GEO 122 quiz 2

Which of the following is true of the polar front zone? a. The polar jet stream is usually located above it. b. It is a zone in which warm and cold air mix. c. It is a zone of frequently strong winds. d. All of these are true

All of these are true

Fog often lingers in river valleys because a. the water in the river cools off faster at night than the land does. b. cold air sinks into low areas such as river valleys. c. some evaporation may occur from the river, thereby supplying moisture to the cooler atmosphere. d. the water cools off faster and cold air sinks. e. cold air sinks and evaporation may occur from the river.

cold air sinks into low areas such as river valleys

The intertropical convergence zone is characterized by a. convergence and uplift of warm surface air. b. convergence and subsidence of cold surface air. c. divergence and uplift of warm surface air. d. divergence and subsidence of cold surface air

convergence and uplift of warm surface air.

Orographic refers to a. convection stimulated principally by local heating. b. lifting along the edges of conflicting air masses. c. air mass modification and the formation of secondary air masses. d. forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrier

forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrier

The largest portion of fresh water today is located in a. clouds. b. groundwater resources. c. ice caps and glaciers. d. the major rivers and lakes of the world

ice caps and glaciers

As air temperature increases, the speed of the molecules in a mass of air ________ and the air pressure ________. a. increases; increases b. increases; decreases c. decreases; increases d. decreases; decreases

increases; decreases

During the day along the coast, the wind tends to blow toward the ________ because ________. a. land; land heats more rapidly than water b. land; land heats more slowly than water c. water; water heats more slowly than land d. water; water heats more rapidly than land

land; land heats more rapidly than water

What is the heat energy involved in the change of state, or phase, in water? a. mechanical heat b. sensible heat c. fusion heat d. latent heat

latent heat

A mass of air becomes saturated when it reaches the a. highest temperature of the day. b. lowest temperature of the day. c. specific humidity point. d. dew-point temperature.

lowest temperature of the day.

If Earth did not rotate, air would flow a. perpendicular to the isobars, i.e., straight across the isobars. b. to the right of its direction of motion in the Northern Hemisphere. c. to the left of its direction of motion in the Northern Hemisphere. d. parallel to the isobars.

perpendicular to the isobars, i.e., straight across the isobars.

Monsoon

refers to an annual cycle of dryness and wetness, with seasonally shifting winds produced by changing atmospheric pressure systems.

When water condenses, it ________ heat energy and ________ the surrounding air. a. absorbs; cools b. absorbs; heats c. releases; cools d. releases; heats

releases; heats

Air that is not saturated will cool or heat at a rate of ________ as it rises or descends, respectively. a. 10C degrees per 1000 m (5.5F degrees per 1000 ft) b. 6C degrees per 1000 m (3.3F degrees per 1000 ft) c. 6.4C degrees per 1000 m (3.5F degrees per 1000 ft)

1oC degrees per 1000 m (5.5 degrees per 1000 ft)

Water covers about ________ of Earth's surface. a. 50 percent b. 90 percent c. 25 percent d. 71 percent

71%

Intertropical convergence zone (Equatorial low pressure trough

A thermally caused low pressure area that almost girdles earth, with air converging and ascending all along its extent

Which of the following is true of high pressure areas? a. Air converges and ascends within high pressure systems. b. Air descends and diverges within high pressure systems. c. They generally involve atmospheric pressures lower than 1000 mb. d. They are characteristic for areas along the equator.

Air descends and diverges within high pressure systems

Which of the following is true of the monsoons in the Indian subcontinent? a. Dry winds blow offshore from March through May. b. A wet period occurs in the summer between June and September. c. Cool dry winds blow out from Asia during winter months. d. Spring is characterized by dust and heat, and the summer by heavy rains. e. All of these are correct.

All of these are correct

Thermohaline circulation

Differences in temperature and salinity produce density differences important to the flow of deep, sometimes vertical, currents. traveling at slower speeds than wind driven surface currents, the thermohaline circulation hauls larger volumes of water.

When water freezes, its density a. increases. b. decreases. c. remains the same as in the liquid state

decreases

Land-sea breezes are caused by a. the fact that water heats and cools faster than land surfaces. b. cooler air flowing offshore (toward the ocean) in the afternoon. c. onshore (toward the land) air flows that develop in the afternoon as the land heats faster than neighboring water surfaces. d. the fact that warmer air is denser and settles to the surface of the land.

onshore air flows that develop in the afternoon as the land heats faster than neighboring water surfaces

Air pressure

the pressure produced by the motion, size, and number of gas molecules and exerted on surfaces in contact with the air.

