4. Atmospheric Circulation And Wind Systems Flashcards

1
Q

desertification

A

transformation of fertile land to desert, usually by overgrazing of livestock, deforestation, or natural drought

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2
Q

anemometer

A

instrument used to measure wind speed

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3
Q

wind vane

A

instrument used to measure wind direction

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4
Q

aerovane

A

combination of anemometer and a wind vane; measures wind direction and speed

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5
Q

prevailing wind

A

direction the wind blows most frequently during a specified window of time

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6
Q

onshore wind

A

coastal wind flowing from sea to land

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7
Q

offshore wind

A

coastal wind flowing from land to sea

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8
Q

barometer

A

instrument used to measure air pressure

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9
Q

thermal pressure

A

air pressure resulting from changes in temperature

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10
Q

dynamic pressure

A

air pressure caused by air movement

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11
Q

pressure-gradient force

A

force resulting from changes in barometric pressure across earth’s surface

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12
Q

sea-level pressure

A

air pressure that has been adjusted to sea level

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13
Q

isobar

A

a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal pressure. isobars are quantitative representations of the changing molecular density of the air over a geographic region

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14
Q

coriolis effect

A

the perceived deflection of moving objects in relation to Earth’s surface

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15
Q

boundary layer

A

layer of the atmosphere where wind is slowed by friction with Earth’s surface; extends about 1km above the surface

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16
Q

Cyclone

A

meteorological system in which air flows toward a low-pressure region, creating counterclockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere

17
Q

anticyclone

A

meteorological system in which air flows away from a high-pressure region, creating clockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere

18
Q

ITCZ (intertropical convergence zone)

A

global band of unstable, buoyant air parcels that tracks the migration of the subsolar point

19
Q

subtropical high

A

discontinuous belt of aridity and high pressure made up of anticyclones roughly centered on 30° north and south latitude

20
Q

subpolar low

A

belt of low pressure roughly centered on 60° north and south and made up of cyclonic systems that bring frequent precipitation

21
Q

polar high

A

area of cold, dense air at each pole that forms a zone of thermal high pressure

22
Q

trade winds

A

easterly surface winds found between the ITCZ and the subtropical high, between 0° and 30° north and south latitude

23
Q

doldrums

A

a low-wind region near the equator, associated with the ITCZ

24
Q

horse latitudes

A

the low-wind regions centered on 30° north amd south

25
westerlies
surface winds that come from the west and are found in both hemispheres between the subpolar low and the subtropical high
26
polar easterlies
cold, dry winds originating near both poles and flowing south amd east
27
polar jet stream
a discontinuous narrow band of fast-flowing air found at high altitudes between 30° and 60° latitude in the Northern Hemisphere
28
rossby wave
a large undulation in the upper-level westerlies
29
sea breeze
local onshore breeze created by heating and cooling differences between water and land
30
land breeze
local offshore breeze created by heating and cooling differences between water and land
31
monsoon
seasonal reversal of winds, characterized by summer onshore airflow and winter offshore airflow
32
valley breeze
local upslope breeze produced by heating and cooling differences in mountainous areas
33
mountain breeze
local downslope breeze produced by heating and cooling differences in mountainous areas
34
chinook wind
local downslope wind that forms on the leeward side of the Rocky Mountains
35
foehn wind
downslope wind that forms on the leeward side of the European Alps
36
santa ana winds
winds that originate in the Great Basin and are heated adiabatically as they descend to sea level on the southern California coast and northern Baja California; often associated with major wildfires
37
katabatic wind
(or gravity wind) Wind that forms mainly over ice sheets or glaciers when intensely cold, dense, and heavy air spills downslope by the force of gravity