Question Set 15 Flashcards
Surface wind direction can be measured with a/an
a) wind vane.
b) aero vane.
c) sonic anemometer.
d) All of the above can be used to measure surface wind direction.
d) All of the above can be used to measure surface wind direction.
Synoptic scale circulations (e.g., a surface low pressure system) are, on average, about ______ km across.
a) 5000
b) 2000
c) 20
d) None of the above.
b) 2000
Thermal or convective turbulence is produced by ___________.
a) wind shear
b) the heating of the ground.
c) a force balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force.
d) centripetal accelerations.
b) the heating of the ground.
The ______ is the result of heating differences between land and water and blows on-shore during the daytime.
a) Santa Ana wind
b) land breeze
c) sea breeze
d) katabatic wind
c) sea breeze
The horse latitudes are known for relatively
a) stormy (i.e., cloudy and wet) conditions.
b) weak winds.
c) strong easterly winds.
d) strong westerly winds.
b) weak winds.
The wind features of the general circulation pattern in the northern hemisphere listed north to south are:
a) polar easterlies, prevailing westerlies, horse latitudes, northeast trade winds
b) prevailing westerlies, polar easterlies, horse latitudes, northeast trade winds
c) polar easterlies, horse latitudes, prevailing westerlies, northeast trade winds
d) polar easterlies, prevailing westerlies, northeast trade winds, horse lattiudes
a) polar easterlies, prevailing westerlies, horse latitudes, northeast trade winds
The region (or regions) of the general circulation where the air is likely to be rising is (are) the
a) subpolar low.
b) equatorial low.
c) Both a) and b).
d) None of the above.
c) Both a) and b).
The major deserts of the world are generally associated with the
a) the subtropical high.
b) equatorial low.
c) the subpolar low.
d) None of the above.
a) the subtropical high.
A Hadley cell has
a) warm air sinking near the equator and cold air rising near the poles.
b) cold air sinking near the equator and warm air rising near the poles.
c) warm air rising near the equator and cold air sinking near the poles.
d) cold air rising near the equator and warm air sinking near the poles.
c) warm air rising near the equator and cold air sinking near the poles.
The jet stream is a _____________ phenomenon.
a) synoptic to global scale
b) mesoscale
c) microscale
d) None of the above.
a) synoptic to global scale
In the northern hemisphere, the polar front jet will typically lie to the ______ of the subtropical jet.
a) north
b) south
c) east
d) west
a) north
Which of the following statements concerning jet streams is true?
a) Clear air turbulence is often observed in the vicinity of jet streams.
b) Jet streams are the result of “large” temperature changes over “short” distances (i.e.,fronts).
c) Jet streams are regions of high wind speed.
d) All of the above.
d) All of the above.
Ocean currents are primarily driven by
a) the frictional interaction of the ocean with the atmosphere (i.e., the winds) above.
b) temperature differences across the ocean surface.
c) vertical pressure differences in the ocean.
d) the seasonal migration habits of whales.
a) the frictional interaction of the ocean with the atmosphere (i.e., the winds) above.
The rising of cold ocean water at deeper levels of the ocean to replace warmer surface waters of the ocean is known as
a) El Nino.
b) upwelling.
c) downwelling.
d) None of the above.
b) upwelling.
The El Nino phenomenon
a) is a warming of the cool sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
b) only affects the weather in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
c) is associated with increased upwelling off the west coast of South America.
d) All of the above.
a) is a warming of the cool sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
