ch 9 #2 reading assignment

Air pressure is about ______ at sea level. 79.4 pounds per square inch 109.3 millibars 14.7 pounds per square inch 1,013 kilopascals

14.7 pounds per square inch

Rank the following in terms of the relative amount of solar energy they transfer back up to the atmosphere. (Place the one that transfers the most energy at the top.) 1. sensible heat 2. long wavelength (radiation) 3. latent heat

2 3 1

All of the following are involved in the circulation of ocean surface currents. Which is the primary cause? Deflection by currents Coriolis effect Wind

Wind

The process of condensation releases ____ ____, which can then further strengthen a storm.

latent heat

Which of the following accurately states the primary causes of surface water circulation? The tilt of Earth causes water to constantly fall to the south, but the piling of water in the south creates an equal return flow to the north. The currents are wind-blown, modified by the Coriolis effect, and deflected by land masses. The currents are controlled by tidal forces and modified by underwater topography and freshwater runoff. Atmosphere pressure differences pushing down on the surface of the ocean create a flow that is modified as pressure conditions change.

The currents are wind-blown, modified by the Coriolis effect, and deflected by land masses.

The 1,000 km wide stream of powerful winds that flow at high altitudes between 30 to 60°N latitude in a never-ending, meandering path is known at the ____ jet.

polar

The leading edge of fronts is often the location of ____ , as this is where air is forced upward and cools.

rain

In the Northern Hemisphere, a ______ in the jet stream refers to a bend that is concave northward, whereas a ______ is a bend that is convex northward. ridge; trough trough; ridge front; trough vortex; front

trough; ridge

True or false? Jet streams have significant influence on where air masses move.

true

Match the layer of the atmosphere with its description. ___troposphere ___stratosphere ___mesosphere 1. temperature increases with height; contains the ozone layer 2. temperature decreases with height; uppermost of layers listed 3. temperature decreases with height; location of weather

3 1 2

Match the ocean circulation with its main cause. ___ surface circulation ___ deep ocean circulation ___ deflection of currents 1. the earth's rotation and continents 2. density driven rising and sinking of waters 3. winds blowing on the water

3 2 1

Match a typical North American air mass to where and when it most likely formed. 1. cold and dry polar air mass 2. dry, hot air mass 3. warm, moist air mass 4. cool, moist air mass ___over the northern pacific in summer ___over the south atlantic in summer ___over northern canada in winter ___over northern mexico in summer

4 3 1 2

Match the reservoir of water with the percent of Earth's water it holds. ___ world's oceans ___ glaciers ___ groundwater ___ atmosphere 1. 0.60% 2. 0.001% 3. 2.15% 4. 97.2%

4 3 1 2

Which of the following accurately describe anticyclones? Air descends and warms in the middle. Dry conditions are common in them. The air flow is counterclockwise around them in the Northern Hemisphere. Surface winds blow in toward the center of an anticyclone.

Air descends and warms in the middle. Dry conditions are common in them.

Which of the following would result in an increase of water density? An increase in the temperature of the water An increase in the amount of dissolved salts A decrease in the temperature of the water The evaporation of some surface water

An increase in the amount of dissolved salts A decrease in the temperature of the water The evaporation of some surface water

Which of the following accurately describe the air masses that move over North America? Air masses that develop over the North Atlantic are much more likely to move over North America than those that develop in the Pacific Ocean. Cold air masses generally move east and/or south. Air masses coming from the polar region tend to be cool to cold. The air masses that develop over North America tend to be dry. The air masses that develop over the Gulf of Mexico and move north tend to be cold and dry.

Cold air masses generally move east and/or south. Air masses coming from the polar region tend to be cool to cold. The air masses that develop over North America tend to be dry.

Why does the majority (75%) of the atmosphere lie within the bottom 10 km of it? The majority of the winds start high in the upper layers of the atmosphere and end in the lower layers. Gravity pulls the atmosphere down, and the overlying weight of the atmosphere compresses air, making it progressively denser. Electrostatic attraction between Earth's surface and particles in the air pulls the particles downward. Earth's rotation gradually spins the atmosphere downward toward the surface of Earth.

