What provides the ultimate driving source for wind?
changes in relative humidity
rotation of Earth
solar energy
the Coriolis effect
upward flow of air
answer
solar energy
question
In addition to friction and the pressure-gradient force, which of the following is influential in the control of wind on Earth?
the Coriolis effect
temperature
upward movement of air
changes in relative humidity
solar energy
answer
the Coriolis effect
question
Which parameter has the greatest influence on wind speed?
the Coriolis effect
differences in air pressure
differences in surface friction
differences in relative humidity
answer
differences in air pressure
question
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect will deflect wind blowing from the south toward which direction?
northwest
southeast
northeast
southwest
south
answer
northeast
question
Surface winds typically blow at an angle to isobars on a weather map, while winds aloft move air in a direction nearly parallel to the isobars. Which of the following factors best explains why surface winds move differently than winds aloft?
friction
humidity
clear air turbulence
the pressure-gradient force
answer
friction
question
Which statement regarding the Coriolis effect is correct?
The Coriolis effect affects only wind speed, not wind direction.
The Coriolis effect is the same in the North and South Hemispheres.
The Coriolis effect is parallel with the direction of airflow.
The Coriolis effect affects only wind direction, not wind speed.
answer
The Coriolis effect affects only wind direction, not wind speed.
question
What causes wind to start blowing?
the moisture gradient
the pressure gradient
the topographic gradient
the friction gradient
answer
the pressure gradient
question
A wind starts to blow from Location A to Location B. You would expect the initial wind to be strongest when the measured pressures are
955 millibars at A and 1025 millibars at B.
1035 millibars at A and 970 millibars at B.
1035 millibars at A and 1005 millibars at B.
1035 millibars at A and 1025 millibars at B.
answer
1035 millibars at A and 970 millibars at B.
question
When discussing wind, what is the Coriolis effect?
a deviation in wind direction caused by variations in temperature
a slowing down of wind speed caused by variations in pressure
winds that blow clockwise out of areas of high pressure
a deviation in wind direction caused by Earth's rotation
winds that blow counterclockwise into areas of low pressure
a slowing down of wind speed caused by Earth's rotation
answer
a deviation in wind direction caused by Earth's rotation
question
Check all that apply. Which of the following are important in determining the speed and direction of upper level winds in the troposphere?
pressure gradient
longitude
friction
Coriolis effect
answer
pressure gradient
Coriolis effect
question
Check all that apply. Which of the following are important in determining the speed and direction of lower level winds?
pressure gradient
longitude
friction
Coriolis effect
answer
pressure gradient
friction
Coriolis effect
question
On a weather map, you examine the isobars and find that concentric rings of the pressure system increase in air pressure toward the center. Which type of pressure system is depicted on the map?
syncline
hurricane
surface low pressure cell (cyclone)
surface high pressure cell (anticyclone)
anticline
answer
surface high pressure cell (anticyclone)
question
Due to the pressure-gradient force and the Corolis effect, winds in a surface low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere blow in which direction?
outward and counterclockwise
inward and counterclockwise
outward and clockwise
inward and clockwise
answer
inward and counterclockwise
question
Because of the divergence of air associated with a surface high pressure cell (anticyclone), what type of weather is generally associated with this pressure system?
fair and clear
thunderstorms
cloudy and rainy
extremely cold
foggy
answer
fair and clear
question
Looking at a weather map of North America, you notice that the isobars in an approaching pressure system are very closely spaced and show a decrease in pressure toward the center. What type of weather would you anticipate over the next 24 to 48 hours?
extremely cold
foggy
clear and fair
clear and windy
rainy and windy
answer
rainy and windy
question
Which of the following statements correctly describe the winds associated with surface high and low pressure systems in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
Winds around a low pressure system (cyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Winds around a low pressure system (cyclonic winds) are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Winds around a low pressure system (cyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
answer
Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Winds around a high pressure system (anticyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
Winds around a low pressure system (cyclonic winds) are counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.
question
Check all that apply. Which of the following are associated with a surface High?
Surface convergence.
Surface divergence.
Upper level convergence.
Upper level divergence.
Subsiding air.
