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GOES
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Geostationare Operational Environmental Satellite
-has the capacity to obtain cloud images and, at the same time, provide vertical profiles of the atmospheric temperatures and moisture by detecting emitted radiation from atmospheric gases such as water vapor
-uses 'imagers' and 'sounders'
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deposition
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-vapour to ice transformation
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1974
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-worst tornado breakout ever!!!-weather bunnies were out..and in meteorologist stepped in due to the impact of THIS storm
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heat bursts
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-sudden warm downbursts
-originates high.... warms by compressional heating
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ionosphere
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-electrified region within upper atmosphere where lots of ions and free electrons exist... begins at approx 60km
-plays large rold in AM radio communication... (which works better at night)
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1990s
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NWS modernization: centralized many offices into one per area
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1640
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-barometer is developed by Torcllini-measures atmospheric pressure
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the Earth Spheres (4)
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hydrosphere-oceans, lakeslithosphere-crust, landbiosphere-the living part of the planetatmosphere-mixture of the different gases ( the Composition of the atmosphere is NOT constant. Changes placed a place in time to time
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analysis
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-final chart, once meteorologists have interpreted weather patterns and charts given by computer and fixed any errors
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downburts
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-downdraft becomes so localized that it hits the ground and spreads horizontally in a radial burst of wind
Microburst:
-downdraft with winds exceeding only 4km or less (exceeding 4 = macroburst)
-in spite of size, can be very powerful
-responsible for airplane crashes (associated with wind shear)
-mostly associated with severe thunderstorms, but not always?
**10.15
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Lightning paths
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* within cloud lightning* cloud-to-cloud lightning* cloud-to-ground lightning
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climate
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-average weather measured over a specified period of time
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photons
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-streams of particles that are discrete packets of energy that make up radiation
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1940
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-weather bureau to commerce-move from governments Department of Agriculture in 1890 to governments Department of Commerce
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1980s
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– wind profilers– taking the Doppler radars in pointing them upwards-predicts current wind-supplement upper air balloons (rawisondes)
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doldrums
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-region over equatorial waters where air is warm, horizontal pressure gradients are weak, and winds are light
-weather in this area is monotonous
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cyclogenesis
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-any development or strengthening of a mid-latitude cyclone
-areas such as eastern side of rockies (LEE-SIDE LOW) SHOW HIGH PROPENSITY FOR CYCLOGENESIS
-ALSO, GREAT bASIN, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean east of Carolinas
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source regions
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-regions where are masses originate are known as source regions
-ideally high surface pressure
-humid regions are generally where air masses crash from different source regions
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trade wind inversion
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a temperature inversion frequently found in the subtropics over the eastern portions of the tropical oceans
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All the factors to produce POSITIVE VORTICITY (convergence, speed divergence, & confluence) are on the ___________ of the ________.
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downslopetrough
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Southern Oscillation
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an oscillation pattern of pressure change over the waters of the eastern Pacific (Peru side) & western Pacific (Indonesia-Australia side)* normally there is persistent high pressure over the eastern pacific and low over western Pacific, which generated wind patterns from E to W, which is known as the Walker Circulation* sometimes the pressure patterns reverse
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cloud cover
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large scale circulation effects cloud cover which in turn effects temp.EX. asian monsoon
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The following four factors determine temperature:
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1)latitude
2)land/water distribution
3)ocean currents
4)elevation
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meteorology
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– study of the Earth's atmosphere– forecasting (educated guess) is an offset of meteorology
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ENSO
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EL NINO
-reversla of current flow due to reversal of Hadley cells... brings warm water to Peru ratherthat the usual nutrient rich and cold antarctic water
-chokes off upwelling near Peru
-every few years, surface atmospheric pressure systems change
-strengthens the equatorial counter current that goes towards S America
SOUTHERN OSCILATION
-see saw pattern of reversing surface air pressure at opposite ends of pacific
ENSO- same thing, as El Nino and Oscillation are simultaneous
-air rises now near Peruand sinks off coast of Australia... now rains/droughts in different places
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atmospheric models
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-devised to explain the many weather variables that are constantly changing
-mathematical models consisting of mathematical equations that describe how atmospheric temperature, pressure, winds, and moisture will change with time
-the models are programmed into the computer, and surface and upper-air observations of temperature, moisture, winds, and air density are fed into the equations
-mathematical formula is used to predict weather in, say, 5 minutes... and these data are refed into the formula over and over again until desired time of prediction is reached
-the final forecast chart representing the atmosphere at a specified time is called a prognostic chart
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swells
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-the high winds of a hurricane also generate large waves (10-15m).