Gravity pulls the atmosphere down, and the overlying weight of the atmosphere compresses air, making it progressively denser.

Which of the following are zones of relatively stable low pressure around 60° North latitude? Siberian low Bermuda low Icelandic low Aleutian low

Icelandic low Aleutian low

What happens to much of the excess heat received on Earth at low latitudes? It is stored in the ocean. It is absorbed and redistributed by the oceans. It is absorbed and redistributed in the atmosphere. It is stored in the atmosphere.

It is absorbed and redistributed by the oceans.

Which of the following accurately describe surface circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean? North America blocks the western flow of warm water, causing it to move poleward along its southeast coast in the Gulf Stream. Warm waters are moved up the east side of the Atlantic ocean from Africa towards western Europe. Surface waters are blown westward from Africa toward the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The large-scale rotation of surface water in the Atlantic is counterclockwise.

North America blocks the western flow of warm water, causing it to move poleward along its southeast coast in the Gulf Stream. Surface waters are blown westward from Africa toward the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

If high pressure exists on land and low pressure exists over a neighboring ocean, which way will the wind most likely blow? In toward the land Down over the land and up over the ocean Out toward the ocean Up over the land and down over the ocean

Out toward the ocean

Which of the following are zones of relatively stable high pressure at around 30° North latitude? Pacific high Icelandic high Siberian high Bermuda high

Pacific high Bermuda high

How does air rise in the atmosphere since gravity is a downward force? Pressure differences allow air to flow upward toward lower pressure, even against the pull of gravity. The Sun's pull on the atmosphere is greater during the day, drawing it upward. Static charges in the atmosphere pull air upward against the force of gravity. Adiabatic processes create void spaces in the atmosphere, which cause air to rise to fill the voids.

Pressure differences allow air to flow upward toward lower pressure, even against the pull of gravity.

What is wind? The average kinetic energy of the molecules in a defined region of the atmosphere Air flow in any spatial direction The horizontal flow of air The vertical flow of air

The horizontal flow of air

Which of the following accurately explain the positioning of the jet streams in the atmosphere? They exist where friction passed upward from the ground is effectively zero, allowing air to flow with Earth as it rotates. They exist where there are sharp pressure drops between convection cells. They exist between the convection cells because there are significant changes in temperature there. They exist in the middle of the tropopause, where uniform temperatures allow for the free flow of air.

They exist where there are sharp pressure drops between convection cells. They exist between the convection cells because there are significant changes in temperature there.

Heat absorbed in the ocean in the tropics is mixed downward by tides and winds, and the remaining surface heat and deep-water water heat is redistributed by ocean ____.

circulation

To the east of a ridge in the North Hemisphere polar jet stream, there is a region of ______ air aloft that sinks in a high-pressure zone, and to the east of a trough, there is a region of ______ air aloft coming out of the top of a low-pressure system. converging; diverging slow; fast fast; slow diverging; converging

converging; diverging

The apparent deflection of the path of moving bodies to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, caused by Earth's rotation, is known as the ____ ____.

coriolis effect

The ____ cells are the middle latitude atmospheric circulations on Earth. The surface winds moving poleward in these cells are known as the ____.

ferrel, westerlies

The sloping surface that separates air masses is called a ____.

front

In the ____ cells, air flows toward the equator along the surface of Earth before it is heated and rises near the equator. The rising air produces rains as it cools before it flows poleward at high altitude. The air descends near ____ο latitude before flowing north or south.

hadley, 30

Large bodies of air that have little horizontal variation in moisture content or temperature are called air ______. bodies systems masses fronts

masses

Tropical and polar air masses transfer their energy back and forth across the ______, causing this area to experience a turbulent mix of passing high- and low-pressure air masses. Arctic Ocean equator mid-latitudes

mid-latitudes

The bottom of the mesosphere is the ____ which marks a temperature reversal from the trend in the underlying stratosphere.

