Final Exam December 16, 2004 Name (Print, Last first): Signature: on My Honor, I Have Neither Given Nor Received Unauthorized Aid on This Examination

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Final Exam December 16, 2004 Name (Print, Last first): Signature: on My Honor, I Have Neither Given Nor Received Unauthorized Aid on This Examination 21111 21111 Instructor(s): Prof. Seiberling PHYSICS DEPARTMENT MET 1010 Final Exam December 16, 2004 Name (print, last ¯rst): Signature: On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this examination. YOUR TEST NUMBER IS THE 5-DIGIT NUMBER AT THE TOP OF EACH PAGE. (1) Code your test number on your answer sheet (use 76{80 for the 5-digit number). Code your name on your answer sheet. DARKEN CIRCLES COMPLETELY. Code your UFID number on your answer sheet. (2) Print your name on this sheet and sign it also. (3) Do all scratch work anywhere on this exam that you like. Circle your answers on the test form. At the end of the test, this exam printout is to be turned in. No credit will be given without both answer sheet and printout with scratch work most questions demand. (4) Blacken the circle of your intended answer completely, using a #2 pencil or blue or black ink. Do not make any stray marks or some answers may be counted as incorrect. (5) The answers are rounded o®. Choose the closest to exact. There is no penalty for guessing. (6) Hand in the answer sheet separately. There are 33 multiple choice questions. Clearly circle the one best answer for each question. If more than one answer is marked, no credit will be given for that question, even if one of the marked answers is correct. Guessing an answer is better than leaving it blank. All questions are worth 3 points except 1, marked 4 points. Good Luck! 1. Which of the following is NOT an electromagnetic wave? (1) blackbody radiation emitted by a rock (2) microwaves (3) visible light (4) sound waves (5) infrared radiation 2. What best describes a baroclinic condition? (1) when thunderstorms organize in a rotational motion (2) a sudden change in air pressure that causes hives in some people (3) when isotachs are parallel to isobars (4) when dew points rise while temperatures drop (5) when isotherms cross contour lines 3. A cold front is moving through your area, traveling from the northwest. During the passage of the cold front, surface winds will most likely blow in the following way: (1) they will be northwesterly both before and after the front passes (2) they will be southwesterly before and southeasterly after the front passes (3) they will be southeasterly both before and after the front passes (4) they will be northwesterly before and calm after the front passes (5) they will be southwesterly before and northwesterly after the front passes 4. Which is true about the change of state between water and ice? (1) the vapor pressure above water and ice at the same temperature is the same (2) if heat is added slowly to an ice/water mixture that stays in equilibrium, the temperature of the mixture will slowly rise (3) pure water can be lowered to temperatures well below 0±C before freezing starts (4) freezing water absorbs latent heat (5) pure water can be raised to temperatures well above 0±C before melting starts 21111 21111 5. A wind reported at 315± would be a wind blowing from the: (1) S (2) NW (3) NE (4) SW (5) SE 6. You are at latitude 30± South (in the southern hemisphere), and the date is December 21. In what direction would you observe sunrise? (1) directly east (2) south of west (3) north of east (4) south of east (5) north of west 7. According to the 3-cell general circulation model, at the equator we would NOT expect to ¯nd: (1) cumuliform clouds (2) heavy showers (3) the ITCZ (4) light winds (5) surface high pressure 8. Upwelling occurs along the northern California coast because: (1) water flows from the Atlantic into the Paci¯c because they are at di®erent levels (2) winds cause surface waters to move away from the coast (3) of tidal motions (4) of larger than normal ¯sh hatches in El Nino years (5) of seismic activity on the ocean bottom 9. Which of the following is NOT a usual way that clouds are formed? (1) lifting along weather fronts (2) convergence of surface air (3) surface heating and free convection (4) orographic uplift (5) a subsidence inversion 10. The force exerted by the wind blowing against an object is related to the wind speed, V , as: (1) F is not a function of V (2) F is proportional to V 3 (3) F is proportional to V (4) F is proportional to V 2 (5) F is proportional to the square root of V 11. A general trend that is expected to last for 2 or 3 decades and is expected to enhance hurricane activity in the North Atlantic is: (1) increasing levels of CO2 (2) global warming (3) increased volcanic activity (4) a strengthening ocean conveyor belt (5) increasing eccentricity of the earth's orbit 21111 21111 12. Which of the following statements is NOT correct? (1) Generally, the smaller the pure water droplet, the lower the temperature at which it will freeze. (2) Much of the rain falling in middle northern latitudes begins as snow. (3) Ice crystals may grow in a cold cloud even though supercooled droplets do not. (4) Ice nuclei are more plentiful in the atmosphere than condensation nuclei. (5) The larger the water drop, the higher its terminal velocity. 