TAMU ATMO 201 500 FINAL EXAM REVIEW
Polar Front Theory
Norwegian cyclone model published post WWI that explains the life cycle of an
extratropical cyclonic storm
Extratropical or Middle Latitude Cyclonic Storm
a storm that forms at middle and high latitudes outside of the tropics
Wave Cyclone
development of mid-latitude cyclonic storm in wavelike manner along polar front
Frontal Wave
wavelike kink that forms on the front of a cyclone
Central Pressure
region of lowest pressure at the junction of two fronts
Open Wave
narrow band of precipitation that normally moves east or northeastward
Warm Sector
region of warm air between the cold and warm fronts; weather is usually partly cloudy
and scattered showers may develop
Mature Cyclone
central pressure continues to decrease, winds blow more vigorously, and the faster
moving cold front squeezes warm sector into a smaller area.
Triple Point
the point of occlusion where the cold front, warm front, and occluded front all come
together
Secondary Low
,New wave that forms at triple point and intensifies into a cyclonic storm
Cyclogenesis
any development or strengthening of a mid-latitude cyclone
Lee-Side Low
storms that form of the leeward side of a mountain
Northeasters
region of cyclogenesis near North Carolina where Gulf Stream water adds moisture
below a stationary front, increasing the contrast between air masses.
Convergence
piling up of air as winds converge causing air density to increase directly above the
surface low
Divergence
wind blows away from the center of a surface high and causes the air to spread out,
decreasing density
For the surface low to develop into a major storm system, ___________ _____ of air
must be _____ than the surface convergence of air.
upper-level divergence; greater
If more air flows in at the surface than is removed at the top, surface pressure will
_____, and the storm system will _____ and gradually dissipate in a process called
____.
rise; weaken; filling
Longwave
when wave length is on the order of many thousands of miles
Shortwave
small disturbances or ripples embedded in long waves
Cold Advection
,where the wind crosses the isotherm in a way that colder air is replacing warmer air,
transporting colder air into the region
Warm Advection
where the wind crosses the isotherm in a way that warmer air is replacing colder air,
transporting warmer air into the region
Cut-off Low
when an upper-level pool of cold air breaks off from the main flow
Jet Stream
flows in a wavy west to east pattern, forming deep troughs and ridges in the flow loft
Jet Streak
region of maximum winds
Conveyor Belt Model
describes rising and sinking air as raveling along three main "conveyor belts"
- warm conveyor belt
- cold conveyor belt
- dry conveyor belt
Warm Conveyor Belt
originates at the surface in the warm sector, ahead of the cold front
Cold Conveyor Belt
moves west ahead of the warm front, precipitation and surface moisture evaporates into
the cold air, making it moist
Dry Conveyor
forms in the cold, very dry region of the upper troposphere, slowly descend from the
northwest behind the surface cold front
Dry Slot
when a branch of the dry air sweeps into the storm and produces a clear area
, The polar front model of a developing mid-latitude cyclonic storm represents a simplified
but useful model of how an ideal storm progresses through the stages of ____ _____,
and _____.
birth, maturity, and dissipation
For a surface mid-latitude cyclone to _____ or _____, the upper-level low must be
located to the west of the _____ ______.
develop or intensify; surface low
For a surface mid-latitude cyclonic storm to form, there must be an area of__________
_____ _____ above the _____ _____.
upper-level diverging air; surface low.
For the surface storm to intensify, the region of __________ _____ _____ must be
greater than _____ _____ _____ (that is, more air must be removed above the storm
than is brought in at the surface).
upper-level diverging air; surface converging air
When the_________ _____ develops into waves, winds often cross the isotherms,
producing regions of _____ ______ and _____ _____. At the same time, vertical air
motions begin to enhance the formation of the surface storm as the _____ of warm air
and the _____ of cold air provide the proper energy conversion for the storm's growth.
upper-air flow; cold advection; warm advection; rising; sinking
When the polar-front jet stream develops into a _____ _____, it provides an area of
__________ ______ _____ for the development of surface mid-latitude cyclonic storms.
looping wave; upper-level diverging air
The _____ nature of the polar-front jet stream tends to direct surface mid-latitude
cyclonic storms _____ and surface anticyclones _____.
