Ch6

The apparent deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude) as they move from one latitude to another is called the:

Coriolis effect.

Where are Hadley cells found?

D B D C C C

What is a cyclone?

D C E C A C C C A

The thickness of sea ice is limited primarily by __________.

the insulating nature of the ice itself

The wind belt(s) with strong, reliable, generally easterly winds is (are) the:

trade winds

The oceanic climate region(s) where the majority of strong tropical cyclonic storms are produced is:

tropical

the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere

tropopause

The lowermost portion of the atmosphere where most weather occurs is called the:

troposphere

Calculate the area covered by the Mud Pond overlay (Answer to the nearest square mile).

5 B A A A 80 C D

The average albedo of Earth's surface is about:

30%

Diagrams

1.ACBD 2.EDBCA 3.AEDFCB 4.ADBC 5.EABDC

The westerlies wind belt is the area corresponding to number:

2

Variable winds that result in generally clear, dry, and fair conditions with cold temperatures and minimal precipitation are labeled number:

6

Describe the difference between cyclonic and anti-cyclonic flow and show how the Coriolis effect is important in producing both clockwise and counterclockwise flow patterns.

A

Where do glaciers form?

A C D B C A C

How many wind and pressure systems are contained within Earth's atmosphere?

A D A A C D A

Earth rotates about its axis and all objects on its surface are constantly moving around in a large circle in space. The Earth's oceans and atmosphere are also spinning around with Earth at the same rate. The Coriolis effect may therefore seem predominant, but not all objects are influenced by it and not all the influences get noticed.

A C

A. nitrogen B. albedo C. oxygen D. troposphere E. water vapor

B

What is a front?

B C B A E A A

Hurricane Katrina moved 425 km during which of these time periods?

B C D B B

Placemarks A through F indicate the locations of six different glacial formations. Which answer correctly identifies each of the formations?

B D D B A C A C D

A. maximum sustained winds B. minimum central pressure C. sea surface salinity D. storm surge E. storm diameter

C

When a ball is thrown in a stationary position, there is very little deflection in its path due to Coriolis effect, far too small for you to notice. But if the ball is thrown in motion, it will be deflected.

C

Which of the following temperature and humidity conditions are most likely to be experienced in eastern Iowa after the cold front passes?

C B B E

What is a tropical cyclone?

C E ABD D E A

The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the:

SAfir simpson scale

The intensity of tropical cyclones is measured by meteorologists using the __________ scale.

Saffir-Simpson

Describe the physical properties of the atmosphere, including its composition, temperature, density, water vapor content, pressure, and movement.

The atmosphere is composed almost entirely of nitrogen and oxygen. The lowest portion of the atmosphere is the troposphere, which is the area where temperature gets cooler with altitude. Warm air is less dense and so it rises. Cold air is denser, so it sinks. Warm air can also hold more water vapor than cold air because the air molecules are moving more quickly and encounter more water vapor. Atmospheric pressure is 14.7 pounds per square inch at sea level and decreases with increasing altitude. Air always moves from high-pressure regions toward low-pressure regions.

Of the following characteristics or features, which is/are associated with middle latitude storms, such as those that originate in the North Pacific Ocean between 40 and 60 degrees latitude?

a

The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the __________.

albedo

Inter-tropical Convergence Zone

area where warm, moist air rises close to the equator

Of the following statements about the doldrums, which is/are true?

b

Winds blowing out of the north toward the south in the southern hemisphere will appear to:

be deflected toward the east.

Describe the types of destruction caused by hurricanes. Which one causes the majority of fatalities and destruction?

c

Which of the following are valid names of boundaries between global wind belts or at the poles?

c

Earth's polar regions (above 60° latitude) are classified as deserts because __________.

cold, dry sinking air in the polar high regions produces little precipitation

A zone of high atmospheric pressure results when there is relatively __________ air aloft.

cool dry

Low-pressure regions in the northern hemisphere rotate:

counterclockwise

A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold.

f

An iceberg is a variety of sea ice.

f

The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun is directly overhead along the equator in March.

f

The trade winds can be found between 30° and 60°N and S latitudes.

f

Within the troposphere, the atmosphere gets warmer with increasing altitude.

f

When ice forms from seawater, the remaining seawater will have a:

higher salinity.

Tropic of Cancer

located at 23.5° N latitude

Polar easterlies

prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes

Air warmed by the land that rises and is replaced by cooler air from the ocean may produce a:

sea breeze

The Sun reaches its most northerly point in the sky, directly overhead along the Tropic of Cancer, during the:

summer solstice

The Coriolis effect describes how moving objects on Earth appear to follow curved paths due to Earth's rotation.

t

The Saffir-Simpson scale rates the relative intensity of tropical cyclones.

t

The angle at which direct sunlight strikes the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.

t

The large atmospheric circulation cells that occur between the equator and 30° latitude in each hemisphere are called Hadley cells.

t

Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air.

t

The two factors that are most important in determining the density of air are:

temperature and water vapor content.

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 D D D A B A D

most abundant greenhouse gas that also influences air density

water vapor

The temperate regions are characterized by:

westerly winds