OCE Chapter 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.

False

An iceberg is a variety of sea ice.

False

The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun is directly overhead along the equator in March.

False

The trade winds can be found between 30° and 60°N and S latitudes.

False

Within the troposphere, the atmosphere gets warmer with increasing altitude.

False

Why is heavy rain associated with hurricane formation?

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

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

Saffir-Simpson Scale.

The Coriolis effect describes how moving objects on Earth appear to follow curved paths due to Earth's rotation.

True

The Saffir-Simpson scale rates the relative intensity of tropical cyclones.

True

The angle at which direct sunlight strikes the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.

True

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

True

Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air.

True

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

be deflected toward the east.

high pressure

cool air & DRY/EVAPORATION

A zone of high atmospheric pressure results when there is relatively __________ air aloft.

cool, dry

Low-pressure regions in the northern hemisphere rotate:

counterclockwise.

what are the 3 latitudes?

doldrums (ITCZ) -> horse latitudes -> polar front

What drives Hadley cell circulation?

heating from the Sun

What is the zone of wastage?

the part of a glacier where snow melting EXCEEDS snow accumulation

most abundant greenhouse gas that also influences air density

water vapor

The temperate regions are characterized by:

westerly winds.

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

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

the polar front

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 South Pole toward the equator?

toward the LEFT

Which direction 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 direction 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

Which direction 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 boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere

tropopause

The lowermost portion of the atmosphere where most weather occurs is called the:

troposphere.

vernal equinox

vernal = spring; MARCH

low pressure

warm air & PRECIPITATION

Which of the following names mean "tropical cyclone"?

hurricane, typhoon, cyclone

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

How does air move near the TOP of a cyclone?

in the SAME DIRECTION as air in the upper atmosphere

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

Tropic of Cancer

northern hemisphere

3 types of cells:

polar ferrel hadley

what is the order of winds?

polar easterlies prevailing westerlies NE tradewinds SE tradewinds prevailing westerlies polar easterlies

what is the order of latitudes from N to S?

polar fronts horse latitudes doldrums (ITCZ) horse latitudes polar fronts

Polar easterlies

prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes

hadley cells:

region between 0 and 30 degrees (closest to the equator)

ferrel cells:

region between 30 and 60 degrees

polar cells:

region between 60 and 90 degrees

Air warmed by the land that rises and is replaced by cooler air from the ocean may produce a:

sea breeze.

Tropic of Capricorn

southern hemisphere

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

the Coriolis effect

What is a front?

the boundary between two AIR MASSES of different TEMPERATURES

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 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.

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern. A. nitrogen B. albedo C. oxygen D. troposphere E. water vapor

B, albedo

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern. A. maximum sustained winds B. minimum central pressure C. sea surface salinity D. storm surge E. storm diameter

C, sea surface salinity

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.

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

Glacial fronts remain stationary when melting and snow accumulation are EQUAL

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

The doldrums are an area of low atmospheric pressure.

What is an anticylone?

a center of high ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

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

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

autumnal equinox

autumn = fall; SEPTEMBER