Deck 18: Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Question 1

How do changes in sea-surface temperature relate to the flow in the Walker circulation?

A)During La Niña conditions, the Walker circulation strengthens, and during El Niño conditions, the Walker circulation weakens.
B)The Walker circulation experiences no change during El Niño
C)During El Niño conditions, the Walker circulation strengthens, and during La Niña conditions, the Walker circulation weakens.
D)During La Niña conditions, the Walker circulation becomes warmer, and during El Niño conditions, the Walker circulation becomes colder.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Identify and label the Hadley, Ferrel, and polar cells on the diagram below.

A)Hadley cell = A, Ferrel cell = B, polar cell = C
B)Hadley cell = C, Ferrel cell = B, polar cell = A
C)Hadley cell = B, Ferrel cell = A, polar cell = C
D)Hadley cell = A, Ferrel cell = C, polar cell = B

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which atmospheric force balances gravity and keeps air from falling to the ground?

A)a downward-directed gravitational force
B)an upward-directed pressure gradient force
C)the global Coriolis force
D)no force because air does not fall toward Earth's surface

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Frictional force in Earth's boundary layer can create wind shear against the ground, generating turbulence that can lead to the formation of

A)fronts.
B)currents.
C)eddies.
D)pollution.

Question 5

A ______________ is any seasonal change in air circulation.

A)hurricane
B)monsoon
C)typhoon
D)jet stream

Question 6

The Hadley cell's relationship to the locations of the world's tropical rainforests and subtropical deserts is that the Hadley cells carry

A)cold moist air from the subtropical deserts to the tropical rainforests.
B)moist air from the subtropical deserts to the tropical rainforests.
C)warm dry air from the subtropical deserts to the tropical rainforests.
D)hot air from the tropical deserts to the subtropical rainforests.

Question 7

The thickness of Earth's boundary layer depends on the

A)pressure gradient of the air pressure.
B)roughness and temperate of the surface below.
C)topography of the surface below.
D)temperate of the surface below.

Question 8

Atmospheric scientists refer to the layer of air adjacent to Earth's surface where the friction significantly affects air movement as a

A)cold air mass.
B)warm air mass.
C)boundary layer.
D)cyclone.

Question 9

Monsoons develop and occur only at lower latitudes because of the

A)belt of high-pressure air currents associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
B)belt of low-pressure air currents associated with the Walker circulation.
C)belt of low-pressure air currents associated with the ITCZ.
D)polar and Ferrel cells.

Question 10

Which atmospheric force causes wind to increase in speed?

A)pressure gradient force
B)frictional force
C)gravitational force
D)Coriolis force

Question 11

Which force acts on air and causes it to flow?

A)gravitational force
B)Coriolis force
C)frictional force
D)Circulation force

Question 12

Which phenomenon can best be described as significant atmospheric disturbances involving strong winds and heavy precipitation that can become hazardous to landscapes, ecosystems, society, and ships at sea?

A)volcanoes
B)earthquakes
C)mudslides
D)storms

Question 13

When there is a balance between the pressure-gradient force and the Coriolis force, the result is called

A)a low pressure.
B)a high pressure.
C)geostrophic wind.
D)convective cell.

Question 14

Air circulation caused by convective flow is called a

A)ITCZ.
B)thunderstorm.
C)tropical cell.
D)convective cell.

Question 15

Atmospheric conditions can approach a state of equilibrium locally at elevations above the boundary layer, forming a condition known as

A)geostrophic balance.
B)Coriolis force.
C)latent heat.
D)wind.

Question 16

A primary difference between the trade winds and doldrums is that the trade winds __________, whereas the doldrums __________ .

A)constitute tropical surface flow; constitute a lack of surface flow
B)form in the tropical latitudes; form in deserts
C)constitute a lack of surface flow; constitute tropical surface flow
D)form in the upper atmosphere; form in the polar latitudes

Question 17

Isobars that are spaced closely together represent __________ , whereas isobars that are spaced farther apart represent __________ .

