Atmospheric Structure
True/False
1. When air rises it cools
True
2. When air falls it cools
False
3. When water precipitates out of rising air to make rain it cools the air around it
False
4. The atmosphere at the poles on average has higher pressure than the atmosphere at the equator.
True
5. The atmosphere at high latitudes near the poles is thicker than the atmosphere at the equator
False
6. High pressure tends to be associated with rain
False
7. Rising air is associated with low pressure
True
8. Jet Streams occur at the interface between warm and cold air masses. They are strongest in Winter.
True
9. Below is a diagram of the three cell model of the atmosphere. Label the three cells.
10. The speed of the atmosphere at the equator relative to the speed of the atmosphere at the poles is:
a. 1000 miles per hour faster
b. The Same
c. 1000 miles per hour slower
d. It depends on the season
11. Pretend these circles below are the earth which is spinning from left to right about a vertical axis . Which of these diagrams is a correct representation of the coriolis effect on air flows.
12. On average how many thunderstorms occur each day on earth
- 40
- 400
- 4000
d. 40000
- 400000
13. In the United States the area with the most days with thunderstorms is in:
- The central plains
- Along the gulf coast
h. The middle of the Florida peninsula
- The Desert Southwest
- The central plains
14. Two things necessary, but not sufficient to cause a thunderstorm are humidity and an air mass where the air near the ground wants to rise because it is warmer, after correcting for the lapse rate, than the air above it. Before a thunder storm can occur something must trigger it. Name three things that can trigger a thunderstorm. Extra credit for more than three correct answers.
Another Thunderstorm
A city which is hotter than the surrounding farmland
A forest fire
An approaching cold front
Topography like a hill or mountain which when wind hits it starts air rising
A battle (in the civil war this was frequent)
15. How many seconds does it take for thunder to travel 1 mile?
Three
Ten types of Lightning are Sprites, Jets, Ball, Bead, Heat, Sheet, Streak, Ribbon, Elves and Fulgarite . Write each one in an empty box in the table below next to its definition.
Heat / Light reflected by clouds from lightning in thunderstorms that are too far away for thunder to be heard.
Elves / appear as a dim, flattened, expanding glow around 400km (250 miles) in diameter that lasts for, typically, just one millisecond They occur in the ionosphere 100km (60 miles) above the ground over thunderstorms
Bead / A normal zigzag lightning flash, segments of which are viewed end on
Steak / Cloud to ground discharge that is a single relatively straight channel
Sprites / large-scale electrical discharges which occur high above a thunderstorm cloud They are triggered by the discharges of positive lightning between the thundercloud and the ground
Sheet / Clouds illuminated by cloud to cloud lightning so that they appear bright white. Clouds block the view of the lightning flash.
Fulgurites / Petrified Lightning
Blue Jets / project from the top of the cumulonimbus above a thunderstorm, typically in a narrow cone, to the lowest levels of the ionosphere 40 to 50km (25 to 30 miles) above the earth and do not appear to be directly triggered by cloud to ground lightning
Ribbon / A lightning flash that appears to spread horizontally into a series of parallel luminous streaks when a strong wind is blowing and there are multiple return strokes
16. Since February 2007 tornados have been rated on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. The maximum “3 second gust” of wind is estimated based on damage. Match the following descriptions of wind damage to the proper EF rating.
EF Number / 3 Second Gust (mph)0 / 65 - 85
1 / 86 - 110
2 / 111 -135
3 / 136 - 165
4 / 166 - 200
5 / Over 200
Estimated EF Number / Description (there are two from each category below)
3 / Hardwood trees - debarked with only stubs of largest branches remaining
1 / One and Two family residences (1000 – 5000 ft2) – Broken glass in windows and doors
2 / Single Story Elementary School – Uplift and Collapse of roof structure
4 / Masonry apartments or Motels - Total destruction of large section of building.
0 / Softwood trees – Large branches broken (1 – 3 inches diameter)
5 / Institutional building (hospital, university building, jails etc.) – Significant damage to building envelope
4 / Junior or Senior High School – Total destruction of a loarge section of building
3 / One and Two family residences (1000 – 5000 ft2) – Most walls collapsed, except small interior rooms.
1 / Power transmission lines – Wood poles leaning
2 / Single Wide Manufactured Home – Complete destruction of unit; debris blown away
5 / Large Shopping Mall – Complete destruction of all or large section of the building
0 / One and Two family residences (1000 – 5000 ft2) – Loss of roof covering material (<20%), gutters and/or awning; loss of vinyl or metal siding
Suppose Hurricane Julia has stalled off the Atlantic coast of Florida. The peak winds around the storm are 125 miles/hour and its central pressure is 934 mb. If Julia begins to move due westward at 15 miles per hour answer the following questions assuming the hurricane experiences no change in intensity.
17. On which side of the hurricane (north, south, east or west would the winds be strongest? _____North
18. How strong would these winds be? _140___Miles/hour
19. On which side of the hurricane (north, south, east or west would the winds be Weakest? ___South______
20. How “weak” would these winds be? ___110____miles/hour