13. (4 points) Suppose the surface air temperature is 25±C. If the base of a cumulus cloud directly above you is 800 m, what would be the approximate temperature at an altitude of 2300 m above you inside the cloud? (Hint: the dry adiabatic rate is 10±C per 1000 m and the moist adiabatic rate is 6±C per 1000 m.) (1) 25±C (2) 42±C (3) 8±C (4) 35±C (5) 2±C 14. Which of the following is true about the stratosphere? (1) it contains most of the weather we are familiar with (2) it has a temperature inversion (3) ozone is the most abundant gas (4) the winds are generally calm (5) it is mostly warmer than the lower troposphere 15. Light or moderate-but-steady precipitation is most often associated with: (1) cirrostratus (2) altocumulus (3) cirrocumulus (4) cumulonimbus (5) nimbostratus 16. In the region between 30± and 60± South latitude, the winds are generally: (1) westerly (2) easterly (3) southerly (4) calm (5) northerly 17. Which below is the best indication that a severe thunderstorm is about to produce a tornado? (1) large hail (2) a mammatus cloud (3) a gust front (4) a wall cloud (5) a roll cloud 18. When viewed from the surface of the earth, the smallest individual cloud elements (pu®s) are observed with: (1) stratocumulus (2) cumulonimbus (3) cirrocumulus (4) altocumulus (5) cumulus 19. A building anticyclone means: (1) separate cyclones are merging (2) the anticyclone is causing a middle latitude storm to form (3) the central pressure is increasing (4) the central pressure is decreasing (5) the anticyclone is moving toward the east coast 21111 21111 20. Which of the following statements describe the snow-albedo positive feedback e®ect? (1) Rising temperatures would lead to melting of snow, which absorbs latent heat and causes cooling of the earth. (2) Rising temperatures would lead to more snow, which would reflect sunlight, leading to lower temperatures. (3) Lowering temperatures would produce more snow, which would trap infrared energy and cause a warming of the earth. (4) Lowering temperatures would produce more snow, which would reflect sunlight, leading to lower temperatures. (5) Lowering temperatures would lead to less snowfall, which would reflect less sunlight, leading to a warming of the earth. 21. Streamlines on a weather map depict: (1) ocean currents (2) pressure (3) water temperature (4) dew point (5) wind flow 22. Which of the following conditions would lead to a more UNSTABLE atmosphere? (1) daytime heating of the earth's surface (2) nighttime cooling of the earth's surface (3) a subsidence inversion (4) air moving over a cold surface (5) an environmental lapse rate less than the moist adiabatic rate 23. Severe thunderstorms are di®erent from air-mass thunderstorms in that severe thunderstorms: (1) have a strong updraft and downdraft (2) contain lightning and thunder (3) produce hail (4) have an anvil (5) have a tilted updraft in the mature stage 24. Hurricanes derive their energy primarily from: (1) latent heat (2) upper level winds (3) the trade winds (4) the Coriolis force (5) the trade wind inversion 25. The blue color of the sky is due to: (1) the ¯ltering e®ect of water vapor in the earth's atmosphere (2) the emission of blue light by oxygen molecules (3) transmission of visible light through the ozone layer (4) selective scattering of visible light by air molecules (5) reflection of sunlight o® of the earth's oceans 26. Around a surface high pressure system in the Southern Hemisphere, the surface winds blow: (1) counter-clockwise and inward (2) counter-clockwise and outward (3) clockwise and inward (4) in no particular direction (5) clockwise and outward 21111 21111 27. Which association below is NOT correct? (1) cirrocumulus | layer cloud (2) cumulonimbus | thunderstorm (3) altostratus | middle cloud (4) cirrostratus | ice cloud (5) stratocumulus | low cloud 28. Which of the following properties of an object is something that enhances its ability to get hot when radiant energy is applied to it? (1) low melting point (2) high heat capacity (3) low albedo (4) high thermal conductivity (5) high porosity 29. The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is: (1) argon (2) carbon dioxide (3) oxygen (4) water vapor (5) nitrogen 30.
