Oceanography Ch. 6

Earth rotates eastward at about ___________. (a) 1,000 miles per hour (b) 500 miles per hour (c) 55 miles per hour (d) 10,000 miles per hour (e) impossible to say without more information

A. 1,000 miles per hour

The __________ is the area where air falls close to the equator. (a) Intertropical Convergence Zone (b) Trade Winds (c) Tropic of Cancer (d) Tropic of Capricorn (e) Westerlies

...

The oceanic climate region(s) in the majority of strong cyclonic storms are produced is indicated by the number __________. (a) 1 (b) 1 & 2 (c) 2 (d) 3 (e) 3 & 4

B. 1 & 2

The gas or gasses that is (are) increasing atmospheric concentration relative to other gases in the atmosphere annually is (are) ___________. (a) carbon dioxide (b) chlorofluorocarbons (c) methane (d) nitrous oxide (e) ozone

B. chlorofluorocarbons

Which of the following atmospheric constituents has the greatest ability to absorb heat on a per mole basis? (a) carbon dioxide (b) chlorofluorocarbons (c) methane (d) ozone (e) water vapor

B. chlorofluorocarbons

An iceberg is a variety of sea ice. (a) True (b) False

B. false

With respect to the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere, the amount of energy radiated back into space between 35ºN and 40ºS latitude is ___________. (a) about the same as the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere (b) dependent upon the weather conditions such as cloud cover in the local area (c) greater than the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere (d) less than the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere (e) unrelated to latitude

A. About the same as the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere

The deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude) as they move from one latitude to another is called the ___________. (a) Coriolis effect (b) Cyclonic effect (c) Ekman spiral (d) Hadley cell (e) Saffir-Simpson scale

A. Coriolis effect

A hurricane contains more energy than has been generated in the US over the last twenty years. (a) True (b) False

A. True

An air mass is a large body of air with nearly uniform temperature, humidity, and therefore density throughout. (a) True (b) False

A. True

Near the poles, more energy is reflected back into space than is absorbed. (a) True (b) False

A. True

The angle at which direct sunlight strike the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed. (a) True (b) False

A. True

The doldrums can be found at the Equator. (a) True (b) False

A. True

The jet stream is a fast moving easterly flowing air mass. (a) True (b) False

A. True

The wavelength of energy radiated from the Earth back into the atmosphere is longer than the incoming solar radiation. (a) True (b) False

A. True

Winds blowing from the north in the southern hemisphere will appear to ___________. (a) be deflected toward the east (b) be deflected toward the west (c) circulate counterclockwise (d) circulate clockwise (e) travel in a straight line

A. be deflected toward the east

When viewed from above, tropical cyclones rotate ____________ in the southern hemisphere. (a) clockwise (b) counterclockwise (c) either way -- it depends on the individual storm (d) only northern hemisphere tropical cyclones rotate

A. clockwise

A cold air mass moving into an area occupied by relatively warm air is called a(n) ___________. (a) cold front (b) high pressure system (c) low pressure system (d) occluded front (e) warm front

A. cold front

The addition of water vapor to dry air causes the density of the air to ___________. (a) decrease (b) increase (c) stay the same

A. decrease

When air is heated, its density ___________. (a) decreases (b) increases (c) stays the same

A. decreases

Idealized pressure belts and wind systems are significantly modified by Earth's tilted axis of rotation and ___________. (a) differences in the heat capacity of ocean and land (b) differences in the latitudinal albedo (c) Ekman transport (d) latitudinal variations in the Coriolis effect (e) variations in incoming solar radiation over many years

A. differences in the heat capacity of ocean and land

Concerned individuals can reduce their personal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions by doing all of the following except ___________. (a) install low flow plumbing fixtures (b) planting trees and increasing green space areas (c) purchase recycled products (d) reducing the area covered by pavement or structures (houses, garages, pools, decks, etc) in urban and suburban areas (e) use of compact fluorescent light bulbs in place of incandescent bulbs

A. install low flow plumbing fixtures

The doldrums refer to the same region as the ___________. (a) intertropical convergence zone (b) jet stream (c) subtropical jet stream. (d) subtropics. (e) trade winds

A. intertropical convergence zone

The Coriolis effect causes objects moving in the northern hemisphere to veer off course ___________. (a) to the right, or clockwise when viewed from above (b) to the left, or counterclockwise when viewed from above (c) in an upward direction (d) in a downward direction (e) They do not veer off course - they continue straight.

