Weather and Climate Study Guide ANSWER KEY
Name:
1. What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather: condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place—SPECIFIC
Climate: AVERAGE temperature and precipitation in a large area over a long period of time
2. What are some good places to go to during a
tornado? A thunderstorm?
Basement, interior room/closet, away from windows, under a large piece of furniture, in a ditch if outside
3. In what kind of clouds do thunderstorms and
tornadoes form?
cumulonimbus
4. What are the 4 common air masses to the US?
Describe them (think temperature and moisture).
Maritime tropical – wet and warm
Continental tropical – dry and warm
5. What are the 3 main types of clouds?
Cirrus, cumulus, stratus
6. How does the temperature of the air affect the
amount of water vapor it can hold?
Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air.
7. Define cold front. Draw its symbol.
A rapidly moving cold air mass moves under an warm air mass
8. What instrument is used to measure relative
humidity?
psychrometer
9. What moves air masses? In what direction do they
usually move?
The Jet Stream and the Prevailing westerlies – from west to east across the US
10. Define stationary front. Draw its symbol.
A warm and a cold air mass meet, but neither is strong enough to move the other, just stays there, not
moving
11. Describe an occluded front. Draw its symbol.
Maritime polar – wet and cold
Continental polar – dry and cold
A warm air mass is caught in between 2 cold air masses
12. What does it mean when people evacuate their
homes for a hurricane?
Leave the area immediately
13. Define warm front. Draw its symbol.
When a warm air mass takes over a cold air mass.
14. Define relative humidity.
The percentage of water vapor actually in the air versus the amount of water vapor the air can hold at that
temperature.
15. What is a storm surge?
The “dome” of water that builds up under a hurricane and washes onto shore, causes a lot of damage
16. How would you describe the eye of a hurricane?
Calm, clear skies
17. What is the main difference between a cyclone and
an anticyclone?
Their winds spin in different directions, cyclone—low pressure and yucky weather, anticyclone—high
pressure and clear, dry weather.
18. Tornado Watch vs Warning...what does each mean?
Watch = be on the lookout for severe weather, conditions are favorable
Warning = hide, take cover, severe weather is here right now
19. How are sleet and freezing rain different?
They freeze into solid crystals in different locations – sleet freezes in the air, freezing rain freezes on the
groun
20. Why does Earth experience seasons?
The earth is tilted; more direct light/heat at the equator, less direct light/heat at the poles
21. What are the 2 conditions necessary for cloud
formation?
Dew point temparture for condenstation and dust particles in the air
22. Define tornado.
A funnel shaped cloud that touches Earth’s surface.
23. How do large bodies of water affect climates?
Temperatures are milder and there is more precipitation
24. Where do hurricanes form? How do hurricanes
form?
They form in warm, tropical ocean waters in a low pressure system.
The warm water evaporates and rises into the system
25. How is the leeward side of a mountain different
from the windward side? Why are they different?
Leeward is dry and desert-like, Windward is wetter and green/lush. Air moves in and rises upwards when it
hits a mountain, cools and rains as it rises. The now dry air moves over to the other side of the mountain.
26. Define storm.
Violent disturbance in earth’s atmosphere
27. Define atmosphere.
The envelope of gases that surround the earth
28. Complete the sentence on precipitation:
Precipitation is any form of WATER that falls from clouds.
29. What causes convection to take place?
Cold, more dense air moves under warm, less dense air.
30. How are the sun’s rays different at the equator
compared to the poles?
Equator—direct sun rays (hit straight on), poles—indirect sun rays (hit at an extreme angle)