Exam 12: Middle-Latitude Cyclones

The development of a mid-latitude cyclone, according to the Norwegian model, begins along the ____.

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

During the development of a mid-latitude cyclone, the warm conveyer belt rises along the warm front.

In the conveyor belt model, directly below a _ ____________________, a cold airstream, known as the cold conveyor belt, is located.

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 ____________________.

Earth's vorticity can be positive or negative in the middle and high latitudes, depending on the hemisphere.

Longwaves often ____, or even move ____.

In a mid-latitude cyclone, an upper-level pool of cold air that has broken away from the main flow is called a ____.

List the mechanisms that provide energy for a cyclone.

The ____ is considered to be a region where cyclogenesis often occurs.

Divergence and convergence of air are due to changes in ____.

Explain the term absolute vorticity in a real-life context, such as a spinning ice skater. In your description, include the terms relative vorticity and Earth's vorticity .

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

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

Which of the following is associated with rising air motions in a mid-latitude cyclone?

The polar front theory of a developing wave cyclone was developed shortly after ____.

With diameters of ____ or less, polar lows are generally smaller in size than their mid-latitude cousins.

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

Storms typically form along the polar front. However, there are also storms that develop over polar water behind (or poleward of)the main polar front.

Mid-latitude cyclones usually "die out" after they become occluded because there is no longer a temperature contrast at the surface.