Deck 13: The Atmosphere in Motion

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a local wind?

A)chinook
B)Santa Ana Winds
C)valley breeze
D)upland breeze

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Because unequal heating of Earth's surface generates these pressure differences, ________ is/are the ultimate energy source for most wind.

A)caves
B)hot springs
C)solar radiation
D)the greenhouse effect

Answer 2

C

Question 3

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

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

Answer 3

B

Question 4

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 5

Which of the four breezes shown in this figure best illustrates a land breeze?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 6

Which of the four lettered locations on this barometer would correspond to a hurricane (tropical cyclone)?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 7

________ are high-elevation "rivers" of air that travel between 120 and 240 kilometers (75 and 150 miles)per hour in a west-to-east direction.

A)Chinooks
B)Valley breezes
C)Jet streams
D)Anticyclones

Question 8

Which of the following does not contribute to controlling the motion of the wind?

A)pressure gradient force
B)Coriolis effect
C)friction
D)ozone layer (and hole)

Question 9

Standard sea level pressure is ________.

A)about 1084 mb (32.01 inches of mercury)
B)about 1013 mb (29.92 inches of mercury)
C)about 902 mb (26.71 inches of mercury)
D)about 870 mb (25.70 inches of mercury)

Question 10

The wind that mostly closely resembles a chinook is ________.

A)the Santa Ana winds
B)monsoons
C)sea breezes
D)the jet stream

Question 11

You are getting ready to go for a hike on a summer day. You check the barograph and discover that the pressure tendency has been rising for several hours. Based on this information, what gear should you be sure to pack for your hike?

A)snowshoes
B)sunscreen
C)a rain jacket
D)a helmet

Question 12

An anemometer measures ________.

A)atmospheric pressure
B)wind direction
C)precipitation
D)wind speed

Question 13

All of the following instruments are used to measure air pressure except for ________.

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

Question 14

When the pressure gradient force is balanced by the Coriolis force, high altitude ________ move parallel to isobars.

A)monsoons
B)geostrophic winds
C)valley breezes
D)chinooks

Question 15

Together, a high-pressure center and the Coriolis effect produce ________.

A)hurricanes
B)cyclones
C)anticyclones
D)Hadley cells

Question 16

Which of the four lettered locations on the map would have the highest pressure gradient (and thus, the highest potential for winds)?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 17

Examine this map view of isobars (blue lines)and wind directions (red arrows). Based on the information in this map, what kind of winds are these most likely to be?

A)surface winds
B)geostrophic winds
C)winds on a non-rotating Earth
D)Santa Ana winds

Question 18

The zone of subsiding dry air which encircles the globe near 30° latitude, north and south, is known as the ________.

A)Hadley cell
B)subtropical high
C)trade winds
D)polar front

Question 19

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 20

In Eurasia, the land becomes cold in the winter and develops a seasonal high-pressure system from which surface flow is directed off the land. In the summer, in contrast, the opposite occurs: The landmasses are heated and develop a low-pressure cell, which permits air to flow onto the land. This "switch" in directions of airflow into or off of the continent gives rise to ________.

A)the monsoon
B)cyclones
C)the polar high
D)easterlies and westerlies

Question 21

Winds occurring as a result of upper-level flow are generally faster than the surface winds directly below.

Question 22

Anticyclones characteristically have winds blowing out from their centers.

Question 23

Examine the figure. Which of the four lettered latitudes would be the most likely site for clear skies?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 24

The pressure gradient force is always directed parallel to the isobars.

Question 25

The jet stream is a surface wind feature.

Question 26

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

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

Question 27

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

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

Question 28

Low pressure systems are usually associated with clear weather.

Question 29

A north wind blows from the north toward the south.

Question 30

Air flows from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure.

Question 31

Widely spaced isobars indicate strong winds.

Question 32

Cyclones are usually associated with stormy weather.

Question 33

The Coriolis effect influences wind speed but not wind direction.

Question 34

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 35

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

Question 36

Consider the figure as evidence in evaluating the truthfulness of the following statement: "Particular barometer readings always correspond to specific types of weather."