Recommended publications
  • Information Contained in a METAR Example METAR Codes
    METAR METAR is a format for reporting weather information. A METAR weather report is predominantly used by pilots in fulfillment of a part of a pre-flight weather briefing, and by meteorologists, who use aggregated METAR information to assist in weather forecasting. Raw METAR is the most common format in the world for the transmission of observational weather data. [citation needed] It is highly standardized through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which allows it to be understood throughout most of the world. Information contained in a METAR A typical METAR contains data for the temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, precipitation, cloud cover and heights, visibility, and barometric pressure. A METAR may also contain information on precipitation amounts, lightning, and other information that would be of interest to pilots or meteorologists such as a pilot report or PIREP, colour states and runway visual range (RVR). In addition, a short period forecast called a TRED may be added at the end of the METAR covering likely changes in weather conditions in the two hours following the observation. These are in the same format as a Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF). The complement to METARs, reporting forecast weather rather than current weather, are TAFs. METARs and TAFs are used in VOLMET broadcasts. Example METAR codes International METAR codes The following is an example METAR from Burgas Airport in Burgas, Bulgaria. It was taken on 4 February 2005 at 16:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). METAR LBBG 041600Z 12003MPS 310V290 1400 R04/P1500 R22/P1500U +S BK022 OVC050 M04/M07 Q1020 OSIG 9949//91= • METAR indicates that the following is a standard hourly observation.
    [Show full text]
  • Metar Abbreviations Metar/Taf List of Abbreviations and Acronyms
    METAR ABBREVIATIONS http://www.alaska.faa.gov/fai/afss/metar%20taf/metcont.htm METAR/TAF LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS $ maintenance check indicator - light intensity indicator that visual range data follows; separator between + heavy intensity / temperature and dew point data. ACFT ACC altocumulus castellanus aircraft mishap MSHP ACSL altocumulus standing lenticular cloud AO1 automated station without precipitation discriminator AO2 automated station with precipitation discriminator ALP airport location point APCH approach APRNT apparent APRX approximately ATCT airport traffic control tower AUTO fully automated report B began BC patches BKN broken BL blowing BR mist C center (with reference to runway designation) CA cloud-air lightning CB cumulonimbus cloud CBMAM cumulonimbus mammatus cloud CC cloud-cloud lightning CCSL cirrocumulus standing lenticular cloud cd candela CG cloud-ground lightning CHI cloud-height indicator CHINO sky condition at secondary location not available CIG ceiling CLR clear CONS continuous COR correction to a previously disseminated observation DOC Department of Commerce DOD Department of Defense DOT Department of Transportation DR low drifting DS duststorm DSIPTG dissipating DSNT distant DU widespread dust DVR dispatch visual range DZ drizzle E east, ended, estimated ceiling (SAO) FAA Federal Aviation Administration FC funnel cloud FEW few clouds FG fog FIBI filed but impracticable to transmit FIRST first observation after a break in coverage at manual station Federal Meteorological Handbook No.1, Surface
    [Show full text]
  • Thunderstorm Anatomy and Dynamics
    THUNDERSTORM ANATOMY AND DYNAMICS An Overview Prepared by LCDR Bill Nisley MR 3421 • Cloud Physics Naval Postgraduate School • Monterey, California [email protected] Photo credits: Thunderstorm Cell and Mammatus Clouds by: Michael Bath; Tornado by Daphne Zaras / NSSL; Supercell Thunderstorm by: AMOS; Wall Cloud by: Greg Michels 1. Introduction The purpose of this paper is to present a broad overview of the various cloud structures displayed during the life cycle of a thunderstorm and the atmospheric dynamics associated with each. Knowledge of atmospheric dynamics provides for a keener understanding of the physical processes related to the “why and how” certain cloud features form. Accordingly, observation of cloud features presents visual queuing of changes in the atmosphere. 