OCE1001 FSU ch6 hw

At what latitude(s) on Earth is the speed of rotation the greatest?

0 degrees

The density of mercury is 13.5 times greater than the density of water. If you were to build a barometer that used water instead of mercury to record the standard pressure at sea level, what would be the height of that barometer? Assume that the mercury barometer is 76 centimeters, or 29.92 inches, long (this is the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level).

1026 centimeters (403.92 inches)

If you were the captain of a sailing ship, which of the following latitudes would you want to avoid MOST?

30 degrees

Which of the following will cause the lowest air pressure at the surface?

A column of warm, less dense air

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

When a ball is thrown in a stationary position, there is very little deflection in its path due to Coriolis effect, far too small for you to notice. But if the ball is thrown in motion, it will be deflected. You will relate the concept of the Coriolis force to a game of catch. The two-dimensional figure shows a game of catch played on a merry-go-round by nine children (the image is viewed from the South Pole). The alphabet A-H indicates the positions of eight children on the merry-go-round with the nineth child in the center. The arrows show the direction of rotation of the merry-go-round, which moves with a constant speed, moves with a constant speed causing a shift of 45∘∘. Assuming a child sitting in the center attempts to throw the ball directly to child D, which child will likely catch the ball?

C

1. ___ winds are created when cold air descending the sheltered (leeward) side of the Rockies is warmed by compression. 2. A circulation pattern consisting of a light wind blowing into the city from the countryside is characteristic of a ___. 3. A ____ is the result of the air over land heating, expanding, and rising, thereby creating a low-pressure area into which cooler air from over the ocean can move. 4. Heated air from mountain slopes gliding up along that slope results in a ___.

Chinook country breeze sea breeze valley breeze

Which of the following characteristics of Earth's relationship to the Sun explains the existence of Earth's seasons?

Earth's axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars. Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one orbit each year. Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane. Earth spins on its axis, completing one rotation each day.

Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Coriolis effect?

In the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the left of its intended direction. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the right of its intended direction.

Circulation in the atmosphere is influenced by whether the planetary body is rotating or nonrotating. Sort the following features by whether they apply to a rotating Earth, a nonrotating Earth, or neither.

Non rotating:-all surface air flows toward the equator-one pair of convec cells Rotating:-equatorial and subpolar air-presence of trade winds-three pairs of convec cells Neither:-all surface air flows poleward-air sinks at equator

Which of the following statements provides a possible logical explanation for the increased number of tornadoes during the 1990s and 2000s compared to the 1950s and 1960s?

Population increases mean that more people could report tornadoes in more areas. Using Doppler radar more effectively allows scientists to detect more tornadoes than was previously possible.

When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator?

September and march equinox

When do all locations on Earth experience equal lengths of day and night?

September equinox march equinox

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.

You are enjoying time at the beach on a warm summer day. It is late afternoon, and a breeze has started to develop. For most of the day, the winds were calm; the breeze only started within the past hour or so. Based on these details, what can you say about this breeze? Select all of the options that apply to this scenario. Select all that apply.

The breeze is most likely a cool breeze coming from the water. Warm land has now sufficiently heated the overlying air, so that cooler air over the ocean is now moving onshore as a sea breeze.

If Earth rotated in the opposite direction, how would global atmospheric circulation be affected?

The global wind belts would blow in the opposite east-west direction.

How does the inclination of Earth's axis change over the course of a year?

The inclination of Earth's axis does not change.

Jet streams are fast-moving streams of air high above Earth's surface. A divergence or convergence in the jet stream above a high- or low-pressure center can drive the actions of these pressure centers. If the air in the jet stream is converging or diverging faster than the air at the surface is moving out or in, the driving force of the jet stream is compensated by an increase in surface winds. A jet stream generally diverges above a low-pressure (warm) center. However, at Earth's surface, air converges at a low-pressure center. If the divergence of the jet stream is greater than the convergence of air at the surface low-pressure center below it, what will happen to the surface winds?

The surface winds will likely get stronger.

What two factors explain why the prevailing westerlies blow toward the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere?

The two factors are the direction of circulation in the Ferrel cell and the Coriolis effect.

