Deck 6: Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations

Question 1

Which of the following refers to secondary circulation?

A)migratory high and low pressure systems
B)weather patterns
C)general circulation of the atmosphere
D)mountain-valley breezes
E)katabatic winds

Answer 1

migratory high and low pressure systems

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of the effect of ocean currents on life in Tristan da Cunha?

A)damaging hurricanes are common
B)the South Equatorial Current and the West Wind Drift create a gyre in which invasive species can be introduced with material from other parts of the globe
C)low temperatures result from the arctic waters that flow into the area
D)strong southerly winds bring antarctic waters into the area limiting the temperature range
E)upwelling currents bring sea life from the ocean depths to the shores of the islands.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Normal sea level pressure has a value of

A)1013.2 millibars of mercury in a barometer.
B)28.50 metres of lead.
C)32.01 millibars of mercury.
D)500 mb.
E)140 kPa

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is false with respect to wind?

A)It is initiated by the pressure gradient force.
B)It blows from regions of high pressure to regions of low 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.
E)Winds are named based on the direction from which they blow.

Question 5

The average height of a column of mercury (Hg)in a barometer at sea level is

A)760 mm (76 cm).
B)1013 metres.
C)something that can not be determined without knowing air temperature.
D)29.00 millibars.
E)176.0 mm.

Question 6

The Beaufort wind scale measures wind speed

A)with an anemometer.
B)by observed effects.
C)using satellites.
D)with a wind vane.
E)by orders of magnitude.

Question 7

Which of the following refers to primary circulation?

A)migratory high and low pressure systems
B)the monsoons
C)general circulation of the atmosphere
D)land-sea breezes
E)katabatic winds

Question 8

The mercury barometer (consisting of mercury in a tube,sealed at one end and open at the other,and inserted in a vessel of mercury),was invented by

A)Galileo.
B)Sir Isaac Newton.
C)Eratosthenes.
D)Evangelista Torricelli.
E)Da Vinci

Question 9

The horizontal motion of air relative to Earth's surface is

A)barometric pressure.
B)wind.
C)convection flow.
D)a result of equalized pressure across the surface.
E)beaufort flow.

Question 10

Evangalista Torricelli developed the mercury barometer after realizing the relationship between

A)air pressure and wind speed.
B)air pressure and weather conditions.
C)air pressure and wind direction.
D)air pressure and air pollution.
E)air pressure and sea level.

Question 11

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991

A)was a relatively small eruption producing a moderate amount of atmospheric input.
B)was not able to be seen by most tracking systems.
C)eventually affected almost half the planet after only a few weeks of circulation.
D)greatly impacted the local area,but had little effect further from its centre.
E)did not have a great effect on global climate.

Question 12

The normal range for air pressure at sea level is

A)500 to 1000 mb.
B)100 to 650 mb.
C)980-1050 mb.
D)1060-2010 mb.
E)1045-1068 mb.

Question 13

Which of the following refers to tertiary circulation?

A)migratory high and low pressure systems
B)subtropical high pressure systems
C)general circulation of the atmosphere
D)land-sea breezes
E)hurricanes

Question 14

Global atmospheric circulation

A)links rivers to oceans.
B)led to the signing of the 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty on nuclear weapons.
C)does not move pollution across continents.
D)spread ash and dust throughout Asia from Mt.Pinatubo.
E)is responsible for temperature increases in recent history.

Question 15

Air flow is initiated by the

A)Coriolis force.
B)pressure gradient force.
C)friction force.
D)centrifugal force.
E)gravitational force.

Question 16

The Beaufort wind scale ranges in value from

A)0 to 4.
B)0 to 5.
C)0 to 17.
D)0 to 100.
E)0 to 1000.

Question 17

Particles produced by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo ________ the albedo of the atmosphere,and this ________ Earth.

A)increased warmed
B)increased cooled
C)decreased warmed
D)decreased cooled
E)stabilized warmed

Question 18

An instrument used to measure air pressure is

A)a thermometer.
B)an aneroid barometer.
C)a mercury thermometer.
D)a bowl of mercury.
E)an anemometer.