-these waves move OUTWARDS, waay from the storm, in the form of swells that carry the storm's energy to distant beaches
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wall cloud
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-an area of rotating clouds that extends beneath a supercell thunderstorm and from which a funnel cloud may appear
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spiral rain bands
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the clouds align themselved into spiraling bands that awirl in toward the storm's center, where they wrap themselves around the eye
***surface winds incrrease in speed as they blow counterclockwise and inward toward this center
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Polar Jet Stream
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* affect daily weather in mid-latitudes* in conjuntion with the movement of cP and mT air masses* its undulations are the Rossby waves (determines where a cyclone will develop & the path it will move in)
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El Nino
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a southerly flowing warm ocean water current that generally develops off the coast of Ecuador & Peru around Christmastime & may last for several months* named "the boy child" b/c it's around Christmas
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difference b/w westerlies and jetstreams
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westerlies-Westerlies is the prevailing winds in the southern tropics and the easterlies are the prevailing winds in the northern tropics
jetstreams-Jet streams are relatively narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere. The winds blows from west to east. Jet streams follow the boundaries between hot and cold air
**a jetstream is a westerlie**
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winter solstice
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-december 21... shortest day of year for NH
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influences on relative humidity
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-adding/subtracting moisture to the air-changing a given temperature -daily temp changes -air moves horizontally -air moves vertically
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specific types of scattering (two)
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Rayleigh scattering-short waves solar-scatters gases which creates a blue sky
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layers of composition
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Homosphere-surface to 55 miles up –well mixed region many Atomsheterosphere-did a small number of atoms molecules higher up
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gradient wind
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-blows at constant speed parallel to curved isobars
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infrered cloud images/computer enhancement
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-used by satellites to make the distinction between high, medium, and low clouds
-high clouds appear white, low clouds appear gray
-computer enhancement is used to distinguish clouds from background
-typically, bringht colors such as blue, red, or purple are assigned to the coldest/highest tops
-this is where the stormiest weather is probably occuring
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St Elmo's Fire
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-a bright electric discharge that is prejoected from objects (usually pointed) when tehy are in a strong electrical field
"corona discharge" - continous supply of sparks
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tornado watch/warning
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watch - tornadoes are likely to form over the next few hours
-issued by storms prediction center in oklahoma
warning - issued by NWSO... some commmunities have sirens
-over the years, have had increase in tornadoes but deacrease in death
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supercell tornadoes / mesocyclone
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-tornadoes that form with supercell thunderstorms
-vortex tubes caused by wind shear are hit by a strong updraft of a thunderstorm, which tilts the tube
MESOCYCLONE - the rising rotating column on the sourth side of the storm, perhaps 5-10 kilometers across
-large hailstones usualy fall just north of the updraft
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The primary mover of cyclones is the ____ ______.
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Jet Stream
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Continental Polar (cP)
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very cold (winter) to cool (summer)& dry; stable
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daily temp range
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- depends on humidity and cloudiness- clear and/or dry days have greater range
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troposphere
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-up to around 11km... it is the region that contains all the weather with which we are familiar
-kept well stirred with rising and descending currents
-at top, air stops becomming colder with elevation (tropopause)
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some things to know
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the Earth intercepts lesson to billions of all the suns energy!However solar energy represents 99.9% of the energy that heats the Earth's surfaceif the sudden stop shining and winced I the Earth will cool and die
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tropic latitudes
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tropic of cancer is located at 23.5° NORTHtropic of Capricorn is located at 23.5° SOUTH
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zonal wind flow
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-a wind that has a predominant west-to-east component
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hydrostatic equilibrium
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-state of atmosphere when there is a balance between the vertical PGF and downward pull of gravity
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cT air masses
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-the only real source region for these hot, dry air masses in North America is found durig the summer in northern Mexico and the adjacent arid southerwestern United States
-hot dry and unconditionally stable
-clear skies, hot weather, and practically non-existant rainfall
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1st letter (Classification Scheme)
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reference to surface over which it develops and thus the level of humidity (dry vs humid)*c == continental: forms over a landmass = low water vapor content, dry* m == maritime: forms over an ocean = high water vapor content, humid
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Tropical storm
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* 3rd stage in the life cycle of hurricane* well developed cyclonic circulation, with the beginnings of an eye wall and rainbands, but usually no distinct eye as yet* sustained winds in the eye wall 38-74 mph* given a name
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Occluded Front
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* a front formed when a cold front takes and replaces a warm front at the surface: have cold & warm type occluded fronts* symbolized on weather maps as a purple line alternating between 1/2 circles & triangles
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why earth has seasons
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-tilt = 23.5
-average distance to sun - 150million km (comes closer in january and july)
-seasons regulated by amound of solar energy received at earth's surface
1)intensity of angle
2)length of exposure per day
-earth's axis points always in the same direction
-NH toward sun in summer and away in winter (duh)
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What is temperature measured on?