A. to the right, or clockwise when viewed from above

A cold front is likely to have heavy, brief showers associated with it. (a) True (b) False

A. true

A mole of methane is able to absorb much more heat than one mole of carbon dioxide. (a) True (b) False

A. true

The westerlies wind belt is the area corresponding to ___________. (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4 (e) 5

B. 2

The percentage of solar radiation directed to Earth absorbed by the clouds and the atmosphere is about ___________. (a) 10% (b) 25% (c) 30% (d) 50% (e) 70%

B. 25%

There are ___________ main wind bands in each hemisphere of the Earth. (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (e) 6

B. 3

With respect to incoming solar radiation, radiation emitted back into the atmosphere has __________. (a) a longer wave frequency (b) a longer wavelength (c) a shorter wave period (d) a shorter wavelength (e) the same wavelength

B. A longer wavelength

The compound __________ is an anthropogenic greenhouse gas. (a) CFCs (b) CO2 (c) H2O (d) N2O (e) O3

B. CO2

A hurricane is a very strong high-pressure system. (a) True (b) False

B. False

A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold. (a) True (b) False

B. False

Most air has no water vapor. (a) True (b) False

B. False

The trade winds can be found between 30º and 60º N and S latitudes. (a) True (b) False

B. False

The __________ is the prevailing wind pattern at tropical latitudes. (a) Intertropical Convergence Zone (b) Trade Winds (c) Tropic of Cancer (d) Tropic of Capricorn (e) Westerlies

B. Trade Winds

The best climate models indicate that Earth's average surface temperature has risen by 5ºC in the last 100 years. (a) True (b) False

B. false

The greenhouse gas that accounts for most of the natural greenhouse effect in Earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide. (a) True (b) False

B. false

Tropical cyclones never leave the tropics. (a) True (b) False

B. false

Winds are named for the direction ___________. (a) in which they are going (b) from which they are coming

B. from which they are coming

Fluids (including air) move from ___________ pressure to ___________ pressure. (a) low; high (b) high, low

B. high; low

The Tropic of Capricorn is located at ___________. (a) 0º longitude (b) 23.5ºN latitude (c) 23.5ºS latitude (d) 30ºN latitude (e) 60ºS latitude

C. 23.5ºS latitude

Since 1750, the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere has increased by almost___________. (a) 10% (b) 20% (c) 30% (d) 40% (e) 50%

C. 30%

The percentage of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth's oceans and landmasses is about __________. (a) 25% (b) 30% (c) 50% (d) 70% (e) 90%

C. 50%

The circulation of winds in both hemispheres is arranged in the ___________, ___________, and ___________ cells. (a) Polar; Tropical; Subtropical (b) Southwesterly; Northwesterly; Southeasterly (c) Hadley; Ferrel; Polar (d) Equatorial; Polar; Latitudinal

C. Hadley; Ferrel; Polar

Seasons are caused by ___________. (a) changes in the weather (b) annual variation in the energy output of the sun (c) the Earth's orbital tilt relative to the plane of its orbit around the sun (d) our being closer to the sun in summer

C. The Earth's orbital tilt relative to the plane of its orbit around the sun

Hurricane Katrina, the most costly natural disaster to strike the United States, was a violent example of a(n) ___________. (a) an extra-tropical cyclone (b) a monsoon (c) a tropical cyclone (d) a tornado (e) a frontal storm`

C. a tropical cyclone

The pressure exerted by a column of air that extends from the top of the atmosphere to the surface of the earth is termed ___________ pressure. (a) hydrostatic (b) partial (c) air (d) atmospheric (e) gas

C. air

Low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate ___________. (a) at a 45º angle from the prevailing wind direction (b) clockwise (c) counterclockwise (d) to the left (e) to the right

