chapter 4 (lecture)

Question 1

Using typical values for the tropics, equivalent depths for tropospheric waves in dry atmosphere with

Answer 1

constant static stability can have typical values ranging from 10-500 m

Question 2

Upper slopes suffer from

Answer 2

lower moisture availability

Question 3

Air flowing parallel to a coastline at the gradient level is subjected to more drag by the land than by the sea, due to an abrupt change in friction.

 As a consequence, surface winds

Answer 3

corss the isobars towards low pressure at a greater angle over the land than over the sea

Question 4

In order to balance the friction and Coriolis terms, the following relation must hold,

Answer 4

Question 5

If friction is considered to be linear in V, then:

Answer 5

Question 6

Where the drag coefficient is larger, the cross-isobar angle is larger.
 For the same drag coefficient, the cross-isobar angle is larger at

Answer 6

low latitudes than at higher latitudes.

Question 7

an air stream paralleling a coast line will result in

Answer 7

• Divergence and drier conditions over the coastline, if the lower pressures are inland.
• Convergence and moister conditions over the coastline if higher pressures are inland.

Question 8

Winds around a continental heat low may be almost parallel to a coastline, as off Somalia, for example.

Cold water, being brought to the surface

Answer 8

cools the adjacent air, producing a weak, local pressure ridge and a large thermal gradient

Question 9

cold water being brought to the surface cools the adjacent air producing a weak local pressure ridge and a large thermal gradient

these two effects by combination

Answer 9

to reduce inflow to the heat low and to increase the winds enhance upwelling

Question 10

The stress differential leads to

Answer 10

divergence which both enhances upwelling and cause lower tropospheric subsidence, and which by clearing the skies, contributes in turn to insolation at the land surface

Question 11

the stress differential leads to divergence which both enhances upwelling and cause lower tropospheric subsidence, and which be clearing the skies, contribute in turn to insolation at the land surface

the combined effect is to

Answer 11

increase the temperature gradient between land and sea thereby to intensify the monsoon circulation

Question 12

cold water may be upweled or

Answer 12

may be advected into the winter hemisphere where it may reduce the sea-land temperature gradient, and may weaken or inhibit a winter monsoon