Environmental Science and Meteorology: Terms and Definitions, Quizzes of Natural Resources

Download Environmental Science and Meteorology: Terms and Definitions and more Quizzes Natural Resources in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Why do suction vortices leave curved paths of damage? DEFINITION 1 Bc they are rotating around the center of the tornado TERM 2 Why do dams increase infiltration? DEFINITION 2 Because they pond (hold back) water, allowing it to seep into the ground (aka infiltration) TERM 3 How have building codes been modified since Hurr. Andrew? DEFINITION 3 Instead of just taking into account continuous, sustained winds, they have to consider short, high wind gusts as well sing peak wind gusts were a significant factor in causing damage. TERM 4 # large vs. # small EQs DEFINITION 4 small EQs occur much more than large EQs, and really large EQs are really minimal. TERM 5 the # of EQs increase by a factor of 10 for each mag. decrease - mag 8 is 10x more freq. than mag 9 DEFINITION 5 TRUE TERM 6 What are the 2 conditions for tornadogenesis? (process of tornado formation) DEFINITION 6 1. lift 2. windshear TERM 7 Urbanization generally ___ river discharge and ____ lag time. DEFINITION 7 increases river dicharge and decreases lag time. TERM 8 You live downstream to where a new mall/parking lot wants to be built. You request the bldg permit be... DEFINITION 8 denied because your flood risk will increase due to increased discharge TERM 9 According to NOAA, how deep does water have to be to float a car in a flood? DEFINITION 9 2 feet deep TERM 10 Flood control dams decrease infiltration. DEFINITION 10 FALSE TERM 21 Tornadoes basically destroy houses by... DEFINITION 21 the wind lifting them up in sections and sending the pieces flying. TERM 22 Tornadoes can be observed in both reflectivity and Doppler components of radar. DEFINITION 22 TRUE TERM 23 Tornadoes occur where there is _____ in the reflectivity signal and a ______ in the Doppler. DEFINITION 23 hook in the reflectivity signal and a small colored circle or color change in the Doppler TERM 24 What does true, standard Doppler radar show? DEFINITION 24 The direction the wind is blowing TERM 25 What is the safest place to go if you're outside during a tornado? DEFINITION 25 Lie down in a ditch TERM 26 A microburst is a small... DEFINITION 26 blast of downward moving air TERM 27 Hurricanes need __________ to exist. DEFINITION 27 warm ocean water warm tropical air convergence of air TERM 28 What is a storm surge? DEFINITION 28 the increase in the level of the ocean during a hurricane TERM 29 Mobile homes are... DEFINITION 29 structurally weaker to wind than regular homes, and very easy for hurricanes to lift. TERM 30 What is windshear? DEFINITION 30 the wind is blowing at different velocities and/or directions at different altitudes. TERM 31 What does windshear usually look like in the Midwest? DEFINITION 31 Winds from the northwest interacting with winds from the south. TERM 32 Tornadoes generally form in... DEFINITION 32 the more violent supercell thunderstorms (but can form in any thunderstorm if there is windshear and lift) TERM 33 What occurs in the normal Walker circulation? DEFINITION 33 warm air rises over the western Pacific (New Guinea) when there's warm ocean water, and cold air descends over the eastern Pacific (western South America) when there's cold ocean water (aka "Positive Feedback") TERM 34 What happens in the El Nino circulation? DEFINITION 34 when warm air rises over the eastern Pacific (western South America) when there's cold ocean waters and sinks over the western Pacific (New Guinea) when there's cold waters. TERM 35 Natural vs. Channelized rivers DEFINITION 35 Normal rivers have meanders (curves and bends) which allows for plant/animal environments.Channelized rivers are artificially straightened and are constant in depth and straight resulting in no environmental diversity. Water flows much faster through a channelized river, drastically increasing the discharge, but destroying the natural habitats