Oceanography Test 2-Chp. 6

Why does air tend to rise in equatorial regions?

Equatorial regions receive more direct sunlight than other areas.

A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold. T or F?

False

An iceberg is a variety of sea ice. T or f?

False

The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun is directly overhead along the equator in March. T or F?

False

The trade winds can be found between 30° and 60°N and S latitudes.T or F?

False

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

This air is cool and dry.

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

This is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

The Coriolis effect describes how moving objects on Earth appear to follow curved paths due to Earth's rotation. T or F?

True

The Saffir-Simpson scale rates the relative intensity of tropical cyclones. T or F?

True

The angle at which direct sunlight strikes the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed. T or F?

True

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

True

Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. T or F?

True

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

The temperate regions are characterized by:

westerly winds

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

the polar high

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

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 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

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.

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

higher salinity.

Where are Hadley cells found?

in the atmosphere near the equator

Tropic of Cancer

located at 23.5° N latitude

Where are tropical cyclones found

lower and middle latitudes

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.

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 thickness of sea ice is limited primarily by __________.

the insulating nature of the ice itself

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 heavy rain associated with hurricane formation?

Rising, moist air cools. As air cools, water condenses and eventually falls.

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

Saffir-Simpson

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

Saffir-Simpson Scale.

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.

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

Which areas of Earth experience the most precipitation?

areas near the ITCZ

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

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 do glaciers form?

in places where more snow falls in the winter than melts away in the summer

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

summer solstice.

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

temperature and water vapor content.

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 is the snow line?

the elevation above which snow persists throughout the year

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

7

The average albedo of Earth's surface is about

30%.

How big can the diameter of a hurricane become?

500 miles

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.

Under what conditions will the front of a glacier remain stationary?

Glacial fronts remain stationary when melting and snow accumulation are equal.

How does an end moraine form?

Pieces of rock are transported to the front of a glacier as ice within the glacier moves.

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

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

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.

Will plucking occur if a glacier is not advancing?

Yes, because glacial ice is still moving inside the glacier even if the glacier's front is not advancing.

What is an anticylone?

a center of high atmospheric pressur

What is a cyclone?

a center of low atmospheric pressure

What is a tropical cyclone?

a low-pressure disturbance that develops over warm, tropical waters

What is an end moraine?

a ridge of debris deposited at the end of a glacier

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

B. albedo

Why is warm, moist air considered the "fuel" for a hurricane?

Air cools as it rises. As air cools, water vapor will condense out as liquid water. Condensation releases heat, providing energy to the hurricane.

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.

As air moves away from high-pressure regions and toward low-pressure regions, the Coriolis effect modifies its direction. In the Northern Hemisphere, air moving from high to low pressure curves to the right and results in a counterclockwise (cyclonic) flow of air around low-pressure cells. Similarly, as air leaves the high-pressure region and curves to the right, it establishes a clockwise (anti-cyclonic) flow of air around high-pressure cells.

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

C. sea surface salinity

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.

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.

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

Destruction from hurricanes is caused by high winds and flooding from intense rainfall. Storm surge, however, causes the majority of a hurricane's coastal destruction and loss of life. In fact, storm surge is responsible for 90% of the deaths associated with hurricanes.

Within the troposphere, the atmosphere gets warmer with increasing altitude. T or F?

False

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.

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

be deflected toward the east.

Low-pressure regions in the northern hemisphere rotate:

counterclockwise.

Which of the following names mean "tropical cyclone"? CHOOSE ALL THAT APPLY. cyclone typhoon tornado hurricane monsoon

cyclone, typhoon, hurricane

What drives Hadley cell circulation?

heating from the Sun

How does air move near the top of a cyclone?

in the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere

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. Which of the following are influenced by Coriolis effect. Select all that apply.

ocean currents helicopter, on a flight

What is a front?

the boundary between two air masses of different temperatures

What term is used to describe the effect on air movement produced by Earth's rotation?

the Coriolis effect

What is the zone of wastage?

the part of a glacier where snow melting exceeds snow accumulation

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?

the polar front

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

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 West Coast of the United States toward the East Coast of the United States?

toward the south

most abundant greenhouse gas that also influences air density

water vapor