stratopause

High-altitude winds blowing toward higher latitudes in the Hadley cells are progressively bent by the Coriolis effect until they are essentially flowing east to west and form the ______. polar front polar jets subtropical jets Gulf Stream

subtropical jets

Insolation is the heat received from the ____.

sun

A mercury barometer is able to display changes in atmosphere pressure because a change in ______. air pressure changes the rate of evaporation and condensation of mercury, which affects the height of the mercury in the tube the outward force of mercury is much stronger than the downward force of air pressure the downward force of air pressure will change the height of the mercury in the tube of the barometer atmosphere pressure will cause the expansion or contraction of the mercury in the tube of a barometer

the downward force of air pressure will change the height of the mercury in the tube of the barometer

The deep-ocean currents driven by differences in density caused by changes to the salinity and temperature of water are referred to as ____ flow.

thermohaline

The ____ is the layer of the atmosphere defined by a decrease in temperature with altitude and within which all of the weather we experience occurs.

troposphere

Which of the following statements about the causes of oceanic circulation are true? Surface circulation in the oceans is driven mainly by the tides. Freshwater flowing off of continents sinks and drives deep-ocean circulation. Currents in the ocean are deflected from their course by Earth's rotation. Deep-water circulation is driven, in part, by the sinking of cold, dense saline water.

Currents in the ocean are deflected from their course by Earth's rotation. Deep-water circulation is driven, in part, by the sinking of cold, dense saline water.

Which of the following accurately explain the basic pattern of atmospheric circulation on Earth? Differential heating and cooling causes the rising and sinking of air masses. The force of gravity plays only a minor role in structure of atmospheric circulation. The horizontal movements of air masses are deflected by the rotation of Earth. The circulation pattern on Earth develops to redistribute the heat.

Differential heating and cooling causes the rising and sinking of air masses. The horizontal movements of air masses are deflected by the rotation of Earth. The circulation pattern on Earth develops to redistribute the heat.

Which of the following accurately describe a part of the global energy budget? Half of the incoming solar radiation is scattered or reflected before striking the ground. Sensible heat transfer to the atmosphere from the ground is greater than latent heat transfer. The amount of incoming solar radiation equals the combined amount of outgoing short and long wavelength radiation. Most of the outgoing long wavelength radiation from the ground is absorbed in the atmosphere.

Half of the incoming solar radiation is scattered or reflected before striking the ground. The amount of incoming solar radiation equals the combined amount of outgoing short and long wavelength radiation. Most of the outgoing long wavelength radiation from the ground is absorbed in the atmosphere.

Which of the following accurately describe the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)? Surface winds meeting from each hemisphere are forced upward and produce heavy rains. The winds blowing together to form the ITCZ are the trade winds from each hemisphere. The ITCZ is unaffected by the seasons since the oceans in the area store so much heat. The location of the ITCZ varies throughout the year.

Surface winds meeting from each hemisphere are forced upward and produce heavy rains. The winds blowing together to form the ITCZ are the trade winds from each hemisphere. The location of the ITCZ varies throughout the year.

Which of the following statements are true with regard to the relative amount of water held in each reservoir? The oceans hold the most water of any of the reservoirs on Earth. There is more water in the atmosphere than there is in lakes (fresh and saline). Glaciers contain more water than exists as groundwater Rivers contain more water than Earth's glaciers.

The oceans hold the most water of any of the reservoirs on Earth. Glaciers contain more water than exists as groundwater

What is the overall effect of the oceans on Earth's climate? The oceans moderate Earth's climate by absorbing heat in the summer and releasing heat in the winter. The oceans have little effect on climate since water has a high heat capacity. The oceans moderate climate at low latitude but make climate more extreme at high latitude since the albedo of the water depends on the Sun's angle. The oceans tend to make the climate more extreme since they absorb so much heat.

The oceans moderate Earth's climate by absorbing heat in the summer and releasing heat in the winter.