curving; northeastward; southeastward
Comma Cloud
when the storm's cloud band is in the shape of a comma; indicate that the storm is still
developing
Wrap-around Band
Polar Front Theory
Norwegian cyclone model published post WWI that explains the life cycle of an
extratropical cyclonic storm
Extratropical or Middle Latitude Cyclonic Storm
a storm that forms at middle and high latitudes outside of the tropics
Wave Cyclone
development of mid-latitude cyclonic storm in wavelike manner along polar front
Frontal Wave
wavelike kink that forms on the front of a cyclone
Central Pressure
region of lowest pressure at the junction of two fronts
Open Wave
narrow band of precipitation that normally moves east or northeastward
Warm Sector
region of warm air between the cold and warm fronts; weather is usually partly cloudy
and scattered showers may develop
Mature Cyclone
central pressure continues to decrease, winds blow more vigorously, and the faster
moving cold front squeezes warm sector into a smaller area.
Triple Point
the point of occlusion where the cold front, warm front, and occluded front all come
together
Secondary Low
,New wave that forms at triple point and intensifies into a cyclonic storm
Cyclogenesis
any development or strengthening of a mid-latitude cyclone
Lee-Side Low
storms that form of the leeward side of a mountain
Northeasters
region of cyclogenesis near North Carolina where Gulf Stream water adds moisture
below a stationary front, increasing the contrast between air masses.
Convergence
piling up of air as winds converge causing air density to increase directly above the
surface low
Divergence
wind blows away from the center of a surface high and causes the air to spread out,
decreasing density
For the surface low to develop into a major storm system, ___________ _____ of air
must be _____ than the surface convergence of air.
upper-level divergence; greater
If more air flows in at the surface than is removed at the top, surface pressure will
_____, and the storm system will _____ and gradually dissipate in a process called
____.
rise; weaken; filling
Longwave
when wave length is on the order of many thousands of miles
Shortwave
small disturbances or ripples embedded in long waves
Cold Advection
,where the wind crosses the isotherm in a way that colder air is replacing warmer air,
transporting colder air into the region
Warm Advection
where the wind crosses the isotherm in a way that warmer air is replacing colder air,
transporting warmer air into the region
Cut-off Low
when an upper-level pool of cold air breaks off from the main flow
Jet Stream
flows in a wavy west to east pattern, forming deep troughs and ridges in the flow loft
Jet Streak
region of maximum winds
Conveyor Belt Model
describes rising and sinking air as raveling along three main "conveyor belts"
- warm conveyor belt
- cold conveyor belt
- dry conveyor belt
Warm Conveyor Belt
originates at the surface in the warm sector, ahead of the cold front
Cold Conveyor Belt
moves west ahead of the warm front, precipitation and surface moisture evaporates into
the cold air, making it moist
Dry Conveyor
forms in the cold, very dry region of the upper troposphere, slowly descend from the
northwest behind the surface cold front
Dry Slot
when a branch of the dry air sweeps into the storm and produces a clear area
, The polar front model of a developing mid-latitude cyclonic storm represents a simplified
but useful model of how an ideal storm progresses through the stages of ____ _____,
and _____.
birth, maturity, and dissipation
For a surface mid-latitude cyclone to _____ or _____, the upper-level low must be
located to the west of the _____ ______.
develop or intensify; surface low
For a surface mid-latitude cyclonic storm to form, there must be an area of__________
_____ _____ above the _____ _____.
upper-level diverging air; surface low.
For the surface storm to intensify, the region of __________ _____ _____ must be
greater than _____ _____ _____ (that is, more air must be removed above the storm
than is brought in at the surface).
upper-level diverging air; surface converging air
When the_________ _____ develops into waves, winds often cross the isotherms,
producing regions of _____ ______ and _____ _____. At the same time, vertical air
motions begin to enhance the formation of the surface storm as the _____ of warm air
and the _____ of cold air provide the proper energy conversion for the storm's growth.
upper-air flow; cold advection; warm advection; rising; sinking
When the polar-front jet stream develops into a _____ _____, it provides an area of
__________ ______ _____ for the development of surface mid-latitude cyclonic storms.
looping wave; upper-level diverging air
The _____ nature of the polar-front jet stream tends to direct surface mid-latitude
cyclonic storms _____ and surface anticyclones _____.
curving; northeastward; southeastward
Comma Cloud
when the storm's cloud band is in the shape of a comma; indicate that the storm is still
developing
Wrap-around Band