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct expression for standard atmospheric pressure at sea level?

A)1000 kg/cm²
B)30.00 millibars
C)299.92 cm of Hg
D)7607 mm of Hg (mercury)
E)1013.2 mb

Question 20

Which instrument would you use to measure wind speed?

A)a wind vane.
B)the Beaufort wind scale.
C)the wind chill chart.
D)an anemometer.
E)a barometer.

Question 21

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
E)a weak pressure gradient creating a slower flow of air

Question 22

The highest surface air pressure ever recorded occurred when the air was

A)very cold.
B)very warm.
C)very wet.
D)very high above the surface of Earth.
E)very dry.

Question 23

Which of the following is true regarding the effects of the 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.
E)Coriolis deflection varies with changing intensity of the magnetic field.

Question 24

The Coriolis force

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

Question 25

If Earth did not rotate,air would flow

A)perpendicular to the isobars,i.e. ,straight across the isobars.
B)to the right of its direction of motion in the northern hemisphere.
C)to the left of its direction of motion in the northern hemisphere.
D)parallel to the isobars.
E)from the west.

Question 26

If Earth's direction of rotation were reversed,the SE trades would become

A)SW trades.
B)NE trades.
C)NW trades.
D)easterlies.
E)westerlies.

Question 27

Air flows ________ a surface high pressure area because the density of the air in the high pressure zone is ________ than that of the surrounding air.

A)into more dense
B)into less dense
C)out of more dense
D)out of less dense

Question 28

The root word for barometer-baros- means

A)heat.
B)air.
C)weight.
D)storm.
E)rise.

Question 29

The closer the spacing of the isobars,the ________ the wind blows.

A)slower
B)faster
C)longer
D)shorter
E)softer

Question 30

An increase in air pressure will cause the mercury in a barometer to

A)rise.
B)fall.
C)freeze.
D)remain unchanged.
E)fluctuate around the zero line.

Question 31

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

A)on the 100° meridian.
B)east of the 100° meridian.
C)west of the 100° meridian.
D)in the ocean.

Question 32

The effect of the Coriolis force is ________ in the upper atmosphere because ________.

A)enhanced the pressure gradient is weaker
B)enhanced there is less friction
C)enhanced there is more friction
D)diminished the pressure gradient is weaker
E)diminished there is less friction

Question 33

Objects and wind moving over distance and time on Earth's surface are

A)always deflected from a straight path to the west in the southern hemisphere
B)affected only by the pressure gradient and friction force.
C)always deflected to the right by the friction force.
D)apparently deflected from a straight path to the right in the northern hemisphere
E)are deflected toward the north in the northern hemisphere.

Question 34

A line of equal pressure plotted on a weather map is known as

A)an isotherm.
B)an equilibrium line.
C)an isobar.
D)the thermal equator.
E)an isohyet.

Question 35

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.
E)air within them moves toward the poles.

Question 36

Airplanes measure their altitude using

A)a mercury barometer.
B)an anemometer.
C)a hygrometer.
D)an aneroid barometer.
E)sextants.

Question 37

Which is true of air flowing into low pressure center?

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

Question 38

The deflection produced by the Coriolis force is caused by

A)the fact that Earth's rotation decreases in speed toward the poles.
B)differing pressure gradients.
C)forces that affect winds but not ocean currents.
D)air temperature.
E)the fact that Earth revolves.

Question 39

Which of the following would cause the Coriolis force to increase?

A)decrease wind speed
B)decrease in the spacing of isobars
C)increase friction
D)air movement to lower latitudes
E)decrease air temperature

Question 40

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.
E)its force is exerted uniformly throughout the atmosphere.

Question 41

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

A)anticyclone = low pressure center
B)cyclone = low pressure center
C)anticyclone = clockwise circulation in the southern hemisphere
D)cyclone = clockwise in the northern hemisphere
E)anticyclone = clockwise in the southern hemisphere

Question 42

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 43

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
E)cyclones - polar high pressure

Question 44

On Earth between 30° north latitude and the equator,winds flow from the ________ as they flow out of the ________ pressure zone toward the ITCZ.

