Deck 18: Air Pressure and Wind

Question 1

Lines on a weather map connecting places of equal air pressure are called ________.

A) isovectors
B) isobars
C) isotherms
D) isogrids

Answer 1

B

Question 2

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winds associated with a low pressure system (cyclone) blow ________.

A) clockwise and toward the center
B) counterclockwise and toward the center
C) clockwise and outward from the center
D) counterclockwise and outward from the center

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Low air pressure systems are usually associated with ________.

A) diverging winds
B) descending air
C) precipitation
D) clear weather

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Standard sea level pressure in inches of mercury is ________.

A) 7.52 inches
B) 14.70 inches
C) 28.70 inches
D) 29.92 inches

Question 5

Upper air winds ________.

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

Question 6

The force that generates wind is ________.

A) Coriolis force
B) gravity force
C) centrifugal force
D) pressure gradient force

Question 7

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with a high pressure system blow ________.

A) clockwise and toward the center
B) counterclockwise and toward the center
C) clockwise and outward from the center
D) counterclockwise and outward from the center

Question 8

In the Southern Hemisphere, the winds associated with a low pressure system blow ________.

A) clockwise and toward the center
B) counterclockwise and toward the center
C) clockwise and outward from the center
D) counterclockwise and outward from the center

Question 9

Which of these instruments is NOT used to measure air pressure?

A) mercurial barometer
B) aneroid barometer
C) barograph
D) anemometer

Question 10

An altimeter is an adaptation of the ________.

A) mercurial barometer
B) aneroid barometer
C) barograph
D) anemometer

Question 11

Widely spaced isobars often indicate ________.

A) high winds
B) variable winds
C) light winds
D) cyclonic winds

Question 12

If Earth were not rotating ________.

A) it would lose its atmosphere
B) air would move directly from high to low pressure
C) all air would move in one direction only
D) friction would be eliminated

Question 13

High air pressure systems are usually associated with ________.

A) diverging winds
B) descending air
C) clear weather
D) all of these

Question 14

Which of these factors influence the magnitude of the Coriolis force?

A) wind speed
B) latitude
C) wind direction
D) both wind speed and latitude

Question 15

The Coriolis effect influences ________.

A) only wind speed
B) only wind direction
C) both wind speed and wind direction
D) neither wind speed nor wind direction

Question 16

If "fair" weather were approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be ________.

A) steady
B) rising
C) falling
D) none of these

Question 17

A steep pressure gradient ________.

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

Question 18

Closely spaced isobars often indicate ________.

A) high winds
B) variable winds
C) light winds
D) cyclonic winds

Question 19

Standard sea level pressure in millibars is ________.

A) 750 mb
B) 890 mb
C) 1013 mb
D) 1143 mb

Question 20

The mercurial barometer was invented by ________.

A) Torricelli
B) Galileo
C) Newton
D) Watt

Question 21

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. trade winds B. westerlies C. chinook D. polar easterlies

Question 22

Low pressure systems are usually associated with clear weather.

Question 23

A Santa Ana (or Chinook or Foehn) wind is a ________.

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

Question 24

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

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

Question 25

A sea breeze usually originates during the ________.

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

Question 26

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. sea breeze B. Chinook winds C. valley breeze D. trade winds

Question 27

The Sahara and Australian deserts (among others) are associated with the ________.

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

Question 28

When are upper air winds fastest?

A) in summer
B) in winter
C) whenever the temperature gradient is weak
D) These winds maintain roughly the same speeds throughout the year.

Question 29

What is the technical name for a high pressure center?

A) cyclone
B) anticyclone
C) front
D) doldrums

Question 30

If stormy weather were approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be ________.

A) steady
B) rising
C) falling
D) none of these

Question 31

If the barometer indicated 1020 millibars, air pressure would be considered high.

Question 32

The subpolar low (polar front) is ________.

A) a zone where the trade winds meet
B) the forward edge of the Antarctic ice cap
C) a zone where the polar easterlies and the westerlies converge
D) the boundary between frozen and liquid

Question 33

Fast moving currents of air found near the top of the troposphere are called ________.

A) mesocyclones
B) chinooks
C) jet streams
D) El Niño

Question 34

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. Coriolis effect B. jet stream C. friction D. pressure gradient force

Question 35

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

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

Question 36

Another name for the area of equatorial lows is the ________.

A) subpolar easterlies
B) westerlies
C) doldrums
D) horse latitudes

Question 37

Cyclones are usually associated with stormy weather.

Question 38

A land breeze usually originates during the ________.

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

Question 39

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. equatorial low B. trade winds C. polar front D. subtropical high

Question 40

High pressure systems are usually associated with stormy weather.

Question 41

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

Question 42

Torricelli invented the mercurial barometer.

Question 43

Of the various elements of weather, changes in air pressure are probably the most obvious.

Question 44

Standard sea level pressure is ________ inches of mercury.

Question 45

Closely spaced isobars indicate high wind speeds.

Question 46

The Coriolis effect is strongest at the equator and diminishes in strength poleward.

Question 47

Standard sea level air pressure is 29.92 inches of mercury.

Question 48

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

Question 49

The existence of jet streams was first determined by Ben Franklin as a result of his kite experiments.

Question 50

Horizontal movement of air is called wind.

Question 51

The ultimate cause of a sea breeze is the unequal heating of land and water.

Question 52

Standard sea level air pressure is 1013 millibars.

Question 53

Anticyclones characteristically have winds blowing out from their centers.

Question 54

The pressure gradient force is the driving force behind wind.

Question 55

A southwest wind blows toward the northeast.

Question 56

Upper air winds are generally faster than the surface winds directly below.

Question 57

The Coriolis effect influences wind speed but not wind direction.

Question 58

A mountain breeze is best developed in the hottest part of the day.

Question 59

An isobar is a line connecting places of equal humidity.

Question 60

In the Northern Hemisphere, winds blow clockwise and outward from the center of anticyclones.

Question 61

A north wind blows from the ________ to the ________.

Question 62

Fast moving currents of air found near the top of the troposphere are called ________.

Question 63

The force that generates wind is known as the ________ force.

Question 64

What is the name of the lines on the weather map below?

Question 65

"Perhaps more than any other single measurement, atmospheric pressure is the best indicator of current and changing weather conditions." Briefly discuss why this statement is correct.

Question 66

On the diagram below, label the Subtropical high, Equatorial low, and the Trade Winds.

Question 67

When winds blow parallel to the isobars, which is usually the case for winds aloft, they are called ________ winds.

Question 68

What type of local wind pattern is illustrated in the diagram below?

Question 69

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

Question 70

Warm winds that move down the leeward side of mountains are known as ________.

Question 71

Considering the theory of plate tectonics and the movement of landmasses over geologic time, would you expect atmospheric circulation of the past to be the same as we see today? Why or why not? Consider the factors that determine global wind patterns and whether they have changed over time.

Question 72

Horizontal movement of air is called ________.

Question 73

An instrument that measures wind speed is called a(n) ________.

Question 74

A low pressure center is called a(n) ________.

Question 75

The surface wind zones that flow from the subtropics toward the equator are called the ________ winds.

Question 76

An isobar is a line on a weather map connecting places of equal ________.

Question 77

Why are coastal and mountainous regions often much more windy than other locations at similar latitudes? Also, from this and earlier chapters on meteorology, are there other weather characteristics that are perhaps unique or different for these areas?

Question 78

An instrument that measures air pressure using a partially evacuated chamber is called a(n) ________ barometer.