Ch. 5

Question 1

atmospheric pressure

Answer 1

the force exerted by the weight of these gas molecules on a unit of area of earths surface or any other body

Question 2

temp and pressure relationships

Answer 2

an increase in temp creates a decrease in density and thus a decrease in pressure and vise versa

Question 3

dynamic high

Answer 3

strongly descending air is usually associated with high pressure at the surface

Question 4

thermal high

Answer 4

very cold surface conditions are often associated with high pressure at the surface

Question 5

dynamic low

Answer 5

strongly rising air is usually associated with low pressure at the surface

Question 6

thermal low

Answer 6

very warm surface conditions are often associated with relatively low pressure at the surface

Question 7

barometers

Answer 7

measure atmospheric pressure

Question 8

millibar

Answer 8

most common unit of measure for atmospheric pressure

Question 9

isobars

Answer 9

once pressure in millibars is plotted on a weather map, it is possible to draw isolines of equal pressure called isobars

Question 10

ridge

Answer 10

elongated area of relatively high pressure

Question 11

trough

Answer 11

an elongated area of relatively low pressure

Question 12

pressure gradient

Answer 12

the abruptness of the pressure change over a distance

Question 13

wind

Answer 13

horizontal movement of air. unequal heating of different parts of earths surface brings about temp gradient that generate pressure gradients that set air into motion. flows from higher pressure to lower pressure

Question 14

anti cyclone

Answer 14

a high pressure centered wind pattern

Question 15

cyclones

Answer 15

low pressured centered wind pattern

Question 16

coriolis effect

Answer 16

because earth rotates, everything near the surface appears to deflect to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere

Question 17

friction

Answer 17

in the lowest portions of the troposphere a third force that influences wind direction is friction. the frictional drag of earths surface slows the wind movement and so the influence of the coriolis effect is reduced

Question 18

friction layer

Answer 18

of the atmosphere extends to only about 1000 meters (3300 feet) above the surface

Question 19

hadley cells

Answer 19

low latitude cells, one north and one south of the equator are gigantic convection systems. these are the two prominent convection cells. warm air rises producing areas of low pressure, this air cools and spreads to the poles and descends at 30 degrees where is has cooled the most. here there are bands of high pressure formed.

Question 20

seven components of general circulation

Answer 20

(1) intertropical convergence zone ITCZ (2) Trade winds (3) suntropical highs (4) Westerlies (5) Polar front, sub polar lows (6) Polar easterlies (7) Polar highs

Question 21

subtropical high

Answer 21

30 degrees. anticyclone. develop fro descending air from the hadleys. azores high: north atlantic. hawaiian high: North Pacific. intensified cell of high pressure. clear warm and calm weather.

Question 22

trade winds

Answer 22

cover most of earth between 25N and 25S. predominantly easterlies. commerce winds. very consistent. warming drying winds capable of holding an enormous amount of water. they don’t usually release the moisture unless forced to by being uplifted by a topographic barrier or a pressure disturbance

Question 23

intertropical convergence zone

Answer 23

the area where the air from the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere come together, doldrums. warm surface conditions, low pressure with high rainfall instability and rising air.

Question 24

the westerlies

Answer 24

flow from west to east between 30 and 60 degrees.

Question 25

jet streams

Answer 25

polar front jet stream and the subtropical jet stream. area of strong wind in the upper troposphere

Question 26

polar highs

Answer 26

high pressure cells over both poles. anticyclonic. air sinks,.

Question 27

polar easterlies

Answer 27

east to west

Question 28

polar front

Answer 28

50 to 60 degrees. meeting of the polar easterlies and the westerlies

Question 29

monsoon

Answer 29

seasonal reversal of wind.