Ascending air.
Adiabatically warmed air.
Fine weather.
Unstable conditions or rain.
Cloud formation.
answer
Surface divergence.
Upper level convergence.
Subsiding air.
Adiabatically warmed air.
Fine weather.
question
Check all that apply. Which of the following are associated with a surface Low?
Surface convergence.
Surface divergence.
Upper level convergence.
Upper level divergence.
Subsiding air.
Ascending air.
Adiabatically warmed air.
Fine weather.
Unstable conditions or rain.
Cloud formation.
answer
Surface convergence.
Upper level divergence.
Ascending air.
Unstable conditions or rain.
Cloud formation.
question
What would global wind circulation look like on a nonrotating Earth?
Warm air from the equator would move in a counterclockwise direction toward the poles.
Cold air from the poles would move toward the equator near Earth's surface.
Warm air from the equator would move toward the poles in the upper troposphere.
Cold air from the poles would move in a clockwise direction toward the equator.
answer
Cold air from the poles would move toward the equator near Earth's surface.
Warm air from the equator would move toward the poles in the upper troposphere.
question
How many Hadley cells are contained within Earth's atmosphere?
3
2
8
6
answer
6
question
Why does air tend to rise in equatorial regions?
Equatorial regions receive less direct sunlight than subtropical regions.
Equatorial air is more dense.
Equatorial regions receive more direct sunlight than other areas.
Equatorial regions receive less direct sunlight than other areas.
answer
Equatorial regions receive more direct sunlight than other areas.
question
What is the air that sinks at latitudes of 30 degrees north and south (the Subtropical High) like when it reaches the Earth's surface?
Warm and wet.
Cool and dry.
Warm and dry.
Cool and wet.
answer
warm and dry
question
At which locations is there a permanent surface Low configuration (ascending humid air)?
Poles (90° N & S)
Subtropics (30° N & S)
45° N & S
Subpolar (60° N & S)
Equator
answer
Subpolar (60° N & S)
Equator
question
At which locations is there a permanent surface High configuration (descending dry air)?
45° N & S
Poles (90° N & S)
Equator
Subtropics (30° N & S)
Subpolar (60° N & S)
answer
Poles (90° N & S)
Subtropics (30° N & S)
question
The Equatorial Low is associated with
descending air.
abundant rainfall.
diverging surface flow.
cold temperatures.
deserts.
answer
abundant rainfall.
question
The Subtropical High is associated with
ising air.
abundant rainfall.
year-round cold temperatures.
unstable air.
deserts.
answer
deserts
question
The Polar High is associated with
low surface pressure.
heavy precipitation.
converging surface flow.
cold temperatures.
extensive cloud cover.
answer
cold temp
question
At what latitudes do the 'trade winds' occur?
at the poles
between 30 and 60 degrees N and S
between the equator and 30 degrees N and S
between the poles and 60 degrees N and S
answer
between the equator and 30 degrees N and S
question
What are jet streams?
Bands of high-speed wind found at elevations of 3-5 km
Bands of low-speed wind found at elevations of 3-5 km
Bands of low-speed wind found at elevations of 9-15 km
Bands of high-speed wind found at elevations of 9-15 km
answer
Bands of high-speed wind found at elevations of 9-15 km
question
In which direction do jet streams generally travel?
west to east
north to south
east to west
south to north
answer
west to east
question
Where are the two main hemispheric jet streams located?
between 50 and 60 degrees latitude and at about 30 degrees latitude
above 70 degrees longitude and below 20 degrees longitude
above 70 degrees latitude and below 20 degrees latitude
between 50 and 60 degrees longitude and at about 30 degrees longitude
answer
between 50 and 60 degrees latitude and at about 30 degrees latitude
question
What are Rossby waves?
major undulations in Earth's orbital parameters
major undulations in the path of a jet stream
minor undulations in the path of a jet stream
answer
major undulations in the path of a jet stream
question
Check all that apply. On a typical summer's day, an afternoon wind flows
from the land to the sea.
from the sea to the land.
from the valley up the mountain sides.
from the mountains into the valley.
answer
from the sea to the land.
from the valley up the mountain sides.
