Deck 5: Global Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation

Question 1

Rising air pressure causes mercury in a(n):

A)barometer to fall
B)barometer to rise
C)anemometer to fall
D)anemometer to rise

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The Coriolis effect is caused by:

A)pressure gradients
B)the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun
C)differential heating
D)the Earth's rotation

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The change in atmospheric pressure measured at right angles to isobars is the:

A)atmospheric pressure
B)barometric pressure
C)geostrophic pressure
D)pressure gradient

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Pressure gradients drive winds to flow:

A)parallel to isobars
B)from low pressure to high pressure
C)from high pressure to low pressure
D)none of the above

Question 5

In the southern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes winds and currents to veer to the:

A)west
B)east
C)left
D)right

Question 6

Mountain breezes flow from:

A)valleys up mountains during the day
B)valleys up mountains during the night
C)mountains down into valleys during the day
D)mountains down into valleys during the night

Question 7

Atmospheric pressure:

A)increases with elevation
B)decreases with elevation
C)does not change with elevation

Question 8

Atmospheric pressure at sea level is about:

A)15 pounds per square inch
B)101, 320 pascals
C)1,013.2 millibars
D)all of the above

Question 9

Valley breezes flow from:

A)valleys up mountains during the day
B)valleys up mountains during the night
C)mountains down into valleys during the day
D)mountains down into valleys during the night

Question 10

A local wind system that flows from ocean to land during the late afternoon is called a:

A)land breeze
B)sea breeze
C)valley breeze
D)none of the above

Question 11

Air pressure is caused by the:

A)force of wind
B)force of gravity acting on the overlying column of air
C)force of the Earth's rotation
D)none of the above

Question 12

A line on a map that connects points of equal pressure is called a(n):

A)isotherm
B)isohyet
C)contour line
D)isobar

Question 13

A local wind system that flows from land to ocean during the night is called a:

A)land breeze
B)sea breeze
C)valley breeze
D)none of the above

Question 14

Mountain sickness or altitude sickness, which can occur at elevations above 3000m, is caused by:

A)lack of oxygen
B)too much oxygen
C)lack of nitrogen
D)too much nitrogen

Question 15

A device used to measure air pressure is a:

A)barometer
B)wind vane
C)anemometer
D)thermometer

Question 16

The weight force exerted by a column of air on a surface is called:

A)atmospheric pressure
B)temperature
C)gravitational attraction
D)weather

Question 17

A dry, hot local wind system that contributes to wildfire problems in southern California is the:

A)chinook
B)sea breeze
C)valley breeze
D)Santa Ana

Question 18

Atmospheric pressure at sea level is about:

A)5 pounds per square inch
B)15 pounds per square inch
C)25 pounds per square inch
D)35 pounds per square inch

Question 19

A strong pressure gradient is indicated on a map by:

A)closely spaced isobars
B)widely spaced isobars
C)isobars that run parallel to each other
D)isobars that run perpendicular to each other

Question 20

In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes winds and currents to veer to the:

A)west
B)east
C)left
D)right

Question 21

The magnitude of the Coriolis force:

A)increases with latitude
B)decreases with latitude
C)is unaffected by latitude

Question 22

In a cyclone located in the southern hemisphere winds:

A)converge in a clockwise direction
B)converge in a counterclockwise direction
C)diverge in a clockwise direction
D)diverge in a counterclockwise direction

Question 23

The Hadley cell circulations are bounded to the north and south by:

A)polar fronts
B)trade winds
C)subtropical convergence zones
D)subtropical high pressure belts

Question 24

The cold dry air that dominates the Asian monsoon during the winter originates from:

A)the Aleutian low
B)the Siberian high
C)the Hawaiian high
D)none of the above

Question 25

Which of the following is not part of Hadley cell circulation?