Why is the wind blowing the way it is in the diagram? The path is the balance between the pressure gradient force, friction with Earth's surface, and the Coriolis effect. It is traveling in a path purely in response to the Coriolis effect and the pressure gradient force. It is traveling in the path purely in response to the pressure gradient force.

The path is the balance between the pressure gradient force, friction with Earth's surface, and the Coriolis effect.

Which of the following accurately describe the Hadley cells? The rising limb of each Hadley cell is located near the equator. Descending air near 30ο latitude in each latitude brings heavy rain to those regions. They are the least energetic of the three convection cells. They are located between the equator and around 30ο latitude in each hemisphere.

The rising limb of each Hadley cell is located near the equator. They are located between the equator and around 30ο latitude in each hemisphere.

Which of the following statements is true with respect to atmospheric circulation on Earth? There are four convection cells in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect and large stretches of open ocean. The rotation of Earth and unequal heating set up three convection cells in the each hemisphere. Air tends to fall at the pole in each hemisphere. Air tends to rise in both hemispheres near the equator.

The rotation of Earth and unequal heating set up three convection cells in the each hemisphere. Air tends to fall at the pole in each hemisphere. Air tends to rise in both hemispheres near the equator.

How does the force of friction generated by winds moving over the surface of Earth affect the balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis effect? It causes the winds to blow completely perpendicular to isobars. It causes the winds to blow parallel to isobars. It causes the winds to blow across isobar lines at an angle.

It causes the winds to blow across isobar lines at an angle.

What are air masses? Large bodies of air that have little horizontal variation in moisture content or temperature Units of air that contain an equal amount of latent heat and sensible heat Units of air that travel in a similar direction for more than one day at a time Bodies of air that originate in the same place and contain the same trace elements

Large bodies of air that have little horizontal variation in moisture content or temperature

Select that statement below that accurately describes how latent heat affects atmospheric processes. The freezing of water at Earth's surface requires an input of heat, which further cools the atmosphere. The latent heat released during evaporation drives additional evaporation, which provides clouds with the moisture they need. Latent heat stored during evaporation is released during condensation, which further strengths storms. The formation of snowflakes in the atmosphere causes the surrounding air to cool as heat is absorbed in the process.

Latent heat stored during evaporation is released during condensation, which further strengths storms.

What are the main factors that cause a change in the density of water in the ocean? A change in temperature A change in the amount of latent heat stored A change in the amount of dissolved oxygen A change in current direction A change in the amount of dissolved salts

A change in temperature A change in the amount of dissolved salts

Which of the following are true about the global thermohaline circulation? Cold thermohaline currents rise in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. Warm, shallow currents of thermohaline circulation sink off the Aleutian islands of Alaska. The major area where surface waters sink to form the thermohaline current is the Arctic Ocean. Cold thermohaline currents rise off the west coast of South America.

Cold thermohaline currents rise in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. The major area where surface waters sink to form the thermohaline current is the Arctic Ocean.

Which of the following describe atmospheric circulation in the Polar cells? Surface-level winds from around the world meet at poles and are forced upward, creating a zone of low pressure. The surface winds in the polar regions blow toward the equator and meet the trade winds at 30° latitude. Cold, dense air flows from the polar regions toward lower latitudes. The Polar cell is driven by rising air near 60° latitude as low-level winds from the Polar and Ferrel cells meet.

Cold, dense air flows from the polar regions toward lower latitudes. The Polar cell is driven by rising air near 60° latitude as low-level winds from the Polar and Ferrel cells meet.

What is atmospheric circulation like in the Polar cells? Low pressure is centered above the poles in summer, and high pressure is centered above the poles in winter. Warm surface air moving poleward rises at the poles and travels toward the equator until it cools enough to descend at 60° latitude. High-altitude air descends at the poles, flows toward equator, and rises around 60°, where polar surface winds meet the westerlies and rise. Owing to the strong Coriolis effect, circulation in the polar cells runs east and west and is divided into two longitudinally divided cells.

High-altitude air descends at the poles, flows toward equator, and rises around 60°, where polar surface winds meet the westerlies and rise.

