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UA ATMO 336 - Exam 3 Study Guide
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ATMO 336Exam # 3 Study Guide Lectures: 1 - 7Lecture 1 - Lightning= atmospheric gases heated to temps as high as 30,000degrees C( 5 times hotter than the sun)o Dry lightning= lightning strikes dry ground and starts fire (due to virga)o Electric charge separation (like charges repel eachother, opposites attract)o Supercooled region of cloud is where collisions between precipitation particles separate the electrical charge needed for lighting Colder than 15 degree C= particle negatively charged after collisions Warmer than 15 degree C= particle positively charged after collisions (polarities reversed)o Positive charge at top of thunder cloud, negative charge at middle of cloud (ground= positively charged which is the induction charge)o Electrical attractive forces get high enough and then lighting happens (most lightning within the cloud) Air is a poor conductor of electricity, thus large amount of energy is needed to pass through it Stepped leaders= charge build up and electrons begin surging away from negative charge region of cloud Short circuit= connection between stepped leader and the upward discharge, lighting will then flow through this channelo Lightning rods= make use of upward connecting discharge made of conducting material and stick up above structure they are meant to protect, ground the electrical currento Unusual types of lightning: positive lightning (lightning travels from positive charged region on top of thunderstorm. When top of cloud “anvil” moves away from bottom of cloud. More common at the end of storms and carries more current than regularlightning) upward triggered lightning (lightning starts at ground and travels upward initiated by tall objects)o Lightning detection finder= cloud to ground lightning that has already occurred can be located using this by using triangulation and noting direction from which radio waves arrive and time signal was detected (shows motion of lightning storms and density of lightning strikes)Lecture 2 - Tropics= high noon sun, little seasonal changes, surface heating and high humidity= cumulus clouds with frequent showers and non violent thunderstormso Surface winds in tropics= blow from east (northeast trade winds)o Intratropical convergence zones= between two trade winds is this area of convergence (low pressure)o Tropical waves (easterly waves)= large ripple in normal trade wind pattern (moves east  west) and is best shown by plotting streamlines on map. Hurricanes begin as this! Move from the continent of Africao Hurricane formation in gulf= region of surface convergence and upper level divergence- Tropical cyclone= surface low pressure over tropic waters and counterclockwise surface wind pattern (speed of wind depends on how rapidly air pressure increases in moving out from the low pressure center)o Tropical depression= winds <39mpho Tropical storm= winds 39-74mpho Hurricane= winds >74mph- Typhoon in north pacific ocean (west of dateline)- Severe tropical cyclone used in southwest pacific ocean and in southeastern Indian ocean- Sever cyclonic storm used in northern Indian ocean- First storm of season name begins with “A” and goes down the alphabet- Major hurricanes= categories of 3,4,and 5- Anatomy of hurricaneo Eye= surface pressure extremely low and fair conditionso Eye wall= ring of intense thunderstorms that extend upward of 15km (above other clouds in atmosphere) heaviest precipitation and strongest windso Outer or spiral rain bands: focused areas of low level convergence, rising motion, and heavy rain that rotate counter clockwise. Aligned with low level winds which spiral inward toward storms centero Outflow: upper levels of tropical cyclone feature winds headed away from the center of the storm with an anticyclonic (clockwise) rotation at surface. Weaken with height and eventually reverse themselves. Due to warm core at center of storm- Cannot develop on or near equator due to absence of coriolis effect, and will not form if there is significant wind shear (change in wind velocity and direction with increasing altitude)- Dissipation= when moving over colder waters or landmass, also when moving over area with strong vertical wind shear- Hurricane occurrence closely correlated with the seasonal change in atlantic sea surface temp. highest sea temps here occur in early September- Most important determinant of hurricane movement is the local environmental air flow in the middle troposphere= steering windso Reason these “steering level” winds blow parallel to pressure contours is because these are upper level winds, not surface winds- Burmuda high= subtropical high pressure area over the atlantic ocean found as a high pressure cell near the island of burmudao Burmuda high spinds in the opposite direction of the low pressure hurricane, steering it along the ends of the higho If the ridge weakens or moves east, hurricanes can swerve around it without hitting florida,o When monsoon high is in position north of Tucson, the steering winds over Tucson are from the east, which is favorable for local thunderstorms- Difficulty predicting hurricanes= upper level winds can steer hurricanes. When these winds are weak, the actual path of hurricane is determined by the structure of the storm and the storm’s interaction with the environmento Hurricane watch; announcement of specific coastal areas that hurricane or incipient hurricane conditions (sustained winds >74 mph) poses possible threat generally within 36 hourso Hurricane warning: warning that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher associated with hurricane are expected in specific coastal area within 24 hours of less. Can remain in effect when dangerously high water of and high waves continue, even though winds maybe less than hurricane force- Hurricane destruction= storm surges (Storm surge= coastal flooding, most damage)o Damage potential of storm surge depends on: Strength of wind and the areal extent of the strong winds Timing of the surge with relationship to the normal high and low tides Shape of coastline (slope of the earths solid surface near coastline)o Flooding by rain also important= runoff especially from mountains can mean mudslides and landslideso As hurricane interacts with land areas. Most produce at least one tornado (result from vertical wind shear that develops in lower levels of hurricanes circulation as storm winds interact with land) usually weako Saffir-simpson scale= estimate possible damage of hurricanes


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UA ATMO 336 - Exam 3 Study Guide

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