Exam 12: Middle Latitude Cyclones

In the polar front theory of a developing wave cyclone, energy for the storm is usually derived from an increase in surface winds, rising of warm air and sinking of cold air, and latent heat of condensation.​

When a deep upper-level trough is located to the east of a surface anticyclone, the surface anticyclone will tend to move toward the​

​According to the model of the life cycle of a wave cyclone, the storm system is normally most intense

Describe, in words or with a sketch, a wind flow pattern that will result in upper-level divergence.​

​Describe or illustrate the various phases in the life cycle of a middle latitude storm according to the polar front theory.

​Northeasters (or nor'easters) are midlatitude storms commonly found along

In a mid-latitude cyclone, when upper-level divergence of air above a surface low pressure area is stronger than the convergence of surface air (more air is taken out at the top than is brought in at the bottom), the surface pressure will ____________________ and the storm itself will ____________________.

As westerly winds blow over a north-south oriented mountain range, the airflow is deflected in such a way that a trough forms on the ____ side of the mountain.​

The dry conveyor belt forms in the cold, very dry region of the upper mesosphere.​

When viewed from above, air that spins cyclonically (counterclockwise) has ____________________ and air that spins anticyclonically (clockwise) has ____________________.

Outline the conveyor belt model.​

For a surface storm system to intensify, the upper-level low (or trough) should be located to the ____ of the surface low.​

Winds at the 500-mb level tend to steer surface systems in the same direction that the winds are moving.​

During baroclinic instability, the strong wind speed shear that exists from the surface up to a level of approximately 500 mb is disturbed by a shortwave.​

Divergence (or convergence) is a difficult task to measure with any degree of accuracy using upper-level wind information. Therefore, meteorologists must look for something else that can be measured and, at the same time, can be related to regions of diverging (and converging) air. That something is called​

The Colorado Low forms (or redevelops) on the eastern side of the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, then rapidly skirts across the northern tier of U.S. states.​

Divergence aloft causes a(n) ____________________ in the cyclonic (positive) vorticity of surface cyclones, which usually results in ____________________ and upward air motions.

​Another term for frontal wave is

On a surface weather map that shows an open wave cyclone, the warm sector can be observed​

​The development or strengthening of a middle latitude storm system is called