GES 2613 Study Guide for Exam 2
latest 2025
GES 2613 Study Guide for Exam 2
latest 2025
Atmospheric pressure - ANSthe pressure exerted by atoms and molecules in the
atmosphere surrounding Earth, resulting from collisions of these particles with
objects
Atmospheric pressure at sea level - ANS1013.2 mb (millibar)
Cirrus clouds - ANSwispy and can indicate oncoming storm
Cumulus clouds - ANSbright and puffy
Dry Adiabatic Rate (DAR) - ANSRate at which dry air cools by expansion (or heats
through compression) = 10 Celsius degrees per 1000 meters
ENSO - ANSEl Niño Southern Oscillation, see-sawing of air pressure over the S.
Pacific
Gyres - ANSLarge circulation currents in the ocean
Hadley Cell Circulation - ANS
How do we classify air masses? - ANSBy the latitude and surface type of their
source regions:
• Maritime polar (mP)
• Maritime equatorial (mE)
• Maritime tropical (mT)
• Continental tropical (cT)
• Continental polar (cP)
• Continental Arctic (cA)
• Continental Antarctic (cAA)
How does a midlatitude cyclone form? - ANSWarm and cold fronts found together,
spiraling around a center of low pressure
- Conflict between warm, mT and cold, cP air masses
How does a tornado form? - ANStornadoes mostly form during a severe
thunderstorms when a cold air mass clashes with a warm air mass
How does the wind behave in a high-pressure cell? - ANSAir tends to move
downward from aloft, because the air over a high is heavier/denser and it will tend to
move down and outward toward areas of least resistance
latest 2025
GES 2613 Study Guide for Exam 2
latest 2025
Atmospheric pressure - ANSthe pressure exerted by atoms and molecules in the
atmosphere surrounding Earth, resulting from collisions of these particles with
objects
Atmospheric pressure at sea level - ANS1013.2 mb (millibar)
Cirrus clouds - ANSwispy and can indicate oncoming storm
Cumulus clouds - ANSbright and puffy
Dry Adiabatic Rate (DAR) - ANSRate at which dry air cools by expansion (or heats
through compression) = 10 Celsius degrees per 1000 meters
ENSO - ANSEl Niño Southern Oscillation, see-sawing of air pressure over the S.
Pacific
Gyres - ANSLarge circulation currents in the ocean
Hadley Cell Circulation - ANS
How do we classify air masses? - ANSBy the latitude and surface type of their
source regions:
• Maritime polar (mP)
• Maritime equatorial (mE)
• Maritime tropical (mT)
• Continental tropical (cT)
• Continental polar (cP)
• Continental Arctic (cA)
• Continental Antarctic (cAA)
How does a midlatitude cyclone form? - ANSWarm and cold fronts found together,
spiraling around a center of low pressure
- Conflict between warm, mT and cold, cP air masses
How does a tornado form? - ANStornadoes mostly form during a severe
thunderstorms when a cold air mass clashes with a warm air mass
How does the wind behave in a high-pressure cell? - ANSAir tends to move
downward from aloft, because the air over a high is heavier/denser and it will tend to
move down and outward toward areas of least resistance