2. Thunderstorm Formation and Stages of Development Thunderstorm development is dependent on three basic components: moisture, instability, and some form of lifting mechanism. 2.1 Moisture – As air near the surface is lifted higher in the atmosphere and cooled, available water vapor condenses into small water droplets which form clouds. As condensation of water vapor occurs, latent heat is released making the rising air warmer and less dense than its surroundings (figure 1). The added heat allows the air (parcel) to continue to rise and form an updraft within the developing cloud structure. 2.1.1 In general1, low level moisture increases instability simply by making more latent heat available to the lower atmosphere. Increasing mid level moisture can decrease instability in the atmosphere because moist air is less dense than dry air and therefor is unable to evaporate • Figure 1 – Positive buoyancy / instability as a result of precipitation and cloud droplets as condensation and release of latent heat.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 6 Clouds
    Chapter 6 Clouds Chapter overview • Processes causing saturation o Cooling, moisturizing, mixing • Cloud identification and classification • Cloud Observations • Fog Why do we care about clouds in the atmosphere? Cloud Development Clouds form when air becomes saturated. How can unsaturated air become saturated? • Cooling • Adding moisture • Mixing Cooling and moisturizing The amount of cooling needed for air to become saturated is given by ΔT = Td - T The amount of additional moisture needed for air to become saturated is given by Δr = rs - r The change in temperature (ΔT) or the change in moisture (Δr) can be determined by evaluating the heat or moisture budget of an air parcel. Most clouds form as a result of rising air. How does the temperature and relative humidity of an air parcel change as it rises adiabatically? What processes are responsible for causing air to rise? Cumuliform clouds form in air that rises due to its buoyancy. Stratiform clouds form in are that is forced to rise. Mixing Mixing of two unsaturated air parcels can result in a saturated mixture. Why can the mixing of unsaturated air result in air becoming saturated? What are some examples of air becoming saturated in this way? The temperature and mixing ratio of the mixture can be calculated using: mx = mB + mC mBTB + mCTC Tx = mx mBrB + mCrC rx = mx Where the m is the mass of the air parcel, subscripts B and C indicate the two original air parcels, and subscript X indicates the mixture. Vapor pressure or specific humidity can be used in place in mixing ratio.
    [Show full text]
  • An Introduction to Clouds
    Clouds National Meteorological Library and Archive Fact sheet 1 — An introduction to clouds The National Meteorological Library and Archive Many people have an interest in the weather and the processes that cause it, which is why the National Meteorological Library and Archive are open to everyone. Holding one of the most comprehensive collections on meteorology anywhere in the world, the Library and Archive are vital for the maintenance of the public memory of the weather, the storage of meteorological records and as aid of learning. The Library and Archive collections include: • around 300,000 books, charts, atlases, journals, articles, microfiche and scientific papers on meteorology and climatology, for a variety of knowledge levels • audio-visual material including digitised images, slides, photographs, videos and DVDs • daily weather reports for the United Kingdom from 1861 to the present, and from around the world • marine weather log books • a number of the earliest weather diaries dating back to the late 18th century • artefacts, records and charts of historical interest; for example, a chart detailing the weather conditions for the D-Day Landings, the weather records of Scott’s Antarctic expedition from 1911 • rare books, including a 16th century edition of Aristotle’s Meteorologica, held on behalf of the Royal Meteorological Society • a display of meteorological equipment and artefacts For more information about the Library and Archive please see our website at: www.metoffice.gov.uk/learning/library Introduction A cloud is an aggregate of very small water droplets, ice crystals, or a mixture of both, with its base above the Earth’s surface.
