Meteorology and Climatology Basic Question Bank and Answers

1. Explanation of terms

1. Air temperature lapse rate : On average, every time the height increases by 100m, the temperature will drop by about 0.65°C. This is called the temperature lapse rate, also known as the temperature vertical gradient. (P13)
2. Planetary boundary layer : In the convective layer, the friction layer with a height of 1~2km at the top is also called the planetary boundary layer. (P14)
3. Dew point : Under the condition of constant water vapor content and constant air pressure in the air, the temperature when the air is cooled to reach saturation is called dew point temperature, or dew point for short. (P21)
4. Greenhouse effect : Atmospheric inverse radiation compensates the energy lost by the ground due to emitted radiation, so it has a warming effect on the ground. This effect is called the warming effect of the atmosphere or the greenhouse effect. (P46)
5. Atmospheric thermal insulation effect : Atmospheric inverse radiation compensates the energy lost by the ground due to radiation emission, so it has a warming effect on the ground. This effect is called atmospheric thermal insulation effect or greenhouse effect. (P46)
6. Ground effective radiation : The difference between the radiation emitted by the ground and the atmospheric inverse radiation absorbed by the ground is called the ground effective radiation. (P46)
7. Dry adiabatic lapse rate : For dry air and unsaturated humid air, the temperature drop value when the air block rises adiabatically per unit distance, called dry adiabatic lapse rate. (P59)
8. Temperature inversion : Under certain conditions, the temperature in the troposphere increases with altitude. (P66)
9. Ice crystal effect : Water droplets will shrink due to continuous evaporation, and ice crystals will increase due to continuous sublimation. (P82)
10. Low pressure trough : The narrow and long area extending from low pressure is called low pressure trough. (P113)
11. Warm high pressure : a pressure system in which the center of high pressure is a warm area surrounded by cold areas, isobars and isotherms are basically parallel, and the warm center and high pressure center basically coincide. (P114)
12. Geostrophic wind : When the pressure gradient force and the geostrophic deflection force are balanced, the constant velocity linear horizontal motion of the air. (P120)
13. Gradient wind : When the air particle moves in a curve, it is not only affected by the pressure gradient force and the geostrophic deflection force, but also affected by the inertial centrifugal force. When these three forces reach a balance, the wind is called gradient wind. (P121)
14. Air mass : refers to a large-scale air mass with relatively uniform horizontal distribution and similar vertical distribution of meteorological elements (mainly referring to temperature, humidity and atmospheric stability). (P153)
15. Cold front : During the movement of the front, the cold air mass plays a leading role, pushing the front to move to the side of the warm air mass. This front is called a cold front. (P159)
16. Warm front : During the movement of the front, the warm air mass plays a leading role, pushing the front to move to the side of the cold air mass. This kind of front is called a warm front. (P160)
17. Quasi-stationary front : When the forces of cold and warm air masses are equal and the front moves very slowly, it is called a quasi-stationary front. (P160)
18. Shear line : refers to the discontinuous curve of wind direction or wind speed distribution, and is a weather system that occurs on the isobaric surface of 850hPa or 700hPa. (P169)
19. Cold wave : An intense movement of cold air over a wide area. (The temperature in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the areas north of it will drop by more than 10°C within 48 hours, and the lowest temperature in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will be less than or equal to 4°C. In spring, the minimum temperature in the Jianghuai region will be lower than or equal to 4°C. There will be strong winds of level 5 or higher in the three major administrative regions on land. The Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea successively had strong winds of magnitude 7 or above). (P174)
20. Meiyu : A unique weather and climate phenomenon in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in early summer, which is the result of stagnation in the Yangtze River Basin during the northward movement of the main rain belt in eastern China. (P180)
21. Tropical Convergence Zone : The narrow airflow convergence zone formed by the confluence of trade winds in the southern and northern hemispheres, also known as the equatorial convergence zone. (P182)
22. Monsoon : The wind caused by the difference in thermal conditions between land and sea and the seasonal changes of the planetary wind belt. ① The prevailing wind direction has obvious seasonal changes, that is, the angle between the prevailing wind direction in January and July is greater than 120°, and the prevailing wind direction in January and July The average frequency of the wind direction exceeds 40%; ②the nature of the two winds (mainly refers to the degree of humidity) is obviously different; ③the weather phenomena brought about are obviously different. (P205)
23. Sea and Land Breeze : Regular airflow with a 24-hour cycle caused by the difference in thermal conditions between day and night in the coastal area. (P204)
24. Foehn : A hot, dry wind that blows downhill. (P216)
25. Greenhouse gases : There are some trace gases and trace gases in the atmosphere that hardly absorb solar radiation, but strongly absorb long-wave radiation. They can act like a greenhouse on the climate on the ground, so they are called greenhouse gases. (P225)

