Deck 6: Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Question 1

Which best describes the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991?

A)It demonstrated that localized circulation can curtail widespread dispersal of aerosols.
B)It erupted unexpectedly,inhibiting scientists from monitoring its effects.
C)It had little global effect and was mostly isolated to the Philippines.
D)It provided a unique opportunity to assess the dynamics of global atmospheric circulation.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which describes the condition of the air when the highest ever surface air pressure was recorded?

A)Very cold.
B)Very warm.
C)Very wet.
D)Very high above the surface of Earth.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which best describes how the Beaufort wind scale measures wind speed?

A)With an anemometer.
B)By observed effects.
C)Using satellites.
D)With a wind vane.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following did Evangelista Torricelli,a pupil of Galileo,determine?

A)He determined that atmospheric pressure is uniform in the troposphere.
B)He determined that winds flow from air of high to low pressure.
C)He determined the large-scale circulations of winds.
D)He determined that air pressure varied with weather conditions.

Question 5

Which is the convention by which winds are named?

A)The direction from which they originate.
B)The direction in which they are blowing.
C)The scientist who first described them.
D)The altitude at which they occur.

Question 6

Which is an instrument used to measure wind speed?

A)An anemometer.
B)A wind vane.
C)A barometer.
D)A sling psychrometer.

Question 7

Which is the normal range for air pressure at sea level?

A)500 to 1000 mb.
B)100 to 650 mb.
C)980-1050 mb.
D)1060-2010 mb.

Question 8

Which is an instrument used to measure air pressure?

A)A wind vane.
B)An aneroid barometer.
C)A mercury thermometer.
D)An anemometer.

Question 9

Which is an instrument used to measure wind direction?

A)Anemometer.
B)Wind vane.
C)Barometer.
D)Sling psychrometer.

Question 10

Which best describes an aneroid barometer?

A)It is an instrument that uses a meter long tube for measuring air pressure.
B)It uses a chamber that expands or contracts with changes in air pressure.
C)It requires the use of mercury.
D)It is a hypothetical instrument for measuring air pressure.

Question 11

Which substance is used in a barometer and why?

A)Water; it is liquid at normal air temperature.
B)Water; it is denser than mercury.
C)Mercury; it will rise more than water will under the same air pressure.
D)Mercury; it is denser than water.

Question 12

In 2006,a wayward oil platform was carried via ocean and wind currents to the remote island of Tristan da Cunha.Which of the following did it bring along with the rig?

A)30 000 rubber ducks,turtles,and frogs.
B)A massive oil spill.
C)62 non-native marine species.
D)Much needed food and other supplies.

Question 13

Which is the horizontal motion of air relative to the surface of Earth?

A)Barometric pressure.
B)Wind.
C)Convection flow.
D)Equalized pressure across the surface.

Question 14

Which is used in an airplane to measure altitude?

A)A mercury barometer.
B)An anemometer.
C)A hygrometer.
D)An aneroid barometer.

Question 15

Which of the following was first developed by Evangelista Torricelli?

A)Aneroid barometer.
B)Mercury barometer.
C)Anemometer.
D)Water-based barometer.

Question 16

Which is the wind direction if a wind is blowing from a compass direction of 202.5°?

A)North (N).
B)South (S).
C)Northwest (NW).
D)South-southwest (SSW).

Question 17

Which is the force that initiates air flow?

A)Coriolis force.
B)Pressure gradient force.
C)Friction force.
D)Centrifugal force.

Question 18

Which is the normal sea level pressure?

A)1013.2 millibars.
B)94.01 kilopascals.
C)32.01 millibars of mercury.
D)500 mb.

Question 19

Which of the following occurs in the mercury in a barometer when air pressure increases?

A)It rises.
B)It falls.
C)It freezes.
D)It boils.

Question 20

Which is the average height of a column of mercury (Hg)in a barometer at sea level?

A)760 mm (76 cm).
B)1013 metres.
C)29.00 millibars.
D)This cannot be determined without knowing air temperature.

Question 21

If there is a steeper pressure gradient,how will wind be affected as compared to areas with a gradual pressure gradient?

A)Wind will be lighter.
B)Wind will be warmer.
C)Wind will be stronger.
D)Wind will be cooler.

Question 22

Which of the following best describes winds spiralling counterclockwise into a low pressure area in the Northern Hemisphere?

A)Cyclonic.
B)Anticyclonic.
C)Geostrophic.
D)Meridional.

Question 23

Which describes the effect of objects and wind moving over distance and time on the surface of Earth?

A)These are always deflected from a straight path to the west in the Southern Hemisphere.
B)These are affected only by the pressure gradient and friction force.
C)These are always deflected to the right by the friction force.
D)These are apparently deflected from a straight path to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 24

Which is associated with Earth's lowest barometric pressures?

