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Flashcards in chapter 6 the restless sky Deck (27)
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1
Q

what is the largest and most locally intense storm on the planet

A

EF5 tornado

2
Q

storm systems derive energy from

A
  • solar heat from the earth

- condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere

3
Q

microscale atmospheric systems last ___. synoptic atmospheric systems last ___.

A

hours

weeks

4
Q

thunderstorm

A

a cumulonimbus cloud that produces lightning and thunder

5
Q

thunderstorms are embedded within larger synoptic scale systems such as

A
  • tropical cyclones
  • midlatitude cyclones
  • the ITCZ
6
Q

air mass

A

a large region of air, extended over thousands of km, that is uniform in temperature and humidity

7
Q

three types of thunderstorms

A

single cell thunderstorms
multicell thunderstorms
supercell thunderstorms

8
Q

two important factors in determining thunderstorm type

A

atmospheric humidity and wind shear

9
Q

wind shear

A

changes in wind speed and direction with altitude

10
Q

single cell thunderstorms

A

mild and short lived, form within mT air masses where wind shear is weak, develop late afternoon, typically predictable

11
Q

multicell thunderstorms

A

forms under moderate conditions of wind shear, form along fronts rather than within, arranged in clusters

12
Q

squall line

A

a line of multicell thunderstorm cells that typically forms along a cold front on a mid latitude cyclone

13
Q

severe thunderstorm conditions

A

produce either hail 2.54 cm in diameter, a tornado, or wind gusts of 93 km/h or greater

14
Q

supercell thunderstorm

A

a severe thunderstorm containing a rotating cylindrical updraft

15
Q

mesocyclone

A

the rotating portion of a supercell thunderstorm

produces almost all powerful tornadoes

16
Q

lightning (kachoww)

A

the electrical discharge produced by thunderstorms

17
Q

thunder

A

acoustic shock wave produced when lightning rapidly heats and expands the air around it

18
Q

fulgurite

A

a glassy hollow formed as lightning melts sand (wowYY)

19
Q

tornado

A

a violently rotating column of air that descends from a cumulonimbus cloud and touches ground

20
Q

wall cloud

A

a cylindrical cloud that protrudes from the base of a mesocyclone from which a tornado may descend

21
Q

funnel cloud

A

is the same as a tornado, but does not make contact with the ground

22
Q

enhanced fujita scale

A

a system used to rank the strength of a tornado

23
Q

tornado watch

A

alert issued by National Weather Service when conditions are favourable for tornadic thunderstorms

24
Q

tornado warning

A

warning issued by NWS after tornado has been seen and called in to local authorities or is suggested by Doppler radar hook echo signature

25
Q

tropical cyclone

A

a cyclonic low pressure system occuring in the tropics with sustained winds of 119 km/hr or greater

26
Q

hurricane strength depends on how much ____ _____ condenses into liquid.

A

water vapour

27
Q

tropical storm

A

tropical cyclonic storm with sustained winds between 63 and 118 km/hr