Which of the following is true regarding air masses? a. An air mass always retains the characteristics of its source region. b. They are homogenous in terms of temperature and humidity. c. They extend to the bottom of the stratosphere. d. They are classified based on their latitude.

they are homogenous in terms of temperature and humidity.

A monsoon climate is characterized by ________ summers and ________ winters. a. dry; dry b. dry; wet c. wet; dry d. wet; wet

wet; dry

Other than ice sheets and glaciers, the largest repository of fresh water is located in a. lakes and saline seas. b. groundwater. c. soil moisture storage. d. rivers and streams.

lakes and saline seas

Which of the following describes the Coriolis force? a. It drives air from areas of higher to lower barometric pressure. b. It decreases with height above the surface. c. It causes the apparent deflection of winds from a straight path. d. It is the only force acting on flows of air in the upper troposphere.

It causes the apparent deflection of winds from a straight path.

El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Sea surface temperatures increase, sometimes more than 8C (14F) above normal in the central and easter pacific, replacing the normally cold, nutrient rich water along Peru's coastline. Pressure patterns and surface ocean temperatures shift from their usual locations across the pacific, forming the souther oscillation.

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is associated with a. the horse latitudes. b. the principal midlatitude circulations. c. the equatorial low-pressure trough. d. subtropical high-pressure development.

Subtropical high-pressure development

Which of the following is true of migrating centers of low pressure in the Northern Hemisphere? a. The winds diverge from the pressure system and spiral outward in a clockwise fashion. b. These pressure systems tend to move east to west along storm tracks. c. These pressure systems are characterized by converging, ascending air that spirals inward in a counterclockwise fashion. d. They form only a minor weather pattern in the middle and higher latitudes.

These pressure systems are characterized by converging, ascending air that spirals inward in a counterclockwise fashion.

As air sinks down the leeward side of a mountain, it will move into a region of ________ air pressure and will therefore be ________ by compression. a. higher; heated b. higher; cooled c. lower; heated d. lower; cooled

higher; heated

Which of the following is false regarding the wind? a. It is initiated by the pressure gradient force. b. It blows from regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure. c. The direction of flow can be affected by the rotation of Earth. d. Air blows from regions of hotter air to regions of colder air. e. Winds are named based on the direction from which they blow.

Air blows from regions of hotter air to regions of colder air.

Which of the following lists the correct, generalized sequence of climates from the poles to the equator? a. Highland → Microthermal → Mesothermal → Dry, Arid, and Semiarid→ Tropical b. Highland → Dry, Arid, and Semiarid → Mesothermal → Microthermal → Polar c. Tropical → Mesothermal → Dry, Arid, and Semiarid → Microthermal → Polar d. Polar → Microthermal → Mesothermal → Dry, Arid, and Semiarid → Tropical e. Polar → Dry, Arid, and Semiarid → Mesothermal → Microthermal → Tropical

Polar -- microthermal -- mesothermal, dry, arid, and semi arid, tropical

Which of the following is true regarding the effects of the Coriolis force? a. The amount of Coriolis deflection is uniform from equator to poles. b. Coriolis deflection occurs only along parallels, not meridians. c. The Coriolis force is zero at the poles, increasing to maximum along the equator. d. The Coriolis force is zero along the equator, increasing to one-half of maximum at 30° latitude and maximum at the poles.

The Coriolis force is zero along the equator, increasing to one-half of maximum at 30 latitude and maximum at the poles.

The dry season in the tropical monsoon climate occurs when a. cold air masses dominate the region. b. the ITCZ is not overhead. c. the ITCZ is overhead. d. cold ocean currents shift into the region

The ITCZ is not overhead

convection

The vertical transfer of heat from one place to another through the actual physical movement of air; involves a strong vertical motion.

tropical cyclone

a cyclonic circulation originating in the tropics, with winds

On a weather map of air pressure, what can you infer from a closer spacing of isobars? a. little without knowing temperature patterns b. a steep pressure gradient creating a slower flow of air c. a steep pressure gradient creating a faster flow of air d. higher pressures e. a weak pressure gradient creating a slower flow of air

a steep pressure gradient creating a faster air flow

Which of the following matches is correct relative to air circulation? a. anticyclone = low pressure center b. cyclone = high pressure center c. cyclone = clockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere d. anticyclone = counterclockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere

anti-cyclone = counter clock-wise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere.