2. Atmospheric window : The outward long-wave radiation of the earth-atmosphere system is mainly concentrated in the 8-12um wavelength range, and this band is called the atmospheric window. (P225)
3. Temperate marine climate : Formed under the control of polar marine air mass (westerly belt) all year round, with frequent cyclones and frontal activities, prevailing Pm (polar marine air mass), mild and humid, and evenly distributed precipitation seasons. (P156, 265, 268)
4. Tropical monsoon climate : Distributed in the southeastern part of the Asian continent at 10°~25°, influenced by trade winds at the western edge of the subtropical oceanic high, Tm (tropical marine air mass) prevails, with rain and heat at the same time. (P156, 267)
5. Mediterranean climate : formed by alternating westerly belts and subtropical high pressure belts, hot and dry in summer, prevailing Tc (tropical continental air mass) and sinking Tm (tropical marine air mass), mild and rainy winter, prevailing Pm (polar marine air mass). (P156, 268)

two. Questions and Answers

1. South Asian climate, East Asian climate, urban climate? (P207, 241)

  Answer: ①The South Asian monsoon is most pronounced on the Indian Peninsula. In winter, the Eurasian continent is dominated by cold high pressure. The northeasterly wind in the south of the high pressure becomes the winter monsoon in South Asia, bringing dry and less rainy weather. In summer, the Eurasian continent is controlled by thermal low pressure. At the same time, the North Pacific subtropical high extends westward and northward, and the southerly wind between high and low pressure becomes the summer monsoon in eastern Asia. At this time, southern Asia is located in the equatorial low-pressure belt, and the southeast airflow in the southern hemisphere crosses the equator to South Asia and turns into a southwest airflow. This is the summer monsoon in South Asia. ②East Asia (eastern my country, North Korea, Japan, etc.) borders on the vast Pacific Ocean, between the world's largest ocean (Pacific Ocean) and the largest continent (Eurasian Continent), and has a greater thermal difference than other regions, so the monsoon is the strongest. In winter, the Eurasian continent is controlled by cold high pressure, and the northerly wind at the front of the high pressure is the East Asian monsoon. ③Urban climate is a special local climate formed under the influence of human activities after urbanization on the background of regional climate. Its characteristics can be summarized as the five-island effect of the city (turbidity island, heat island, dry island, wet island, rain island) and the decrease of wind speed and changeable wind direction.

2. What are the main features of the troposphere? (P13)

  Answer: ①The temperature decreases with the increase of altitude. On average, for every 100m increase in altitude, the air temperature will decrease by 0.65°C (the direct decrease rate of air temperature). ②Vertical convective movement. Due to uneven heating of the earth's surface, vertical convective motion occurs. ③ The horizontal distribution of meteorological elements is uneven, and weather phenomena are complex and changeable.

3. What are the characteristics of cold front precipitation? (P162)

  Answer: The cold front precipitation is behind or near the front, and the rain area is narrow. Due to the fast moving speed of the cold front, the precipitation intensity is high and the duration is short. When the cold front passes through, there are often weather phenomena such as windy, cloudy, precipitation, and cooling. After the cold front passes through, the cold air mass replaces the original position of the warm air mass, the air pressure increases, the temperature and humidity decrease, and the weather turns fine.

4. Why are cloudy nights warmer than clear nights? (P46)

  Answer: Atmospheric inverse radiation is stronger on cloudy nights, which has a warming effect on the ground; on clear nights, atmospheric inverse radiation is weaker, and heat is easily lost, so cloudy nights are warmer than clear nights.

5. How does the difference in thermal properties between land and sea affect monsoon formation? (P205~206)

  Answer: The monsoon is mainly caused by the difference in thermal conditions between land and sea and the seasonal changes of the planetary wind belt. The mainland is cold in winter and hot in summer, and the ocean is warm in winter and cool in summer. In winter, the air density on land is high, and the air pressure rises accordingly; the situation is opposite on the sea, and the air pressure is low. Therefore, between the continental high pressure and the oceanic low pressure on the ground, the pressure gradient points to the ocean, and the air is affected by the pressure gradient force and the geostrophic deflection force, and flows from the land to the ocean; in summer, the pressure gradient on the ground points from the ocean to the continent, and the airflow The opposite of winter.

