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OCE Chp 6 EDIT

Terms in this set (96)

Let's begin by comparing the conditions at three different cities: Phoenix, AZ; Bismarck, ND; and Tampa, FL. Refer to the accompanying table showing temperature and dew point temperature data for each city and use this information to determine which location each of the following statements applies to.
Phoenix, AZ : city where the water vapor in the air is furthest from saturation point;the city has the lowest relative humidity
Bismarck, ND: city where the water vapor in the air is closest to saturation point;the city has the lowest quanity of water vapor in the air;the city has the higest realtive humidity
Tampa, FL: This city has the greatest quantity of water vapor in the air
The graph below details air temperature and relative humidity changes on a typical summer day in the Midwest.
What would be the best time of day to water a lawn to minimize the evaporation of water from the surface of the grass, assuming the dew point temperature remained constant?
6 AM
The best time of day to water a lawn in order to ensure the greatest absorption of that water into the soil is 6 AM. At this time of day, the temperature is at its coolest and the relative humidity is at its highest, allowing little water to evaporate.
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When a ball is thrown in a stationary position, there is very little deflection in its path due to Coriolis effect, far too small for you to notice. But if the ball is thrown in motion, it will be deflected.
You will relate the concept of the Coriolis force to a game of catch. The two-dimensional figure shows a game of catch played on a merry-go-round by nine children (the image is viewed from the South Pole). The alphabet A-H indicates the positions of eight children on the merry-go-round with the nineth child in the center. The arrows show the direction of rotation of the merry-go-round, which moves with a constant speed, moves with a constant speed causing a shift of 45∘∘.

