Ch 14 summary

I have learnt that weather does not remain same every time but it changes. For example, those
people who live in middle latitude face hot weather until a series of thunderstorm pass that area
and after these thunderstorms people enjoy some cool days. Clear sky may be replaced by thick
gray clouds and snow starts if temperature gets low. Body of air that have similarity of
temperature and moisture at any given altitude and 1600 kilometers thick is called air mass. Air
mass is not perfectly horizontal because as air mass travel long distances so small difference in
temperature and humidity may exists from area to area. Source region is the area where air mass
acquires characteristic properties of temperature and moisture. Air mass have different types
according to source region and nature of surface. For example, Polar and arctic air masses are in
high latitude, tropical air masses are in low latitude, Continental air masses are over land while
maritime (m) air masses are over water. When surface weather map show no apparent cause for a
snowstorm then it is called lake-effect snows. Air masses of different densities are separated by
boundaries known as fronts. Normally air mass on one side of a front moves faster while air
mass on the other side moves slow so air mass of one side moves towards other side and collide
with it but they retain their identity and little mixing with each other occurs. Lifting always
occurs on denser air which acts as wedge. Overrunning is the process in which warm air glides
up over a cold air mass. Warm front occurs when surface position of a front moves and warm air
occupies areas those were formerly covered by cooler air. Production of clouds and precipitation
occurs when warm air ascends cold air and expands and cools adiabatically.
I have learnt that cold front is the boundary when dense cold air actively advances into a region
of warmer air. Stationary front is the condition when fronts do not move toward warm air mass
or cold air mass but parallel to the line of the front. Middle latitude is the region between
southern Florida and Alaska and on weather map they are represented by L which is low-
pressure system. Mid-latitude cyclones are centers of low pressure and travel from west to east.
Mid-latitude cyclone are used to examine weather patterns of the middle latitudes. Airflow aloft
are used to maintain cyclonic and also the circulation of anti-cyclonic. Hurricanes and tornadoes
are normally called cyclones but the fact is that cyclones are not hurricanes or tornadoes.
Cyclones is the circulation around any low-pressure center while tornadoes and hurricanes are
smaller but more violent than cyclones. Thunder storm have strong up-and-down movements and
generates lightning and thunder also produces gusty winds, heavy rain, and hail.
Tornadoes are local storms of short duration but are highly destructive. For example in
Oklahoma, tornado speed was 340 kilometers (210 miles) per hour. 25 people died and more
than 350 people injured, 13,000 structures were damaged. It causes a huge damage to economy
near $2 billion. It is very difficult to forecast tornado because they are small and relatively short-
lived. Tornado watches are used to alert people about the possibility of tornadoes. Hurricanes are
famous by their intense centers of low pressure which are form over tropical oceans. They travel
with the speed of 119 kilometers (74 miles) per hour. The damage caused by the hurricanes
depends upon the size and population density of the area affected. Meteorologists can monitor
and forecast hurricane by input from satellites, aircraft reconnaissance, coastal radar, and remote
data buoys etc.
I have learned that weather does not remain constant but it changes with time. Sometimes the
weather is hot some time cold. Sometimes weather is fine but some time weather causes damage
to economy. I have studied about different processes by which weather changes. I have studied
about different natural hazards like cyclone, hurricane, and thunderstorm etc. these natural
hazards causes huge damage to economy. Being human being we always want the weather that is
suitable for us and our economy, but we should be prepared for natural hazards and we must try
to overcome these hazards.
I have a question for you that how can we protect ourselves from these natural hazards.