6. What is the positive feedback effect of Jibing?

  Answer: Rising temperature will melt the ice surface, resulting in a decrease in the range of biological activities in the polar regions. The less sea ice, the smaller the albedo, and the increase in surface temperature will melt the sea ice.

7. What are the distribution and characteristics of equatorial rainy climate? (P249)

  Answer: The equatorial rainy climate is the equatorial rainforest climate. Roughly distributed between north and south latitude 10° (typical in the Amazon Plains in South America, the Congo Basin in Africa, and the Sunda Islands in Asia). Controlled by the equatorial low pressure throughout the year, the temperature is high and rainy, the humidity is high, and the annual temperature range is small.

8. Take the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as an example to illustrate the impact of high terrain on climate. (P212~215)

  Answer: (dynamic action) ① Barrier effect on cold air. In winter, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau blocks the cold air from Siberia going south, causing the winter temperature in the tropical and subtropical regions of eastern my country to be much lower than that in the northern part of the Indian Peninsula at a similar latitude; The air flow crosses the mountain passes or valley depressions in the south of the plateau and flows into the south of the plateau, which is an important reason for the formation of the warm zone extending from east to west in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley); the blocking effect of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau also spreads to the middle troposphere. ②The air flows around the mountains to form cold and warm advection. In winter, the westerly airflow encounters the obstacles of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and is forced to branch, respectively detour along the plateau and meet on the leeward slope. ③ (Dynamic effect) In winter, the ground temperature of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is lower than that of the free atmosphere at the same height, which is a cold source; in summer, the ground-atmosphere system of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a heat source. ④ Due to the heat difference between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the surrounding atmosphere, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau monsoon is formed.

9. Compare the climate characteristics of the east and west coasts of the temperate continent in the northern hemisphere and analyze the causes.  

Answer: The west coast has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot and dry summers and mild and rainy winters. These areas are significantly affected by the seasonal shift of the pressure belt. In summer, they are controlled by the subtropical high pressure, and the air flow sinks. Therefore, except for the western coast of the mainland, which is affected by the cold current, the summer temperature is very hot, and the sinking air flow is not conducive to the clouds and rain, so the climate is dry; Affected by the westerly wind, it is mild and humid. The rainfall throughout the year is moderate, with annual precipitation between 300 and 1,000 mm, mainly concentrated in winter.

      West coast temperate maritime climate

   Features: mild throughout the year, uniform precipitation, the coldest month is greater than 0 ℃ 

reason

This area is located on the west coast of the mainland at mid-latitudes (40°～60°). The westerly wind blows all the year round. The wind blows from the sea from the west, and there is a warm current along the coast, which makes the westerly wind warmer and more humid. . As far as Western Europe is concerned, the North Atlantic warm current along the coast is very strong, the temperature and humidity are high, the coast is particularly tortuous, and the Mediterranean Sea and the Baltic Sea go deep into the inland. Westerly winds and cyclones can go deep inland, expanding the scope of the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, making the temperate maritime climate in western Europe particularly typical.

east coast

subtropical monsoon climate

　　　Features: hot and rainy summer, low temperature and little rain in winter

Cause:

The monsoon climate is because it is located near the Tropic of Cancer, forming a subtropical climate, and because it is located in the coastal area, it is affected by the temperature difference between the sea and the land in summer, blowing the southeast wind, and in winter, affected by the cold wind from Siberia, blowing the northwest wind. Alternate sex, forming the monsoon. In winter, it is in front of the southward extension of the continental high pressure, and there is a southern jet stream passing through the high altitude, so the cyclone passes frequently, with more clouds and rain, and the precipitation accounts for about 10% of the annual precipitation; in summer, with the northward advance of the ocean monsoon and the northward retreat of the polar front, The Meiyu area also advances from south to north. The Meiyu period generally lasts for 20-30 days. The Meiyu precipitation accounts for about 70% of the total precipitation in June and July in this area; there are typhoons along the coast in September and October; it can be seen that Subtropical monsoon climates have much more precipitation than temperate monsoon climates. For example, the annual precipitation in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River is about 1,000mm, and in windward mountainous areas such as Gu (gǔ) Ridge, it can reach 2,529mm.

East coast temperate monsoon climate

Features: hot and rainy summer, cold and dry winter

  reason:

In winter, affected by the northerly wind from the high-latitude inland, the polar continental air mass prevails, which is cold and dry; in summer, affected by the polar marine air mass or denatured tropical marine air mass, the east and south wind prevails, warm, hot and rainy, with rain and heat in the same season. About two-thirds are concentrated in summer. There are four distinct seasons throughout the year, and the weather is changeable. As the latitude increases, the temperature range in winter and summer increases correspondingly, while the precipitation gradually decreases.

