Chapter 18

What would global wind circulation look like on a nonrotating Earth? Warm air from the equator would move in a counterclockwise direction toward the poles. Cold air from the poles would move toward the equator near Earth's surface. Warm air from the equator would move toward the poles in the upper troposphere. Cold air from the poles would move in a clockwise direction toward the equator.

Cold air from the poles would move toward the equator near Earth's surface. Warm air from the equator would move toward the poles in the upper troposphere.

At which of the following locations would you expect the greatest annual precipitation? The North Pole. Jacksonville. Equatorial Brazil. Italy. Oregon.

Equatorial Brazil.

Why does air tend to rise in equatorial regions? Equatorial regions receive less direct sunlight than subtropical regions. Equatorial air is more dense. Equatorial regions receive more direct sunlight than other areas. Equatorial regions receive less direct sunlight than other areas.

Equatorial regions receive more direct sunlight than other areas.

The Polar High is associated with low surface pressure. heavy precipitation. converging surface flow. cold temperatures. extensive cloud cover.

cold temp

This pressure zone is associated with abundant precipitation and warm temperatures. subtropical high polar high equatorial low subpolar low

equatorial low

A land breeze usually originates during the ________. evening and flows toward the water day and flows toward the water evening and flows toward the land day and flows toward the land

evening and flows toward the water

Because of the divergence of air associated with a surface high pressure cell (anticyclone), what type of weather is generally associated with this pressure system? fair and clear thunderstorms cloudy and rainy extremely cold foggy

fair and clear

High pressure systems are usually associated with stormy weather. t/f

false

The Coriolis effect influences wind speed but not wind direction. t/f

false

Surface winds typically blow at an angle to isobars on a weather map, while winds aloft move air in a direction nearly parallel to the isobars. Which of the following factors best explains why surface winds move differently than winds aloft? friction humidity clear air turbulence the pressure-gradient force

friction

What are Rossby waves? major undulations in Earth's orbital parameters major undulations in the path of a jet stream minor undulations in the path of a jet stream

major undulations in the path of a jet stream

What causes wind to start blowing? the moisture gradient the pressure gradient the topographic gradient the friction gradient

the pressure gradient

A wind starts to blow from Location A to Location B. You would expect the initial wind to be strongest when the measured pressures are 955 millibars at A and 1025 millibars at B. 1035 millibars at A and 970 millibars at B. 1035 millibars at A and 1005 millibars at B. 1035 millibars at A and 1025 millibars at B.

1035 millibars at A and 970 millibars at B.

Which of the following processes is associated with El Niño? Surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are colder than average. Drought conditions are expected in nrotheastern Australia. A strong upwelling occurs along the west coast of Peru. Surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are warmer than average. Weak trade winds allow warm equatorial water to move from the western Pacific to the east. Strong trade winds push a warm equatorial ocean current toward the western Pacific. Great amounts of precipitation are expected for northwestern South America.

Drought conditions are expected in nrotheastern Australia. Surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are warmer than average. Weak trade winds allow warm equatorial water to move from the western Pacific to the east. Great amounts of precipitation are expected for northwestern South America.

Check all that apply. Which of the following are associated with a surface High? Surface convergence. Surface divergence. Upper level convergence. Upper level divergence. Subsiding air. Ascending air. Adiabatically warmed air. Fine weather. Unstable conditions or rain. Cloud formation.

Surface divergence. Upper level convergence. Subsiding air. Adiabatically warmed air. Fine weather.

Check all that apply. Which of the following is associated with the Winter Monsoons of India or Australia? moist airflow from the continent to the ocean dry airflow from the continent to the ocean lower pressure over the continent moist airflow from the ocean to the continent warmer daily temperatures over the land than over the ocean warmer daily temperatures over the ocean than over the land

dry airflow from the continent to the ocean warmer daily temperatures over the ocean than over the land

Due to the pressure-gradient force and the Corolis effect, winds in a surface low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere blow in which direction? outward and counterclockwise inward and counterclockwise outward and clockwise inward and clockwise

inward and counterclockwise

A southwest wind blows toward the northeast. t/f

true

What is a chinook? when warmer air rises up along the sides of a valley when cooler air over land moves toward warmer air on water warm, dry air ascending on the windward side of a mountain warm, dry air descending on the leeward side of a mountain

warm, dry air descending on the leeward side of a mountain

Check all that apply. On a typical summer's night, a wind flows from the land to the sea. from the sea to the land. from the valley up the mountain sides. from the mountains into the valley.

from the land to the sea. from the mountains into the valley.

How many Hadley cells are contained within Earth's atmosphere? 3 2 8 6

6

What are jet streams? Bands of high-speed wind found at elevations of 3-5 km Bands of low-speed wind found at elevations of 3-5 km Bands of low-speed wind found at elevations of 9-15 km Bands of high-speed wind found at elevations of 9-15 km

Bands of high-speed wind found at elevations of 9-15 km

At which locations is there a permanent surface High configuration (descending dry air)? 45° N & S Poles (90° N & S) Equator Subtropics (30° N & S) Subpolar (60° N & S)

Poles (90° N & S) Subtropics (30° N & S)

At which locations is there a permanent surface Low configuration (ascending humid air)? Poles (90° N & S) Subtropics (30° N & S) 45° N & S Subpolar (60° N & S) Equator

Subpolar (60° N & S) Equator

Check all that apply. Which of the following are associated with a surface Low? Surface convergence. Surface divergence. Upper level convergence. Upper level divergence. Subsiding air. Ascending air. Adiabatically warmed air. Fine weather. Unstable conditions or rain. Cloud formation.

