Exam 8: Air Masses, Fronts, and Middle Latitude Cyclones

When upper-level divergence of air above a surface low exceeds the surface convergence of air, the surface air pressure will ____ and the storm itself will ____.

Drylines typically occur in the ____ United States.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Speed CONVERGENCE | DIVERGENCE occurs when the wind slows down as it moves along.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Ideal air mass source regions are usually dominated by surface HIGH | LOW pressure.

For a surface storm system to intensify, the upper trough of low pressure must be located to the ____ of the surface low.

What type of air mass would be responsible for hot, dry summer weather in southern Arizona?

Surface winds tend to blow parallel to a(n) ____________________ front.

The region of air between the cold and warm fronts of an open wave is known as the ____.

According to the model of the life cycle of a wave cyclone, the storm system is normally most intense as a(n) ____.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. The term "nor'easter" refers to the strong northeasterly winds that can develop around a strong HIGH | LOW pressure center along the eastern coast of the United States.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Mixing on both sides of a warm front during the day may INCREASE | DECREASE its speed.

Developing low pressure areas generally have ____ air near the surface and ____ air aloft.

One would expect a cP air mass to be ____.

During a cold winter in which the Great Lakes are entirely covered by ice, lake-effect snows would be expected in extremely high frequency and intensity.

Squall lines most often form ahead of a(n) ____.

In the polar front theory of a developing wave cyclone, the area of most intense weather is normally found to the ____ of the storm's center.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. The process of FILLING | DEEPENING describes a weakening storm system with increasing surface pressure.

A line of showers or thunderstorms that develops parallel to and often ahead of an advancing cold front is called a(n) ____________________.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. A warm front tends to have a STEEPER | MORE GENTLE slope than a cold front.

Describe some of the changes in weather conditions (winds, temperature, clouds, precipitation, pressure changes) you would expect to observe as a cold front approaches and passes through your location.