Which statement below accurately relates isobars, the pressure gradient force, and the strength of wind?Isobars run parallel to the pressure gradient forces that form as the winds blow. Strong winds push isobars closer together, and that increases the pressure gradient force. High air pressure represented by closely spaced isobars causes weak winds because the pressure gradient force must act over a larger area. Isobars represent areas of equal pressure. The closer together they are, the stronger wind is because the pressure gradient force is greater.

Isobars represent areas of equal pressure. The closer together they are, the stronger wind is because the pressure gradient force is greater.

Which of the following correctly describes the Coriolis effect? It is a force that changes the path of objects if they are observed. It is weak force generated by the balance between the gravitational force and the pressure gradient force at different altitudes. It is an opposing force that is generated by an interaction of the force of friction and the pressure gradient force. It is an apparent force resulting from Earth's rotation that deflects objects from what would otherwise be their path.

It is an apparent force resulting from Earth's rotation that deflects objects from what would otherwise be their path.

How would the formation of sea ice affect the density of the remaining water? It would increase because salts are excluded from the forming ice, driving up the salinity of the remaining water. It would decrease because salts in the water are preferentially removed as they serve as nucleation sites for ice formation. The formation of the sea ice itself would not cause a density shift in the remaining water.

It would increase because salts are excluded from the forming ice, driving up the salinity of the remaining water.

How do seasons affect the polar jet stream? Its path moves northward in summer and southward in winter. It flows east to west in spring and summer and west to east in fall and winter. Since the polar jet flows at high altitude, it is not affected by the seasons. Its path moves southward in summer and northward in winter.

Its path moves northward in summer and southward in winter.

Which of the following describe circulation in the Ferrel cells? The heat in the Ferrel cells drives the circulation in it and the other two cells (Polar and Hadley). There is a powerful and well-defined vertical column of upward moving air near 60° latitude where surface-level winds meet. Surface-level winds move toward higher latitude and form the winds known as the westerlies. Upper-level airflows in the Ferrel cells are not well-defined.

Surface-level winds move toward higher latitude and form the winds known as the westerlies. Upper-level airflows in the Ferrel cells are not well-defined.

Why is there less seasonal variability in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere? The Southern Hemisphere has a greater amount of its surface covered by water. The Southern Hemisphere receives a more consistent supply of solar energy. There are more convection cells in the Southern Hemisphere to redistribute heat. The hole in the ozone layer in the Southern Hemisphere allows excess heat to escape during its summer.

The Southern Hemisphere has a greater amount of its surface covered by water.

What is an atmospheric front? The boundary between different air masses The location where an air mass first develops its defining characteristics The location in an air mass where the isobars start to become more widely spaced The direction an air mass is moving in response to the pressure gradient force, friction, and the Coriolis effect

The boundary between different air masses

How is heat from the tropics redistributed in the ocean? Water molecules use the heat in decay processes to form free oxygen. The heat is moved poleward by ocean circulation. Ocean water molecules absorb more latent heat that they can release later when they evaporate. The heat is mixed downward by tides and winds.

The heat is moved poleward by ocean circulation. The heat is mixed downward by tides and winds.

What is the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)? The location where high-altitude winds in the Hadley and Ferrel cells meet before descending. It is another name for the equator. It is the location where winds flowing toward the equator are no longer deflected by the Coriolis effect. The location where surface levels winds (trade winds) in each Hadley cell meet in the tropics

The location where surface levels winds (trade winds) in each Hadley cell meet in the tropics

Which of the following accurately reflects the interaction between the polar-front jet stream and warm and cold air masses? The polar jet causes the formation and movement of warm and cold air masses but is not affected by the air masses themselves. The strength of the polar jet is dependent on temperature differences of air masses and in turn influences their movement and behavior. Warm and cold air masses cause the development of the polar jet, but since the polar jet occurs at high altitude, it does not affect the air masses.

The strength of the polar jet is dependent on temperature differences of air masses and in turn influences their movement and behavior.