Surface convergence. Upper level divergence. Ascending air. Unstable conditions or rain. Cloud formation.

The Equatorial Low is associated with descending air. abundant rainfall. diverging surface flow. cold temperatures. deserts.

abundant rainfall.

An isobar is a line on a weather map connecting places of equal ________.

barometric pressure

Where are the two main hemispheric jet streams located? between 50 and 60 degrees latitude and at about 30 degrees latitude above 70 degrees longitude and below 20 degrees longitude above 70 degrees latitude and below 20 degrees latitude between 50 and 60 degrees longitude and at about 30 degrees longitude

between 50 and 60 degrees latitude and at about 30 degrees latitude

At what latitudes do the 'trade winds' occur? at the poles between 30 and 60 degrees N and S between the equator and 30 degrees N and S between the poles and 60 degrees N and S

between the equator and 30 degrees N and S

Check all that apply. Which of the following is associated with the Late Summer Monsoons in India or Australia? moist airflow from the continent to the ocean dry airflow from the continent to the ocean moist airflow from the ocean to the continent higher pressure over the continent heavy rainfall

moist airflow from the ocean to the continent heavy rainfall

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect will deflect wind blowing from the south toward which direction? northwest southeast northeast southwest south

northeast

Check all that apply. Which of the following are important in determining the speed and direction of upper level winds in the troposphere? pressure gradient longitude friction Coriolis effect

pressure gradient Coriolis effect

Fast moving currents of air found near the top of the troposphere are called ________.

jet streams

What provides the ultimate driving source for wind? changes in relative humidity rotation of Earth solar energy the Coriolis effect upward flow of air

solar energy

A sea breeze usually originates during the ________. evening and flows toward the land evening and flows toward the water day and flows toward the water day and flows toward the land

day and flows toward the land

The Subtropical High is associated with ising air. abundant rainfall. year-round cold temperatures. unstable air. deserts.

deserts

Which parameter has the greatest influence on wind speed? the Coriolis effect differences in air pressure differences in surface friction differences in relative humidity

differences in air pressure

The pressure gradient force is the driving force behind wind. t/f

true

The ultimate cause of a sea breeze is the unequal heating of land and water. t/f

true

Upper air winds are generally faster than the surface winds directly below. t/f

true

What is the air that sinks at latitudes of 30 degrees north and south (the Subtropical High) like when it reaches the Earth's surface? Warm and wet. Cool and dry. Warm and dry. Cool and wet.

warm and dry

In which direction do jet streams generally travel? west to east north to south east to west south to north

west to east

Which statement regarding the Coriolis effect is correct? The Coriolis effect affects only wind speed, not wind direction. The Coriolis effect is the same in the North and South Hemispheres. The Coriolis effect is parallel with the direction of airflow. The Coriolis effect affects only wind direction, not wind speed.

The Coriolis effect affects only wind direction, not wind speed.

A mountain breeze is best developed in the hottest part of the day. t/f

false

Check all that apply. Which of the following are important in determining the speed and direction of lower level winds? pressure gradient longitude friction Coriolis effect

pressure gradient friction Coriolis effect

Which of the following are typically associated with (surface) low pressure systems? no wind and clear weather rain strong winds and stormy weather strong winds and clear weather

rain strong winds and stormy weather

Looking at a weather map of North America, you notice that the isobars in an approaching pressure system are very closely spaced and show a decrease in pressure toward the center. What type of weather would you anticipate over the next 24 to 48 hours? extremely cold foggy clear and fair clear and windy rainy and windy

rainy and windy

If "fair" weather were approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be ________. steady falling rising none of these

rising

On a weather map, you examine the isobars and find that concentric rings of the pressure system increase in air pressure toward the center. Which type of pressure system is depicted on the map? syncline hurricane surface low pressure cell (cyclone) surface high pressure cell (anticyclone) anticline

surface high pressure cell (anticyclone)

In addition to friction and the pressure-gradient force, which of the following is influential in the control of wind on Earth? the Coriolis effect temperature upward movement of air changes in relative humidity solar energy

the Coriolis effect

Closely spaced isobars indicate high wind speeds. t/f

true

Which of the following statements correctly describe the winds associated with surface high and low pressure systems in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres? Winds around a low pressure system (cyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Winds around a low pressure system (cyclonic winds) are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Winds around a low pressure system (cyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. Winds around a low pressure system (cyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

When discussing wind, what is the Coriolis effect? a deviation in wind direction caused by variations in temperature a slowing down of wind speed caused by variations in pressure winds that blow clockwise out of areas of high pressure a deviation in wind direction caused by Earth's rotation winds that blow counterclockwise into areas of low pressure a slowing down of wind speed caused by Earth's rotation

a deviation in wind direction caused by Earth's rotation

Check all that apply. On a typical summer's day, an afternoon wind flows from the land to the sea. from the sea to the land. from the valley up the mountain sides. from the mountains into the valley.

from the sea to the land. from the valley up the mountain sides.

The North Atlantic Oscillation is an oscillation of the pressure gradient between which two regions? subtropical high (the Azores) and equatorial low subpolar low (Iceland) and equatorial low subpolar low (Iceland) and subtropical high (the Azores)

subpolar low (Iceland) and subtropical high (the Azores)

The Sahara and Australian deserts (among others) are associated with the ________. equatorial low polar high subpolar low subtropical high

subtropical high