Question 37

Examine the figure. Which of the four lettered columns shows the correct order of slowest wind symbols (top)to fastest wind symbols (bottom)?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 38

Examine the map showing air pressure in millibars. Which of the four lettered locations deserves a wind hazard alert?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 39

The driving force of wind is the horizontal air pressure gradient that results from unequal heating of Earth's surface by the Sun.

Question 40

Upper air winds are unaffected by the Coriolis force.

Question 41

While some barometers express atmospheric pressure in millibars, others use ________ as their basic unit of measurement.

Question 42

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

Question 43

Polar easterlies may dominate Alaska's prevailing winds, and NE trade winds may dominate in Hawaii, but ________ dominate the prevailing winds of the "lower 48" (contiguous)United States.

Question 44

If Earth's surface were uniform, ________ belts of pressure oriented east to west would exist in each hemisphere.

Question 45

________ of air occurs near Earth's surface around an anticyclone.

Question 46

The average position of the polar jet stream, and hence the paths followed by cyclones and anticyclones, migrates ________ with the approach of winter.

Question 47

________ is the result of horizontal differences in air pressure.

Question 48

Examine the figure. The prevailing wind depicting on this wind rose blows from the ________ towards the ________.

Question 49

Chinook and Santa Ana winds are warm, dry winds created when air descends the leeward side of a mountain and ________ by compression.

Question 50

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect shifts objects to the ________ of their straight-line paths.

Question 51

Above a height of a few kilometers, the Coriolis effect is equal to and opposite the pressure gradient force, which results in ________ winds that blow parallel to the isobars.

Question 52

In the United States, prevailing winds move the "weather" from east to west across the continent.

Question 53

Match the item in the first column with the correct description in the second column.

A)a night-time wind in coastal regions, moving seaward
B)a day-time wind in coastal regions, moving inland
C)a surface region of low atmospheric pressure around which winds spiral inwards
D)a surface region of high atmospheric pressure around which winds spiral outwards
E)a device that measures wind speed, but not direction
F)a device that measures wind direction, but not speed
G)the equatorial low-pressure zone
H)air movement the occurs between the equator and the subtropical high
1)cyclone
2)anticyclone
3)anemometer
4)wind vane
5)sea breeze
6)land breeze
7)intertropical convergence zone
8)trade wind

Question 54

A(n)________ provides a rough indication of wind speed and direction, though it's not as precise as a cup anemometer paired with a wind vane.

Question 55

The faster the wind speed, the ________ the deflection of winds due to the Coriolis force.

Question 56

In general, regions influenced by high pressure, with its associated subsidence and divergent winds, experience ________ conditions.

Question 57

Why are coastal and mountainous regions often much more windy than other locations at similar latitudes?

Question 58

On the basis of vegetation patterns, cloud cover, and sea surface patterns (choppy or calm), identify the directions that the prevailing trade winds blow over the Hawaiian islands. Draw an arrow on this image to express your answer.

NASA image

Question 59

For a low-pressure center to be maintained or strengthened, the surface convergence must be balanced by ________ aloft.

Question 60

Identify and label the following four features on this diagram:
a. equatorial low
b. polar front
c. subtropical high
d. polar high

Question 61

Examine the figure. Compare the precipitation maps in parts A and B with the atmospheric pressure patterns depicted in parts C and D. Does A or B match up with C? Which one matches with D? Explain.

Question 62

Examine the photo. There is a local wind blowing in this photo, though you cannot see the wind itself. Based on the evidence in the photo, which local wind is present here? State your evidence with your interpretation.

Question 63

Examine the barograph shown in the photograph. Based on the data available there, would you expect rainy or clear weather to be more likely? Explain.

Question 64

If divergence in the jet stream above a surface low-pressure center exceeds convergence at the surface, will surface winds likely get stronger or weaker?

Question 65

Discuss the major factors that influence the global distribution of precipitation.

Question 66

Examine the map showing air pressure in millibars. Compare and contrast what sorts of weather situations would you expect at sites "B" and "D" on the map.