Question 1

The zone where the northeasterly trades and the southeasterly trades converge is known as the:
A) Intertropical Convergence Zone
B) Tropical Collision Zone
C) the Horse Latitudes
D) the polar front

Accepted Answer

The zone where the northeasterly trades and the southeasterly trades converge is known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

Question 2

In a Hadley cell, sinking air takes place around:
A) the equatorial zone
B) the subtropics
C) the mid-latitudes
D) the tropical zone, 5-15 degrees N & S

Accepted Answer

Sinking air occurs in the subtropics, around 20-30 degrees latitude, which is the location of the subtropical high-pressure zones in the Hadley cell circulation.

Question 3

The convergence zone between tropical and polar air masses and where traveling storms take place occur along:
A) the subtropics
B) polar latitudes
C) sub-polar latitudes
D) various latitudes, both high and low

Accepted Answer

The convergence zone between tropical and polar air masses, where traveling storms frequently occur, is typically found along sub-polar latitudes. This region is characterized by the meeting of warm tropical air masses and cold polar air masses, leading to the development of storms.

Question 4

The Icelandic Low in the N. Atlantic and the ______ in the N. Pacific are regions of frequent storms during the winter season.
A) Japanese Low
B) Canadian Low
C) Aleutian Low
D) Siberian Low

Accepted Answer

The Icelandic Low is a region of low pressure in the North Atlantic, but none of the answer choices refer to the North Atlantic. The North Pacific has frequent winter storms associated with the Aleutian Low, making choice C the correct answer.

Question 5

The Siberian High:
A) is only found in the winter
B) only occurs in the summer
C) occurs all year
D) only occurs in colder winters

Accepted Answer

The Siberian High is a massive collection of cold dry air that accumulates in the Siberian region during the winter months. It is a dominant feature of the winter atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 6

The monsoon portions of southern Asia, like India, receive most of their precipitation during the:
A) spring
B) summer
C) fall
D) winter
E) cooler months

Accepted Answer

Monsoon season in southern Asia typically occurs during the summer months, usually from June to September. This is when the prevailing winds change direction, bringing moisture and heavy rainfall to the region.

Question 7

During the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, monsoon winds flow from ______ .
A) the surrounding ocean towards Asia
B) Asia towards the surrounding ocean
C) the Indian Ocean toward India
D) India towards the Siberian low

Accepted Answer

During the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the monsoon winds flow from the high pressure area over Asia towards the surrounding ocean, bringing dry and cold air from the continent to the ocean.

Question 8

The polar jet stream over North America is _______.
A) stronger and farther south in winter
B) stronger and farther north in winter
C) stronger and farther south in summer
D) stronger and farther north in summer

Accepted Answer

The polar jet stream over North America is stronger and farther south in winter. This is because in winter, the temperature gradient between the polar region and the mid-latitudes is greater, which strengthens the jet stream and pushes it further south.

Question 9

The polar jet stream is maintained by:
A) the Earth's rotation
B) the strong temperature gradient between tropics and polar latitudes
C) conservation of angular momentum
D) conservation of energy

Accepted Answer

The polar jet stream is maintained by the strong temperature gradient between tropics and polar latitudes. This gradient creates a flow of air that moves from west to east in the upper troposphere and affects the direction and intensity of weather systems at the surface.

Question 10

In the Northern Hemisphere subtropical highs, winds flowing south _________.
A) are deflected by the Coriolis force into southwesterly winds
B) are deflected by the Coriolis force into northeasterly winds
C) continue south without deflection
D) none of these

Accepted Answer

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force deflects moving objects, including air, to the right of their direction of motion. Therefore, winds flowing south from the subtropical highs are deflected to the right, resulting in northeasterly winds.

Question 11

Very cold, winter air from the Siberian High is blocked from entering India by:
A) the Alps
B) the Ural Mountains
C) the Himalayas
D) Chinese border guards

Accepted Answer

The Himalayas are a large mountain range in northern India that act as a barrier, blocking the very cold winter air from the Siberian High from entering India. The Alps are in Europe and do not have an impact on India's weather. The Ural Mountains are further north and also do not act as a barrier for India's weather. Chinese border guards do not affect the weather patterns in India.