    [Show full text]
  • Surface Weather Observations and Reports
    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK No. 1 Surface Weather Observations andReports FCM-H1-1995 Washington, D.C. December 1995 FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH 8455 COLESVILLE ROAD, SUITE 1500 SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 20910 FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK NUMBER 1 SURFACE WEATHER OBSERVATIONS AND REPORTS FCM-H1-1995 Washington, D.C. December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
    [Show full text]
  • 1455189355674.Pdf
    THE STORYTeller’S THESAURUS FANTASY, HISTORY, AND HORROR JAMES M. WARD AND ANNE K. BROWN Cover by: Peter Bradley LEGAL PAGE: Every effort has been made not to make use of proprietary or copyrighted materi- al. Any mention of actual commercial products in this book does not constitute an endorsement. www.trolllord.com www.chenaultandgraypublishing.com Email:[email protected] Printed in U.S.A © 2013 Chenault & Gray Publishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Storyteller’s Thesaurus Trademark of Cheanult & Gray Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Chenault & Gray Publishing, Troll Lord Games logos are Trademark of Chenault & Gray Publishing. All Rights Reserved. TABLE OF CONTENTS THE STORYTeller’S THESAURUS 1 FANTASY, HISTORY, AND HORROR 1 JAMES M. WARD AND ANNE K. BROWN 1 INTRODUCTION 8 WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK DIFFERENT 8 THE STORYTeller’s RESPONSIBILITY: RESEARCH 9 WHAT THIS BOOK DOES NOT CONTAIN 9 A WHISPER OF ENCOURAGEMENT 10 CHAPTER 1: CHARACTER BUILDING 11 GENDER 11 AGE 11 PHYSICAL AttRIBUTES 11 SIZE AND BODY TYPE 11 FACIAL FEATURES 12 HAIR 13 SPECIES 13 PERSONALITY 14 PHOBIAS 15 OCCUPATIONS 17 ADVENTURERS 17 CIVILIANS 18 ORGANIZATIONS 21 CHAPTER 2: CLOTHING 22 STYLES OF DRESS 22 CLOTHING PIECES 22 CLOTHING CONSTRUCTION 24 CHAPTER 3: ARCHITECTURE AND PROPERTY 25 ARCHITECTURAL STYLES AND ELEMENTS 25 BUILDING MATERIALS 26 PROPERTY TYPES 26 SPECIALTY ANATOMY 29 CHAPTER 4: FURNISHINGS 30 CHAPTER 5: EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS 31 ADVENTurer’S GEAR 31 GENERAL EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS 31 2 THE STORYTeller’s Thesaurus KITCHEN EQUIPMENT 35 LINENS 36 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
    [Show full text]
  • FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK No. 12
    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH FEDERAL METEOROLOGICAL HANDBOOK No. 12 United States Meteorological Codesand Coding Practices Academia General Public Codes Private Federal FCM-H12-1998 Industry Government Washington, D.C. December 1998 THE FEDERAL COMMITTEE FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (FCMSSR) DR. D. JAMES BAKER, Chairman MR. MONTE BELGER Department of Commerce Department of Transportation MR. ALBERT PETERLIN MR. MICHAEL J. ARMSTRONG Department of Agriculture Federal Emergency Management Agency MR. JOHN J. KELLY, JR. DR. GHASSEM R. ASRAR Department of Commerce National Aeronautics and Space Administration CAPT DAVID MARTIN, USN Department of Defense DR. ROBERT W. CORELL National Science Foundation DR. ARISTIDES PATRINOS Department of Energy MR. BENJAMIN BERMAN National Transportation Safety Board DR. ROBERT M. HIRSCH Department of the Interior MS. MARGARET V. FEDERLINE U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission MR. RALPH BRAIBANTI Department of State MR. FRANCIS SCHIERMEIER Environmental Protection Agency MR. RANDOLPH LYON Office of Management and Budget MR. SAMUEL P. WILLIAMSON Federal Coordinator MR. JAMES B. HARRISON, Executive Secretary Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTING RESEARCH (ICMSSR) MR. SAMUEL P. WILLIAMSON, Chairman DR. JONATHAN M. BERKSON Federal Coordinator United States Coast Guard Department of Transportation DR. RAYMOND MOTHA Department of Agriculture MR. FRANCIS SCHIERMEIER Environmental Protection Agency MR. JOHN E. JONES, JR. Department of Commerce DR. FRANK Y. TSAI Federal Emergency Management Agency CAPT DAVID MARTIN, USN Department of Defense DR. RAMESH KAKAR National Aeronautics and Space MR.
