CRSS 3060 Test 3 Questions &Answers 100% Correct!

Precipitation - ANSWER-the input to our hydrologic cycle lapse rates - ANSWER-Rates at which air cools and warms. Ideal Gas Law - ANSWER-PV=nRT; predicts that air temp drops at high elevations because air pressure is lower cold air: - ANSWER-holds less water vapor than warm air saturation vapor pressure - ANSWER-Maximum amount of water air will hold (warm air hold more water than cold air) saturated vapor pressure = actual vapor pressure at - ANSWER-15 degrees C General Atmospheric Circulation - ANSWER-Global wind pattern modified by continental masses, mountain ranges, seasons, Coriolis effect most atmospheric circulation is driven by: - ANSWER-differential solar heating orographic precipitation - ANSWER-Precipitation caused by winds blowing warm, moist air toward coastal mountains; results when warm air rises over the mountains and cools enough to form clouds that release rain and snow. Ex: Smoky Mountains Convective storms occur most frequently - ANSWER-in areas that are affected by maritime tropical air masses and high humidity. aka thunderstorms Tropical Cyclones (Hurricanes) - ANSWER--Large rotating masses of low pressure -Strong winds, torrential rain -Classified by maximum sustained wind speed -tropical depressions Frontal storms (mid-latitude cyclones) - ANSWER-fronts that occur when contrasting temperatures and precipitation meet at the boundaries of different latitudes. Usually when polar air masses meet tropical air masses. mesoscale convective complexes - ANSWER-very large cluster of self-propagating storms; very intense rainfall over large areas lake effect precipitation - ANSWER-water is warmer than air, so cold air moves over lake causing unstable conditions resulting in cumulus clouds that gather on downwind side and precipitation occurs precipitation varies by: - ANSWER-geographic and temporal variation frequency curves - ANSWER-a method of characterizing temporal variations, by plotting depth of rainfall versus a specific duration