Question 1

In the three-cell model of the atmosphere, upper level winds are incorrectly predicted to flow from ____.​
A) ​the north
B) ​the east
C) ​the south
D) ​the west
E) ​all directions

Accepted Answer

The three-cell model of the atmosphere predicts upper-level winds to flow from the west, not from the east. This model simplifies the circulation of the atmosphere into three main cells per hemisphere: the Hadley cell, Ferrel cell, and Polar cell, which help explain the general movement of air and prevailing winds. Upper-level winds, such as the jet streams, generally move from west to east due to the rotation of the Earth and the conservation of angular momentum, contrary to what is suggested by option B.

Question 2

The formation of the tropical easterly jet stream appears to be, at least in part, related to the cooling of air over large elevated landmasses, such as Tibet.

Accepted Answer

The formation of the tropical easterly jet stream is primarily related to the heating of air over large elevated landmasses, such as the Tibetan Plateau, rather than cooling. This heating causes a thermal wind to blow from the higher pressure over the cooler oceans to the lower pressure over the heated land, contributing to the formation of the jet stream.

Question 3

At any given time, only one jet stream can be found in the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

The atmosphere can have multiple jet streams at any given time, depending on various factors such as season and location.

Question 4

Incorporating continents into the single-cell model would not have any effect on the circulation of air in the model.

Accepted Answer

Incorporating continents into the single-cell model would create uneven heating and cooling of the land masses, which would impact the circulation of air in the model. This is because land and water heat and cool at different rates, and the uneven heating and cooling of the land masses would cause differences in air pressure, which would then impact wind patterns.

Question 5

A jet stream transfers more heat across the globe when it is zonal.

Accepted Answer

A jet stream transfers less heat across the globe when it is zonal because it tends to keep cold air in the polar regions and warm air in the subtropics. When the jet stream becomes more wavy (meridional), it can bring cold air further south and warm air further north, leading to more extreme weather conditions.

Question 6

The large thermally driven convection cell that is driven by convective "hot" towers along the equator is the​
A) ​Ferrel cell.
B) ​Hadley cell.
C) ​Ekman spiral.
D) ​El Niño cell.
E) ​Doldrum cell.

Accepted Answer

The large thermally driven convection cell along the equator is known as the Hadley cell. It is responsible for driving the trade winds and weather patterns in the tropical regions. The Ferrel cell is a mid-latitude cell that is driven by polar and subtropical air masses, while the Ekman spiral describes the movement of ocean currents caused by wind stress. El Niño is an irregularly occurring weather pattern caused by warming of the equatorial Pacific, and the Doldrums are areas of low pressure and calm winds in the equatorial region.

Question 7

The ultimate cause of jet streams is the energy imbalance that exists between high and low latitudes.

Accepted Answer

Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow air currents that occur in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. They are caused by the large differences in temperature and pressure that exist between the equator and the poles, which create a strong gradient of atmospheric pressure and result in the formation of high altitude winds. This energy imbalance drives the circulation of the atmosphere and gives rise to the global wind patterns that include the jet stream.

Question 8

An increase in either the mass or the velocity (or both) produces a decrease in momentum.

Accepted Answer

An increase in either the mass or the velocity (or both) produces an increase in momentum according to the equation p = mv.

Question 9

Jet streams sometimes split into two branches.

Accepted Answer

This is true, jet streams can split into two or more branches, also known as a "double jet stream".

Question 10

Each Pacific Decadal Oscillation phase tends to predominate for 20 to 30 years before switching to the other phase.

Accepted Answer

The Pacific Decadal Oscillation has a natural cycle of shifting between its positive and negative phases, with each phase lasting approximately 20 to 30 years before transitioning to the other phase.

Question 11

The polar front is a boundary separating the cold polar air to the north from the warm subtropical air to the south, hence the greatest contrast in air temperature occurs along the frontal zone. Therefore, the polar front has a lot of influence on the development of the polar jet stream.

Accepted Answer

The statement accurately describes the role of the polar front in the development of the polar jet stream.

Question 12

Not all jet streams form at the tropopause.

Accepted Answer

While most jet streams do form at the tropopause, other types of jet streams can form at different levels of the atmosphere depending on various factors such as temperature and wind patterns.

Question 13

During the warm (or positive) phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, unusually cold surface water exists along the west coast of North America, whereas over the central North Pacific, warmer-than-normal surface water prevails.