A)NE subtropical high
B)NW subtropical high
C)SE subtropical high
D)SW subtropical high
E)NE polar high

Question 45

In the absence of friction,the combined effect of the Coriolis force and the pressure gradient force produces

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.
E)air flow perpendicular to the isobars.

Question 46

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

A)north.
B)south.
C)east.
D)west.

Question 47

The wind belts used by mariners to travel from Europe to North America during the days of sailing ships were the

A)polar easterlies.
B)westerlies.
C)SE trades.
D)NE trades.

Question 48

Latitudinal winds in the lower troposphere always flow

A)out of a high and into a low.
B)out of a low and into a high.
C)to the left of their pressure-directed line of motion in the northern hemisphere.
D)to the north in the southern hemisphere.
E)from west to east.

Question 49

If Earth rotated more rapidly than it now does,the NE trades would

A)become SE trades.
B)become westerlies.
C)flow more nearly perpendicular to the lines of latitude.
D)flow more nearly parallel to the lines of latitude.
E)become northerlies.

Question 50

Warm water and large quantities of Sargassum are associated with the

A)Hawaiian high.
B)doldrums.
C)eastern Pacific high.
D)subtropical gyre in the Atlantic Ocean.

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
E)Pacific high and Aleutian low

Question 52

The dominant surface winds from the subtropics to high latitudes are the

A)westerlies.
B)trade winds.
C)polar easterlies.
D)geostrophic winds.
E)Pacific high.

Question 53

On Earth between 30° and 60° north latitude,winds flow from the ________ as they flow out of the ________ pressure zone toward the ________ pressure zone.

A)northeast subtropical high subpolar low
B)west-southwest subtropical high subpolar low
C)northeast subpolar low subtropical high
D)west-southwest subpolar low subtropical high
E)north-northeast subpolar high subtropical low

Question 54

In the horse latitudes,surface winds are ________ because ________.

A)strong air converges into this region from both north and south
B)strong the horse latitudes are located directly under a high pressure zone characterized by descending,rather than horizontally,moving air
C)weak air converges into this region from both the north and south
D)weak the horse latitudes are located directly under a high pressure zone characterized by descending,rather than horizontally,moving air
E)constant descending air creates continuous winds in this region.

Question 55

The Intertropical Convergence Zone is characterized by

A)cold,dry rising air.
B)cold,dry sinking air.
C)warm dry rising air.
D)warm,wet rising air.
E)stable,unmoving air.

Question 56

Light and variable winds-which caused difficulties for mariners in the days of sailing ships-occur under the

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

Question 57

The intertropical convergence zone is characterized by

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 58

Winds that blow predominantly from the northeast and the southeast are the

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

Question 59

The zones between 20° to 35° north latitude and 20° to 35° south latitude are

A)the largest zones of water surpluses in the world.
B)areas of warm and wet conditions,and the world's great tropical forests.
C)the areas containing the world's arid and semi-arid desert regions.
D)areas of cyclonic systems of low pressure.
E)the zones with highest tornadic activity.

Question 60

Air flow in a northern hemisphere high pressure zone is

A)downward,outward and clockwise.
B)downward,outward and counterclockwise.
C)inward,upward and clockwise.
D)inward,upward and counterclockwise.
E)downward,inward and clockwise.

Question 61

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)is associated with

A)the horse latitudes.
B)the principal midlatitude circulations.
C)the equatorial low-pressure trough.
D)subtropical high-pressure development.
E)the midlatitudes.

Question 62

The western side of subtropical high pressure cells tend to be

A)cool and moist.
B)warm,moist,and unstable.
C)dry,stable,and warm,with cooler ocean currents.
D)generally in the same position all year i.e. ,they do not migrate with the high Sun.
E)cool,dry and stable.

Question 63

Which of the following is true?

A)the polar and the subtropical jet streams both occur at the surface.
B)jet stream flows are linear,following lines of latitude when viewed from above.
C)the polar jet stream can migrate as far south as Texas.
D)the subtropical jetstream is only present during winter.
E)jetstreams flow from east to west as a result of the rotation of Earth on its axis.

