Question 1

When are upper air winds fastest?

Accepted Answer

A)  in summer 
B)  in winter 
C)  whenever the temperature gradient is weak 
D)  These winds maintain roughly the same speeds throughout the year. 
A)  in summer 
B)  in winter 
C)  whenever the temperature gradient is weak 
D)  These winds maintain roughly the same speeds throughout the year. B

Question 2

When someone says we have a southeast wind, what direction would you look to face into the wind?

Accepted Answer

A)  east 
B)  west 
C)  northwest 
D)  southeast 
A)  east 
B)  west 
C)  northwest 
D)  southeast D

Question 3

On the weather map below, describe the wind pattern and the relationship between the winds and isobars.

Accepted Answer

The winds are blowing away from the high pressure center and toward the low pressure center. Winds are strongest near the center of the low, where the isobars are most closely spaced. The winds are all deflected with respect to the isobars due to near surface friction between the moving air and the ground surface, otherwise the winds would be parallel to the isobars due to Coriolis forces.

Question 4

Two weather stations record air pressure. Weather station 1 is 100km north of weather station 2. The pressure at station 1 is 1023mb and at station 2 it is 1015mb. What is the pressure gradient between the two stations?

Accepted Answer

A)  0.18 mb/km 
B)  0.08 mb/km 
C)  0.04 mb/km 
D)  0.02 mb/km 
A)  0.18 mb/km 
B)  0.08 mb/km 
C)  0.04 mb/km 
D)  0.02 mb/km

Question 5

If Earth were_____  , there would be no Coriolis force.

Accepted Answer

A)  cooler 
B)  not rotating 
C)  more humid 
D)  closer to the sun 
A)  cooler 
B)  not rotating 
C)  more humid 
D)  closer to the sun

Question 6

Upper air winds are generally _____ than the surface winds directly below.

Accepted Answer

A)  faster 
B)  fluctuating in comparison to 
C)  about the same speed as 
D)  slower 
A)  faster 
B)  fluctuating in comparison to 
C)  about the same speed as 
D)  slower

Question 7

What type of local wind pattern is illustrated in the diagram below?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of local wind pattern is...

Question 8

Widely spaced isobars often indicate _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  variable winds 
B)  light winds 
C)  cyclonic winds 
D)  high winds 
A)  variable winds 
B)  light winds 
C)  cyclonic winds 
D)  high winds

Question 9

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow_____  and _____  from the center of anticyclones.

Accepted Answer

A)  counter- clockwise, outward 
B)  counter- clockwise, inward 
C)  clockwise, outward 
D)  clockwise; inward 
A)  counter- clockwise, outward 
B)  counter- clockwise, inward 
C)  clockwise, outward 
D)  clockwise; inward

Question 10

Why do storm systems move from west to east in mid latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  The storms are steered by approximately west to east winds aloft that are approximately geostrophic winds produced by Coriolis forces. 
B)  The prevailing wind is from the east, and the storm systems move toward the surface flow. 
C)  The prevailing wind is from the west. 
D)  The continents break up air flow that would normally be south to north and the Coriolis force turns the storms to the right, or toward the east. 
A)  The storms are steered by approximately west to east winds aloft that are approximately geostrophic winds produced by Coriolis forces. 
B)  The prevailing wind is from the east, and the storm systems move toward the surface flow. 
C)  The prevailing wind is from the west. 
D)  The continents break up air flow that would normally be south to north and the Coriolis force turns the storms to the right, or toward the east.

Question 11

High air pressure systems are usually associated with _____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  diverging winds 
B)  clear weather 
C)  descending air 
D)  all of these 
A)  diverging winds 
B)  clear weather 
C)  descending air 
D)  all of these

Question 12

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with a high pressure system blow_____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  clockwise and outward from the center 
B)  clockwise and toward the center 
C)  counterclockwise and toward the center 
D)  counterclockwise and outward from the center 
A)  clockwise and outward from the center 
B)  clockwise and toward the center 
C)  counterclockwise and toward the center 
D)  counterclockwise and outward from the center

Question 13

Consider the below diagram:   What does the diagram show?

Accepted Answer

A)  More commonly the wind blows from the Northwest. 
B)  The wind often blows to the North, but is very gentle when it does so. 
C)  The dominant wind direction is from the Southeast. 
D)  The wind is always blowing in the same direction in Australia. 
A)  More commonly the wind blows from the Northwest. 
B)  The wind often blows to the North, but is very gentle when it does so. 
C)  The dominant wind direction is from the Southeast. 
D)  The wind is always blowing in the same direction in Australia.