10. Describe the weather process and weather phenomenon when the warm front passes through the border. (P161~162)

   Answer: When a warm front passes through, the temperature rises and the air pressure drops, and the weather tends to turn cloudy and rainy, with continuous precipitation or fog.

11. Briefly describe the impact of the cold wave on our country. (P174)

  Answer: The most prominent manifestations of the cold wave that enters China in the winter half of the year are strong winds and a sharp drop in temperature that often reaches above 10°C, which can cause frost and ice. After the cold wave goes south in winter, there will be sandstorms in Northwest China and Inner Mongolia, but it is rare in other areas; there is little rain in the north of Huaihe River, and there is occasional snowfall; after the cold wave and cold front pass through Huaihe River, the chance of precipitation increases. In addition to strong winds and precipitation in spring and autumn, there are often floating dust and sandstorms in the north, especially in spring; there may be sporadic and short-term snowfall in North China and the Yangtze River Basin, and precipitation often occurs in the south of the Yangtze River when the cold wave invades south. It will not cause long-term cloudy and rainy weather; when the cold wave reaches South China, especially when the cold front turns into a quasi-stationary front, it often causes large-scale and long-lasting cloudy and rainy weather.

12. Taking the eastern coast of the northern hemisphere as an example, explain the latitude and zonality of climate.

   Answer: The latitudinal zonality of climate refers to the distribution of climate phenomena and processes in a horizontal band as the latitude changes. The reason is the east-west convergence and north-south divergence of heat conditions. Taking the east coast of the northern hemisphere as an example, since the temperature decreases from the equator to the north and south poles and decreases with the increase of latitude, the climate from south to north is tropical rainforest climate, subtropical monsoon climate, temperate monsoon climate, temperate continental climate, and subarctic climate. , Cold zone tundra climate.

13. What are the main air pressure systems at sea level in the northern hemisphere in July? (P141)

   Answer: North Pacific High and North Atlantic High.

14. What are the main characteristics of the subtropical monsoon climate? (P271)

   Answer: Summer is hot and rainy, and winter is mild and rainy. Rain and heat are in the same period, and there is no obvious dry season.

15. Describe the El Niño event. (P209)

   Answer: In some years, around Christmas, the seasonal water temperature rise along the Pacific coast near Peru and Ecuador in South America is called El Niño event. The range of hydrological rise is small and the time is short, which makes the local marine fishery production seasonal. intermittent.

16. Compare continental climate with oceanic climate. (P200~201)

   Answer: ①The temperature is bad every day. Due to the large heat capacity of the ocean and the small heat capacity of the land, the diurnal temperature range in the continental climate is much larger than that in the oceanic climate; ② the annual temperature range is relatively low. The annual range of temperature in continental climate is larger than that in oceanic climate; ③The annual temperature phase. In continental climates, the highest temperature occurs about one month after the highest solar altitude (July), and the lowest temperature occurs about one month after the lowest solar altitude (January). The highest temperature generally occurs in August, and the lowest temperature generally occurs in February or March; ④ spring temperature and autumn temperature. In continental climates, the temperature changes sharply, the spring temperature rises faster than the autumn temperature drops, and the spring temperature is higher than the autumn temperature, while the oceanic climate changes slowly, the spring temperature rises slower than the autumn temperature drop, and the spring temperature is lower than the autumn temperature; ⑤ Precipitation characteristics. Under continental climate conditions, precipitation is mostly caused by thermal convection in warm seasons, and the annual precipitation is small and concentrated, with large precipitation variability. The seasonal distribution of precipitation is relatively uniform, and the variability of precipitation is small.

17. Describe the general law of the subtropical high activity in the western Pacific and its impact on my country's weather. (P177~179)

   Answer: ① The seasonal activity of the Western Pacific Subtropical High has obvious regularity. It is the southernmost in winter and the northernmost in summer. It moves north-westward from winter to summer, and its intensity increases; the northward movement lasts longer and moves slower, while the southward retreat takes a shorter time and moves faster; The western Pacific subtropical high also has non-seasonal short-term and medium-term changes, mainly manifested in the trend of the subtropical high being stronger or weaker for about half a month and the cycle of the subtropical high extending westward and retreating eastward, and moving northward and southward for about a week. ②The subtropical high in the western Pacific Ocean is the largest weather system for my country's summer weather system, and it will produce drought, hot, and windless weather under its control. Changes in the location and intensity of the Western Pacific subtropical high have a major impact on the rainy season, droughts and floods, and the path of typhoons in eastern my country. The condition of transporting water vapor; the north side of the Western Pacific subtropical high is the zone where the northward warm and humid air flow meets the mid-latitude southward cold air flow. Cyclone and frontal systems are frequently active, often forming large-scale cloudy and heavy rain weather, which has become an important precipitation in eastern my country. bring.

