Oceanography chapter 6

Which of the following statements regarding moving air is/are true?

-Air always moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. -Due to the Coriolis effect, objects are deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. -Cyclonic flow is counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. -The movement of air is called wind.

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding low pressure systems?

-In the Northern Hemisphere, low pressure systems are cyclonic. -Rising air in a Northern Hemisphere low pressure system is akin to opening a valve by turning it to the left.

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Coriolis effect?

-In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the right of its intended direction. -In the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the left of its intended direction.

In the figure above, which labeled location corresponds with direct sunlight over the equator?

-Location A -Location D

On what day(s) do all locations on Earth experience 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night?

-on the autumnal equinox -on the vernal equinox

In the figure above, which of the following statements correspond with direct sunlight over the Tropic of Capricorn?

-winter in the Northern Hemisphere -summer in the Southern Hemisphere -location C

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

If you were the captain of a sailing ship, which of the following latitudes would you want to avoid MOST?

30 degrees

Why are anticyclones not generally associated with clouds and rain?

Air in anticyclones undergoes warming as the air descends.

Why are cyclones generally associated with clouds and rain?

Air in cyclones undergoes cooling as it rises.

In the figure above, which shows a snapshot of atmospheric pressures and winds in a typical January. At which of the labeled locations would you expect to find clear, sunny skies?

B

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.

Why does air tend to rise in equatorial regions?

Equatorial regions receive more direct sunlight than other areas.

How do high pressure systems behave in the Northern Hemisphere?

High pressure systems rotate clockwise due to air turning to the right as it moves from high pressure to low pressure.

When does Brazil experience the longest night of the year?

June 21

In the figure above, which labeled location marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere?

Location B

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 cold front?

Rain occurs along and behind a cold 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.

Why is the direction of rotation in the Northern Hemisphere opposite the direction of rotation in the Southern Hemisphere?

The Coriolis effect causes opposite deflections in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere.

How does the location of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) change over time?

The ITCZ migrates south of the equator in Northern Hemisphere winter and north of the equator in Northern Hemisphere summer.

If Earth rotated in the opposite direction, how would global atmospheric circulation be affected?

The global wind belts would blow in the opposite east-west direction.

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.

What two factors explain why the prevailing westerlies blow toward the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and the southwest in the Southern Hemisphere?

The two factors are the direction of circulation in the Ferrel cell and the Coriolis effect.

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.

What is the air that sinks at latitudes of 30 degrees north and south like?

This air is cool and dry.

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 from the north pole would move to the southeast, and the wind from the south pole would move to the northeast.

What common household item is used in this video to demonstrate differences in atmospheric pressure?

a balloon

What is an anticylone?

a center of high atmospheric pressure

What is a cyclone?

a center of low atmospheric pressure

Which areas of Earth experience the most precipitation?

areas near the ITCZ

In which direction must the merry-go-round be pushed to simulate the Coriolis effect on Earth?

counterclockwise

Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?

down, and in a clockwise direction

Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?

down, and in a counterclockwise direction

When would you expect the low-pressure cell over the North Pole to be most developed?

during the Northern Hemisphere winter

What type of force is the Coriolis effect?

fictitious

What drives Hadley cell circulation?

heating from the Sun

As discussed in the video, air always moves from _____ atmospheric pressure regions to _____ atmospheric pressure regions.

high; low

Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?

in a clockwise direction

Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?

in a counterclockwise direction

Where are Hadley cells found?

in the atmosphere near the equator

How does air move near the top of a cyclone?

in the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere

Areas of low pressure tend to have ______ air and _____ weather.

rising, stormy

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

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

What is the Coriolis Effect?

the deflection of moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

What two features are many of Earth's deserts associated with?

the subtropical highs and cool ocean currents found along the west coasts of continents

How would a moving object in Earth's atmosphere be deflected as a result of Earth's rotation?

to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere

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

Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the South Pole toward the equator?

toward the left

Which direction would an airplane deflect if flying across South Africa from the west coast to the east coast?

toward the north

Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the East Coast of the United States toward the West Coast of the United States?

toward the north

Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the North Pole toward the equator?

toward the right

Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the West Coast of the United States toward the East Coast of the United States?

toward the south

Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the east coast of South Africa toward the west coast of South Africa?

toward the south

Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the North Pole toward the equator?

toward the west