Question 12

The North Atlantic and N. Pacific subtropical highs move ____ and are ______ in the summer.
A) south, stronger
B) south, weaker
C) north, stronger
D) north, weaker

Accepted Answer

The North Atlantic and North Pacific subtropical highs move north and are stronger in the summer due to the shifting of the Earth's wind belts and pressure systems with the changing seasons. This movement and strengthening are driven by the increased solar heating in these regions during the summer months.

Question 13

The most dominant winds flowing north out of the subtropical highs of the Northern Hemisphere are:
A) trade winds
B) westerlies
C) polar easterlies
D) northers

Accepted Answer

The westerlies are the prevailing winds that blow from west to east in the middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, sandwiched between the subtropical highs and the polar front. These winds are responsible for the weather patterns in much of Europe and North America. Trade winds blow towards the equator from the subtropical highs, while polar easterlies blow from the polar highs towards the mid-latitudes. Northers are a type of strong, cold wind that blows southward out of Canada into the Gulf of Mexico.

Question 14

Which of the following is true of the polar front zone?
A) It is a zone in which warm and cold air meet.
B) The polar jet stream is usually located above it.
C) It is generally a zone of low pressure cyclones.
D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The polar front zone is a region where warm and cold air masses meet, which leads to the formation of cyclones. The polar jet stream is usually located above this zone, which helps to drive the movement of the cyclones. This results in unstable weather conditions, and the polar front zone is generally associated with low-pressure systems.

Question 15

The highest surface pressure in the Northern Hemisphere is usually associated with:
A) the North Pole High
B) the Greenland High
C) the Siberian High
D) the Alaskan High

Accepted Answer

The Siberian High is a semipermanent area of high atmospheric pressure that forms over Siberia during the winter months. It is typically associated with clear, cold, and dry weather in the region, and it can extend further southward and influence weather patterns in East Asia.

Question 16

In the mid-latitudes, the upper air flow is a series of waves moving eastward called:
A) the subtropical jet stream
B) traverse waves
C) Rayleigh waves
D) Rossby waves

Accepted Answer

The upper air flow in the mid-latitudes is characterized by a series of waves moving eastward called Rossby waves. These planetary waves develop due to the Coriolis force and the temperature gradient between the equator and poles.

Question 17

The tropical tropopause is ______ than the polar tropopause.
A) lower
B) higher
C) only higher in the winter
D) only higher in the summer

Accepted Answer

The tropical tropopause is higher than the polar tropopause. This is because the tropical atmosphere is warmer than the polar atmosphere, resulting in a more stable layer of air at the top of the troposphere. The stability of this layer limits the upward motion of air and prevents it from reaching higher altitudes, resulting in a higher tropopause.

Question 18

All upper atmosphere jet streams flow from west to east.

Accepted Answer

Jet streams can generally flow from west to east due to the rotation of the Earth, but there are variations, and in some cases, they can have different patterns, including meandering north-south or even flowing from east to west under certain conditions.

Quiz 9: Circulation Patterns of the Atmosphere

The zone where the northeasterly trades and the southeasterly trades converge is known as the:

In a Hadley cell, sinking air takes place around:

The convergence zone between tropical and polar air masses and where traveling storms take place occur along:

The Icelandic Low in the N. Atlantic and the ______ in the N. Pacific are regions of frequent storms during the winter season.

The Siberian High:

The monsoon portions of southern Asia, like India, receive most of their precipitation during the:

During the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, monsoon winds flow from ______ .

The polar jet stream over North America is _______.

The polar jet stream is maintained by:

In the Northern Hemisphere subtropical highs, winds flowing south _________.

Very cold, winter air from the Siberian High is blocked from entering India by:

The North Atlantic and N. Pacific subtropical highs move and are __ in the summer.

The most dominant winds flowing north out of the subtropical highs of the Northern Hemisphere are:

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

The highest surface pressure in the Northern Hemisphere is usually associated with:

In the mid-latitudes, the upper air flow is a series of waves moving eastward called:

The tropical tropopause is ______ than the polar tropopause.

All upper atmosphere jet streams flow from west to east.