CHAPTER 10: ATOC 1050 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS (GRADED A+)
name the three stages in the life cycle of a thunderstorm - ANSWER-1. cumulus stage:
updraft, no precipitation, food source for thunderstorm
2. mature stage: both updrafts and downdrafts are present; downdraft has rain
3. dissipation: downdraft takes over updraft and cuts off the updraft, killing the updraft
updraft - ANSWER-upward moving air currents
downdraft - ANSWER-downward moving air currents
how long does a typical single cell thunderstorm last? - ANSWER-less than an hour
entrainment - ANSWER-process by which saturated air from the growing cumulus cloud
mixes with the surrounding unsaturated air; causes evaporation of the exterior of the
cloud and tends to reduce the upward buoyancy there
what processes create/maintain the downdraft? - ANSWER-precipitation drags some of
the surrounding air down creating the downdraft; water can evaporate, taking energy
from the air, which causes the air to cool, condense, and sink
gust front - ANSWER-separation of a cold downdraft of a storm from warm humid
surface air; on the surface its passage resembles that of a cold front; a boundary, a cool
jet of air that pushes under and in front of the leading edge of a storm
anvil - ANSWER-when a large supercell storm reaches the tropopause and widens out,
giving the appearance of an anvil (top of cloud is flat)
characteristics of mature thunderstorm - ANSWER-mature stage begins when
precipitation occurs
characteristics of severe weather - ANSWER-winds of 50 knots, hail diameter 1 inch
multicell thunderstorm - ANSWER-have multiple cells that are all at different stages of
development
difference between a severe weather watch and warning - ANSWER-severe weather
watch: it is coming, or conditions have potential for severe weather
severe weather warning: it is happening currently
AND ANSWERS (GRADED A+)
name the three stages in the life cycle of a thunderstorm - ANSWER-1. cumulus stage:
updraft, no precipitation, food source for thunderstorm
2. mature stage: both updrafts and downdrafts are present; downdraft has rain
3. dissipation: downdraft takes over updraft and cuts off the updraft, killing the updraft
updraft - ANSWER-upward moving air currents
downdraft - ANSWER-downward moving air currents
how long does a typical single cell thunderstorm last? - ANSWER-less than an hour
entrainment - ANSWER-process by which saturated air from the growing cumulus cloud
mixes with the surrounding unsaturated air; causes evaporation of the exterior of the
cloud and tends to reduce the upward buoyancy there
what processes create/maintain the downdraft? - ANSWER-precipitation drags some of
the surrounding air down creating the downdraft; water can evaporate, taking energy
from the air, which causes the air to cool, condense, and sink
gust front - ANSWER-separation of a cold downdraft of a storm from warm humid
surface air; on the surface its passage resembles that of a cold front; a boundary, a cool
jet of air that pushes under and in front of the leading edge of a storm
anvil - ANSWER-when a large supercell storm reaches the tropopause and widens out,
giving the appearance of an anvil (top of cloud is flat)
characteristics of mature thunderstorm - ANSWER-mature stage begins when
precipitation occurs
characteristics of severe weather - ANSWER-winds of 50 knots, hail diameter 1 inch
multicell thunderstorm - ANSWER-have multiple cells that are all at different stages of
development
difference between a severe weather watch and warning - ANSWER-severe weather
watch: it is coming, or conditions have potential for severe weather
severe weather warning: it is happening currently