A)a gentler pressure gradient; a steeper pressure gradient
B)a steep pressure gradient; a gentle pressure gradient
C)weaker winds; stronger winds
D)no wind; stronger winds

Question 18

Atmospheric scientists refer to the east-west seesaw in surface air pressure across the equatorial Pacific that accompanies changes in the Walker circulation as the

A)El Niño.
B)La Niña.
C)storm surge.
D)Southern Oscillation.

Question 19

The sea surface temperatures off the shores of Peru are warmer than normal during __________ and colder than normal during __________ .

A)the winter; the summer
B)La Niña; El Niño
C)the spring; the fall
D)El Niño; La Niña

Question 20

A meteorologist can visually communicate Earth's pressure gradients on a weather map by plotting __________ , which are contour lines that connect points of equal atmospheric __________.

A)isobars; pressure
B)isotherms; temperature
C)isotopes; pressure
D)Meteorologists have not yet created a visual representation of atmospheric pressure.

Question 21

Where does a hurricane acquire its initial energy?

A)cold ocean water
B)warm ocean water
C)a cluster of thunderstorms
D)evaporation of ocean water

Question 22

Torrential rain falls from __________ and very heavy rain falls from __________ .

A)spiral rainbands; eye-wall clouds
B)eye-wall clouds; spiral rainbands
C)the hurricane's eye; spiral rainbands
D)thunderstorms; eye-wall clouds

Question 23

Because warm air is less dense than cold air, the area beneath a warm air mass becomes a

A)cold front.
B)high-pressure system.
C)warm front.
D)low-pressure system.

Question 24

Atmospheric scientists categorize hurricane damage using the Saffir-Simpson scale to describe the __________ of a hurricane.

A)thickness
B)shape
C)intensity
D)size

Question 25

Which hazard is most likely to be caused by a monsoon season?

A)typhoons
B)hurricanes
C)earthquakes
D)flooding

Question 26

Which storm hazards can cause the most destruction when a hurricane strikes a coastline?

A)storm surge and strong winds
B)flooding
C)mudslides
D)strong winds

Question 27

A rotating, spiral-shaped storm that originates over warm tropical ocean waters is called a

A)tropical cyclone.
B)mid-latitude cyclone.
C)warm front.
D)stationary front.

Question 28

According to the Saffir-Simpson scale, in which category would a hurricane be classified if it had extremely dangerous, sustained winds of at least 96 to 110 mph (154-177 km/hr), which caused extensive damage to well-constructed frame homes, including major roof and siding damage?

A)category 2
B)category 3
C)category 4
D)category 5

Question 29

Where are the strongest winds found in a hurricane?

A)Winds on the left side of a counterclockwise-rotating hurricane (as viewed looking in the direction the hurricane is moving) are stronger than those on the right side.
B)Strong winds are found everywhere in a hurricane.
C)The strongest winds are found in the eye of the hurricane.
D)Winds on the right side of a counterclockwise-rotating hurricane (as viewed looking in the direction the hurricane is moving) are stronger than those on the left side.

Question 30

For the formation of a hurricane, the ocean water must have a temperature

A)above 26°C (79°F) for at least a depth of 60 m (200 ft).
B)below 26°C (79°F) for at least a depth of 60 m (200 ft).
C)above 26°C (79°F) only.
D)below 26°C (79°F) only.

Question 31

A very fast high-altitude river of air that forms in the upper troposphere is called a(n)

A)typhoon.
B)jet stream.
C)monsoon.
D)air mass.

Question 32

Meteorologists can distinguish a cold from a warm front because a cold front occurs when a cold air mass __________ , whereas a warm front exists where a ___________ .

A)advances under a warm air mass and forces the warm air to rise; cold air mass retreats and a warm air mass advances
B)retreats and a warm air mass advances; cold air mass advances under a warm air mass, which forces the warm air to rise
C)forces warm air to sink; warm air mass retreats and a cold air mass advances
D)Meteorologists cannot distinguish between the two air masses.

Question 33

The weakest winds in a hurricane can be found in the

A)spiraling winds.
B)rainbands.
C)eye wall.
D)eye.

Question 34

In a ___________ front, air on the cold side of the front flows nearly parallel to the front, but air on the warm side typically rises over the cold air.

A)warm
B)stationary
C)cold
D)polar

Question 35

If there were no Coriolis force, how would the hurricane winds be affected?

