Final Exam

Question 1

Dynamic Meteorology involves the development of theoretical physical laws to understand and predict phenomenon in the atmosphere

Answer 1

True

Question 2

When an orthogonal Cartesian coordinate system is used in meteorology, the positive x-axis is orientated such that it points towards the east.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

AxB = ABcos(θ) where θ is the angle between the vectors A and B

Answer 3

False

Question 4

If the velocity divergence at a location is less than zero then convergence is occurring at that location

Answer 4

True

Question 5

If an air parcel is moving towards the west (u>0) and du/dt is greater than zero (>0) then air parcel is speeding up.

Answer 5

False

Question 6

The basis for the derivation of the equation of motion is Newton’s second law (F=m(dava/dt)

Answer 6

True

Question 7

A coordinate system “fixed” to Earth, and therefore rotating with Earth, is referred to as an inertial or absolute coordinate system

Answer 7

False

Question 8

The effective gravity vector used in the equation of motion is the sum of Earth’s gravitational attraction and the Coriolis force that is present due to Earths rotation.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

An air parcel moving in a North-South direction (v does not equal to zero) will experience a Coriolis acceleration in the east-west direction (du/dt does not equal to 0) due to the parcel conserving absolute angular momentum (ωr)

Answer 9

True

Question 10

Horizontal Temperature _________; the local _____ rate of change in temperature due to the horizontal mass ______ of air.

Answer 10

Advection, time, movement

Question 11

Inertial coordinate system

Answer 11

Fixed to absolute space

Question 12

Non-inertial coordinate system

Answer 12

Fixed to a rotating body

Question 13

The absolute angular momentum associated with an air parcel is moving about Earths axis of rotation is determined by (1) angular velocity of the air parcel about Earth’s axis of rotation (ω) and (2) the radius of rotation relative to earth’s axis squared (r^2)

Answer 13

True

Question 14

A system of equations that describes changes in volume of air moving with the volume of air is referred to as a Lagrangian system

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Winds in the horizontal on the synoptic scale are typically order 10^2 m/s

Answer 15

False

Question 16

The friction force acts to reduce the wind speed, and therefore will also reduce the magnitude of the Coriolis force

Answer 16

True

Question 17

If the tangential velocity component in the polar coordinate system (vθ) is less than zero, the flow is counter clock wise (cyclonic)

Answer 17

False

Question 18

Higher density

Answer 18

Weaker P.G.F

Question 19

Lower density

Answer 19

Stronger P.G.F

Question 20

Small r

Answer 20

Big centrifugal force

Question 21

Big r

Answer 21

Small centrifugal force

Question 22

Hydrostatic Balance

Answer 22

Vertical pressure gradient force balanced by gravity

Question 23

Geostrophic Balance

Answer 23

Horizontal pressure gradient force balanced by the Coriolis force

Question 24

Cyclostrophic Balance

Answer 24

A balance between the horizontal pressure gradient force and the centrifugal force; representative of small scale curved flow associated with high wind speeds and phenomenon at low latitudes

Question 25

Small R («1)

Answer 25

Small centrifugal force big Coriolis force (Geostrophic Flow)

Question 26

R~1

Answer 26

Centrifugal force = Coriolis force

Question 27

Big R (»1)

Answer 27

Big centrifugal force, small Coriolis force (Cyclostrophic flow)

Question 28

Thermal Wind

Answer 28

A vector that represents the vertical shear of the Geostrophic wind