Transcript Handout 24
Chapter 24 Section 2
Handout
Fronts
1
When two unlike air masses meet, what
usually keeps them separate?
Differences in density
2
The boundary that forms between two air
masses when they meet is called a:
Front
3
Cold front:
The front edge of a moving mass of cold air
that pushes beneath a warmer air mass like a
wedge.
4
Warm front:
The front edge of an advancing warm air
mass that replaces colder air with warmer air.
5
Stationary front:
A front of air masses that moves either very
slowly of not at all.
6
Occluded front:
A front that forms when a cold air mass
overtakes a warm air mass and lifts the warm
air mass off the ground and over another air
mass.
7
Describe the storms that form along a cold
front.
They are usually short-lived and sometimes
violent.
A long line of heavy thunderstorms , called a
squall line, may occur in the warm, moist air
just ahead of a fast moving cold front.
8
What kind of weather does a warm front
generally produce?
It produces precipitation over a large area and
may cause violent weather.
9
The boundary where cold polar air meets
the tropical air mass of the middle
latitudes, especially over the ocean, is
called the ________.
polar front
10
Bends that form in a stationary or cold
fronts that are the beginnings of lowpressure storm centers are called _____.
waves
11
Also known as midlatitude cyclones,
_______ are low-pressure storm centers.
wave cyclones
12
An area of low pressure that is
characterized by rotating wind that moves
toward the rising air of the central lowpressure region is called a _________
______.
midlatitude cyclone.
13
Unlike the air in a midlatitude cyclone, the
air of a(n) _________ sinks and flows
outward from a center of high pressure.
anticyclone
14
Describe an anticyclone.
The air of a anticyclone sinks and flows
outward from a center of high pressure.
Because of the Coriolis effect, the circulation
of air is clockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere.
15
What kind of weather does an anticyclone
Bring?
Dry weather
If it stagnates for a few days it causes air
pollution problems
If it lingers for a few weeks, it may cause
droughts.
16
List three weather events that are
considered severe weather.
Large amounts of rain
Lightning
Hail
Strong winds
Tornadoes
17
Thunderstorms:
A usually brief, heavy storm that consists of
rain, strong winds, lightning, and thunder.
18
Lightning:
Electricity that is discharged during a
thunderstorm.
20
Mature stage:
The second stage of a thunderstorm, in which
condensation continues as the cloud rises
and becomes a dark cumulonimbus cloud,
perhaps producing torrential rain and hail.
21
Dissipating stage:
The third stage of a thunderstorm, in which
strong downdrafts stop air currents from rising
and the storm dies out as water vapor
deceases.
22
Cumulus stage:
The first stage of a thunderstorm in which
warm, moist air rises and water vapor in the
air condenses to form a cumulus cloud.
23
Thunder:
An effect created when electricity heats the
air, and the air expands rapidly.
24
A severe storm that develops over tropical
oceans and whose winds of more than
120 km/h or 74.56 mph spiral in toward the
intensely low-pressure storm center is
called a(n) ________.
hurricane.
25
During a hurricane, large amounts of ____
____ are released, increasing the force of
the rising air.
latent heat
26
A fully developed hurricane consists of a
series of thick ______________________
that spiral upward around the center of the
storm.
cumulonimbus cloud bands
27
Winds increase toward the calm, clear ___
of the storm and may reach speeds of 275
km/h or 170.88 mph.
eye
28
The most dangerous aspect of a hurricane
is a rising sea level and large waves,
called a __________.
storm surge.
29
Every hurricane is categorized on the
________________.
Safir-Simpson scale.
30
Define tornado:
A tornado is a destructive, rotating column of
air that has very high wind speeds and that
may be visible as a funnel-shaped cloud.
The End