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Environmental Science > Atmospheric Circulation > Flashcards

Atmospheric Circulation Flashcards

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1
Q

Barometer

A

Is used to measure air pressure

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2
Q

Wind

A

Is the horizontal motion across the Earths surface

  • It is created by gradients in air pressure/density
  • The greater the pressure gradient/difference the stronger the wind is
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3
Q

Forces that determine winds:

A
  • Pressure gradient force
  • Coriolis Effect
  • Frictional Force
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4
Q

Pressure Gradient Force

A
  • Is responsible for generating wind to blow from high pressure to low pressure perpendicular to the isobars
  • Fluids like air/water move from areas of high pressure to low pressure
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5
Q

Wind blows which was to the isobars?

A

They blow perpendicular to the isobars from a high pressure zone to low pressure zone

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6
Q

When considering PGF on its own, the angle is…

A

Perpendicular

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7
Q

How are convection loops created?

A

They are created by unequal heating a cooling of the surface

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8
Q

Pressure gradient controls…

A

Horizontal air movement

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9
Q

Air temperature controls…

A

Vertical air movement

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10
Q

Coriolis Effect

A

Is an apparent force caused by the Earth’s rotation

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11
Q

Coriolis force is always ____ to the wind

A

Perpendicular

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12
Q

Coriolis Force =

A

PGF, then the wind blows parallel to the isobars with low pressure to the left if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere

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13
Q

Geostrophic Winds

A

Are upper atmospheric winds with no friction
- Upper level winds run parallel to the isobars, with low pressure to the left when you’re unfacing the wind in the northern hemisphere

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14
Q

Friction Force

A
  • Friction from the surface slows wind speed and combines with other forces to influence wind direction, basically friction slows down wind
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15
Q

The effect of friction extends to about…

A

500m above the surface

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16
Q

The winds from a northern hemisphere cyclone rotate

A

counter-clockwise

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17
Q

The winds from a low pressure system in the Southern Hemisphere rotate:

A

clockwise

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18
Q

Why do cyclones in the northern and southern hemisphere spine in opposite directions?

A

Because of the Coriolis effect

19
Q

Will land or land near the water be cooler? Why?

A

Land near the water will be cooler as land warms up quickly during the day and cools down quickly at night

20
Q

Why will the water stay warm at night?

A

Because water has the capacity to store heat for a longer period of time

21
Q

It is always low pressure…

A

Along the surface of the equator as it is near the tropics (its always warm near the equator)

22
Q

What kind of cells does the subtropics have?

A

High pressure cells

23
Q

Why do the poles have high pressure?

A

Cause it is so cold at the poles, the air falls

24
Q

Atmospheric circulation between the equator and the sub tropics is called:

A

Hadley cells

25
Q

Winds coming from the north east are called:

A

Northeast trade winds

26
Q

Winds coming from the south east are called:

A

South east trade winds

27
Q

Where does the low pressure belt exist?

A

The ITCZ

28
Q

The subtropics has what type of pressure?

A

High pressure

29
Q

Winds blow from…

A

High pressure to low pressure

30
Q

What is a front?

A

Two air masses with contrasting temperatures
- At mid latitude we receive air from the poles (cold) and air coming from the subtropics (warm) this causes cold air to meet with the warm air and is called a front

31
Q

What do high poles generate?

A

Easterlies

32
Q

Hadley cells generate…

A

Northeast and Southeast trades

33
Q

Westerlies

A

Are the dominant surface winds from the subtropics to high latitudes

34
Q

What is associated with the equator?

A

The intertropical convergence zone

35
Q

Equatorial Low Pressure Trough

A
  • High insolation warms equatorial air, the air rises and produces a zone of low pressure
  • Air from both hemisphere flow toward the surface low and moves aloft as part of the Hadley cell
  • This area of convergence is known as the ITCZ
36
Q

Subtropical High Pressure Belts

A
  • Air descending part of Hadley cell is heated by compression and becomes drier
  • The surface air diverging form the subtropical highs generate earth’s principle surface (mid latitude westerlies, tropical trade winds)
  • Like the ITCZ, the high pressure cells “follow” the sun migrating 5-10 degrees in latitude
37
Q

Polar High Pressure Cells

A
  • Weak high pressure cells with little energy

- Winds move away from the polar region in an anti-cyclonic direction producing the polar easterlies

38
Q

The ITCZ changes…

A

Above or below the equator depending on the time of year

39
Q

Upper Atmospheric Circulation:

A
  • Pressure decreases less rapidly with height in warmer air
  • Differential heated causes air to flow poleward, therefore the pressure gradient is greater at altitude and winds tend to be stronger
40
Q

Jet streams

A

Are narrow high speed upper level air flows

  • It is a river of fast moving air in the upper atmosphere
  • It steers storms and moves weather patterns across the globe
41
Q

Jet streams are driven by…

A
  • The temperature differential between the Arctic and mid latitudes.
  • If the temperature differential is large, then the jet stream speeds up
  • If the temperature differential reduces cause of a warming Arctic, then the jet stream weakens
42
Q

When the jet stream goes up (ridge) we see…

A

Warm and dry weather

43
Q

When the jet stream goes down (trough) we see…

A

Cooler and wetter weather

44
Q

Rossby Waves

A

Are the undulations of the upper level westerly winds

- As viewed from space, they have half the rotational speed of Earth

Environmental Science (12 decks)

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