Question 64

The Pacific high and Bermuda high are

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

Question 65

The polar high pressure cells

A)are the strongest of the four primary pressure areas.
B)are cyclonic in nature.
C)produce the weak,variable polar easterlies.
D)are more pronounced at the North Pole than at the South Pole.
E)are responsible for the increased rate of melt of sea ice.

Question 66

Which of the following is associated with these names: Sonora,Kalahari,Namib,Atacama?

A)subpolar lows
B)world's equatorial rain forests
C)subtropical high pressure
D)major agricultural regions
E)polar highs

Question 67

The polar front zone

A)is usually located above the subtropical jet stream.
B)is a zone in which cold air descends before being spread throughout the atmospheric system.
C)It is a zone of frequently strong winds.
D)is a zone where jet airplanes travel best from North America to Europe.
E)was discovered only recently and is stronger as a result of climate change.

Question 68

The polar jet tends to flow above the

A)ITCZ.
B)subtropical high.
C)polar front.
D)polar high.
E)the Arctic Circle.

Question 69

The Polar high above the North Pole is a ________ pressure system that produces variable winds that flow in a/an ________ pattern.

A)strong cyclonic
B)strong anticyclonic
C)weak cyclonic
D)weak anticyclonic

Question 70

The subpolar low-pressure cells

A)are known as the Bermuda and Pacific lows.
B)develop more strongly over the ocean than over land.
C)are generally stronger in summer than in winter in the northern hemisphere.
D)are associated with the subtropical jet stream.
E)remain stable throughout the high Arctic throughout the year.

Question 71

Upper atmospheric winds refer to

A)winds in the thermosphere.
B)winds that are unrelated to surface weather patterns.
C)middle and upper tropospheric circulation.
D)winds that flow principally from the east.
E)mesospheric wind flow.

Question 72

The Aleutian low and the Azores high are types of

A)thermal pressure areas.
B)dynamic pressure areas.
C)southern hemisphere pressure centers.
D)anticyclonic flows.
E)cyclonic flows.

Question 73

Which of the following is true of Hadley cells?

A)they dominate the polar circulation.
B)they appear almost 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.
E)they are responsible for the polar high.

Question 74

During the winter,the Bermuda high migrates to the ________ and becomes the ________.

A)east Aleutian low
B)west Pacific high
C)west Aleutian low
D)west Azores high
E)east Azores high

Question 75

Which of the following is true regarding the subpolar 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).
E)they have been growing in areal extent since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

Question 76

According to the text,the term "horse latitudes" is

A)of unknown origin-according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
B)associated with regions of equatorial low pressure systems.
C)related to strong winds in the region from 20° to 35° north and south latitude.
D)the area of the ocean in which sea horses mate and reproduce.
E)the area in the tropical ocean with the highest recorded wind speeds.

Question 77

Which of the following is false with respect to the jet streams?

A)these upper-level westerly wind flows have a tube-like shape,with the highest velocities occurring toward the center of the "tube."
B)they require airlines to allot more time for flights traveling from east to west,and less time for flights from west to east.
C)they occur above the subtropics and the polar front.
D)they flow from east to west.
E)there are two jet streams that exist over North America.

Question 78

Within the upper-air westerly wind flow are great waving undulations

A)that were first described by Hadley,an eighteenth century English scientist.
B)known as Rossby waves that involve contact between cooler and warmer air masses.
C)that are unrelated to the jet stream.
D)that influence the initiation of hurricanes.
E)that are controlled by the location of the ITCZ.

Question 79

The Aleutian low and Icelandic low are

A)strongest during the winter months because the ocean temperatures are warmer than land temperatures at the same latitude.
B)strongest during the winter months because the ocean temperatures are cooler than land temperatures at the same latitude.
C)weakest during the summer months because the ocean temperatures are warmer than land temperatures at the same latitude.
D)weakest during the winter months because the ocean temperatures are warmer than land temperatures at the same latitude.
E)strong all the time as they are the focus of warm ocean water during all seasons.

Question 80

The area of conflict between colder and warmer air masses in the subpolar region

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