A)The winds would circulate around a center of low pressure in the eye.
B)The winds in a hurricane would flow radially inward in straight paths.
C)There would be no hurricanes.
D)The winds in a hurricane would only flow upward becoming part of a jet stream.

Question 36

Meteorologists categorize an air mass as a

A)parcel of air where the temperature is the same throughout.
B)broad body of air within which temperature and humidity are relatively dissimilar.
C)broad body of air within which temperature and humidity are relatively uniform.
D)parcel of air where the temperature is the not the same.

Question 37

Identify the key structural features of a hurricane in the figure below.

A)A = eye, B = eye wall, C = spiraling winds
B)A = spiraling winds, B = eye wall, C = eye
C)A = eye wall, B = eye, C = spiraling winds
D)A = eye, B = spiraling winds, C = eye wall

Question 38

During an El Niño winter, the eastern Pacific Ocean may experience__________, whereas the western Pacific Ocean may experience __________.

A)flooding; drought
B)drought; flooding
C)no change; no change
D)landslides; mudslides

Question 39

A hurricane cannot form on the equator because the _________ is too ___________ .

A)Coriolis effect; small
B)ocean water; hot
C)Coriolis effect; big
D)ocean water; cold

Question 40

A boundary between two air masses is called a(n)

A)air parcel.
B)trough.
C)front.
D)ridge.

Question 41

Can meteorologists predict a hurricane's track, and if so, how do they know the path a hurricane will travel?

Question 42

Where can the subtropical jet stream be located?

A)At any given time, two jet streams exist in each hemisphere.
B)The subtropical jet stream lies over the polar front, an air mass boundary that extends from the Earth's surface upward to the tropopause.
C)The subtropical jet stream forms at the boundary between the high-latitude end of a Hadley cell and the cooler air of mid-latitudes.
D)The subtropical jet stream forms at the boundary of the Ferrel cell and the warmer air of the tropical latitudes.

Question 43

What are the causes of the formation of a monsoon?

Question 44

Explain the process of energy transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere during the formation of a hurricane.

Question 45

Within the jet stream, where air flow speeds up, ______________ takes place.

A)convergence
B)divergence
C)heating
D)cooling

Question 46

Which type of storm is most likely found along the comma tail of the mid-latitude cyclone?

A)hail
B)snow
C)typhoon
D)rain

Question 47

Describe the four important properties of the Coriolis force.

Question 48

Which of the following results from the accumulation of freezing rain?

A)blizzards
B)wind chill
C)ice storms
D)hail

Question 49

A mid-latitude cyclone is the interaction between a __________ and a __________ air mass.

A)warm; moist
B)dry; moist
C)maritime; continental
D)tropical; polar

Question 50

The shape of a mid-latitude cyclone if viewed from the International Space Station is a(n)

A)comma.
B)exclamation mark.
C)cross.
D)straight line.

Question 51

What is the Hadley cell's relationship to the locations of the world's tropical rainforests and subtropical deserts?

Question 52

Meteorologists classify fronts based on the

A)temperature of the cold air mass.
B)temperature of the warm air mass.
C)direction of the frontal boundary.
D)direction in which the colder air mass moves.

Question 53

How might a coastal community be affected if it experienced a category 5 hurricane according to the Saffir-Simpson scale?

Question 54

Which is MOST likely responsible for the strong winds generated in a mid-latitude cyclone?

A)low-pressure system
B)high-pressure system
C)strong pressure gradient
D)strong Coriolis force

Question 55

Explain how the heating and cooling of Earth's surface effects air pressure in relation to latitude.

Question 56

Meteorologists describe a region where the jet stream bows toward the poles as a __________ and one where it bows toward the equator as a __________ .

A)ridge; trough
B)trough; ridge
C)warm front; cold front
D)jet streak; jet stream

Question 57

What are at least three fundamental differences between tropical and mid-latitude cyclones?

Question 58

Why might a mid-latitude cyclone form and how is its formation related to the polar-front jet stream?

Question 59

What are the major sources of air masses for North America and where do they originate?

Question 60

Which type of storm is most likely found along the comma head of the mid-latitude cyclone?

A)hail
B)snow
C)typhoon
D)dry front