REVIEW QUESTIONS/STUDY GUIDE
for FINAL EXAM (17 December 1997)
ATM OCN 100: WEATHER & CLIMATE

Lecture 3 - Fall 1997

• FOR YOUR INFORMATION: The final exam is scheduled in the Summary Block Period for Wednesday 17 December, at 2:45 PM - 4:45 PM in Room 121 of the Psychology Building (at the northwest corner of W. Johnson and N. Charter Streets). Please note the time and location!

In studying for the exam, review your notes, the suggested readings in the text, including those figures and figure captions emphasized in class and your homework. If you are still have questions, please ask for help before the exam, either during office hours or by e-mail.

TOPICS COVERED FOR FINAL EXAM

Note: This exam is the final exam, which means that it essentially a comprehensive examination. However, more of the material covered on this exam will focus upon the last 3 weeks since the 2nd hour exam. Certain points that may have been discussed during the previous 12 weeks may appear on this exam. You should refer back to the review sheets for the previous 2 exams.
You will be responsible for material through the last lecture.

PLANETARY SCALE ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION REGIME

• Prevailing Winds & Semi-permanent Pressure Systems
• Relating the Planetary-Scale Atmospheric Circulation Regime to:
  • Large-scale Oceanic Circulation Regime
  • Biomes
• Anomalous Circulation Patterns
  • El Niño and Southern Oscillation
  • La Niña
• Monsoon Circulation Regime
• Theories & Models Explaining Planetary Scale Circulation
• Jet Streams
• Thermal Wind

MID LATITUDE WEATHER SYSTEMS

• Air Masses
• Fronts (Cold, Warm, Stationary and Occluded)
• Vertical Structure of Weather Systems

EXTRATROPICAL CYCLONES

• Relative sizes and climatology
• Cyclogenesis regions
• Storm tracks
• The occlusion process
• Relationship with upper level flow
• Weather and cloud sequences associated with migratory cyclones

ANTICYCLONES

• Types of mid latitude anticyclones
• Distinctive features
• Hazards associated with anticyclones

UPPER AIR WINDS

• Jet Streams
• Thermal Wind
• Types of upper level flow patterns
• Relationships between upper air and surface circulation patterns

THUNDERSTORMS

• Types of thunderstorms
• Climatology and relative sizes
• Formation factors
• Stages of a thunderstorm
• Severe thunderstorm criteria

LIGHTNING AND OTHER THUNDERSTORM HAZARDS

• Reasons for lightning
• Types of lightning
• Lightning sequence
• Personal safety measures

TORNADOES

• Climatology and relative sizes
• Reasons for tornadoes
• Personal safety measures

HURRICANES

• Tropical storm classification
• Climatology and relative sizes
• Comparison with extratropical storms
• Reasons for hurricanes
• Personal safety measures

Material from the two previous exams may appear!!

Are you able to answer the following?

