Deck 6: Air-Sea Interface

Question 1

The jet stream is a fast moving easterly flowing air mass.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

The percentage of incident light radiation reflected back to space is termed albedo.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

A mole of methane is able to absorb much more heat than one mole of carbon dioxide.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

An iceberg is a variety of sea ice.

Question 5

Near the poles, more energy is reflected back into space than is absorbed.

Question 6

The wavelength of energy radiated from the Earth back into the atmosphere is longer than the incoming solar radiation.

Question 7

A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold.

Question 8

A hurricane contains more energy than has been generated in the U.S. over the last twenty years.

Question 9

Sound travels more slowly in the SOFAR channel than in the areas of the ocean immediately above and below it.

Question 10

The trade winds can be found between 30° and 60°N and S latitudes.

Question 11

A hurricane is a very strong high-pressure system.

Question 12

The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun is directly overhead along the equator in March.

Question 13

A cold front is likely to have heavy, brief showers associated with it.

Question 14

The greenhouse gas that accounts for most of the natural greenhouse effect in Earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide.

Question 15

The angle at which direct sunlight strikes the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.

Question 16

The best climate models indicate that Earth's average surface temperature has risen by 5°C in the last 100 years.

Question 17

Glaciers and sea ice have a high albedo.

Question 18

The doldrums can be found at the Equator.

Question 19

Low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate:

A) at a 45º angle from the prevailing wind direction.
B) clockwise.
C) counterclockwise.
D) to the left.
E) to the right.

Question 20

Refer to the figure below and use the numbers that correspond to global wind belts and latitudes to answer the following question(s).

The area of the globe (latitude) that is characterized by falling air masses and little precipitation is:

A) 1.
B) 2.
C) 3.
D) 5.
E) 6.

Question 21

Winds blowing from the north in the southern hemisphere will appear to :

A) be deflected toward the east.
B) be deflected toward the west.
C) circulate counterclockwise.
D) circulate clockwise.
E) travel in a straight line.

Question 22

A cold air mass moving into an area occupied by relatively warm air is called a(n):

A) cold front.
B) high pressure system.
C) low pressure system.
D) occluded front.
E) warm front.

Question 23

The Saffir-Simpson scale rates the relative intensity of tropical cylones.

Question 24

As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds are deflected:

A) at a 45° angle form the original direction.
B) at a 90° angle from the original direction.
C) to the east of the original direction.
D) to the left of the original direction.
E) to the right of the original direction.

Question 25

Refer to the figure below and use the numbers that correspond to global wind belts and latitudes to answer the following question(s).

The westerlies wind belt is the area corresponding to:

A) 1.
B) 2.
C) 3.
D) 4.
E) 5.

Question 26

Refer to the figure below and use the numbers that correspond to global wind belts and latitudes to answer the following question(s).

The strongest winds on Earth are:

A) 1 & 2.
B) 1 & 3.
C) 2 & 3.
D) 2 & 4.
E) 3 & 4.

Question 27

The Tropic of Capricorn is located at:

A) 0° longitude.
B) 23.5°N latitude.
C) 23.5°S latitude.
D) 30°N latitude.
E) 60°S latitude.

Question 28

The temperate regions are characterized by:

A) cold fronts.
B) high pressure.
C) easterly winds.
D) trade winds.
E) westerly winds.

Question 29

A maritime tropical air mass is likely to be:

A) dry and cold.
B) dry and warm.
C) wet and cold.
D) wet and the same temperature.
E) wet and warm.

Question 30

The percentage of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth's oceans and landmasses is about:

A) 25%.
B) 30%.
C) 50%.
D) 70%.
E) 90%.

Question 31

Refer to the figure below and use the numbers that correspond to global wind belts and latitudes to answer the following question(s).

The wind belt that corresponds to the doldrums is labeled:

A) 1.
B) 2.
C) 3.
D) 5.
E) 6.

Question 32

With respect to the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere, the amount of energy radiated back into space between 35°N and 40°S latitude is:

A) about the same as the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere.
B) dependent upon the weather conditions, such as cloud cover, in the local area.
C) greater than the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere.
D) less than the amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere,
E) unrelated to latitude.

Question 33

Idealized pressure belts and wind systems are significantly modified by Earth's tilted axis of rotation and:

A) differences in the heat capacity of ocean and land.
B) differences in the latitudinal albedo.
C) Ekman transport.
D) latitudinal variations in the Coriolis effect.
E) variations in incoming solar radiation over many years.