C. counterclockwise

Hot air ___________, while cool air ___________. (a) expands ... rises (b) contracts ... expands (c) expands and rises ... contracts and sinks (d) expands and rises ... expands and sinks

C. expands and rises ... contracts and sinks

When ice forms from seawater, the remaining seawater will have a ___________. (a) darker color (b) decreased density (c) higher salinity (d) higher temperature (e) lower temperature

C. higher salinity

When air masses come together, ___________. (a) very little weather activity results (b) a tropical cyclone forms (c) one air mass may ride up and over the other and form a front (d) one air mass may ride up over the other and form a storm surge (e) none of the above

C. one air mass may ride up and over the other and form a front

The layers of the atmosphere are separated from each other based on ___________. (a) hydrogen content (b) oxygen content (c) temperature (d) density (e) pressure

C. temperature

The dependable surface winds of the Earth centered at about 15° north and south latitudes are called ___________. (a) the westerlies (b) the northerlies (c) the trade winds (d) the doldrum winds (e) the ITCZ

C. the trade winds

Tropical cyclones tend to move ___________. (a) equatorward in both hemispheres (b) eastward and poleward in both hemispheres (c) westward and poleward in both hemispheres (d) poleward in both hemispheres (e) in completely unpredictable ways

C. westward and poleward in both hemispheres

Areas of vertical air movement (very little surface wind motion) are found on the Earth at latitudes ___________. (a) 15° and 30° (b) 45° and 60° (c) 5° and 85° (d) 0° and 30° (e) 45° and 55°

D. 0° and 30°

The oceanic climate region that is characterized by sea ice coverage in the winter and open water (but cold) in the summer is indicated by the number ___________. (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 4 (d) 5 (e) 6

D. 5

The wind belt that corresponds to the doldrums is labeled ___________. (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6

D. 5

An agreement amongst 60 nations to voluntarily limit greenhouse gas emissions is called the ___________. (a) Coriolis Protocol (b) IPCC (c) Keating Conference (d) Kyoto Protocol (e) United Nations Environmental Programme

D. Kyoto Protocol

Compounds call __________ contribute to ozone layer depletion. (a) CFCs (b) CO2 (c) H2O (d) N2O (e) O3

D. N2O

Tropical cyclones are also called ___________. (a) willi-willis (b) typhoons (c) hurricanes (d) all of these are the same things, just with different names

D. all of these are the same things, just with different names

Winds generally moves across the United States ___________. (a) from north to south (b) from east to west (c) from south to north (d) from west to east (e) from high altitude to low altitude

D. from west to east

The boundary between two air masses is called a(n) ___________. (a) Hadley line (b) Bjerkens line (c) Hadley cell (d) front (e) ITCZ

D. front

Colder air moving over significantly warmer ocean surface water may produce ___________. (a) a cold front (b) a warm front (c) changes in coastal wind direction (d) increased coastal precipitation (e) sea smoke

D. increased coastal precipitation

The most abundant gaseous components of the Earth's atmosphere are ___________. (a) carbon dioxide and oxygen (b) nitrogen and hydrogen (c) nitrogen and carbon dioxide (d) nitrogen and oxygen (e) oxygen and carbon dioxide

D. nitrogen and oxygen

If you were standing on top of a high mid-Pacific island at 15° North latitude, from which direction would you expect the wind to come? (Hint: don't forget to consider the Coriolis effect!) (a) north (b) south (c) northwest (d) northeast (e) southwest

D. northeast

Hurricanes are an efficient way to ___________. (a) decrease salinity in affected estuaries (b) eradicate rainfall deficits (c) raise local sea level due to storm surge (d) redistribute heat from one area to another (e) remove old-growth coastal forests

D. redistribute heat from one area to another

According to the atmospheric circulation model developed in the text, air tends to ___________. (a) rise at 30° north and fall at 60° north (b) rise at 60° north and fall at 30° north (c) rise at 30° north and fall at 0° north (d) rise at 30° north and rise at 60° north (e) none of the above

