OCE1001 Ch 6
The trade winds occur in which of the following regions?
5 to 30 degrees
Part A
A disorganized array of clouds and thunderstorms with little or no rotation is known as a (tropical disturbance) In a (tropical depression), wind speeds are below 38 miles per hour. If winds are between 38 and 74 miles per hour, the condition is called a (tropical storm). In order to be considered a (hurricane), wind speeds must be in excess of 74 miles per hour. The storm is given a name once it reaches the (tropical storm stage). Half or more of tropical storm(s) eventually become (hurricanes).
Part B
A: Equator B: Tropic of Capricorn C: Tropic of Cancer D: Arctic Circle E: Antarctic Circle
Part D
A: Inside the eye of the hurricane B: Movement of warm water vapor (arrow) C: Movement of cool dry air (arrow) D: Movement of spiral rain bands (arrow)
The Doldrums occur in which of the following regions?
Equatorial (0 to 5 degrees)
Why does air tend to rise in equatorial regions?
Equatorial regions receive more direct sunlight than other areas.
Where does rain occur in a cold front?
Rain occurs along and behind a cold front.
Typically, the United States is influenced more by ________ air masses during the winter and more by ________ air masses during the summer.
polar; tropical
All the following are true of the movement of Earth's atmosphere except :
warm air is less dense than cool air so it tends to sink toward the Earth's surface.
The air surrounding of the eye of the hurricane is ________ air moving ________.
warm moist; upward
At what latitude(s) on Earth is the speed of rotation the greatest?
0 degrees
The Trade Winds are one type of prevailing wind pattern. How many other types of prevailing winds are there among earth's global wind patterns?
2
Considering our current technology, how much of the U.S. energy needs could realistically be supplied by renewable wind energy?
20%
The average albedo of Earth's surface is about:
30%.
Which of the following will cause the highest air pressure at the surface?
A column of cool, dense air
Which of the following will cause the lowest air pressure at the surface?
A column of warm, less dense air
Part E
A: Temperate B: Equatorial C: Subpolar D: Subtropical E: Tropical
Part A
A: Vernal equinox B: Summer solstice C: Winter solstice D: Autumnal equinox
Part C
A: Wind belt: trade winds B: Boundary: horse latitudes C: Wind belt: prevailing westerlies D: Boundary: doldrums E: Wind belt: polar easterlies F: Boundary: polar front
Of the following physical properties of the atmosphere, which is/are true? Choose all that apply.
Air always moves from high-pressure regions toward low-pressure regions. Low pressure at the surface is associated with rising air (movement away from the surface). Warm air holds more water vapor than cool air. The air temperature is warmer near Earth's surface than in the upper part of the troposphere.
Of the following statements about the tilt of Earth's axis, which one is true? Select only one answer.
An increase in Earth's tilt would cause colder winters and warmer summers.
Why does wind between the equator and 30 degrees south come out of the southeast?
Cooled air moves north toward the equator and is deflected toward the west by the Coriolis effect.
Weather (short-term conditions of air temperature, wind speed/direction, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure) occurs because __________.
Earth's surface is heated unevenly by the Sun
The trade winds blow in which of the following directions in the Northern Hemisphere?
From northeast to southwest
The prevailing westerly winds blow in which of the following directions in the Southern Hemisphere?
From northwest to southeast
The trade winds blow in which of the following directions in the Southern Hemisphere?
From southeast to northwest
The prevailing westerly winds blow in which of the following directions in the Northern Hemisphere?
From southwest to northeast
Part B
Heavy rainstorms may hit Dallas-Fort Worth. Flooding as a result of heavy rains from the storm.
Which of the following statements is/are true about the formation or movement of hurricanes? Choose all that apply.
Hurricanes generally travel from the east toward the west because of the trade winds. Hurricanes are storms that form over warm ocean water. The latent heat stored in water vapor provides the energy that fuels the storm. The cyclonic flow of air currents in a hurricane is a result of the Coriolis effect.
Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Coriolis effect?
In the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the left of its intended direction. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the right of its intended direction.
When does Brazil experience the longest night of the year?
June 21
Of the following statements about the transfer of heat on Earth, which is/are true? Choose all that apply.
Ocean currents move warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes. Air currents move warmer air from the tropics to higher latitudes. Water vapor in the air carries latent heat with it, which is released in other areas.
Part C
On which day (at 7am) was the pressure gradient in the hurricane the highest (the pressure gradient was highest September 5th at 7am) How far (in miles) did the eye travel in that 24-hour period? (the eye traveled approx 400 miles) What was the rate (in mph) of the storm's travel during the 24-hour time span? (the storm traveled at approx 17 mph)
Polar high pressure occurs in which of the following regions?
