ATOC-240; Winter Semester 2009
(Science of Storms)
Assignment 3
Due March 19, 2009
1. Explain why air masses that develop over Canada are colder than air masses that form
over the Arctic Ocean.
Simple idea here is that there is some leakage of sensible he
Atmospheric Pressure
force exerted by the weight of the air
Atmospheric pressure is defined as the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of the
air above that surface. In the diagram below, the pressure at point "X" increases as the
Chapter 17: Thunderstorms
Why do we care about thunderstorms?
Agriculture / water resources
Hazardous weather
In order for a thunderstorm to be considered a severe, one of the following must occur:
hail with a diameter of 3/4 or larger
wind damage or wind
ATOC 240
Assignment 4
Due April 2, 2009
For each of the questions, be sure to provide a brief explanation of your answer.
1) You happen to live in Miami, Florida and a category 3 westward moving hurricane is
approaching you from the east. If the eye of th
1. Lightning tends to be more frequent in a thunderstorm over the plains for the following reasons:
a) Since hurricanes are tropical in nature they tend to be extremely warm. As such, there are
relatively few ice/hail particulars as compared with a spring
Name/ID_
_
FINALEXAMINATIONApril29,2009
COURSE:ATOC240
TITLE:ScienceofStorms
Examiner:Dr.EyadAtallah
STUDENTNAME_
McGillIDNUMBER_
INSTRUCTIONS:
Instructions: Answer your choice of any 25 questions. Each question is worth 4
points. If you answer more than
G109:
8. Atmospheric Stability
1
8 . A TMOSPHERIC S TABILITY
Reading Assignment:
A&B:
Ch. 5
(p. 142-146)
Ch 6
(p. 160-168)
LM:
Lab# 8
1. Lapse Rates
Lapse rate: - rate at which temperature decreases
with height.
- in [K / km] or [C / km]
- a positive valu
