Deck 5: Winds and the Global Circulation System

Question 1

The pressure gradient force _______.

A)increases as differences in atmospheric pressure increase per unit of distance
B)decreases as differences in atmospheric pressure increase per unit of distance
C)is unrelated to differences in atmospheric pressure
D)is related to vertical changes in water vapour per unit of atmospheric volume
E)cancels out the Coriolis force at high altitudes where wind speeds are greater

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Wind circulation around a low pressure cell is:

A)clockwise outward in the Northern Hemisphere
B)clockwise inward in the Northern Hemisphere
C)clockwise inward in the Southern Hemisphere
D)clockwise outward in the Southern Hemisphere
E)clockwise inward in both Northern and Southern hemispheres

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The Trade Winds blow from:

A)the Subtropical High to the Equatorial Low
B)the Subtropical High to the Subpolar Low
C)the Doldrums to the Horse Latitudes
D)the Polar High to the Subtropical High
E)the Polar High to the Doldrums

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Surface winds converge towards __________________.

A)an anticyclone
B)a cyclone
C)an area of high pressure
D)the Subtropical high
E)the Polar high

Question 5

How does the magnitude of the Coriolis force vary with latitude?

A)Deflection is zero at the equator and maximum at the poles
B)Deflection is zero at the poles and maximum at the equator
C)Deflection is zero at the equator and poles and maximum at mid-latitudes
D)Deflection is zero at mid-latitudes and maximum at the equator and poles
E)Deflection is constant across the Earth's surface

Question 6

The name given to the apparent deflecting influence of the earth's rotation on moving objects such as wind and ocean currents is called _______.

A)the aphelion effect
B)the ecliptic process
C)parallelism
D)the Coriolis force
E)the pressure gradient force

Question 7

Which ocean currents are categorized as thermohaline?

A)Upwelling currents
B)Surface ocean currents
C)Deep ocean currents
D)Tropical gyres
E)Subtropical gyres

Question 8

Which of the following pressure systems has a wind circulation pattern that is clockwise,downward and outward?

A)Southern Hemisphere low
B)Southern Hemisphere high
C)Northern Hemisphere low
D)Northern Hemisphere high
E)Southern and Northern hemisphere lows

Question 9

In high pressure systems:

A)air rises and converges at the surface
B)air rises and diverges at the surface
C)air subsides and converges at the surface
D)air subsides and diverges at the surface
E)air subsides but neither converges or diverges

Question 10

The ITCZ is also referred to as the ______________________.

A)equatorial high
B)equatorial trough
C)mid-latitude convergence zone
D)polar high
E)polar low

Question 11

An air mass where air converges at the surface,ascends and rotates in a clockwise direction is:

A)a low pressure cell in the Northern Hemisphere
B)a low pressure cell in the Southern Hemisphere
C)a high pressure cell in the Northern Hemisphere
D)a high pressure cell in the Southern Hemisphere
E)both a low pressure cell in the Southern Hemisphere or a a high pressure cell in the Northern Hemisphere

Question 12

The trade winds blow from _____________________.

A)southeast-to-northwest in southern hemisphere and northeast to southwest in the northern hemisphere.
B)southwest-to-northeast in southern hemisphere and southeast to northwest in the northern hemisphere.
C)east-to-west in the northern hemisphere and west-to-east in the southern hemisphere
D)west-to-east in the northern hemisphere and east-to-west in the southern hemisphere
E)southeast-to-northwest in southern hemisphere and west-to-east in the northern hemisphere

Question 13

Trade winds:

A)are easterlies
B)are westerlies
C)flow from the ITCZ to the Polar Front
D)flow from the Polar Front to the Subtropical belts
E)flow from the ITCZ to the Subtropical High

Question 14

Which of the following statements concerning the pressure gradient force is correct?

