exam 2 atmospheric circulation

Question 1

what is earths atmosphere composed mainly of?

Answer 1

Nitrogen, Oxygen and water vapor.

Question 2

What percent is water vapor?

Answer 2

4 percent

Question 3

Density of air is influenced by what?

Answer 3

Temp and water content

Question 4

ascending air

Answer 4

warm air Rises, (less pressure) expands, cools → moisture condenses → clouds form.

Question 5

descending air

Answer 5

Sinks, compresses, warms → air dries → clouds evaporate.

Question 6

characteristics of warm air

Answer 6

Less Dense, rises, holds water
Cold air:

Question 7

characteristics of cool air

Answer 7

More Dense, sinks, holds little water

Question 8

how is wind created?

Answer 8

Air moves from high pressure to low pressure.

Question 9

Name the two fluid bodies that blanket the earth?

Answer 9

Atmosphere surrounds the earth. Oceans cover most of earths surface.

Question 10

Define weather and climate

Answer 10

weather - conditions of atmosphere at particular time and place

climate - long term average weather

Question 11

Density of air increase with what?

Answer 11

1.decrease temp
2. decreasing altitude
3. increasing pressure
4. decreasing water vapor content

Question 12

why does decreasing water vapor content increase density?

Answer 12

because water vapor is lighter than the elements that will replace it nitrogen and oxygen

Question 13

density of air decreases with

Answer 13

1. Increased water vapor content
   2.Increase in altitude
   3.decrease in pressure
2. increase in temp

Question 14

explain wind formation

Answer 14

warm less dense air rises and cool more dense are sinks and the cool dense air fills in the gaps left by the warm air rising , creating wind.

Question 15

causes of uneven solar heating

Answer 15

1. angle of incidence - solar rays
2. thickness of atmosphere
3. Albedo (reflectance)
4. day and night
   5.seasons

Question 16

solar heating based on latitude

Answer 16

1.between trop cancer and trop cap sun can strike at right angle.
2. sun light needs to passthrough more atmosphere at poles due to angle.
3. ice near poles reflects sunlight

Question 17

coriolis effect

Answer 17

is the observed deflection of a moving object, caused by the moving frame of reference on the spinning Earth

Question 18

which directions are things to deflected to in the northern and southern hemisphere via the Coriolis effect.

Answer 18

In the northern hemisphere deflected to right and southern deflected to left.

Question 19

what are the two convections cells near the equator, the two in the temperature zones, and the two other ones.

Answer 19

hadley - two near equator 0-30 north south
ferrel - two in temperate zones 30 to 60 north south
polar - near the poles. 0

Question 20

monsoons

Answer 20

patterns of wind circulation that change with season. dry winters , wet summer

Question 21

what is a sea breeze and a land breeze?

Answer 21

sea breeze - cool air from over the water blows to land. occurs after sunrise.

landbreeze - warm air from over land blows toward the water, occurs after sunset

Question 22

what are storms?

Answer 22

regional atmospheric disturbances - high winds, usually precipitation

Question 23

extratropical cyclones

Answer 23

occur is ferrel cells, winter disturbances

Question 24

cyclone

Answer 24

rotating mass of low pressure air.

Question 25

Conditions for Tropical Cyclones

Answer 25

1. sea greater than 26 C
2. warm moist air to supply
3. The coriolis effect
4. falls apart over land or water less than 24

Question 26

when is hurricane season?

Answer 26

june 1st to Nov 30th

Question 27

Hurricane Katrina

Answer 27

175mph winds
3-10m storm surge
80 percent new orleans flooded
1500 dead
168 billion damages
destruction to wetlands

Question 28

long island express hurricane

Answer 28

cat 3
600 dead
5m storm surge
landfall in center morchises