Meteorology & climateLesson 2 of 4 in the course Weather systems

Cyclone Circulation, Development, Types, and Atmospheric Vortices

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Cyclones are large rotating air systems organized around areas of low atmospheric pressure. Understanding their circulation and structure helps explain weather patterns and the different winds experienced in each hemisphere.

A cyclone is a large air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure. Its winds spiral inward toward the low-pressure zone. This inward-spiraling pattern contrasts with the circulation around an anticyclone, which is associated with high pressure.

All flashcards

Cyclogenesis
The development or strengthening of cyclonic circulation in the atmosphere.
Steering flow
Atmospheric flow, including the subtropical jet stream, that helps guide a cyclone's path.
Storm surge
A storm-driven rise in sea level caused by low pressure and winds pushing water toward the coast.
Dust devil
A rotating air column formed when a warm surface heats the air above it.
Mesocyclone
A rotating column of air, roughly 2 to 10 kilometers across, within a convective storm.

Quiz questions

  1. Where does an extratropical cyclone commonly begin to develop?Answer: As a wave along a baroclinic zone with strong temperature contrasts.
  2. What provides much of the energy that fuels a tropical cyclone?Answer: Latent heat released when water vapor condenses.
  3. Which description best fits a subtropical cyclone?Answer: A system with characteristics of both tropical and extratropical cyclones.
  4. What is a common feature of a polar low?Answer: It is a small, short-lived low-pressure system over polar ocean waters.
  5. What is Jupiter's Great Red Spot in terms of circulation?Answer: An anticyclone, with circulation opposite to that of a cyclone.

Based on the Wikipedia article Cyclone, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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