• Locate and describe the major prevailing wind and/or semi-permanent pressure systems of the general circulation (e.g., polar easterlies, westerlies, etc.). Which two systems are responsible for producing the major precipitation pattern of the earth?
• How do the major wind systems (belts) of the general atmospheric circulation change with the seasons?
• What are the basic factors that determine the general planetary scale circulation?
• What are the Hadley cells? How are these cells related to the ITCZ and subtropical highs?
• How is the major poleward transport of heat in the atmosphere accomplished between the equator and about 30°N or 30°S? How is the transport accomplished poleward of 30°N or 30°S?
• In the middle latitudes why does the wind become more westerly and stronger aloft (above the friction layer)? How is the thermal wind defined? What is the relationship between the thermal wind and mean isotherms (for a layer) in the Northern Hemisphere? Southern Hemisphere?
• At what height is the wind speed in the jet stream normally the strongest? Why does the wind tend to be strongest at this altitude and then weaken farther aloft?
• Why is the jet stream strongest above Japan? In which season is the jet the strongest? Why?
• What is the circumpolar vortex? Why does it exist? In what season is it strongest and largest? Why? What factors cause waves to form in the westerlies? What are Rossby waves? What role do these waves play in energy transport?
• Why do cyclones and anticyclones in middle latitudes generally move from west to east? Why do they generally move eastward more rapidly in winter than in summer? Are you sure that you know the basic cause?
• Where are the major wind driven ocean currents? What is upwelling? Where and why does it occur? What is El Niño? Southern Oscillation? What is La Niña?
• What are the monsoons? What causes them? What effect do they have on the climate of various regions? Compare and contrast the monsoon circulation with land-sea breeze regimes.
• What are the major air masses? What is required for their formation? Where are the principal source regions found? How are air masses modified as they move from their source region? What are some weather consequences?
• What is a frontal zone? Cold front? Warm front? Stationary front? Occluded front? How do frontal surfaces slope? Where is a front marked (drawn) on a weather map? Why is a jet stream usually found above frontal zones?
• Clearly understand the features of the Norwegian frontal cyclone model. How does the wind circulate around it? Where does the significant weather (clouds and precipitation) tend to be concentrated? Why? What cloud types are typically associated with a cold front? Warm front? Where would you expect to see such optical phenomena as haloes and corona?
• What is the occlusion process? How does it provide for the conversion of total potential energy to kinetic energy? Describe how the cold and warm fronts move as a low pressure area develops and moves eastward. How does the wind aloft change as a low forms and eventually occludes?
• With respect to a wave in the westerlies aloft, where do surface lows and highs most often form and intensify? Explain why these locations are favored. Why do most cyclones develop in the vicinity of the jet stream? What geographical regions are favored places for cyclogenesis? Where are the major cyclogenesis regions of North America? How do they vary seasonally? What tracks do these cyclones usually follow?
• Compare the sequence of weather events that occurs when an extratropical cyclone center passes north of you with those which occur when the center passes to the south. Understand veering and backing winds as a low center passes.
• What is zonal flow? meridional flow? What type of weather patterns result from each? What is meant by blocking? What is the general orientation (direction) of isotherms during blocking? What effect does blocking have on the normal sequence of weather events?
• What are the official criteria for a blizzard? Where is the snowfall typically the heaviest with respect to a winter cyclone track?
• What are the various types of anticyclones? Where are some of these commonly found?
• What are the factors necessary for the formation of a thunderstorm? Can you identify the various types of thunderstorms? What areas of the United States experience the most thunderstorms annually? The least? What times of the year are thunderstorms most common in the United States? Estimate the relative size and duration of the typical air mass thunderstorm.
• What are the three stages of an air mass thunderstorm cell? Describe the distinguishing features of each stage.
• What is lightning? Describe the typical cloud to ground lightning stroke sequence. Can you determine how far a lightning strike will be by estimating the time lag for the thunder to reach you? What are the recommended safety rules that you should observe to protect yourself and your property from lightning?
• What criteria are used to identify severe thunderstorms? What conditions favor the development of severe thunderstorms? Why is a tilted updraft important to the development of especially severe and long-lasting thunderstorms? Why do capping (subsidence) inversions favor the development of severe thunderstorms?
• What is a tornado? What are the typical physical characteristics (size, path length, time duration and speed) of a tornado? What conditions favor the development of tornadoes? What areas of the United States experience the most tornadoes annually? What times of the year are tornadoes most common in the United States? What is meant by family outbreaks? What is the most dangerous aspect of a tornado? What is the Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale? What are the recommended tornado safety rules? How does the National Weather Service alert the public to tornadoes?
• What is the difference between a severe weather (severe thunderstorm or tornado) watch and a warning? What recommended steps should you take when the National Weather Service issues a watch for your area? a warning?
• What are the differences between a tropical depression, tropical storm, a hurricane and a typhoon? How do tropical cyclones differ from extratropical cyclones?
• Understand how hurricanes (typhoons) form and decay and also the direction they usually move. What are the favored locations and seasons for hurricane formation? What tracks are commonly followed? What are the physical characteristics of a mature hurricane? What is the structure of a tropical cyclone like: eye, spiral bands? How do tropical cyclones (hurricanes) differ from extratropical cyclones? What is the eye of a hurricane? What is meant by "recurve"? Describe the weather sequences expected when a hurricane approaches your location. What is the most dangerous aspect of the hurricane? What is a storm surge? What is the Saffir- Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale? What are the recommended hurricane safety rules? What hurricane modification attempts have been made? How does the National Weather Service alert the public to hurricanes and other tropical cyclones?

GOOD LUCK, KEEP A "WEATHERED EYE" OUT

& THANKS FOR A NICE FALL!

Last revision 10 December 1997

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