Chapter 6

Question 1

Air pressure

Answer 1

the force exerted by the weight of a column of air above a particular location

Question 2

Average sea-level pressure

Answer 2

serves as the division between what we call “high pressure” and “low pressure” at the surface

Question 3

High pressure

Answer 3

values greater than 1013.2 mb

Question 4

Low pressure

Answer 4

below 1013.2 mb

Question 5

Wind

Answer 5

nothing more than the movement of air molecules from one place to the next

Question 6

Pressure gradient

Answer 6

The spacing of isobars indicates the change in pressure over distance

Question 7

Coriolis effect

Answer 7

a mass moving in a rotating system experiences a force acting perpendicular to the direction of motion and to the axis of
rotation

Question 8

Friction

Answer 8

The friction imposed on air mechanically slows the wind and diverts its direction.

Question 9

Cyclone

Answer 9

areas of low pressure

Question 10

Anticyclone

Answer 10

areas of high pressure that exhibit nearly circular isobars

Question 11

Convergence

Answer 11

moving towards a point/area

Question 12

Divergence

Answer 12

moving away from a point/area

Question 13

Intertropical convergence zone

Answer 13

The Equatorial trough

Question 14

Subtropical high pressure

Answer 14

Upper air convergence and radiational cooling cause the air to subside in the subtropics. As the air reaches the surface,
atmospheric pressure increases forming the subtropical highs

Question 15

Subpolar low pressure

Answer 15

The polar easterlies collide with the westerly wind belt at about 60 N and S creating a broad belt of low pressure

Question 16

Polar high

Answer 16

dome of high pressure created by loss of energy at the poles

Question 17

Northeast tradewinds

Answer 17

the pressure gradient between the high at 30 N and the low over the equator

Question 18

Westerlies

Answer 18

wind belt

Question 19

Polar easterlies

Answer 19

Air moving equatorward is turned in an easterly direction

Question 20

Monsoon

Answer 20

wind that changes direction with season

Question 21

Land/Sea breeze

Answer 21

created along coasts where land and water create variations in pressure due to differences in the way these two bodies
heat and cool.

Question 22

Chinook

Answer 22

a warm dry wind on the leeward side of a mountain

Question 23

Mountain/Valley wind

Answer 23

During the daytime, mountain slopes warm causing the air over the slope to be warmer than the air over the valley at the
same elevation. Warming the air causes it to rise upwards creating a valley wind. During the evening, the air chills due
to a loss of surface energy to space. The cool dense air moves down slope as a mountain wind.

Question 24

Santa Ana wind

Answer 24

warm and dry wind.

Question 25

Upper-level westerlies

Answer 25

the upper troposphere poleward of 15 to 20 latitude there is an average westerly flow

Question 26

Upper-level easterlies

Answer 26

Between 15 - 20 north and south latitude; considered to be an extension of the trade winds

Question 27

Jet Stream

Answer 27

a high speed corridor of air responsible for creating and moving large pressure systems through the midlatitudes

Question 28

Circumpolar vortex

Answer 28

The subsidence creates a vast area of low pressure aloft

Question 29

Meridonal flow

Answer 29

transfer of cold air toward the south and warm air toward the north

Question 30

Zonal Flow

Answer 30

edge is flatter, running more west to east in direction

Question 31

Warm ocean current

Answer 31

corridors of warm water moving from the tropics poleward where they release energy to the air.

Question 32

Cold ocean current

Answer 32

corridors of cold water moving from higher latitudes toward the equator

Question 33

El Niño

Answer 33

weakening of the trade winds in the central and western Pacific allows warm water to invade the eastern Pacific. Along
the Peruvian coast, the encroaching warm water displaces the nutrient-rich north-flowing cold ocean current causing a
decline in fisheries. Today, the phenomenon is known as the “ El Niño/Southern Oscillation”

Question 34

La Niña

Answer 34

Cooler than normal ocean temperature in the eastern pacific/Peruvian Coaast region is called “La Niña”