Question 34

The deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude) as they move from one latitude to another is called the:

A) Coriolis effect.
B) Cyclonic effect.
C) Ekman spiral.
D) Hadley cell.
E) Saffir-Simpson scale.

Question 35

With respect to incoming solar radiation, radiation emitted back into the atmosphere has:

A) a longer wave frequency.
B) a longer wavelength.
C) a shorter wave period.
D) a shorter wavelength.
E) the same wavelength.

Question 36

The percentage of solar radiation directed to Earth absorbed by the clouds and the atmosphere is about:

A) 10%.
B) 25%.
C) 30%.
D) 50%.
E) 70%.

Question 37

The doldrums refer to the same region as the:

A) intertropical convergence zone.
B) jet stream.
C) subtropical jet stream.
D) subtropics.
E) trade winds.

Question 38

Wind is initiated by thermal heating from the sun and cooling by the ocean creating a thermal convection cell.

Question 39

Discuss the formation of land breezes and sea breezes.

Question 40

What are the differences between hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical cyclones?

Question 41

The oceanic climate region(s) in the majority of strong cyclonic storms are produced is indicated by the number:

A) 1.
B) 1 & 2.
C) 2.
D) 3.
E) 3 & 4.

Question 42

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
A)max. sustained winds
B)min. central pressure
C)sea surface temp.
D)storm surge
E)wind field di

A)

Question 43

Discuss the impact of the Coriolis effect on atmospheric circulation. Provide at least two examples where the Coriolis effect significantly impacts global atmospheric circulation.

Question 44

Distinguish between weather and climate.

Question 45

Describe the impact of cyclones on the Earth's heat budget? How are the number and frequency of cyclones related to latitude and season?

Question 46

Discuss uneven solar heating as a function of latitude and how this contributes to the formation of global wind belts.

Question 47

The wind belt(s) with strong, reliable, generally easterly winds is (are) the:

A) doldrums
B) horse latitudes.
C) polar easterlies.
D) trade winds.
E) westerlies.

Question 48

The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the:

A) Coriolis Scale.
B) Fujita Scale.
C) Moh's Scale.
D) Richter Scale.
E) Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Question 49

Colder air moving over significantly warmer ocean surface water may produce:

A) a cold front.
B) a warm front.
C) changes in coastal wind direction.
D) increased coastal precipitation..
E) sea smoke.

Question 50

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)doldrums
B)northeast trades
C)polar easterlies
D)southeast trades
E)westerlies

Question 51

Hurricanes are an efficient way to:

A) decrease salinity in affected estuaries.
B) eradicate rainfall deficits.
C) raise local sea level due to storm surge.
D) redistribute heat from one area to another.
E) remove old-growth coastal forests.

Question 52

Refer to the figure below, and use the information on the map corresponding to the ocean's climatic regions to answer the following question(s).

The oceanic climate region that is characterized by sea ice coverage in the winter and open water (but cold) in the summer is indicated by the number:

A) 2.
B) 3.
C) 4.
D) 5.
E) 6.

Question 53

How do water vapor and particles in the atmosphere complicate the creation of models of the Earth's atmosphere?

Question 54

Compare and contrast the formation of high pressure and low pressure atmospheric systems on precipitation and temperature in the areas where they form.

Question 55

Refer to the figure below, and use the information on the map corresponding to the ocean's climatic regions to answer the following question(s).

The oceanic climate region(s) in the majority of strong cyclonic storms are produced is indicated by the number:

A) 1.
B) 1 & 2.
C) 2.
D) 3.
E) 3 & 4.

Question 56

Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.

A)continent
B)glacier
C)ice floe
D)ocean
E)sea ice

Question 57

When ice forms from seawater, the remaining seawater will have a:

A) darker color.
B) decreased density.
C) higher salinity.
D) higher temperature.
E) lower temperature.

Question 58

All of the following are true of the Earth's climate except:

A) a column of cool, dense air produces high pressure at the Earth's surface.
B) a column of warm, less dense air produces low pressure at the Earth's surface.
C) cool air is more dense than warm air so it tends to sink toward the Earth's surface.
D) the movement of air within the atmospheric convection cells generates the Earth's major wind belts.
E) warm air is less dense than cool air so it tends to sink toward the Earth's surface.