Cyclones can form where low-pressure centers develop at Earth's surface. Air moves inward towards the low pressure center. Air flow generally occurs in a counterclockwise fashion in the Northern Hemisphere, and the opposite direction (clockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere. To sustain low-pressure centers, these systems require an air flow divergence higher in the atmosphere (e.g., in the jet stream). This air flow divergence creates a place for the rising low-pressure air. Similarly, an anticyclone, which forms as air moves clockwise out from a high-pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere, can be sustained by a convergence higher in the atmosphere, which would feed air into this high-pressure center, preventing it from being depleted. (An anticyclone moves counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.) The accompanying image of the eastern portion of the United States illustrates the airflow conditions involved in the creation of cyclones and anticyclones. Match the labels to their correct location. Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. The cardinal directions apply to the blanks in the sentences in this activity.

Top: south, convergence aloft, divergence alotBottom: north, anticyclonic flow, cyclonic flow

What is an anticylone?

a center of high atmospheric pressure

What is a cyclone?

a center of low atmospheric pressure

Which of the following options describe the features of the ideal location to erect wind turbines in order to generate the most electricity?

a strong pressure gradient flat, elevated land

The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the ____

albedo

Which areas of Earth experience the most precipitation?

areas near the ITCZ

Where does the length of day remain the same throughout the year?

at the equator

In the Northern Hemisphere, September 23 is known as ___

autumnal equinox

A cold air mass moving into an area occupied by relatively warm air is called a(n) _____

cold front

In which direction must the merry-go-round be pushed to simulate the Coriolis effect on Earth?

counterclockwise

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

What type of force is the Coriolis effect?

fictitious

A tropical cyclone with a wind speed of 220 km/hr. would be classified as Category ________ on the Saffir-Simpson Scale of hurricane intensity.

four

The prevailing westerly winds blow in which of the following directions in the Southern Hemisphere?

from northwest to southeast

What drives Hadley cell circulation?

heating from the Sun

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 are Hadley cells found?

in the atmosphere near the equator

How does air move near the top of a cyclone?

in the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere

Before ranking, calculate the change in air pressure in each state by finding the difference between the minimum and maximum isobar line in each state. If there is not an isobar line in a state, find the nearest lines on either side of it. Rank from highest to lowest wind speed.

kansas, Idaho, Ohio, Washington

As you have learned, there are six stages in the development of a middle-latitude cyclone. The cross-sectional images below depict each of the six stages in the development of a middle-latitude cyclone. Apply your knowledge of how air masses and fronts interact to create a cyclone by matching the image with its corresponding description of the stage in the life cycle that image represents. Apply the "yes" or "no" answers to the questions in the orange boxes. Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets. Note that some labels need to be reused as no target should be left blank.

no front develops wave develops cyclonic circulation established occlusion begins osculated font develops no no

At which latitude on the Earth is the speed of Earth's rotation the slowest?

north and south poles

Which wind belt curves to the right due to the Coriolis effect and blow from northeast to southwest?

northeast trade winds

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.

ocean currents & helicopter, on a flight

Based on the characteristics, what is the name of the wind belt being described as cold, dry winds generally from the east?

polar easterlies

Typically, the United States is influenced more by ________ air masses during the winter and more by ________ air masses during the summer.

polar; tropical

Polar high pressure occurs in which of the following regions?

poles (90 degrees)

A boundary or belt characterized by cold deserts occurs in which of the following regions?

poles (poles)

A person experiences a popping feeling in their ears during the takeoff or landing of an airplane or while driving on steep mountain roads due to changes in the ________ of the atmosphere.

pressure

Earth's atmosphere is heated primarily by ____

re-radiation of solar energy from Earth's surface back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation

Top: south, convergence aloft, divergence alotBottom: north, anticyclonic flow, cyclonic flow

rising; stormy

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

sea breeze

The largest loss of life from a hurricane is usually due to:

storm surge

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

summer solstice

Hurricanes frequently make landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but rarely, if ever, occur on the Pacific coast. The primary reason for the rarity of West Coast hurricanes is that _______

the ocean water near the U.S. coast does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes

The Coriolis effect is caused by _________

the rotation of earth

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

What is the December solstice?

the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly away from the Sun

What is the June solstice?

the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly toward the Sun

As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds always are deflected:

to the right of their original direction

You just got your pilot's license, and you want to fly your plane from point A to point B. You remember from your oceanography class that you must account for the Coriolis effect when aiming for your destination. Where must you aim to land at point B?

to the west of B

The wind belt(s) with strong, reliable, generally easterly winds is (are) the:

trade winds

In which layer of the atmosphere is all weather generated?

troposphere

What are tropical cyclones called in the western North Pacific Ocean?

typhoons

The Coriolis effect is due to changes in the ________ of Earth with latitude.

velocity

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. Ecliptic Summer solstice Autumnal equinox Vernal equinox Westerlies

westerlies