A)Hurricanes (typhoons).
B)Frontal systems (cold and warm fronts).
C)Cold and dry climates.
D)Sea level.

Question 25

If Earth did not rotate,how would air flow?

A)It would flow perpendicular to the isobars,i.e.,straight across the isobars.
B)It would flow to the right of its direction of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.
C)It would flow to the left of its direction of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.
D)It would flow parallel to the isobars.

Question 26

Which is true of air flowing into low pressure areas?

A)Air converges and ascends.
B)Air diverges and ascends.
C)Air converges and descends.
D)Air diverges and descends.

Question 27

Which describes the effect of frictional force on winds?

A)It is lessened in areas with rougher surfaces.
B)It is negligible at altitudes above 500 m.
C)It increases with increasing altitude.
D)It is constant,regardless of time of day or year.

Question 28

Which of the following would cause Coriolis force to increase?

A)An increase in wind speed.
B)Its occurrence closer to the equator.
C)An increase in friction.
D)Its movement over very small areas.

Question 29

Which of the following best describes winds spiralling clockwise out of a high pressure area in the Northern Hemisphere?

A)Cyclonic.
B)Anticyclonic.
C)Geostrophic.
D)Meridional.

Question 30

Which causes the deflection produced by Coriolis force?

A)Earth's rotation on its axis.
B)Differing pressure gradients.
C)Friction caused by gravitational force.
D)Air temperature differences.

Question 31

Which of the following is true regarding the effects of the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption?

A)Aerosols mixed with other atmospheric debris,decreasing Earth's albedo.
B)Sulfur dioxide (SO2)aerosols decreased in the atmosphere due to the presence of ash.
C)A large,persistent decrease in average temperatures followed.
D)An aerosol cloud covered the globe,from 20° S to 30° N.

Question 32

Which is an isoline of equal pressure plotted on a weather map?

A)An isotherm.
B)An equilibrium line.
C)An isobar.
D)An isohyet.

Question 33

Which of the following is true of the wind?

A)It is initiated by the friction force.
B)It blows from regions of low pressure to regions of high pressure.
C)The direction of flow can be affected by the rotation of Earth.
D)Air blows from regions of hotter air to regions of colder air.

Question 34

Which best describes the effect of Coriolis force?

A)It drives air from areas of higher to lower barometric pressure.
B)It decreases with height above the surface.
C)It causes the apparent deflection of winds from a straight path.
D)It is the only force acting on flows of air in the upper troposphere.

Question 35

If Santa flew from the North Pole due south along the 100° meridian and did not correct his course,where would he land?

A)He would land on the 100° meridian.
B)He would land east of the 100° meridian.
C)He would land west of the 100° meridian.
D)He would land south of the 100° meridian.

Question 36

If surface winds were influenced only by the pressure gradient force and Coriolis force (i.e.without the frictional force),how would wind be affected?

A)Wind would flow in a straight line from areas of higher to lower pressure.
B)Wind would flow parallel to isobars and at high rates of speed.
C)There would be no wind at all.
D)The effects would vary depending on surface texture.

Question 37

Which of the following is a determinant of wind speed and direction?

A)Electromagnetic force.
B)Pressure force.
C)Centrifugal force.
D)Friction force.

Question 38

Which of the following describes the pressure gradient force?

A)It drives air from areas of higher to lower barometric pressure.
B)It decreases with height above the surface.
C)It causes apparent deflection of winds from a straight path.
D)It is the only force acting on atmospheric flows in the upper troposphere.

Question 39

Which of the following is true regarding the effects of Coriolis force?

A)The amount of Coriolis deflection is uniform from equator to poles.
B)Coriolis deflection occurs only along parallels,not meridians.
C)Coriolis force is zero at the poles,increasing to maximum along the equator.
D)Coriolis force is zero along the equator,increasing to one-half of maximum at 30° latitude and maximum at the poles.

Question 40

On a weather map of air pressure,what can you infer from a closer spacing of isobars?

A)Little without knowing temperature patterns.
B)A steep pressure gradient creating a slower flow of air.
C)A steep pressure gradient creating a faster flow of air.
D)Higher pressures.

Question 41

What are upper tropospheric winds that flow parallel to isobars called?

A)Geostrophic winds.
B)NE trades winds.
C)Easterlies.
D)Westerlies.

Question 42

Which of the following matches is correct relative to air circulation?

A)Anticyclone = high pressure center.
B)Cyclone = high pressure center.
C)Anticyclone = clockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere.
D)Cyclone = clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 43

Which of the following is an example of primary circulation?

A)Migratory high and low pressure systems.
B)Monsoons.
C)General circulation of the atmosphere.
D)Land-sea breezes.

