Question Set 12 Flashcards
The wind (i.e., the horizontal movement of air) is a result of
a) the rotation of the Earth.
b) Earth’s gravitational attraction.
c) inertia.
d) heating differences that lead to horizontal pressure differences.
d) heating differences that lead to horizontal pressure differences.
Units of pressure include
a) millibars (mb)
b) hectopascals (hPa)
c) inches of mercury
d) All of the above.
d) All of the above.
Atmospheric pressure is measured using a/an
a) anemometer.
b) barometer.
c) ceilometer.
d) psychrometer.
b) barometer.
Which of the following barometers relates the length of a substance to pressure?
a) mercury barometers
b) aneroid barometers
c) Both a and b.
d) None of the above.
a) mercury barometers
Standard sea level pressure is
a) 1084 mb
b) 1013.25 mb
c) 913.25 mb
d) 870 mb
b) 1013.25 mb
Pressure typically changes about ____ mb for every 100 m change in altitude.
a) 0.1
b) 1
c) 10
d) 100
c) 10
. A location 400 meters above sea level is measuring a station pressure of 967 mb. What is the value of the mean sea level pressure for this station?
a) 1367 mb
b) 1007 mb
c) 967 mb
d) 927 mb
b) 1007 mb
A location 1000 meters above sea level is measuring a station pressure of 895 mb. What is the value of the mean sea level pressure for this station?
a) 795 mb
b) 895 mb
c) 995 mb
d) 1895 mb
c) 995 mb
Wind flow patterns away from the ground (i.e., above one to two kilometers altitude)
a) are often wave-like with features called troughs and ridges.
b) have winds that are pretty much parallel to the isobars.
c) are generally the result of an interaction between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force.
d) All of the above.
d) All of the above.
In the northern hemisphere, air flows _________ around a surface low pressure center (cyclone) with the air ________the low.
a) counter-clockwise; converging somewhat into
b) counter-clockwise, diverging somewhat out of
c) clockwise; diverging somewhat out of
d) clockwise; converging somewhat into
a) counter-clockwise; converging somewhat into
The concept that the forces acting on an object can lead to the acceleration of that object is basically a description of
a) Newton’s first law of motion (the concept of inertia).
b) Newton’s second law of motion.
c) hydrostatic equilibrium.
d) the isobaric law.
b) Newton’s second law of motion.
The Coriolis force
a) causes objects moving relative to the Earth to be deflected to the right of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.
b) is equal to zero at the equator.
c) gets larger the faster an object moves relative to the Earth.
d) All of the above.
d) All of the above.
Which of the following forces is the driving force for the wind (i.e., it makes the wind go)?
a) pressure gradient force
b) Coriolis force
c) force of friction
d) centripetal force
a) pressure gradient force
The pressure gradient force is acting (i.e., pointing) towards the east. If the wind is in geostrophic balance, the Coriolis force is acting (i.e., pointing) towards the
a) north.
b) south.
c) east.
d) west.
d) west.
The pressure gradient force is acting (i.e., pointing) towards the east. The geostrophic wind would, therefore, be blowing from the
a) north.
b) south.
c) east.
d) west.
a) north
