Question 1

Most of the United States is situated in which zone of prevailing winds?

Accepted Answer

A)  westerlies 
B)  trade winds 
C)  subpolar easterlies 
D)  doldrums

Question 2

You are watching the local weatherman on TV. You live in mid- latitudes in North America, and the weatherman says the winds aloft are blowing toward the northwest. Is this reasonable?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is not likely, as Northern Hemisphere winds aloft always move from west to east because of the Coriolis force. 
B)  Yes, northwest winds are common at mid latitudes in North America. 
C)  Yes, southeast winds are common at mid latitudes in North America. 
D)  No, mid- latitude winds always move from east to west because of the Coriolis force.

Question 3

Upper air winds _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  are unaffected by the Coriolis force 
B)  are greatly influenced by friction 
C)  are generally faster than surface winds 
D)  both A and B

Question 4

Low pressure systems are usually associated with _____ weather.

Accepted Answer

A)  stormy 
B)  clear 
C)  cold 
D)  warm

Question 5

The Sahara and Australian deserts among others. are associated with the_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  subtropical high 
B)  subpolar low 
C)  polar high 
D)  equatorial low

Question 6

This pressure zone is associated with abundant precipitation and warm temperatures.

Accepted Answer

A)  polar high 
B)  subtropical high 
C)  subpolar low 
D)  equatorial low

Question 7

A north wind blows from the_____  to the _____ .

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

A sea breeze usually originates during the _____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  evening and flows toward the land 
B)  day and flows toward the water 
C)  evening and flows toward the water 
D)  day and flows toward the land

Question 9

A low pressure center is called an_____

Accepted Answer

A)  tendency 
B)  isobar 
C)  cyclone 
D)  convergence

Question 10

_____ invented the mercurial barometer.

Accepted Answer

A)  Torricelli 
B)  Mercator 
C)  Richter 
D)  Curie

Question 11

The first instrument to measure air pressure was the _____ barometer.

Accepted Answer

A)  barograph 
B)  aneroid 
C)  mercurial 
D)  caliper

Question 12

A Santa Ana or Chinook or Foehn. wind is a _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  very dry, warm wind flowing down a mountain slope 
B)  cold, damp wind blowing off a snow field 
C)  wind that is common to the world's deserts 
D)  wind associated with a blizzard

Question 13

A steep pressure gradient_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  produces light winds 
B)  is only possible in the tropics 
C)  produces strong winds 
D)  would be depicted by widely spaced isobars

Question 14

Ground friction does not_____  .

Accepted Answer

A)  involve uneven topography 
B)  have a slowing effect on winds 
C)  influence upper level winds 
D)  cause winds to cross the isobars

Question 15

Two weather stations lie along a latitude line. The eastern station records a pressure of 1021mb, the western station records 1015mb. The 1020 isobar is closest to which station?

Accepted Answer

A)  Western because the isobar is closest to 1015 
B)  Western because the isobar is closest to 1021 
C)  Eastern because the isobar is closest to 1015 
D)  Eastern because the isobar is closest to 1021

Question 16

The region where the trade winds meet is also called the _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  doldrums 
B)  dog latitudes 
C)  polar easterlies 
D)  Arctic front

Question 17

Most of the people living in the United States are under the influence of the wind belt known as the _____ .

Accepted Answer

A)  southeast trade winds 
B)  polar easterlies 
C)  westerlies 
D)  northeast trade winds

Exam 18: Air Pressure and Wind