Review Sheet for Exam 3
VERY IMPORTANT WARNING: This review sheet was made without looking at the exam. I make no promises that everything you need to know for the test is included on this review sheet. Similarly, I make no promises that everything on this review sheet appears on the test. This review sheet simply reflects the most important content of the course in this unit. Consider yourself warned.
Key Terms
Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), Subtropical Jet Stream, Subtropical Highs, doldrums, horse latitudes, tradewinds, gyres, polar highs, polar easterlies, polar front, Midlatitude Jet Stream
Hadley Cell, Ferrell Cell, Polar Cell
air mass, source region, modification
cold front, warm front, stationary front, dryline, occluded front
infrared satellite imagery, visible satellite imagery, geostationary satellite, polar-orbiting satellite, remote sensing
cyclone, anticyclone, convergence, divergence, comma cloud, triple point, open wave, occluded cyclone
cyclogenesis, cyclolysis, vorticity, positive vorticity advection
Key Concepts
Have a clear understanding of the key features of the General Circulation of the atmosphere. In particular, understand how all of the features named above (tradewinds, polar highs, etc.) relate to each other.
Definitely understand the Thermal Wind Relationship—know why temperature gradients at the surface give rise to a westerly jet stream aloft.
Know all 5 types of air masses and how they are classified. Know why there is no such thing as an “mA” air mass.
Understand the three-dimensional structure of cold fronts, warm fronts, drylines, and occluded fronts. Know how they are sloped, etc.
Understand the life cycle of a midlatitude cyclone.
Understand the processes known as cyclogenesis and cyclolysis. Recognize why positive vorticity advection aloft leads to pressure decreases at the surface. Understand why the formation of an occluded front at the surface leads to the increase of the pressure inside the cyclone by the process known as cyclolysis.