A)In certain cases the force may be directed from lower to higher pressure
B)Pressure gradient force acts parallel to isobars
C)Pressure gradient force is greatest when isobars are spaced closest together
D)The pressure gradient force affects only vertical wind flow
E)Pressure gradient force acts perpendicular to isobars

Question 15

Upwelling is:__________________

A)the rising of cold water from the ocean depths in open water near the center of the earth's major oceans
B)the rising of warm water from the ocean depths in open water near the center of the earth's major oceans
C)the rising of cold water from ocean depths near coastlines
D)the rising of warm water from ocean depths near coastlines.
E)the development of eddies from ocean currents

Question 16

In an anticyclone,a __________-pressure cell,air __________.

A)low/converges to the center
B)low/diverges from the center
C)high/converges to the center
D)high/diverges from the center
E)high/ascends

Question 17

If the geostrophic wind is blowing into to your back and an area of low pressure is to your right then:

A)the wind is blowing parallel to the isobars and you are in the Northern Hemisphere
B)the wind is blowing at right angles to the isobars and you are in the Northern Hemisphere
C)the wind is blowing parallel to the isobars and you are in the Southern Hemisphere
D)the wind is blowing at right angles to the isobars and you are in the Southern Hemisphere
E)the wind is blowing from your right to your left and you could be in either Hemisphere

Question 18

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

A)Jet streams exist in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres
B)All jet streams are characterized by westerly wind flows
C)In the Northern hemisphere,the subtropical jet stream is active throughout the year
D)The polar jet is typically found at altitudes of 10 to 12 kms (30,000 to 40,000 ft).
E)Wind speeds in jet streams are much faster than wind speeds at the ground surface

Question 19

Which of the following statements about oceans gyres is incorrect?

A)Gyres are ocean currents that form large continuously moving loops
B)Corresponding subtropical gyres on either side of the equator both circulate in clockwise direction
C)Gyres,such as the tropical gyres,are reinforced by wind belts such as the Trade Winds
D)Gyres circulate in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions
E)Gyres tend to form as cells elongated in an east-west directions

Question 20

What is the geostrophic wind?

A)an upper-air wind that blows perpendicular to the isobars
B)a surface wind that is affected by friction and blows at an angle across the isobars
C)a surface wind that is not affected by the Coriolis force
D)an upper-air wind that blows parallel to the isobars
E)a surface wind characterized by constant speed and direction

Question 21

Lifting air in equatorial region that separates at great altitude,moves toward the poles and descends near 30 degrees N or S to form:

A)the subtropical high pressure belt
B)the tropical high pressure belt
C)cold,moist air
D)the doldrums
E)the equatorial trough

Question 22

The apparent deflection of the Coriolis force is to the left in the Northern hemisphere and to the right in the Southern hemisphere.

Question 23

At the ITCZ __________.

A)air descends to the surface creating a high pressure belt
B)descending air collides with ascending air creating an unstable air interface
C)air ascends from the surface to the tropopause and flows poleward
D)air ascends from the upper atmosphere where it meets ionized air which is descending from the troposphere
E)descending air,from the upper atmosphere,meets ionized air creating a high pressure belt

Question 24

Wind can be describes as the horizontal movement of air near the surface from ____________ to ____________.

A)east,west
B)west,east
C)low pressure,high pressure
D)north,south
E)high pressure,low pressure

Question 25

The highest clouds are located below the altitude at which commercial jet aircraft fly.

Question 26

A sea breeze flows __________.

A)during the day from the body of water towards the adjacent land area
B)during the day from the land surface towards the adjacent body of water
C)during the night from the body of water towards the adjacent land area
D)during the night from the land surface towards the adjacent body of water
E)during the night from mountain regions towards the adjacent body of water

Question 27

The phenomena known as El Nino occurs in which ocean?

A)Pacific
B)Indian
C)North Atlantic
D)South Atlantic
E)Arctic

Question 28

Pressure decreases less rapidly with height in cooler air than in warmer air.