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation a. involves a pool of warm water shifting north and south. b. blocks upwelling off of South America during the El Niño phase. c. has warmer water in the Pacific during the La Niña phase. d. cycles through a positive phase and negative phase.

blocks upwelling off of south america during the El Nino phase

As temperature increases during the day, relative humidity usually a. increases. b. decreases. c. remains the same.

decreases

After a cold front passes, the temperature ________ and the pressure ________ (relative to the conditions that existed prior to the passage of the front). a. increases; increases b. increases; decreases c. decreases; increases d. decreases; decreases

decreases; increases.

Air flow in a Northern Hemisphere high pressure zone is a. downward, outward and clockwise. b. downward, outward and counterclockwise. c. inward, upward and clockwise. d. inward, upward and counterclockwise. e. downward, inward and clockwise.

downward, outward, and counterclockwise.

Adiabatic temperature changes occur as a result of a. the addition or removal of heat energy from the air. b. changes in the absolute humidity of the air. c. expansion or compression of the air.

expansion or compression of the air

Which of the following is false regarding thermohaline circulation? a. Fresh water is entering the ocean from melting glaciers. b. Its speed is increasing. c. A complete cycle can take 1000 years to complete. d. Surface polar waters are becoming less saline, while surface tropical waters are becoming more saline.

surface polar waters are becoming less saline, while surface tropical waters are becoming more saline

Relative humidity is a. the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the normal amount. b. the amount of moisture in the air relative to your own sensible feelings. c. the amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature expressed as a percentage of the moisture capacity of the air. d. a basically unused concept when it comes to weather topics.

the amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature expressed as a percentage of the moisture capacity in the air.

Coriolis force

the apparent deflection of moving objects on Earth from a straight path, in relationship to the differential speed of rotation at varying latitudes. Deflection is to the right in the Northern Hemisphere; it produces a maximum effect at the poles and zero effect along the equator.

The deflection produced by the Coriolis force is caused by a. the fact that Earth's rotation decreases in speed toward the poles. b. differing pressure gradients. c. forces that affect winds but not ocean currents. d. air temperature. e. the fact that Earth revolves.

the fact that earth revolves.

latent heat

the heat energy that is absorbed or released in the phase change of water and is stored in one of the 3 states: Ice, water, or water vapor. includes the latent heat of melting, freezing, vaporization, evaporation, and condensation.

cold front

the leading edge of a cold air mass; identified on a weather map as a line marked with a series

warm front

the leading edge of an advancing warm air mass that is unable to push cooler, passive air out of the way; tends to push the cooler, underlying air into a wedge shape.

relative humidity

the ratio of water vapor actually in the air (content) compared to the maximum water vapor possible (capacity) at that temperature; expressed as a percentage.

Which of the following is true of the distribution of land and water on Earth? a. The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by water. b. The Northern Hemisphere is dominated by water. c. They are evenly distributed in both hemispheres. d. Most of the water on Earth is fresh water

the southern hemisphere is dominated by water

Dew point temperature

the temperature at which a given mass of air becomes saturated, absorbing all the water it can. Any further cooling or addition of water vapor results in active condensation.

The capacity of the air to hold water vapor is basically a function of a. the temperature of both the water vapor and the air. b. the water vapor content. c. freezing temperature. d. latent heat.

the temperature of both the water vapor and the air.

Between 20° to 35° north latitude and 20° to 35° south latitude are a. the largest zone of water surpluses in the world. b. warm and wet conditions, and the world's great tropical forests. c. the world's arid and semi-arid desert regions. d. cyclonic systems of low pressure.

the word's arid and semi-arid desert regions.

Which of the following is true of upwelling zones? a. They are nutrient-rich. b. They occur along the west coasts of continents. c. They are most common above deep ocean basins. d. They are nutrient-rich and along the west coasts only. e. All of these are true.

they are nutrient rich

The dominant surface winds from the subtropics to high latitudes are the a. westerlies. b. trade winds. c. polar easterlies. d. geostrophic winds.

westerlies

The area along a cold front is described by which of the following? a. wind direction shifting and strong, warm air abruptly lifted by colder air b. warm air being lifted gently and steadily over cooler air c. an area of clear skies and north winds d. the center of the cyclone, lowest pressure, counterclockwise winds

wind direction shifting and strong, warm air abruptly lifted by colder air.