question
Check all that apply. On a typical summer's night, a wind flows
from the land to the sea.
from the sea to the land.
from the valley up the mountain sides.
from the mountains into the valley.
answer
from the land to the sea.
from the mountains into the valley.
question
Check all that apply. Which of the following is associated with the Late Summer Monsoons in India or Australia?
moist airflow from the continent to the ocean
dry airflow from the continent to the ocean
moist airflow from the ocean to the continent
higher pressure over the continent
heavy rainfall
answer
moist airflow from the ocean to the continent
heavy rainfall
question
Check all that apply. Which of the following is associated with the Winter Monsoons of India or Australia?
moist airflow from the continent to the ocean
dry airflow from the continent to the ocean
lower pressure over the continent
moist airflow from the ocean to the continent
warmer daily temperatures over the land than over the ocean
warmer daily temperatures over the ocean than over the land
answer
dry airflow from the continent to the ocean
warmer daily temperatures over the ocean than over the land
question
What is a chinook?
when warmer air rises up along the sides of a valley
when cooler air over land moves toward warmer air on water
warm, dry air ascending on the windward side of a mountain
warm, dry air descending on the leeward side of a mountain
answer
warm, dry air descending on the leeward side of a mountain
question
Which of the following processes is associated with El Niño?
Surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are colder than average.
Drought conditions are expected in nrotheastern Australia.
A strong upwelling occurs along the west coast of Peru.
Surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are warmer than average.
Weak trade winds allow warm equatorial water to move from the western Pacific to the east.
Strong trade winds push a warm equatorial ocean current toward the western Pacific.
Great amounts of precipitation are expected for northwestern South America.
answer
Drought conditions are expected in nrotheastern Australia.
Surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are warmer than average.
Weak trade winds allow warm equatorial water to move from the western Pacific to the east.
Great amounts of precipitation are expected for northwestern South America.
question
The North Atlantic Oscillation is an oscillation of the pressure gradient between which two regions?
subtropical high (the Azores) and equatorial low
subpolar low (Iceland) and equatorial low
subpolar low (Iceland) and subtropical high (the Azores)
answer
subpolar low (Iceland) and subtropical high (the Azores)
question
At which of the following locations would you expect the greatest annual precipitation?
The North Pole.
Jacksonville.
Equatorial Brazil.
Italy.
Oregon.
answer
Equatorial Brazil.
question
Upper air winds are generally faster than the surface winds directly below.
t/f
answer
true
question
An isobar is a line on a weather map connecting places of equal ________.
answer
barometric pressure
question
Closely spaced isobars indicate high wind speeds.
t/f
answer
true
question
A southwest wind blows toward the northeast.
t/f
answer
true
question
The pressure gradient force is the driving force behind wind.
t/f
answer
true
question
The Coriolis effect influences wind speed but not wind direction.
t/f
answer
false
question
High pressure systems are usually associated with stormy weather.
t/f
answer
false
question
If "fair" weather were approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be ________.
steady
falling
rising
none of these
answer
rising
question
Fast moving currents of air found near the top of the troposphere are called ________.
answer
jet streams
question
This pressure zone is associated with abundant precipitation and warm temperatures.
subtropical high
polar high
equatorial low
subpolar low
answer
equatorial low
question
The Sahara and Australian deserts (among others) are associated with the ________.
equatorial low
polar high
subpolar low
subtropical high
answer
subtropical high
question
A mountain breeze is best developed in the hottest part of the day.
t/f
answer
false
question
A land breeze usually originates during the ________.
evening and flows toward the water
day and flows toward the water
evening and flows toward the land
day and flows toward the land
answer
evening and flows toward the water
question
A sea breeze usually originates during the ________.
evening and flows toward the land
evening and flows toward the water
day and flows toward the water
day and flows toward the land
answer
day and flows toward the land
question
The ultimate cause of a sea breeze is the unequal heating of land and water.
t/f
answer
true
question
Which of the following are typically associated with (surface) low pressure systems?
no wind and clear weather
rain
strong winds and stormy weather
strong winds and clear weather
answer
rain
strong winds and stormy weather
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