Meteorology Exam 3

Drawn in Red
Red Ovals point in the direction the warm air is advancing (shows the movement)
Light rain along the front (sometimes)
After this front:
Temp. increase
Dewpoint increase
Winds switch from easterly to southerly
Air pressure decreases and levels off
precip. ends before the front arrives

Drawn in blue
Blue triangles point in the direction cold air is advancing
usually active weather along the front
after this front:
temp. decreases
dewpoint decreases
winds switch from southerly to northerly
air pressure increases
visibility improves
precip. heaviest along/ before front
s

Drawn in alternating colors (red and blue)
essentially no movement w/ this front
least active type of front
big difference in air masses (north and south of front)

Drawn in alternatin purple "pips"
where cold and warm fronts "run into eachother" they collide in a sense
this front is attached to STRONG low pressure systems (reason for collision)

Drawn in yellow w/ tight pips
"live" boundary that separates dry air from moist
warm, dry air (cT) moves over warm, moist air (mT)--> very unstable
found in southern/central states

"Birth" of a front. To strengthen front, increase the temp. difference across the front

"Death" of a front. To weaken front, decrease the temp. difference across the front

A boundary between air masses w/different characteristics

Forms over ice and snow covered regions of Alaska and Canada
brings very cold air south into Central US: outbreaks of below zero temps for MO and freezing weather in FL
air mass slowly warms as it heads south
dry air moving over the Gulf of Mexico warms rapidly, gains moisture
the dry air mass quickly becomes a maritime air mass

Hot and dry air masses originate over the deserts of Mexico
air may be unstable, but lack moisture; ensures dry weather
provides long, hot and dry days to central plains and Midwest
if a "blocking pattern" sets up, extreme drought conditions and hot temps can be realized

Forms over cold waters like north Atlantic or Pacific
moves inland over the Pacific NW and the NE
major winter time storms
provides showers and precip. to California
also provides moisture for major New England snowstorms

Warm, moist air from the sub-tropical Pacific, the Gulf of Mexico, and/or the south Atlantic moves inland
in California (winter), the "Pineapple Express" brings heavy rain and mudslides
humid air is fuel source for summer and winter storms in Midwest
strong High Pressure over the SE brought in a lot of mT air that created a record-breaking hot spell in April

Fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the atmosphere at around 36,000ft. above the surface of Earth (just under the tropopause)

Essentially seperates warmer air from colder air
North of the jet stream, temps are colder
South of the jet stream, temps are warmer

Artic air
affects us in the Winter Season
Northen Jet