D. rise at 30° north and rise at 60° north

The power for tropical cyclones comes from ___________. (a) static electricity (b) the condensation of warm, dry air (c) the Coriolis Effect (d) the condensation of warm, moist air (e) the U.S. Department of Energy

D. the condensation of warm, moist air

The Coriolis deflection is caused by ___________. (a) the wind-induced deflection of surface currents (b) the gravitational attraction of the sun (c) the combined gravitational attraction of the sun and moon (d) the rotation of the Earth on its axis (e) atmospheric pressure differentials

D. the rotation of the Earth on its axis

The strongest winds on Earth are ___________. (a) 1 & 2 (b) 1 & 3 (c) 2 & 3 (d) 2 & 4 (e) 3 & 4

E. 3 & 4

The area of the globe (latitude) that is characterized by falling air masses and little precipitation is ___________. (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6

E. 6

Which of the following is not a consequence of global warming? (a) droughts in prime agricultural areas (b) increasing hurricane frequency (c) melting of glacial ice (d) shifts in the world-wide distribution of plant and animal communities (e) All of the above are consequences of global warming.

E. All of the above are consequences of global warming.

Earth is "tilted" at about 23½° relative to its orbital plane around the sun. This causes ___________. (a) the change in temperature and climate known as the seasons (b) the periods of illumination (or darkness) at the poles that last for six months (c) longer day lengths around here in the summer (d) higher summer temperatures (e) all of these things

E. All of these things

The Trade winds of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge in a region known as the ___________. (a) Bermuda Triangle (b) Subtropical Highs (c) Subpolar Lows (d) Subtropical Lows (e) Doldrums

E. Doldrums

Extra-tropical cyclones typically form ___________. (a) near the meteorological equator (b) near the thermal equator (c) at high latitudes, at the north or south pole (d) at high latitudes, at the junction between the polar cells and the Ferrel cells (e) In the tropics

E. In the tropics

__________ is a component of the troposphere and protects Earth's surface from additional ultraviolet radiation. (a) CFCs (b) CO2 (c) H2O (d) N2O (e) O3

E. O3

The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the" ___________. (a) Coriolis Scale (b) Fujita Scale (c) Moh's Scale (d) Richter Scale (e) Saffir-Simpson Scale

E. Saffir-Simpson Scale

The __________ is the prevailing wind pattern at temperate latitudes. (a) Intertropical Convergence Zone (b) Trade Winds (c) Tropic of Cancer (d) Tropic of Capricorn (e) Westerlies

E. Westerlies

The meteorological equator ___________. (a) is also called the "thermal equator" (b) is usually located about 5° north of the geographical equator (c) represents the imaginary line of thermal equilibrium between hemispheres (d) is a place where surface winds converge (e) all of the above

E. all of the above

Which of these phenomena causes the least structural damage and loss of life during the passage of a tropical cyclone? (a) storm surge (b) flooding (c) wind (d) rainfall (e) low atmospheric pressure

E. low atmospheric pressure

Burning of fossil fuels is chemically similar to ___________. (a) autotrophic processes (b) chemosynthesis (c) metabolism (d) photosynthesis (e) respiration

E. respiration

Weather may be defined as ___________. (a) long-term temperature and rainfall trends (b) long-term humidity and precipitation trends (c) long-term changes in the composition of the atmosphere (d) short-term changes in the composition of the atmosphere (e) short-term, localized characteristics of the atmosphere

E. short-term, localized characteristics of the atmosphere

As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds are deflected ___________. (a) at a 45º angle form the original direction (b) at a 90º angle from the original direction (c) to the east of the original direction (d) to the left of the original direction (e) to the right of the original direction

E. to the right of the original direction

The atmospheric component that contributes to the majority of greenhouse warming on Earth is ___________. (a) carbon dioxide. (b) methane. (c) nitrous oxide. (d) ozone. (e) water vapor

E. water vapor

The temperate regions are characterized by ___________. (a) cold fronts (b) high pressure (c) easterly winds (d) trade winds (e) westerly winds

E. westerly winds

A maritime tropical air mass is likely to be ___________. (a) dry and cold (b) dry and warm (c) wet and cold (d) wet and the same temperature (e) wet and warm

E. wet and warm