    [Show full text]
  • Meteorology Practice Exam 3: Chapters 11-14
    Name: ______________________ Class: _________________ Date: _________ ID: A Meteorology Practice Exam 3: Chapters 11-14 Multiple Choice Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. ____ 1. Squall lines most often form ahead of a: a. cold front. b. warm front. c. cold-type occluded front. d. warm-type occluded front. e. stationary front. ____ 2. The origin of cP and cA air masses that enter the United States is: a. Northern Siberia. b. Northern Atlantic Ocean. c. Antarctica. d. Northern Canada and Alaska. ____ 3. Which of the following statements is most plausible? a. In winter, cP source regions have higher temperatures than mT source regions. b. In summer, mP source regions have higher temperatures than cT source regions. c. In winter, cA source regions have lower temperatures than cP source regions. d. In summer, mT source regions have lower temperatures than mP source regions. e. They are all equally plausible. ____ 4. Compared to an mP air mass, mT air is ____. a. warmer and drier b. warmer and moister c. colder and drier d. colder and moister ____ 5. One would expect a cP air mass to be: a. cold and dry. b. cold and moist. c. warm and dry. d. warm and moist. ____ 6. What type of air mass would be responsible for refreshing cool, dry breezes after a long summer hot spell in the Central Plains? a. mP b. mT c. cP d. cT ____ 7. Generally, the greatest lake effect snow fall will be on the ____ shore of the Great Lakes.
    [Show full text]
  • Cloud Classifications and Characteristics
    By Ted Funk Science and Operations Officer Cloud Classifications and Characteristics Clouds are classified according to their height above and appearance (texture) from the ground. The following cloud roots and translations summarize the components of this classification system: 1) Cirro-: curl of hair, high; 2) Alto-: mid; 3) Strato-: layer; 4) Nimbo-: rain, precipitation; and 5) Cumulo-: heap. Cirrus clouds (above) High-level clouds: High-level clouds occur above about 20,000 feet and are given the prefix “cirro.” Due to cold tropospheric temperatures at these levels, the clouds primarily are composed of ice crystals, and often appear thin, streaky, and white (although a low sun angle, e.g., near sunset, can create an array of color on the clouds). The three main types of high clouds are cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus. Cirrus clouds are wispy, feathery, and composed entirely of ice crystals. They often Cirrostratus clouds (above) are the first sign of an approaching warm front or upper-level jet streak. Unlike cirrus, cirrostratus clouds form more of a widespread, veil-like layer (similar to what stratus clouds do in low levels). When sunlight or moonlight passes through the hexagonal- shaped ice crystals of cirrostratus clouds, the light is dispersed or refracted (similar to light passing through a prism) in such a way that a familiar ring or halo may form. As a warm front approaches, cirrus clouds tend to thicken into cirrostratus, which may, in turn, thicken and lower into altostratus, stratus, and even nimbostratus. Cirrocumulus clouds (above) Finally, cirrocumulus clouds are layered clouds permeated with small cumuliform lumpiness.