Question 44

Which of the following matches is correct relative to air circulation?

A)Anticyclone = low pressure center.
B)Cyclone = high pressure center.
C)Cyclone = clockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere.
D)Anticyclone = counterclockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 45

Which of the following best describes the figure above?

A)A high pressure center (anticyclone).
B)Winds influenced by both the pressure gradient and Coriolis forces.
C)Wind movement based on the pressure gradient force alone.
D)Geostrophic winds.

Question 46

Which are the dominant surface winds from the subtropics to high latitudes?

A)The westerlies.
B)The trade winds.
C)The polar easterlies.
D)The geostrophic winds.

Question 47

Which of the following primary pressure areas are produced by dynamic factors,rather than thermal factors?

A)Subtropical high and subpolar low.
B)Equatorial low and polar high.
C)Equatorial low and Bermuda high.
D)Aleutian low and Icelandic low.

Question 48

By which of the following is the intertropical convergence zone characterized?

A)Convergence and uplift of warm surface air.
B)Convergence and subsidence of cold surface air.
C)Divergence and uplift of warm surface air.
D)Divergence and subsidence of cold surface air.

Question 49

Which of the following best describes the subtropical high pressure system in the North Atlantic and associated cool and warm currents?

A)These bring cool waters to the eastern shores of North America.
B)These influence the warm and dry conditions in the Bahamas.
C)These circulate warm ocean currents along the western African coast.
D)These contribute west African deserts (dry,stable climate).

Question 50

Which of the following is an example of tertiary circulation?

A)Migratory high and low pressure systems.
B)Subtropical high pressure systems.
C)General circulation of the atmosphere.
D)Land-sea breezes

Question 51

Which of the following primary pressure areas are produced by thermal factors,rather than dynamic factors?

A)Subtropical high and subpolar low.
B)Equatorial low and polar high.
C)Equatorial low and Bermuda high.
D)Aleutian low and Icelandic low.

Question 52

In the absence of friction,what does the combined effect of Coriolis force and pressure gradient force produce?

A)Geostrophic winds at altitude above the ground.
B)Surface winds.
C)Air flow from low to high pressure centers.
D)Air flow in a north-south direction.

Question 53

Which of the following best describes the areas between 20° to 35° north latitude and 20° to 35° south?

A)The largest zones of water surpluses in the world.
B)Warm and wet conditions,and the world's great tropical forests.
C)The world's arid and semi-arid desert regions.
D)Cyclonic systems of low pressure.

Question 54

Which of the following is true of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)?

A)Variable high Sun altitude and daylength make small amounts of energy available.
B)Warm,moisture-laden airs diverges along the ITCZ.
C)A band of precipitation is associated with the ITCZ.
D)The ITCZ is stationary throughout the year.

Question 55

Which are winds that blow predominantly from the northeast and the southeast?

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

Question 56

Which of the following is an example of secondary circulation?

A)Migratory high and low pressure systems.
B)Weather patterns.
C)General circulation of the atmosphere.
D)Mountain-valley breezes.

Question 57

Which of the following is true of high pressure areas?

A)Air converges and ascends within high pressure systems.
B)Air descends and diverges within high pressure systems.
C)They generally involve atmospheric pressures lower than 1000 mb.
D)They are characteristic for areas along the equator.

Question 58

Which of the following names the zones of windless,hot,dry desert air between 25° N and 25° S latitude?

A)Hadley cells.
B)The doldrums.
C)The horse latitudes.
D)Westerlies.

Question 59

If you were between 40° and 50° north latitude,and you wanted to stand with the average winds blowing in your face,which direction would you stand facing?

A)North.
B)South.
C)East.
D)West.

Question 60

Which are areas of light and variable winds which caused difficulties for mariners in the days of sailing ships?

A)The subpolar low and equatorial low.
B)The subpolar low and subtropical high.
C)The equatorial low and subtropical high.
D)The equatorial low and subpolar low.

Question 61

Which of the following best describes air flow in a Northern Hemisphere high pressure zone?

A)Downward,outward and clockwise.
B)Downward,outward and counterclockwise.
C)Inward,upward and clockwise.
D)Inward,upward and counterclockwise.

Question 62

Which of the following is true regarding low pressure cells in the Southern Hemisphere?

A)They form a continuous belt of uniform intensity surrounding the periphery of Antarctica.
B)The air circulation pattern around each low is clockwise.
C)They are influenced by continental-sized land areas at 60° S latitude.
D)They are most strongly developed during the summer months (January).

Question 63

Which of the following is the location where the polar high is more pronounced and why?

A)The Arctic; greater landmass.
B)The Antarctic; greater landmass.
C)The Arctic; colder ocean waters.
D)The Antarctic; colder ocean waters.