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They are measured on a thermometer.
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What are mechnically induced principle pressure belts?
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Subtropical high and subpolar low.
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standarm atomspheric pressure/sea-level pressure/station pressure
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SAP - 1013.25mb =1013.25 hPa = 29.92 inches Hg
- this is sea level pressure
Station Pressure - acquired after recorded pressure is corrected for temperature, gravity, and instrument error
Sea-level pressure - corrected for T, gravity, instrument error, and altitude
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electrification of clouds (2 theories)
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THEORY 1
-it occurs when graupel and hailstones fall through a region of supercooled droplets and ice crystals
-warm hail/cold droplets(positively charged)
**there is a net transfer of positive ions from warmer to cooler objects
-cold upper cloud becomes + charged , middle negatively charged, and low negative and mixed
THEORY 2
-particles are part negative and part positive charge
-during collision, larger particles become negatively charged, and smaller become positively charged, which are swept to top
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Watch vs. Warning: Tornado or Thunderstorm
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* Watch: means conditions are favorable for the occurrence of this type of weather in your area, within the time period stated in the watch announcement* Warning: this type of weather has been spotted by a trained observer, or has been indicted by Doppler radar in your area
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Ways to protect crops
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-cover small plants with tarp, so as to prevent escaping radiation
-orchid heaters warm air and ground around trees by setting up convection currents near ground
-wind machines mix cold air near ground with warm air above
-trees can also be protected by flooding with irrigation
-when a "freeze" occurs (cold wind), fruit can be frozen with mist to protect them
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What is an isobar?
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A line on a weather map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure.
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What causes Chinook winds?
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Chinook, or foehn, winds are dry, warm air that sometimes move down the Rockies and the Alps.
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Atmospheric gas experiences an increase in pressure...
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if the volume of the gas is decreased.
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Examples from the '83 ENSO
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* sea-level & T's increase in the eastern Pacific* 100" of rain over 6-months in Peru & Ecuador* monsoon rains in western pacific moved eastward leaving drought conditions in Indonesia, Australia, & India* one of the warmest winters & wettest springs for the US
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latitude effects on temp.
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- solar angle and day length depend on latitude-
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What is La Nina?
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When the water off the coast of Perua and Ecuador is colder than average.
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cP and cA air masses (North America)
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-responsible for very cold weather in winter
-these air masses originate over the ice and snow covered regions of the north
-eventually moves south in an enormous shallow high pressure area
-known for producing LAKE-EFFECT SNOWS as the cold, dry air masses move over relatively warm bodies of water (ie. great lakes)
-associated with very stable air
-generally blow in a south-easterly or easterly direction (westerlies)
cP air in summer is generally warmer
-generally brings relief from the oppressive heat in the central and eastern states
-can quickly assume the properties of a maratime air mass
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How is lake effect snow generated?
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Cool, dry air masses travel across the Great Lakes, cool down and pick up moisture. The air mass then moves across the land and cools again. It then snows because the air mass can no longer carry the moisture.
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two types of weather maps
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-surface map (0-30 ft) 1)mono-ugly. 2)TV sexy-upper air map(30ft-tropopause)
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Wind helps generate the movement of the oceans...
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* but the movement of the oceans also plays a role in the movement of the air, both horizontally (advection or wind) & vertically (convection)* differing sea surface T helps create differing pressure patterns which in turn helps create differing wind patterns* the various movement patterns of the oceans help dictate the above patterns
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