Gr11 Atmosphere Terminology, Quiz 2

Question 1

Air mass

Answer 1

A large body of air with relatively similar temperature and humidity characteristics acquired from its source region.

Question 2

Agulhas Current

Answer 2

The Agulhas Current is a warm current found in the southwest Indian Ocean. It flows down the east coast of South Africa.

Question 3

Benguela Current

Answer 3

The Benguela Current is a cold, northward flowing ocean current that can be found in the southeast Atlantic Ocean.

Question 4

Climate regions

Answer 4

Large-scale geographical regions distinguished by variations in energy and moisture budgets.

Question 5

Continental Tropical (cT) air mass

Answer 5

Originated over the Sahara desert and is thus warm and dry.

Question 6

Continental Climate

Answer 6

A climate characterized by a great annual variation in temperature due to the lack of significant bodies of water nearby.

Question 7

Ferrel Cell

Answer 7

Atmospheric circulation cell between about 30• latitude and the polar front.

Question 8

Geostrophic wind

Answer 8

Wind blowing more or less parallel to isobars, under the combined influence of the pressure gradient and the Coriolis force.

Question 9

Hadley Cell

Answer 9

Atmospheric circulation cell between the equator and about 30• latitude.

Question 10

Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

Answer 10

Equatorial low pressure belt along which the trade winds of the two hemispheres converge.

Question 11

Jet Streams

Answer 11

Strong, geostrophic winds blowing from west to East in the upper atmosphere.

Question 12

Maritime climate

Answer 12

A climate characterized by a relatively narrow annual temperature range due to the presence of significant bodies of water nearby.

Question 13

Maritime Tropical (mT) air mass

Answer 13

Originated over the Atlantic Ocean and is therefore warm, moist and unstable.

Question 14

Mozambican Current

Answer 14

Warm surface waters in the Indian Ocean that flow south along the African East coast in the Mozambique Channel, between Mozambique and the island of Madagascar.

Question 15

Polar Cell

Answer 15

Atmospheric circulation cell between the polar front and the pole.

Question 16

Polar easterly winds

Answer 16

The polar easterlies are the dry, cold prevailing winds that blow from the high-pressure areas near the north and south poles towards the low-pressure areas within the Westerlies at high latitudes.

Question 17

Seasonal migration

Answer 17

The pressure belts and wind systems migrate, either northwards or southwards, as the ITCZ moves.

Question 18

Subsidence

Answer 18

The vertical descent of an air mass.

Question 19

Tropical easterly winds (Trade winds)

Answer 19

Warm, moist winds that blow from the east towards the west. They originate from the Subtropical high pressure belt and flow towards the Equatorial low pressure belt.

Question 20

Westerly winds

Answer 20

Warm prevailing winds in the middle latitudes that blow from the Subtropical high pressure belt towards the Subpolar low pressure belt. These prevailing winds blow from the west to the East.