Question 64

Which of the following are correctly matched?

A)High pressure - ascending,converging air movements.
B)Cyclones - low pressure cells.
C)High pressure cells - cyclonic circulation.
D)Anticyclones - subpolar pressure cells.

Question 65

Which describes the polar high pressure cells?

A)These are the strongest of the four primary pressure areas.
B)These are cyclonic in nature.
C)These produce the weak,variable polar easterlies.
D)These are more pronounced at the North Pole than at the South Pole.

Question 66

Which of the following is true of Hadley cells?

A)They dominate the polar circulation.
B)They appear most vertically symmetrical on either side of the equator at the equinoxes.
C)They are associated with the subpolar low pressure systems.
D)They occur at great depth in the oceans.

Question 67

With which of the following is the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)associated?

A)The horse latitudes.
B)The principal midlatitude circulations.
C)The equatorial low-pressure trough.
D)Subtropical high-pressure development.

Question 68

Which describes the area of conflict between colder and warmer air masses in the subpolar region?

A)It is most distinctive during summer months in each respective hemisphere.
B)It is unrelated to the formation of cyclonic storms.
C)It is termed the polar front.
D)It is referred to as the subtropical contact zone.

Question 69

Which best describes mountain and valley breezes?

A)These are characterized by warmer air descending mountain slopes during the day and valley air ascending the mountain slopes at night.
B)These are caused by valley floors heating more quickly than valley slopes during the day and cooling more rapidly at night.
C)These involve warm air rising upslope during the day,creating an area of low pressure; at night it is reversed with a low pressure area forming on the valley floor.
D)These are secondary wind systems.

Question 70

Which is true of upper atmospheric circulation?

A)It refers to the winds in the thermosphere.
B)These winds are unrelated to surface weather patterns and of no consequence to the atmosphere's general circulation.
C)Middle and upper tropospheric circulation is an important component of the atmosphere's general circulation.
D)These winds flow principally from the east.in the mesosphere.

Question 71

Which best describes the Pacific high and the Bermuda high?

A)These are more dominant during summer months because ocean temperatures are warmer than land temperatures at the same latitude.
B)These are more dominant during summer months because ocean temperatures are cooler than land temperatures at the same latitude.
C)These are less dominant during winter months because ocean temperatures are cooler than land temperatures at the same latitude.
D)These are less dominant during winter months because ocean temperatures are the same as land temperatures at the same latitude.

Question 72

Which of the following is true regarding human influence on monsoon pattern?

A)Most scientists concur that human activity will have little effect on monsoonal patterns.
B)Warming temperatures caused by increased greenhouse gases may decrease monsoon precipitation.
C)Rising concentrations of aerosols may cause an overall rise in monsoon precipitation.
D)The relationships are complex and further compounded by natural oscillations in global circulation.

Question 73

Which of the following is true of the polar front zone?

A)The polar jet stream is usually located above it.
B)It is a zone in which warm and cold air remain separated.
C)It is a zone of frequently weak winds.
D)There is little precipitation in the zone.

Question 74

Which of the following is associated with the Asian monsoon pattern?

A)Equal heating between the Asian landmass and Indian Ocean.
B)Shifting migration of the ITCZ bringing moisture-laden air to the area during summer.
C)Summer low pressure zones over the ocean and high pressure zone over land.
D)Low amounts of precipitation,including record drought.

Question 75

Which of the following is associated with deserts such as the Sahara or the Arabian Desert?

A)Subpolar lows.
B)World's equatorial rain forests.
C)Subtropical high pressure.
D)Major agricultural regions.

Question 76

Which best describes the Aleutian low and the Icelandic low?

A)These are dominant in winter and weaken or disappear in summer.
B)These are dominant in summer and weaken or disappear in winter.
C)These are dominant in spring and fall and weaken or disappear in summer and winter.
D)These are dominant year-round,but tend to be strongest in summer.

Question 77

Which best describes Monsoonal winds?

A)These are katabatic in nature.
B)These are regional wind systems that seasonally vary.
C)These are limited to the Indian subcontinent.
D)These are a form of mountain-valley wind.

Question 78

Which are Katabatic winds?

A)Localized winds associated with sea-breezes.
B)Another name for mountain-valley breezes.
C)Unrelated to pressure differences.
D)Regional-scale,gravity-driven winds that bring high density air downslope.

Question 79

Which names the waving undulations within the upper-air westerly wind flow?

A)Hadley cells.
B)Rossby waves.
C)The jet stream.
D)Monsoons.

Question 80

Which names the seasonally shifting wind systems associated with the annual cycle of returning precipitation?

A)Sea breezes.
B)Santa Ana winds.
C)Chinook winds.
D)Monsoons.