Question 14

What is the Southern Oscillation?

Accepted Answer

A)  the 10- year cycle in winter storm activity in the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere 
B)  the intermittent switch from El Niño to La Niña conditions in the equatorial Pacific 
C)  the periodic intense cyclonic storms from Antarctica 
D)  the weather pattern that changes tropical cyclone activity in the southern ocean 
A)  the 10- year cycle in winter storm activity in the temperate zone of the Southern Hemisphere 
B)  the intermittent switch from El Niño to La Niña conditions in the equatorial Pacific 
C)  the periodic intense cyclonic storms from Antarctica 
D)  the weather pattern that changes tropical cyclone activity in the southern ocean

Question 15

If you live on the east coast of Florida or the Gulf Coast, why might you hope for an El Niño year?

Accepted Answer

A)  It will decrease the chances of heavy summer thunderstorms and floods. 
B)  It will produce a warmer summer, but with less rain than normal. 
C)  It will decrease the probability of tropical cyclones. 
D)  It will bring clear, cool summer conditions, albeit dry. 
A)  It will decrease the chances of heavy summer thunderstorms and floods. 
B)  It will produce a warmer summer, but with less rain than normal. 
C)  It will decrease the probability of tropical cyclones. 
D)  It will bring clear, cool summer conditions, albeit dry.

Question 16

Another name for the area low pressure in the equatorial region is the_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  horse latitudes 
B)  westerlies 
C)  subpolar easterlies 
D)  doldrums 
A)  horse latitudes 
B)  westerlies 
C)  subpolar easterlies 
D)  doldrums

Question 17

Which state might you expect to have the most variable wind direction patterns? For example, sometimes wind coming from the west and sometimes from the east, indicating proximity to a directional change zone.

Accepted Answer

A)  Kansas 
B)  Florida 
C)  Ohio 
D)  Colorado 
A)  Kansas 
B)  Florida 
C)  Ohio 
D)  Colorado

Question 18

Isobars are lines on a weather map representing what?

Accepted Answer

A)  lines showing equal density of bars 
B)  lines of equivalent air speed 
C)  lines of equal elevation for the tropopause 
D)  lines of equal air pressure 
A)  lines showing equal density of bars 
B)  lines of equivalent air speed 
C)  lines of equal elevation for the tropopause 
D)  lines of equal air pressure

Question 19

Which of these instruments is not used to measure air pressure?

Accepted Answer

A)  anemometer 
B)  mercurial barometer 
C)  aneroid barometer 
D)  barograph 
A)  anemometer 
B)  mercurial barometer 
C)  aneroid barometer 
D)  barograph

Question 20

If "fair" weather were approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  rising 
B)  steady 
C)  falling 
D)  none of these 
A)  rising 
B)  steady 
C)  falling 
D)  none of these

Exam 18: Air Pressure and Wind

When are upper air winds fastest?

When someone says we have a southeast wind, what direction would you look to face into the wind?

On the weather map below, describe the wind pattern and the relationship between the winds and isobars.

Two weather stations record air pressure. Weather station 1 is 100km north of weather station 2. The pressure at station 1 is 1023mb and at station 2 it is 1015mb. What is the pressure gradient between the two stations?

If Earth were_____ , there would be no Coriolis force.

Upper air winds are generally _____ than the surface winds directly below.

What type of local wind pattern is illustrated in the diagram below?

Widely spaced isobars often indicate _____ .

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow_____ and _____ from the center of anticyclones.

Why do storm systems move from west to east in mid latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere?

High air pressure systems are usually associated with _____ .

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with a high pressure system blow_____ .

Consider the below diagram: What does the diagram show?

What is the Southern Oscillation?

If you live on the east coast of Florida or the Gulf Coast, why might you hope for an El Niño year?

Another name for the area low pressure in the equatorial region is the_____ .

Which state might you expect to have the most variable wind direction patterns? For example, sometimes wind coming from the west and sometimes from the east, indicating proximity to a directional change zone.

Isobars are lines on a weather map representing what?

Which of these instruments is not used to measure air pressure?

If "fair" weather were approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be _____ .

Introduction to Earth Science

Matter and Minerals

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow_ and _ from the center of anticyclones.