Air pressure is exerted in all directions.
- At sea level, air pressure is __________ pounds per
square inch (lb/in2)
Barometer – weather instrument that measures __________
__________.
- Units of Air Pressure
1)
2)
3)
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
On weather maps, areas with the same air
pressure can be plotted using isobars.
• a.k.a. • a.k.a.
• Cool air _________ from the atmosphere. • Warm air __________from the surface.
• Linked to __________ air. • Linked to __________ air.
• Cloud __________ . • Cloud __________ .
• Winds blow away from pressure center. • Winds blow towards pressure center.
D. Wind
The movement of air from areas of _________ pressure ( ) to _________ pressure ( ).
- Wind speed increases (⇑) as:
1) the pressure difference __________ ( ) or
2) distance between isobars _________ ( ).
Local Winds
Definition – Winds that blows for less than 100 km.
Mainly caused by differences in __________.
1) Sea Breeze
- Starts over __________ and blows
onto _________.
- Occur during the __________
when __________ warms faster
than ________ .
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
2) Land Breeze
- Starts over __________ and blows
onto __________.
- Occur during the __________ when
__________ cools faster than
__________.
2) Coriolis Effect
Definition – the tendency of objects moving
free of Earth’s surface to _________
its path of travel.
H L
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
Chapter 18: Water in the Atmosphere
E. Humidity
Specific Humidity – the __________ amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.
- Hotter air can hold _________ water vapor.
Saturation – the point at which air is at the maximum capacity for water vapor
F. Condensation
Condensation – occurs when water turns from a _________ to a _________.
- Slows the rate at which water cools
Dew Point – the temperature at which saturation occurs and __________ begins,
- As humidity __________ ( ), dew point __________ ( ) because the air can hold less
water.
b) Expansion as it Rises
Adiabatic Cooling – air ________ as it rises
because the surrounding air pressure _________.
G. Clouds
Clouds form when _____ ___________ = _____ _________.
H. Precipitation
Precipitation – any form of water that falls from a _________ to _______ ___________.
- Precipitation falls when water droplets/ice crystals become heavy enough to fall out of
a cloud.
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
Air masses are named for where they came from two-part name.
- 1st Letter: describes the __________ of the air mass.
‘c’ __________, DRY air
‘m’ ___________, MOIST air
- 2nd Letter: describes the __________ of the air mass.
‘A’ __________, VERY COLD.
‘P’ __________, COLD
‘T’ __________, WARM
J. Fronts
Front – the boundary that separates two different air masses
1) Cold Front
A _______ air mass replaces a _______ air mass.
- Warm air is quickly forced up steep but narrow
front boundary.
- Air pressure __________ ( ).
2) Warm Front
A _______ air mass replaces a _______ air mass.
- Warm air is slowly forced up shallow, wide front
boundary.
- Air pressure __________ ( ).
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
3) Occluded Front
A _______ air mass catches up to a _______ front.
- Warm air is forces to rise above the cooler air below.
- Air pressure generally __________ ( ).
4) Stationary Front
Occurs when an air mass _______ _________.
- Can cause __________ due to continuous rainfall.
K. Mid-Latitude Cyclone
A _____ pressures system that forms from the interaction of _________.
- Drives the weather patterns in a mid-latitudes ( _____ - _____ ).
Stages of Formation
1) Stationary Front
_____ air mass is separated from _____
air mass.
2) Unstable Stage
Air pressure _______ along the frontal
boundary, creating a _____ pressure
center.
3) Mature Stage
Winds blow ___________ into low
pressure center.
4) Occluded Stage
The _______ front catches up to the
_______ front, forming an _______ front.
The _____ _______ determines the intensity and path of mid-latitude cyclones.
- Mid-latitude cyclones generally travel to the __________.
L. Thunderstorms
Weather event associated with lightning, thunder, and hail.
Thunderstorm Formation
1) Cumulus Stage
_______ air rises to form a cumulus cloud.
Updraft – rising warm air that prevents __________ from reaching the ground.
2) Mature Stage
Precipitation becomes heavy enough to fall through the updraft.
Downdraft – strong downward movement of air in a thunderstorm.
3) Dissipation Stage
The __________ becomes stronger than the _________.
Moisture from the ground is cut-off and the cloud starts to _________.
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
Dry Line – separates warm, moist air masses ( ____ ) and dry desert air ( _____ ).
- Found _______ of the cold front and _______ warm front in a mid-latitude cyclone.
- Warm, dry ( ______ ) air behind the dry lines gives the updraft to feed the storm.
Thunder – the time delay between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is due to the
different speeds of light and sound.
Tornado Formation
1) Wind Shear
definition – a strong change in wind
_______ and _______ with height
2) Strong Updraft
definition – upward, _______ movement of
air.
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
3) Updraft Rotation
definition – the updraft starts to rotate with
the _______ column of air.
Tornado Alley – region of the United States where tornadoes occur most often.
- Increased sunlight during ______ and _______ heats the air, making it unstable
- Strong wind shear between cool, dry ______ _________ and warm, moist air from the
_____ _____ _______.
Tornado Safety
Tornado (Severe Weather) Watch – issued when conditions are favorable for severe
thunderstorms to produce tornadoes.
Tornado Warning – issued when a tornado has been _____ by eye or weather radar.
N. Hurricanes
A large, rotating storm that gets its energy from _______, _______ water.
Hurricane Formation
1) Tropical Disturbance
- Warm ocean water rises in warm unstable air to generate clusters of
thunderstorms.
2) Tropical Depression
- Individual thunderstorms start to merge.
- Rotation due to _______ _______.
- Direction?:
3) Tropical Storm
- Low (L) pressure center with clear center (NO eye)
4) Hurricane
- A clear eye forms, surrounded by spiral bands of rain and thunder.
Hurricanes form during _______ and early ______, when ocean temperatures are warm
enough.
Hurricanes need unstable ( _______, _______ ) air that occurs close to the equator.
Hurricane Impact
1) Storm Surge – the hurricane eye creates a dome of ocean water that _____ the
sea level by several meters.
2)
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Name: _____________________________ Hour:_____
Geophysical . . . Severe Weather
Hurricane Safety
Tropical Storm Watch – issued when tropical storm conditions present a threat to a
coastal area within _____ hours.
Tropical Storm Warning – issued when tropical storm condition present a threat to a
coastal area within _____ hours.
Hurricane Watch – issued when hurricane conditions present a threat to a coastal area
within _____ hours.
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