Why does the advancement of the leading edge of a warm air mass on a cold air mass often lead to the development of widespread clouds and rain? The cold air in front of the the warm front is warmed, which releases latent heat and causes the evaporation of additional water. The advancing warm air pushes under the cold air mass, and that causes compression and the development of rain and clouds in the compressed air. The warm air is forced up over a gentle slope of cold air and is cooled while doing so, leading to cloud formation and rain. Preexisting rain and clouds in the cold air mass are spread out by the addition of kinetic energy from the warm air masses.

The warm air is forced up over a gentle slope of cold air and is cooled while doing so, leading to cloud formation and rain.

Which statement below best summarizes the large-scale pattern of surface circulation in the ocean? Flow in the Atlantic, Pacific, & Indian Ocean is from the North Pole to South Pole in the west and from the South Pole to North Pole in the east. Flow is generally north to south in the Atlantic, south to north in the Pacific, and east to west in the Indian ocean. There are large-scale rotating loops of surface water currents in oceans of each hemisphere with smaller counter-currents near the equator. In each hemisphere's ocean, there are 3 large-scale patterns of ocean circulation that align with 3 convection cells in the atmosphere.

There are large-scale rotating loops of surface water currents in oceans of each hemisphere with smaller counter-currents near the equator.

If Earth did not rotate, what would be the most likely form of global atmospheric circulation? There would be one large convection cell on Earth with rising air at the North Pole and sinking air at the South Pole. There would be twice as many circulation cells per hemisphere (6) as there are now (3). There would little atmospheric circulation since all areas would be equally heated. There would be one large convection cell in each hemisphere with rising air near the equator and sinking air at the pole.

There would be one large convection cell in each hemisphere with rising air near the equator and sinking air at the pole.

Which of the following accurately describe cyclones? Surface air flows outward from their centers. They have a core of low pressure with rising air. They have a surface-level clockwise flow around them in the Southern Hemisphere. They are associated with dry conditions in their centers.

They have a core of low pressure with rising air. They have a surface-level clockwise flow around them in the Southern Hemisphere.

Why is the passage of high- and low-pressure air masses much more common in the midlatitudes? Tropical and polar air masses transfer energy back and forth across the midlatitudes. The topography of Earth in the middle latitudes is best suited for the development of air masses. The Coriolis effect is the largest in the midlatitudes and that blows the rotation in high- and low-pressure systems. The orientation of the pressure gradient force is optimal for the formation of high- and low-pressure systems in the middle latitudes.

Tropical and polar air masses transfer energy back and forth across the midlatitudes.

The salinity (i.e., amount of dissolved salts per volume) and the temperature of the water are the two major controls on the ______ of seawater. weight movement density clarity

density

The seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation are not as drastic in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the Northern Hemisphere because of the high ____ ____ of water.

heat capacity

The amount of solar radiation received in a given area is measured as ______. albedo latent heat insolation sensible heat

insolation

Areas of high and low pressure can be displayed on a map using ______ to represent lines of equal pressure. The closer together these lines are, the stronger the ______ gradient force will be that drives the wind. isobaths; adiabatic isotherms; barometric isobars; pressure pycnographs; density

isobars; pressure

How are the stratopause and the mesosphere related? The stratopause is located above the mesosphere and separates it from space. The stratopause is the located midway through the mesosphere. The stratopause is located between the mesosphere and the stratosphere.

The stratopause is located between the mesosphere and the stratosphere.

Which statement below best explains the cause of atmospheric circulation on Earth? Unequal solar heating heats results in the rising, falling, and horizontal movement of air masses, which are deflected by Earth's rotation. Rotation friction generated between space and the top of Earth's atmosphere is passed downward through the atmosphere, causing wind. The release of carbon dioxide by photosynthetic organisms on land pushes existing atmospheric molecules toward the oceans. The tilt of Earth's axis causes gravity to pull obliquely relative to Earth's surface on atmospheric gases, causing endless motion.

Unequal solar heating heats results in the rising, falling, and horizontal movement of air masses, which are deflected by Earth's rotation.