    [Show full text]
  • Comments on “The Mysteries of Mammatus Clouds: Observations and Formation Mechanisms”
    MARCH 2008 NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCE 1093 Comments on “The Mysteries of Mammatus Clouds: Observations and Formation Mechanisms” CHARLES A. DOSWELL III Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, Norman, Oklahoma (Manuscript received and in final form 22 January 2007) In an intriguing paper, Schultz et al. (2006, hereafter fingers comes to produce a layered, steplike profile of S06) have reviewed observations of mammatus clouds the constituents (Turner 1973, 270–273; Gregg 1973). in the scientific literature and offered some candidate The detailed view of stepped temperature profiles (pro- mechanisms for the formation of mammatus. This rea- ducing very shallow superadiabatic lapse rates in the sonably comprehensive review is both interesting and temperature profiles) in Fig. 10 of S06 could be consid- stimulating. I concur with the authors that although ered compatible with the oceanographic observations. mammatus cloud formations have little or no direct so- Turner (1973, p. 270) is careful to point out that layer- cietal impact, they are a fascinating enigma, certainly ing need not be the result of double-diffusive convec- worthy of careful scientific scrutiny. tion, but this observation is at least consistent with the One candidate mechanism they did not mention, hypothesis of the presence of double-diffusive convec- however, is what is known in oceanography as “double- tion. diffusive convection” (Turner 1973, p. 251 ff.). Its most How might this process be associated with mamma- well-known application is to the thermohaline flows tus clouds? The presence of particulates that are heavi- known as “salt fingers.” The physical mechanism is that er than air in a “colloidal” solution would play a role the fluid has two constituents that contribute in oppos- comparable to that of salinity—acting to increase the ing ways to buoyancy; increased salinity makes the wa- overall density of the air-particulate mixture.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Fire and Meteorology Training'
    Critical Fire Weather Analysis Martin Babakian Consultant Meteorologist/Conjoint Lecturer Introduction Part one: • Essential concepts in meteorology. – Wind-Driven Fire – Fire Whirls – Plume-dominated fire – Horizontal vortices within a fire (This sequence shows that a "finger" of fire burst forward about 100 meters from the head of the fire at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour, and then retreated back into the fire within three seconds, ("Finger Of Death“). – Fire Weather in New South Wales Part Two: Comprehensive weather analysis checklist is developed to successfully assist fire weather investigators. Part Three: • Meso - Scale wind regime • Mechanical Turbulence • Relative humidity • Influence of topography Extreme Fire Behaviour • Extreme fire behaviour results when several of the components of the fire environment interact to cause the rate of spread of the fire to increase by 60 times or greater. • Situations in which abundant fuels with sufficiently low moisture values are located on a steep slope and combine with strong winds and unstable atmospheric conditions can lead to extreme fire behaviour. • Each of the conditions can potentially increase fire behaviour, so when all of these conditions occur at the same time, the potential danger increases significantly. Extreme Fire Behaviour Extreme fire behaviour is generally defined as fire behaviour that often precludes methods of direct fire suppression, and usually involves one or more of the following characteristics: High rate of spread and frontal fire intensity Crowning Prolific spotting Presence of large fire whirls Well-established convective column Fires exhibiting such phenomena often influence the surrounding environment and create dangerous conditions. Other terms used to describe extreme fire behaviour include “blow-up”, "fire storm", "flare-up" and "fire behaviour in the third dimension Changes to the Bureau's Fire Weather Warnings and Forecasts The Bureau of Meteorology is changing the way fire danger is rated within its weather forecasts and warnings.
    [Show full text]