1a. define: updraft
a current of rising air
1b. define: insulator
a substance that does not conduct very well
- Both the Bergeron process and the collsison-coalescence process explain precipitation, but they each begin with a different type of cloud. With what kind of cloud does each theory begin?
the bergeron process begins with cold clouds, while the collision-coalescence theory begins with warm clouds
- Which of the two theories of precipitation governs the fall of rain from the top of a cumulonimbus cloud? What kind of rain cloud would be most likely described by the collision-caolescence process?
The Bergeron process describes precipitation from the top of the cumulonimbus clouds, while the collision-coalescence theory describes precipitation from nimbostratus clouds.
- What is the difference between drizzle and rain?
only the size of the raindrop
- What are the differences between sleet, hail, and freezing rain?
Sleet is much smaller than hail, but both of them are frozen before they hit the ground. Freezing rain, on the other hand, is liquid until it hits a cold surface.
- A meteorologist measures the dew point on two different mornings. The first morning is very humid and the atmospheric pressure is high. The second morning is not nearly as humid and the atmospheric pressure has fallen. On which day will the dew point be coldest?
the dew point is coldest on the second morning
- Name the three stages of a thunderstorm cell in the order they occur. At each stage indicate whether an updraft, downdraft or both are present. Also indicate weather or not precipitation occurs.
The first stage is the cumulous stage, where there is only an updraft and no precipitation. In the second stage, the mature stage, there are updrafts, downdrafts and precipitation. The last stage, the dissipation stage, has only downdrafts and precipitation.
- If the heavy rain of a thunderstorm lasts for more than thirty minutes, what can you conclude about its makeup?
the thunderstorms probably made up of several cells
- Lightning forms as a result of electrical charge imbalance. Where does that electrical inbalance originate and why does it occur?
The charge imbalance first forms in the cumulonimbus cloud, and it is due to water droplets or ice crystals rubbing against each other in glancing collisions.
- Which is responsible for most of the light and sound in a lightning bolt: the stepped leader or the return stroke?
The return stroke is responsible for the majority of light and sound in a lightning bolt.
- Where does the thunder in a thunderstorm come from?
thunder is the result of superheated air traveling out from the lightning bolt in waves
- What is the difference between sheet lightning and a lightning bolt?
sheet lightning is cloud-to-cloud lightning while lightning bolts are cloud-to-ground lightning
- Why do lightning bolts tend to strike objects that are high?
lightning strikes tall things because the positive charges in the ground tend to pile up in a tall object
- What kind of cloud is necessary for tornado formation?
a cumulonimbus cloud must be present to form a tornado
- List the five stages of a tornado in order. At which stage is the tornado most destructive?
The stages of a tornado are; the whirl stage, the organizing stage, the mature stage, the shrinking stage, and the decaying stage. The tornado is most destructive in its mature stage.
- What are the four classifications that lead to a hurricane? What is used to determine which classification a storm fits in?
A hurricane starts our as a tropical disturbance, then becomes a tropical depression, then a tropical storm, and finally a tropical cyclone. The wind speeds in the storm determine in which classification a storm belongs.
- What are the conditions in the eye of a hurricane?
within the eye, a hurricane is calm-it is often sunny as well
- What causes a hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere to rotate in a different direction than a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere?
the Coriolis effect
- Look in book on page 202, #19: Is the atmospheric pressure in Houston higher, lower, or nearly equivalent to that of Chicago?
the atmospheric pressures are nearly equivalent
- Look in book on page 202, #20: Is the atmospheric pressure in Houston higher, lower, or equivalent to that of Atlanta?
the atmospheric pressure in Houston is lower
- Look in book on page 202, #21: Is the occluded front nearer to San francisco or Canada?
San Francisco
- Look in book on page 202, #22: Will Atlanta or Indianapolis be in for some warmer weather soon?
Indianapolis will get warmer weather soon
- Look in book on page 202, #23: At the time this map was drawn, what city drawn on the map might be experiencing thunderstorms?
Houston, Tx
