Chapter 8- Earth Science (Geography)

Weather is

the short-term condition of the atmosphere.

Climate is the ____ -term average of weather conditions and extremes in a region.

long

An air mass initially reflects the characteristics of its source region

True

An air mass is heterogeneous in terms of temperature and humidity

False

Air masses tend to maintain their original characteristics as they migrate from their source regions.

False

Air masses that develop over Canada are examples of _____ air masses.

cP

Moist air is denser than dry air.

False

A well-developed, newly formed cP air mass would have which of the following characteristics?

Cold temperatures
high pressure
clear skies

The maritime tropical Pacific (mT) and maritime tropical Gulf and Atlantic (mT) air masses are

different from one another because the Pacific air mass usually has lower specific humidity than the Gulf/Atlantic air mass.

A Mt air mass is likely to be ___ than a cT air mass

wetter; forms over the ocean

Which of the following would result in the modification of the air mass?

A mT air mass moving across Texas
A cP air mass moving across the Great Lakes
A cT air mass moving across the Gulf of Mexico

Lake effect snow involves heavy snowfall on the leeward shores of the Great Lakes.

True

List four atmospheric lifting mechanisms

Conversion
Cold Front
Convection
Orographical

Summer afternoon thundershowers in the southeastern United States are more than likely a result of

convection lifting

The term "orographic" refers to

forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrier

Heavy rain and snow fall on the eastern side of Cascades is due to orographic lifting

False

The term "rain shadow" refers to

dry regions on the leeward side of mountain ranges

Chinook winds are cold and dry winds

False

Chinook winds form on the leeward side of mountains

True

List two types of fronts

Cold front; warm front

After a cold front passes, the temperature ____ and the pressure ______ (relative to the conditions that existed prior to the passage of the front).

decreases; increases

The energy source thunderstorms is from the condensation of large amount of water vapor in clouds

True

Florida has the highest thunderstorm frequency in the U.S., because

the Florida peninsula heats the high temperature during the day and mT air masses surround the peninsula

Tornadoes occur in every month except March and April in the United States

False

The peak month of tornado occurrence is November

False

The highest frequency of tornadoes in the United States occurs in

Oklahoma

Tropical cyclones are called _____ in North America, ______ in China, and ______ in Australia.

hurricanes; typhoons; cyclone

Tropical cyclones originate entirely within tropical air masses.

True

The sea surface temperature (SST) must be greater than _____ for triggering a tropical cyclone.

26 Degrees C

Tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere rotate clockwisely.

False

Which part of a hurricane consists of dry, descending air?

Eye

On weather maps, a warm front is represented by a line with small triangle spikes that point in the direction of frontal movement

False