Accepted Answer

During the warm phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, warmer-than-normal surface waters are found along the west coast of North America, while cooler waters prevail over the central North Pacific.

Question 14

In the general circulation of the atmosphere, one would find the region called the doldrums at the equator.

Accepted Answer

The doldrums are a region near the equator characterized by calm or light variable winds.

Question 15

​Which below is an assumption of the single-cell model of the general circulation of the atmosphere?
A) ​Earth's surface is uniformly covered with water.
B) ​Earth rotates once in 24 hours.
C) ​Excessive heating of the equatorial area produces a broad region of surface high pressure, while at the poles excessive cooling creates a region of surface low pressure.
D) ​Prevailing winds in middle latitudes blow from east to west.
E) ​The regions over the poles are referred to as doldrums.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​Which below is an assumption of the...

Question 16

​Due to Hadley cell formation and the Coriolis force in both hemispheres, winds aloft flow
A) ​easterly.
B) ​westerly.
C) ​northerly.
D) ​southerly.
E) ​randomly.

Accepted Answer

The Hadley cell formation and Coriolis force in both hemispheres create a pattern of westerly winds aloft.

Question 17

Major ocean currents in the North Indian Ocean reverse direction between summer and winter.

Accepted Answer

This is true. In summer, the ocean currents flow clockwise while in winter, they flow counterclockwise in the North Indian Ocean. This reversal is due to the monsoon winds that change direction seasonally.

Question 18

The Arctic Oscillation is defined by variations in atmospheric pressure between the Arctic and the North Pacific and Atlantic.

Accepted Answer

The Arctic Oscillation is indeed defined by variations in atmospheric pressure between the Arctic and the North Pacific and Atlantic. These pressure variations can strongly impact weather patterns and temperatures in various regions of the world.

Question 19

​​Pilots prefer to fly in the core of a jet stream.

Accepted Answer

Pilots prefer to fly in the core of a jet stream because it can provide a helpful tailwind, reducing flight time and fuel consumption.

Question 20

The general circulation of the atmosphere represents the actual air flow around the world and not just an average.

Accepted Answer

The general circulation of the atmosphere refers to the average air flow around the world, representing a simplified model of how air moves across the planet's surface, rather than depicting the actual, more complex air flow patterns that occur.

Quiz 10: Wind - Global Systems

In the three-cell model of the atmosphere, upper level winds are incorrectly predicted to flow from ____.​

The formation of the tropical easterly jet stream appears to be, at least in part, related to the cooling of air over large elevated landmasses, such as Tibet.

At any given time, only one jet stream can be found in the atmosphere.

Incorporating continents into the single-cell model would not have any effect on the circulation of air in the model.

A jet stream transfers more heat across the globe when it is zonal.

The large thermally driven convection cell that is driven by convective "hot" towers along the equator is the​

The ultimate cause of jet streams is the energy imbalance that exists between high and low latitudes.

An increase in either the mass or the velocity (or both) produces a decrease in momentum.

Jet streams sometimes split into two branches.

Each Pacific Decadal Oscillation phase tends to predominate for 20 to 30 years before switching to the other phase.

The polar front is a boundary separating the cold polar air to the north from the warm subtropical air to the south, hence the greatest contrast in air temperature occurs along the frontal zone. Therefore, the polar front has a lot of influence on the development of the polar jet stream.

Not all jet streams form at the tropopause.

During the warm (or positive) phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, unusually cold surface water exists along the west coast of North America, whereas over the central North Pacific, warmer-than-normal surface water prevails.

In the general circulation of the atmosphere, one would find the region called the doldrums at the equator.

​Which below is an assumption of the single-cell model of the general circulation of the atmosphere?

​Due to Hadley cell formation and the Coriolis force in both hemispheres, winds aloft flow

Major ocean currents in the North Indian Ocean reverse direction between summer and winter.

The Arctic Oscillation is defined by variations in atmospheric pressure between the Arctic and the North Pacific and Atlantic.

​​Pilots prefer to fly in the core of a jet stream.

The general circulation of the atmosphere represents the actual air flow around the world and not just an average.

In the three-cell model of the atmosphere, upper level winds are incorrectly predicted to flow from ____.

The large thermally driven convection cell that is driven by convective "hot" towers along the equator is the

Which below is an assumption of the single-cell model of the general circulation of the atmosphere?

Due to Hadley cell formation and the Coriolis force in both hemispheres, winds aloft flow

Pilots prefer to fly in the core of a jet stream.