18. Describe the weather characteristics of quasi-stationary fronts. (P164)

   Answer: Since the quasi-stationary front moves slowly and often swings back and forth, continuous precipitation often occurs, and sometimes heavy rain may occur.

19. Describe the climate characteristics of tropical dry and wet seasons. (P267)

   Answer: The seasonal variation of precipitation is very obvious. The change of climate seasons is in the form of dry season-hot season-wet season. At least 1~2 months in a year are dry seasons. The soil water shortage is very large, and the average temperature of the coldest month is 16°C~18°C.

20. Describe the foehn and its hazards. (P216~217)

   Answer: ①The hot and dry wind blowing down the hillside is called Foehn. (When the air flow crosses the mountains, it rises and cools on the windward slope. At first, the temperature is lowered according to the dry adiabatic lapse rate. When the air humidity reaches saturation, the water vapor condenses, and the temperature decreases according to the wet adiabatic lapse rate. Most of the water falls in front of the mountain. After passing the top of the mountain, the air descends along the slope and basically increases in temperature according to the dry adiabatic lapse rate, so that the temperature of the air after passing the mountain is much higher than that at the same height in front of the mountain, and the humidity is much lower.) ② Foehn It can dry up fruit trees and crops, reduce production, and easily cause forest fires; in high mountain areas, a large amount of snow can melt, causing floods in upstream valleys, sometimes causing avalanches; causing local fires, etc.

21. Compare cold fronts with warm fronts. (P160~163)

   Answer: ① cold fronts are dominated by cold air masses, and warm fronts are dominated by warm air masses; ② cold fronts occur throughout the year in China, and are more common in the winter half of the year. It is associated with the cold front; ③The cold front precipitation is behind the front, and the warm front precipitation is in front of the front; ④The cold front precipitation has a large intensity and short duration, while the warm front precipitation has a small intensity and long duration; ⑤The cold front is on the left side of the low pressure center, and the warm front On the right side of the low-pressure center; ⑥The weather changes violently when the cold front passes, and the weather changes less when the warm front passes than the cold front.

22. Describe the characteristics of the mountainous vertical climate zone. (P255~256)

   Answer: ①Mountain vertical climate zone (climate vertical zonal law) refers to the law that mountain climate phenomena and processes vary in vertical bands with changes in altitude. ②Temperature decreases with height, precipitation increases with height, and decreases with height after reaching the maximum precipitation height. ③From the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, several different vertical climate zones can be roughly divided into hot zone, warm zone, cold zone and frozen zone. ④The higher the mountain, the lower the latitude, and the more vertical climate zones.

23. Discuss the impact of land and sea distribution on climate. (P199~201)

   Answer: ①Under the same solar radiation intensity, the solar energy absorbed by the ocean is more than that absorbed by the land. The specific heat capacity of the two is different. Moreover, the ocean has a sufficient water source effect, with a large amount of evaporation, more heat loss, and less water temperature. As the temperature increases, the situation on the land is just the opposite. It heats up quickly and cools down quickly, and the temperature rises and falls greatly. Therefore, the annual maximum and minimum temperature of the ocean is delayed by one or two months compared with that of the continent. The temperature is different and the air pressure is also different. ②There is more precipitation along the coast and less precipitation on land. The closer to the ocean, the stronger the oceanic climate, and the more inland, the more significant the continental climate.

24. Discuss the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau monsoon. (P215)

   Answer: Due to the thermal difference between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the surrounding atmosphere, a cold high pressure is formed on the plateau in winter, and an anticyclonic circulation prevails. This phenomenon is called plateau monsoon. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau monsoon has a great influence on atmospheric circulation and climate, which can increase the thickness of the monsoon in the lower troposphere in winter and summer in my country; The rising and sinking movement of the upper deep air layer forms a strong monsoon meridional circulation, which has a great effect on the adjustment of air quality between the northern and southern hemispheres.

25. How the weather changes before and after the warm front passes. (P161~162)

   Answer: Before crossing the border, it is controlled by a single cold air mass, with low temperature, high air pressure, low temperature and clear weather; when crossing the border, the weather is cloudy and rainy, mostly continuous rainfall, and the precipitation is in front of the front; Decrease, clear weather.