CPL Meteorology

Question 1

Atmosphere Composition

Answer 1

78% Nitrogen 21% Oxygen 1% Other (CO2 etc.)

Question 2

Water Vapour Composition

Answer 2

Minute Traces to about 3%

Question 3

How high is the Ozone Layer?

Answer 3

50km

Question 4

Why is the sky blue?

Answer 4

Blue wavelength of visible light is scattered.

Question 5

Layers of the atmosphere:

Answer 5

Troposphere, Tropopause, Stratosphere, Stratopause, Mesosphere, Mesopause, Thermosphere, Exosphere

Question 6

ELR in troposphere

Answer 6

2 degrees per 1000ft height increase

Question 7

What is the region called where the temperature remains constant with a height increase?

Answer 7

Isothermal layer

Question 8

Height range of the tropopause

Answer 8

8km (poles) to 18km (equator)

Question 9

Height of the tropopause over Australia

Answer 9

~10km

Question 10

What are the types of cells found around the Earth called used to distribute heat from the equator?

Answer 10

Convective Cells

Question 11

Sinking air produces what kind of pressure?

Answer 11

High Pressure

Question 12

Rising air produces what kind of pressure?

Answer 12

Low Pressure

Question 13

Region of rising warm air at the equator?

Answer 13

Equatorial Trough (Tropical Cell)

Question 14

Region of sinking air at mid lattitude?

Answer 14

Sub-Tropical Ridge

Question 15

Region of rising air and low pressure near the poles?

Answer 15

Sub-Polar Low

Question 16

During the southern hemispheres summer:

Answer 16

The southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun - more water than land therefore summer brings the ‘wet’ season and vast quantities of water vapour are taken up by the rising air.

Question 17

Another name for the region where surface air flow from each hemisphere converges and rises:

Answer 17

The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

Question 18

During the northern hemispheres summer:

Answer 18

The northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun - more land than water therefore the equatorial trough moves up as the land becomes hotter in summer than the same latitude of the southern hemisphere.

Question 19

What is the movement of the equatorial trough called?

Answer 19

Migration

Question 20

Does air flow between a high to a low or a low to a high?

Answer 20

High to a low

Question 21

Which way does the Earth rotate?

Answer 21

West to East

Question 22

What are the winds called that move from the sub-tropical ridge to the equatorial trough?

Answer 22

South East Trades

Question 23

Which direction does a high pressure system circulate?

Answer 23

Anti-Clockwise

Question 24

Which direction does a low pressure system circulate?

Answer 24

Clockwise

Question 25

Which direction is wind direction usually?

Answer 25

Parallel to the isobars - clockwise about a low and anti-clockwise around a high

Question 26

Cyclonic or anti-cyclonic in a low?

Answer 26

Cyclonic

Question 27

Cyclonic or anti-cyclonic in a high?

Answer 27

Anti-Cyclonic

Question 28

What is an El-Nino event?

Answer 28

Warm surface water begins to move eastward to bring lower than usual atmospheric pressure to the Eastern Pacific. This weakens the pressure difference across the ocean and the trade winds will falter or even reverse. This allows the pile-up of warm surface water to ‘slosh’ East across the pacific further reducing atmospheric pressure. This atmospheric lifting is enhanced bringing heavy rains to the normally dry west coast of South America. Simultaneously, air subsiding over the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean brings very dry air to the Australian continent creating drought conditions.