Poles (90 degrees)
How are rain patterns different near warm and cold fronts?
Rain near a cold front occurs over a smaller spatial area and is more intense than near a warm front.
Where does rain occur in a warm front?
Rain occurs along and in front of a warm front.
Why does rain occur near a cold front?
Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain.
Why does rain occur near a warm front?
Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain.
The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the:
Saffir-Simpson Scale.
Which type of ice found in the marine environment does NOT form from freezing seawater?
Shelf ice
As shown in the video, what causes the item to deflate?
The higher pressure inside the item forces the air out into the lower pressure of the room.
Which of the following statements about the Coriolis effect is correct?
The magnitude of the Coriolis effect depends on how long the object is in motion.
What determines whether a front is called a cold front or a warm front?
The type of front is determined by which air mass is moving.
Of the following statements about the doldrums, which is/are true? Choose all that apply.
There is usually little wind but a lot of rain associated with the doldrums. The doldrums are the boundary between the northeast trade winds and the southeast trade winds. This is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The doldrums are an area of low atmospheric pressure.
What is the air that sinks at latitudes of 30 degrees north and south like?
This air is cool and dry.
Why are tropical cyclones not likely to occur in mid-latitude regions?
Westerly winds steer cyclones into cooler ocean water.
Why is it colder in winter than in summer?
When the Northern or Southern Hemisphere of Earth is tilted away from the sun it is winter because that part of Earth receives less direct energy from the sun.
In which direction would winds move at the poles if Earth rotated in the opposite direction?
Wind near the north pole would move to the northeast, and the wind near the south pole would move to the southeast.
What common household item is used in this video to demonstrate differences in atmospheric pressure?
a balloon
The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the __________.
albedo
Which of the following locations has/have the potential to reliably harness wind power as a renewable energy source? Choose all that apply.
between 5 and 30 degrees latitude between 30 and 60 degrees latitude
Earth's polar regions (above 60° latitude) are classified as deserts because __________.
cold, dry sinking air in the polar high regions produces little precipitation
The air in the center of the eye of the hurricane is ________ air moving ________.
cool dry; downward
In which direction must the merry-go-round be pushed to simulate the Coriolis effect on Earth?
counterclockwise
Idealized pressure belts and wind systems are significantly modified by Earth's tilted axis of rotation and:
differences in the heat capacities of the ocean and land.
What type of force is the Coriolis effect?
fictitious
The intensity of solar radiation received at lower latitudes (near the equator) compared to higher latitudes (near the poles) is:
greater
As discussed in the video, air always moves from _____ atmospheric pressure regions to _____ atmospheric pressure regions.
high; low
In coastal regions, sea breezes happen ________ and land breezes happen ________.
in the afternoon; at night
In the figure above, which labeled location corresponds with direct sunlight over the equator?
location A location D
In the figure above, which labeled location marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere?
location B
On what day(s) do all locations on Earth experience 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night?
on the vernal equinox on the autumnal equinox
Earth's atmosphere is heated primarily by __________.
re-radiation of solar energy from Earth's surface back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation
Air warmed by the land that rises and is replaced by cooler air from the ocean may produce a:
sea breeze.
Which way would wind travel in the region between 30 and 60 degrees latitude if Earth stopped rotating?
south in the Southern Hemisphere and north in the Northern Hemisphere
The largest loss of life from a hurricane is usually due to:
storm surge.
In the figure above, which of the following statements correspond with direct sunlight over the Tropic of Capricorn?
summer in the Southern Hemisphere winter in the Northern Hemisphere location C
The two factors that are most important in determining the density of air are:
temperature and water vapor content.
What term is used to describe the effect on air movement produced by Earth's rotation?
the Coriolis effect
What is a front?
the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures
The thickness of sea ice is limited primarily by __________.
the insulating nature of the ice itself
Hurricanes frequently make landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but rarely, if ever, occur on the Pacific coast. The primary reason for the rarity of west coast hurricanes is that __________.
the ocean water does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes
As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds always are deflected:
to the right of their original direction.
You just got your pilot's license, and you want to fly your plane from point A to point B. You remember from your oceanography class that you must account for the Coriolis effect when aiming for your destination. Where must you aim to land at point B?
to the west of B
The lowermost portion of the atmosphere where most weather occurs is called the:
troposphere.
The Coriolis effect is due to changes in the ________ of Earth with latitude.
velocity
The temperate regions are characterized by:
westerly winds.