Question 29

As you increase in altitude,barometric pressure:

A)holds
B)increases
C)decreases
D)is temperature dependant
E)none of the above

Question 30

Which of the following statements concerning the temperature structure of the oceans is correct?

A)In Arctic and Antarctic regions the thermocline is situated deeper than in other regions
B)At the thermocline,temperatures decline gradually toward the sea floor
C)Above the thermocline is a layer of cooler water
D)Mid-latitudes develop a warm surface layer that deepens with wave action
E)The warm surface layer persists all year at low latitudes

Question 31

Undulations in the westward flow of the upper-air westerlies are referred to as:

A)Hadley cells
B)gyres
C)Jet Streams
D)The Polar Front
E)Rossby waves

Question 32

The mistral wind of the Rhone Valley in Southern France is an example of which type of wind?

A)Sea breeze
B)Land breeze
C)Drainage wind
D)Mountain wind
E)Valley wind

Question 33

Which belt of winds corresponds with the subtropical high?

A)doldrums
B)horse latitudes
C)southeast trades
D)prevailing westerlies
E)northeast trades

Question 34

Which of the following factors is responsible for the monsoon?

A)The seasonal movement of the ITCZ over Africa and Asia
B)Development of high pressure over Asia in July
C)Development of low pressure over Asia in January
D)Flow of air from the Indian ocean over the land surface in January
E)All of the above

Question 35

Winds are designated according to the compass point from which winds come.

Question 36

When looking at a weather map of isobars,where would you find the highest wind speed:

A)near the equator
B)where the isobars are closer together
C)where the isobars are farthest apart
D)at the center of high pressure
E)along the coast

Question 37

The polar zones are associated with _________ pressure and ________ winds.

A)low/ easterly
B)low/ westerly
C)high/ westerly
D)high/ easterly
E)high/ southerly

Question 38

In the Southern hemisphere,a counter-clockwise rotating and descending air mass would be called:

A)a cyclone
B)a low pressure cell
C)a typhoon
D)an anticyclone
E)none of the above

Question 39

Wind speed is measured by a/an _____________ whereas wind direction is measured by a/an _____________ .

A)barometer / barograph
B)barograph / barometer
C)anemometer / barometer
D)anemometer / vane
E)vane / anemometer

Question 40

In high pressure centers,air spirals downward and inward.

Question 41

The cause of the westerly flow of winds is the Rossby Wave.

Question 42

The Jet Stream takes place at high altitudes and produces very high wind speeds.

Question 43

Describe and explain the impact of the Coriolis force upon the path of objects or parcels of air in the atmosphere

Question 44

Local terrain can be responsible for the influence of "local winds".

Question 45

The greatest wind speeds occur in the center of jet streams with velocities decreasing away from the center.

Question 46

Describe the different types of jet streams and compare their characteristics.

Question 47

The Hadley Cell is rising air over the equatorial trough and sinking air over the subtropical high pressure belt producing trade winds returning to the equatorial trough.

Question 48

The thermocline is the zone in which ocean temperatures decline.

Question 49

Using annotated diagrams,explain the passage of a parcel of air in a center of low pressure and a center of high pressure

Question 50

Describe and explain the factors leading to the Asian monsoon seasons.

Question 51

Describe the role and development of deep ocean currents.

Question 52

Explain the concept of "El Nino".

Question 53

High pressures at the poles,create surface winds that are known as polar westerlies.

Question 54

At the ITCZ,air rises,and the winds are light and variable.

Question 55

The subtropical jet stream is located between 35 and 65 degrees latitude.

Question 56

Describe the changes in temperature,pressure and other atmospheric variables as you ascend through the atmosphere.

Question 57

Describe and explain the local winds of your region.

Question 58

Using the map of ocean currents (Fig.5.29)review the effects of ocean currents on local climates.

Question 59

Using an annotated diagram,describe the bands of pressures and winds on an ideal Earth.

Question 60

Using a weather map that includes isobars (perhaps from a newspaper or from the Internet),explain the wind flows that you think would prevail