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earth science > Earth Science, Tarbuck Chap 18 > Flashcards

Earth Science, Tarbuck Chap 18 Flashcards

1
Q

air pressure at sea level

A

1 kilogram per square centimeter, or 14.7 pounds per square inch. Also known as 1 atmosphere

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2
Q

Low pressure often correlates with what type of weather

A

Rainy/Stormy

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3
Q

how does air flow

A

Air flows from areas of higher
pressure to areas of lower pressure

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4
Q

3 factors that control wind

A

pressure gradient force, coriolis effect, and friction

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5
Q

What is pressure gradient force

A

amount of pressure change occurring over a given distance

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6
Q

How does spacing of isobars tell us the pressure gradient force and wind

A

Closely spaced isobars indicate a steep pressure gradient and strong winds; widely spaced isobars indicate a weak pressure gradient
and light winds

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7
Q

Where is the coriolis effect the strongest

A

Strongest at the poles, gets weaker until its non-existent at the equator

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8
Q

What are geostrophic winds

A

Wind blowing parallel to the isobar due to the coriolis effect balancing with the pressure gradient force. Only happens in high elevations, where wind is not affected by Earth’s friction

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9
Q

Coriolis effect is proportional to wind speed, what does that mean

A

the faster the wind, the more deflected it will be

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10
Q

At what angle is the coriolis effect applied

A

right angles

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11
Q

How does friction with Earths surface change wind

A

Friction slows wind speed, which leads to less deflection by the coriolis effect. Note this only applies to wind above the surface by a couple kilometers

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12
Q

What are cyclones

A

Areas of low pressure

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13
Q

What are anticyclones

A

Areas of High pressure

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14
Q

What direction are Cyclones blowing

A

In the north hemisphere, winds blow inward and counterclockwise, In the south, winds blow inward and clockwise

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15
Q

What direction are anticyclones blowing

A

In the north hemisphere, winds blow outward and clockwise, In the south, winds blow outward and counterclockwise

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16
Q

What usually causes cyclones to form

A

Divergence aloft

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17
Q

Why are low pressure systems a signal for rainy weather

A

Air converges and lifts, causing clouds to form.

18
Q

Why are high pressure systems a signal for fair weather

A

Air diverges and clouds do not form.

19
Q

Why is the air at the equator low pressure

A

Air at the equator is hotter which means its less dense and it rises more easily

20
Q

What is the Subtropical High

A

When Air diverging from the equator reaches around 30 degree latitude North or South, it sinks back towards the surface, creating hot arid conditions due to adiabatic heating.

21
Q

Diverging air at the subtropical high causes air to go where

A

Some of the air goes towards the equator, producing the trade winds, while the rest travels pole ward creating the westerlies

22
Q

What is the polar front

A

As the warm westerlies encounter the cold polar easterlies, a stormy polar front is created

23
Q

What is the polar high

A

At the poles, it is a high pressure system. This is due to air being colder and air traveling in from the mid latitudes.

24
Q

What are polar easterlies

A

Polar high causes air to diverge toward the mid-latitudes

25
Q

What are monsoons

A

large-scale seasonal wind systems characterized by their reversal in direction, usually accompanied by significant changes in rainfall patterns.

26
Q

What is required for a monsoon to occur

A

Landmass is near large body of water, areas are in subtropical to tropical locations,

27
Q

What is a summer monsoon

A

During the summer, the land heats up faster than the surrounding ocean.warm land causes air to rise, creating a low-pressure area over the continent.Cooler, moist air from the ocean is drawn inland, where it rises, cools, and condenses, leading to heavy rainfall.

28
Q

What causes sea breezes

A

During the daytime in summer, especially around noon, the land heats up faster than the sea, causing the cool air from the sea(High pressure) to move towards the warm air on the land(Low pressure)

29
Q

What are Land breezes

A

During the nightime of summer, the sea is warmer than the land, which cools faster, causing the cool air from the land(High pressure) to move towards the warm air on the sea(Low pressure )

30
Q

What is a Valley Breeze

A

During the day, the sun heats up the slopes of mountains faster than the valley floor. Cooler air from the valley moves upward along the slopes.

31
Q

What is the mountain breeze

A

During the night, rapid radiation cooling along the mountain slopes produces a layer
of cooler air next to the ground. Because cool air is
denser than warm air, it drains downslope into the valley.

32
Q

Valley breezes often occur in what season

A

Summer

33
Q

Mountain breezes often occur in what season

A

Winter.

34
Q

What are chinooks

A

Warm, dry winds moves down the eastern
slopes of the Rocky mountains

35
Q

What is a prevailing wind

A

When the wind consistently blows more often
from one direction than from any other,

36
Q

What is el nino

A

an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December.

37
Q

What is La nina

A

essentially the opposite of El Niño and refers to colderthan-normal sea-surface temperatures in the
central and eastern Pacific. Happens immediatly after El nino

38
Q

El nino has what impact on Hurricanes

A

Reduces the amount of atlantic hurricanes

39
Q

La nina has what effect on weather

A

Leads to wetter weather

40
Q

Effect of La nina on hurricanes

A

More Atlantic hurricanes

41
Q

What is Southern Oscillation

A

seesaw pattern of atmospheric High and Low pressure
between the eastern and western Pacific

earth science (20 decks)

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