atmospheric circulation - I

Question 1

What are the four scales of motion?

Answer 1

microscale, mesoscale, synoptic scale, and planetary scale

Question 2

What is the size range of microscale motion and what forces affect this scale of motion?

Answer 2

≤ 1km; pressure gradient force, centrifugal force, and frictional force

Question 3

What is the size range of mesoscale motion and what forces affect this scale of motion?

Answer 3

1-200km, coriolis force

Question 4

What is the size range of synoptic scale motion and what forces affect this scale of motion?

Answer 4

200-2000km; coriolis force and pressure gradient force (geostrophic balance)

Question 5

What is the size range of planetary scale motion and what forces affect this scale of motion?

Answer 5

> 2000km; coriolis force and pressure gradient force (geostrophic balance)

Question 6

What is the process of sea breeze circulation and when does it occur?

Answer 6

occurs during the daytime
1. land heats up at a faster rate than water, creating a temperature difference
2. temperature difference creates pressure difference. low pressure over land and high pressure over ocean
3. air flows from ocean to land, creating a sea breeze
4. air rises, creates clouds
5. air flows back to the ocean and sinks

Question 7

What is the process of land breeze circulation and when does it occur?

Answer 7

occurs during night
1. land is cooler than the ocean
2. temperature difference creates pressure difference. high pressure over the land and low pressure over the ocean
3. air flows from land to ocean
4. air rises and recirculates back from above

Question 8

What causes upslope winds?

Answer 8

the sun heats mountains, the air in contact with the mountains heats up and creates a density difference between the air and the environment, air rises up slope

Question 9

What causes downslope winds?

Answer 9

mountains cool down at night because of radiative cooling, the air in contact with the mountains cools down and creates