oceanography chapter 6 & 8 homework – Flashcards
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______________ initiates airflow.
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pressure gradient force
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Which of the following scenarios describes what would happen if Earth did not rotate?
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airflow would be perpendicular to isobars
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The friction force __________.
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reduces the effect of the Coriolis force up to 500 m (1650 ft)
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How does wind generally move?
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From areas of higher atmospheric pressure toward areas of lower atmospheric pressure
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What causes the pressure gradient force?
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The difference in atmospheric pressure from one location to another
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What causes the Coriolis force?
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earth's rotation
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How does the Coriolis force deflect objects in the atmosphere, relative to their original paths?
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To the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
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What causes friction forces?
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interaction between wind and surrounding atmosphere
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How would wind move if Coriolis and friction forces did not exist?
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Wind would move directly from areas of high atmospheric pressure to areas of low atmospheric pressure.
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How would wind move if pressure gradient and friction forces did not exist?
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Wind would not move
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How would wind move if pressure gradient and Coriolis forces did not exist?
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wind would not move
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Under the intertropical convergence zone, __________.
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warm surface air is converging and rising
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The primary high- and low-pressure areas create __________.
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deserts under the subtropical high-pressure cells
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The monsoons of Asia __________.
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create warm, wet summers and dry winters
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Sea-to-land breezes blow in an _______ direction.
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onshore
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__________ currents are circular movements of rising and descending air.
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convectional
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Land-to-sea breezes (local winds) occur during _______.
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nighttime
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During the day, air above sea is ________ than it is above land.
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cooler
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What is a cyclone?
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a center of low atmospheric pressure
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Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
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counterclockwise direction
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Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
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clockwise direction
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How does air move near the top of a cyclone?
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in the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere
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Why are cyclones generally associated with clouds and rain?
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Air in cyclones undergoes cooling as it rises.
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What is an anticylone?
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a center of high atmospheric pressure
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Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
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Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
down, and in a clockwise direction
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Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
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down, and in a counterclockwise direction
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Why are anticyclones not generally associated with clouds and rain?
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Air in anticyclones undergoes warming as the air descends.
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Where are Hadley cells found?
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in the atmosphere near the equator
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What drives Hadley cell circulation?
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heating from the sun
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How does the location of the ITCZ change over time?
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The ITCZ migrates north of the equator in Northern Hemisphere summer and south of the equator in Northern Hemisphere winter.
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When would the low-pressure cell over the Northern Hemisphere polar front be expected to be most well developed?
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during the Northern Hemisphere winter
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Which areas of Earth experience the most precipitation?
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areas near the ITCZ
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Many of Earth's deserts are associated with which two features?
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the subtropical highs and cool ocean currents found along the west coasts of continents
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What are jet streams?
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bands of high-speed wind found at elevations of 9-15 km
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In which direction do jet streams generally travel?
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west to east
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Where are the two main hemispheric jet streams located?
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between 50 and 60 degrees latitude and at about 30 degrees latitude
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What are Rossby waves?
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major undulations in the path of a jet stream
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How can the jet stream return to normal zonal flow after Rossby waves build?
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through separation of a mass of cold air from the jet stream
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Surface ocean currents __________.
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are driven by frictional drag from winds
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Climate change may lead to colder temperatures in the United States and Europe because _______________.
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meridional flow in the polar jet stream may increase
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The geostrophic wind:
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Flows in a straight line parallel to isoheights
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Hydrostatic balance
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gravitational force and Vertical pressure gradient force
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Geostrophic balance
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Coriolis force and Horizontal pressure gradient force
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Gradient balance
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Horizontal pressure gradient force,Coriolis force and Centrifugal force
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surface balance
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Coriolis force,Horizontal pressure gradient force and Frictional force
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Variations in temperature and salinity affect deep ocean currents known as ____________________.
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thermohaline circulation
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Which natural climate oscillation produces warm and cold phases near the west coast of South America?
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ENSO
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If you see Isobars tightly packed tougher on a surface weather map, you can expect to find __________.
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strong winds
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Above the surface of the Earth, wind generally blow:
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parallel to isoheights
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Air masses are classified according to their_____.
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moisture and temperature
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Which of the following processes causes lake effect snow?
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cP air masses absorbing heat and moisture from the Great Lakes and changing into an mP.
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Which type of air mass is associated with high humidity in the eastern United States?
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maritime tropical
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Which of the following is the most characteristic of a cold front?
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development of squall lines
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What is a front?
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the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures
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Where does rain occur in a warm front?
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Rain occurs along and in front of a warm front.
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Where does rain occur in a cold front?
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Rain occurs along and behind a cold front.
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How are rain patterns different near warm and cold fronts?
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Rain near a warm front occurs over a wider spatial area and is less intense than near a cold front.
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How are cold and warm fronts different?
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The type of front is determined by which air mass is moving.
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Why does rain occur near a cold front?
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Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain.
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Why does rain occur near a warm front?
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Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain.
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What type of clouds would you commonly expect to see before a cold front passes?
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cumulonimbus
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When a certain type of weather is sitting over or just off of the northeastern United States, northeasterly winds can wedge colder air up against the Appalachians, leading to cool, cloudy, and sometimes wet (even icy) conditions across north Georgia. What is that weather feature?
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high pressure
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Given the typical clouds you see before the passage of warm and cold fronts, which front generally causes the atmosphere to be more unstable?
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cold front