A)subtropical high pressure belts
B)the ITCZ
C)the westerlies
D)none of the above

Question 26

A cyclone is a:

A)circular low pressure cell
B)linear trough of low pressure
C)circular high pressure cell
D)linear ridge of high pressure

Question 27

The magnitude of the Coriolis force is largest at the:

A)poles
B)mid-latitudes
C)tropics
D)equator

Question 28

An anticyclone is a:

A)circular low pressure cell
B)linear trough of low pressure
C)circular high pressure cell
D)linear ridge of high pressure

Question 29

The zone of convergence of air masses along the equatorial trough is the:

A)subtropical high pressure belt
B)easterly wave zone
C)Hawaiian high
D)intertropical convergence zone

Question 30

The subtropical high pressure belts are zones of:

A)rising air and frequent rain
B)rising air and clear conditions
C)descending air and frequent rain
D)descending air and clear conditions

Question 31

The Hadley cell circulations cause ______ along the ITCZ:

A)weak surface winds
B)strong uplift
C)heavy rains
D)all of the above

Question 32

The distinctive weather pattern caused by monsoon circulation is:

A)wet summers and dry winters
B)dry summers and wet winters
C)hot summers and cold winters
D)warm summers and mild winters

Question 33

The low-latitude atmospheric circulation cell with rising air over the equatorial trough and sinking air over the subtropical high pressure belts is the:

A)convection loop
B)sea breeze
C)Hadley cell
D)trade cell

Question 34

In a cyclone located in the northern hemisphere winds:

A)converge in a clockwise direction
B)converge in a counterclockwise direction
C)diverge in a clockwise direction
D)diverge in a counterclockwise direction

Question 35

In an anticyclone located in the northern hemisphere winds :

A)converge in a clockwise direction
B)converge in a counterclockwise direction
C)diverge in a clockwise direction
D)diverge in a counterclockwise direction

Question 36

In an anticyclone located in the southern hemisphere winds :

A)converge in a clockwise direction
B)converge in a counterclockwise direction
C)diverge in a clockwise direction
D)diverge in a counterclockwise direction

Question 37

Because of the Coriolis effect, surface winds flow:

A)parallel to isobars
B)from high pressure to low pressure
C)perpendicular to isobars
D)across isobars at an angle

Question 38

Which is the following is a component of Hadley cells?

A)the doldrums
B)the trade winds
C)the ITCZ
D)all of the above

Question 39

Along the intertropical convergence zone:

A)surface winds are light and variable
B)rain is frequent and heavy
C)uplift is strong
D)all of the above

Question 40

The changing weather conditions of monsoon circulation are associated with shifts in the position of the:

A)ITCZ
B)polar fronts
C)equatorial high ridge
D)none of the above

Question 41

Which of the following jet streams is only present during the summer?

A)polar jet stream
B)subtropical jet stream
C)tropical easterly jet stream
D)none of the above

Question 42

Which of the following is not a component of upper air circulation?

A)polar low
B)tropical high-pressure belt
C)westerlies
D)none of the above

Question 43

In the Asiatic monsoon:

A)humid winds blow onshore during winter
B)humid winds blow onshore during winter
C)dry winds blow onshore during winter
D)dry winds blow offshore during winter

Question 44

In warm areas, pressure tends to ___________ with height than in cold areas.

A)decrease more slowly
B)decrease more rapidly
C)increase more slowly
D)increase more rapidly

Question 45

Which of the following does not influence wind directions in the upper atmosphere?

A)pressure gradients
B)friction
C)Coriolis effect
D)none of the above

Question 46

The circumpolar current is found:

A)around the north pole
B)around Antarctica
C)around the equator
D)none of the above

Question 47

The differences between northern and southern hemisphere circulation patterns is strongly influenced by differences in:

A)insolation
B)land mass configuration
C)axial tilt
D)none of the above

Question 48

In the upper atmosphere, isobaric surfaces tend to slope downwards from:

A)east to west
B)west to east
C)north to south
D)south to north

Question 49

Rossby waves are undulations in the flow path of the:

A)equatorial easterlies
B)jet stream
C)tropical high pressure belt
D)none of the above

Question 50

In a geostrophic wind, air flows:

A)from low pressure to high pressure
B)parallel to isobars
C)perpendicular to isobars
D)none of the above

Question 51

The pool of cold air that gets pinched off during Rossby wave formation forms a:

A)high pressure cell
B)cyclone
C)anticyclone
D)none of the above

Question 52

There are ________ permanently flowing jet streams in the northern hemisphere.

