Geography Final
What does cyclogenesis mean? Cyclogenesis is the occurrence of cyclonic circulation in the Earth’s atmosphere as a result of low pressure area. It is basically an umbrella term for three different kinds of phenomena which result in the formation of cyclones.
Draw how winds flow around a high pressure system:
Draw how winds flow around a low pressure system:
How can you tell by looking at the clouds whether the atmosphere is stable or unstable?
Clouds give us a good hint of the stability and unstability of atmosphere. If we see clouds bubbling upwards, we realize that the atmosphere is unstable, whereas if we see flat horizontal clouds, we see a clear sky indicating that the atmosphere is quite stable.
Describe or draw how a thunderstorm forms
Thunderstorms occur when a cumulonimbus cloud often produces heavy rain, hail and gusty winds. The main factors responsible for the forming of thunderstorms are lift, unstable air and moisture.
Thunderstorms are forming along the US Southeast coast and over the Atlantic ocean as evidenced by bright white cumulonimbus cloud tops evidenced by Infrared satellite imagery. The water temperatures are a warm 80 degrees. At the same time an area of thunderstorms is also seen moving into Washington State from the Pacific Ocean where the water is a chilly 55 degrees. We have learned that the warm ocean waters add to evaporation and instability as warm/moist air can become unstable relative to the air at higher altitudes. How can you explain the presence of thunderstorms over the much colder waters of the Pacific?
The thunderstorms over the colder waters are going to produce light thunderstorms accompanied by light rain because in order to have heavy rains and storms, the atmosphere needs to be warm and unstable. But cold waters actually balance out the temperature.
