geography ch. 6

Select all of the following statements that are true about anticyclones.

An anticyclone has air diverging on the surface An anticyclone spins clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. An anticyclone is also known as a high pressure system.

During normal (non-El Niño) years, which of the following is/are true? (Select one or more answers.)

The dominant current in the tropical Pacific is easterly along the South Equatorial Current. This current is caused by the easterly trade winds that flow from strong STH pressure systems to the ITCZ. The flow of water away from equatorial South America allows the Humboldt Current to upwell in the eastern Pacific near the Equator.

Air pressure is

The measure of the force with which air molecules push on a surface

During a sea breeze, the air flows from the land to the sea.

False

Select all of the following statements that are true about air movement and air pressure.

Large areas of relatively high pressure are referred to as anticyclones. When you have a volume of ascending air, you have a low-pressure system. When you have a volume of descending air, you have a high-pressure system.

Gyres are large oceanic circulatory systems that form because currents are deflected by landmasses.

True

If air warms it causes the air molecules to scatter, thus the density decreases.

True

The horizontal transfer of air between low- and high-pressure systems is known as advection.

True

The ultimate cause for all wind patterns on Earth is the unequal heating of land surfaces.

True

An excellent example of a ____________ is the mistral wind, which occurs along the Mediterranean coast of France during the winter months.

Valley breeze

The Gulf Stream is a good example of a(n)

gyre

The _________ is(are) the side of a mountain range that faces away from prevailing winds.

leeward side

When a mass of air is forced to rise quickly,

it results in lower atmospheric pressure.

Select all of the units in which air pressure is measured.

millimeters of mercury millibars inches of mercury

The seasonal change in wind direction that occurs in subtropical locations due to the migration of the ITCZ and STH is known as

monsoon

The contact in the Midlatitudes between warm, tropical air, and colder polar air is known as the

polar front

When isobars are close together, it means

there are strong surface winds.

The Polar Front jet stream is found between the Hadley cell and the Midlatitude cell.

False

Westerlies, winds flowing to the west, are the primary winds of the Midlatitudes.

False

The Coriolis force is the force

created by the Earth's rotation that causes winds to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Which of the following is a force that contributes to the direction of airflow?

frictional Coriolis geostrophical pressure gradient

In which direction do surface winds of the tropical Southern Hemisphere flow?

southeasterly

Atmospheric pressure is most closely associated with the temperature and density of the air.

true

The __________ is(are) the side of a mountain range that faces oncoming winds.

windward side