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 53

Pressure gradients aloft tend to move from low latitudes towards high latitudes because of:

A)more insolation at low latitudes
B)more net radiation at low latitudes
C)less insolation at low latitudes
D)less net radiation at low latitudes

Question 54

There is a permanent __________ centered over Antarctica.

A)anticyclone
B)cyclone
C)polar front
D)low pressure trough

Question 55

Geostrophic winds are found at:

A)low latitudes
B)high latitudes
C)low elevations
D)high elevations

Question 56

Rossby waves form along the:

A)polar front
B)tropical high pressure belt
C)equatorial easterlies
D)none of the above

Question 57

The band of rapidly flowing air found aloft above the polar front is a:

A)pressure gradient
B)trade wind
C)polar easterly
D)jet stream

Question 58

In the Asiatic monsoon:

A)humid winds blow onshore during summer
B)humid winds blow offshore during summer
C)dry winds blow onshore during summer
D)dry winds blow offshore during summer

Question 59

Which of the following does not influence upper air circulation?

A)Rossby waves
B)doldrums
C)jet streams
D)none of the above

Question 60

The polar jet stream tends to reach its farthest south position during the ________ months.

A)summer
B)winter
C)fall
D)spring

Question 61

The surface wind system known as the trade winds is labeled:

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 62

The surface wind system known as the westerlies is labeled:

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 63

Which of the following is not a characteristic change associated with El Niño conditions?

A)upwelling along the Peruvian coast ceases
B)trade winds weaken
C)a weak eastward equatorial current develops
D)doldrum winds strengthen

Question 64

The typical weather conditions experienced at the central high pressure location on this map in January would likely be:

A)cold and dry
B)cold and moist
C)mild and dry
D)mild and moist

Question 65

Atmospheric pressure is produced by the weight of a column of air above a unit area of the earth's surface.

Question 66

The direction of friction on this figure is labeled:

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 67

The device shown in this figure is used to measure:

A)air pressure
B)air temperate
C)humidity
D)solar radiation

Question 68

The direction of wind motion on this figure is labeled:

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 69

Which of the following is not a cold ocean current?

A)the California current
B)the Humboldt/Peru current
C)the Labrador current
D)the Gulf stream

Question 70

The surface wind system known as the doldrums is labeled:

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 71

The device shown in this figure is called a:

A)thermometer
B)hygrometer
C)pyranometer
D)barometer

Question 72

The surface wind system known as the polar easterlies is labeled:

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 73

An anticyclonic flow in the northern hemisphere is illustrated in part _____ of this figure.

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 74

The gulf stream carries __________ water to the _________.

A)cold / north
B)cold / south
C)warm / north
D)warm / south

Question 75

The direction of the pressure gradient on this figure is labeled:

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 76

The typical weather conditions experienced at the central low pressure location on this map in June would likely be:

A)hot and dry
B)hot and moist
C)mild and dry
D)mild and moist

Question 77

A cyclonic flow in the northern hemisphere is illustrated in part _____ of this figure.

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 78

The direction of the Coriolis effect on this figure is labeled:

A)1
B)2
C)3
D)4

Question 79

The wind system driven by the pressure patterns shown here is called:

A)trade winds
B)doldrums
C)land-sea breezes
D)monsoons

Question 80

Surface ocean currents in the northern hemisphere tend to flow:

A)counterclockwise
B)clockwise
C)north to south
D)south to north