Assuming a child sitting in the center attempts to throw the ball directly to child D, which child will likely catch the ball?
C
Earth rotates about its axis and all objects on its surface are constantly moving around in a large circle in space. The Earth's oceans and atmosphere are also spinning around with Earth at the same rate. The Coriolis effect may therefore seem predominant, but not all objects are influenced by it and not all the influences get noticed.
Which of the following are influenced by Coriolis effect.
-ocean currents
-helicopter, on a flight
Which of the following characteristics of Earth's relationship to the Sun explains the existence of Earth's seasons?
-Earth orbits around the Sun, completing one orbit each year.
-Earth's axis always points in the same direction relative to the stars.
-Earth spins on its axis, completing one rotation each day.
-Earth's axis is tilted relative to its orbital plane.
What is the June solstice?
the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly toward the Sun
How does the inclination of Earth's axis change over the course of a year?
The inclination of Earth's axis does not change.
What is the December solstice?
the time of the year when Earth's geographic North Pole is leaning most directly away from the Sun
When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator?
-September Equinox
-March Equinox
Where does the length of day remain the same throughout the year?
at the equator
When do all locations on Earth experience equal lengths of day and night?
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Circulation in the atmosphere is influenced by whether the planetary body is rotating or nonrotating. Sort the following features by whether they apply to a rotating Earth, a nonrotating Earth, or neither.
Nonrotating Earth:
-all surface air flows toward the equator
-one pair of convection cells
Rotating Earth:
-equatorial and subpolar air flows inward and upward
-presence of trade winds and westerlies
-three pairs of convection cells
Neither:
-air sinks at the equator
-all surface air flows poleward
Earth's rotation impacts the circulation of air. A nonrotating Earth would have one pair of convection cells and all surface air would flow towards the equator. Our rotating Earth has three convection cells, trade winds, and westerlies. Additionally, equatorial and subpolar air flows inward and upward.
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Jet streams are fast-moving streams of air high above Earth's surface. A divergence or convergence in the jet stream above a high- or low-pressure center can drive the actions of these pressure centers. If the air in the jet stream is converging or diverging faster than the air at the surface is moving out or in, the driving force of the jet stream is compensated by an increase in surface winds.
A jet stream generally diverges above a low-pressure (warm) center. However, at Earth's surface, air converges at a low-pressure center. If the divergence of the jet stream is greater than the convergence of air at the surface low-pressure center below it, what will happen to the surface winds?
The surface winds will likely get stronger.
Movements of the jet stream can drive weather patterns If the divergence of the jet stream is greater than the convergence of air at the surface low-pressure center below it, the surface winds will likely get stronger.
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Cyclones can form where low-pressure centers develop at Earth's surface.
Air moves inward towards the low pressure center.
Air flow generally occurs in a counterclockwise fashion in the Northern Hemisphere, and the opposite direction (clockwise) in the Southern Hemisphere.
To sustain low-pressure centers, these systems require an air flow divergence higher in the atmosphere (e.g., in the jet stream). This air flow divergence creates a place for the rising low-pressure air.
Similarly, an anticyclone, which forms as air moves clockwise out from a high-pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere, can be sustained by a convergence higher in the atmosphere, which would feed air into this high-pressure center, preventing it from being depleted. (An anticyclone moves counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.)
The accompanying image of the eastern portion of the United States illustrates the airflow conditions involved in the creation of cyclones and anticyclones. Match the labels to their correct location.
Top: south, convergence aloft, divergence alot
Bottom: north, anticyclonic flow, cyclonic flow
The development of cyclones and anticyclones are determined by the interplay between air pressure and wind direction. Changes in air pressure often result in windy weather as air in the atmosphere, in effect, attempts to equilibrate its pressure. In the Northern Hemisphere, the wind would mostly likely be moving south directly west of the center of a cyclone and north directly west of the center of an anticyclone. The thick blue arrows represent the jet stream airflow direction, with convergence occurring on the left and the divergence on the right. The left purple arrows are moving clockwise, indicating anticyclonic flow. The right purple arrows are moving counter clockwise, indicating cyclonic flow.
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Areas of low pressure tend to have ______ air and _____ weather.
rising; stormy
Areas of low pressure tend to have rising air. As air rises, it expands and cools. Water vapor in the cooling air condenses and may fall as precipitation.
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What two factors explain why the prevailing westerlies blow toward the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and the southwest in the Southern Hemisphere?
The two factors are the direction of circulation in the Ferrel cell and the Coriolis effect.
Air moving along the surface of the Earth in the Ferrel cell flows in a northerly direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a southerly direction in the Southern Hemisphere. Once the air begins to move, the Coriolis effect deflects the air to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
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If you were the captain of a sailing ship, which of the following latitudes would you want to avoid MOST?
30 degrees
The horse latitudes are located at 30 degrees north and south. They mark the boundary between the trade winds and the prevailing westerlies. This area is also a high-pressure zone, with clear skies and little rain. Thus, ships becalmed at this latitude could run out of water for the crew and those on board could die of thirst.
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If Earth rotated in the opposite direction, how would global atmospheric circulation be affected?
The global wind belts would blow in the opposite east-west direction.
If Earth rotated in the opposite direction, the Coriolis effect would deflect wind in the opposite direction (to the left in the Northern Hemisphere, to the right in the Southern Hemisphere). For example, this change in deflection would cause the northeast trade winds to blow from the northwest. Everything else would remain the same.
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What is a cyclone?
a center of low atmospheric pressure
Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
in a counterclockwise direction
Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
in a clockwise direction
How does air move near the top of a cyclone?
in the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere
Why are cyclones generally associated with clouds and rain?
Air in cyclones undergoes cooling as it rises.
What is an anticylone?
a center of high atmospheric pressure
Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
down, and in a clockwise direction
Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
down, and in a counterclockwise direction
Why are anticyclones not generally associated with clouds and rain?
Air in anticyclones undergoes warming as the air descends.
Where are Hadley cells found?
in the atmosphere near the equator
What drives Hadley cell circulation?
heating from the Sun
How does the location of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) change over time?
The ITCZ migrates south of the equator in Northern Hemisphere winter and north of the equator in Northern Hemisphere summer.
When would you expect the low-pressure cell over the North Pole to be most developed?
during the Northern Hemisphere winter
Which areas of Earth experience the most precipitation?
areas near the ITCZ
What two features are many of Earth's deserts associated with?
the subtropical highs and cool ocean currents found along the west coasts of continents
The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the __________.
albedo
Albedo is greatest near the poles because snow and ice are more reflective than soil, vegetation, or water.
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The Sun reaches its most northerly point in the sky, directly overhead along the Tropic of Cancer, during the:
summer solstice
Which of the following will cause the lowest air pressure at the surface?
A column of warm, less dense air
A person experiences a popping feeling in their ears during the takeoff or landing of an airplane or while driving on steep mountain roads due to changes in the ________ of the atmosphere.
pressure
Earth's atmosphere is heated primarily by __________.
re-radiation of solar energy from Earth's surface back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation
Solar energy is re-radiated as long-wave infrared energy, which is trapped by interaction with molecules of "greenhouse gases" (mainly water vapor, CO2, and methane) and warms the troposphere.
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In which layer of the atmosphere is all weather generated?
Troposphere
The Coriolis effect is due to changes in the ________ of Earth with latitude.
velocity
As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds always are deflected:
to the right of their original direction.
The Coriolis effect is caused by __________.
the rotation of Earth
The effect is produced when any mass moves over the surface of Earth without contact. When the mass moves over areas that have different rotational speeds, its direction appears to change.
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At which latitude on the Earth is the speed of Earth's rotation the slowest?
North and South poles
A boundary or belt characterized by cold deserts occurs in which of the following regions?
Poles (90 degrees)
The prevailing westerlies occur in which of the following regions?
30 to 60 degrees
The prevailing westerly winds blow in which of the following directions in the Southern Hemisphere?
From northwest to southeast
The wind belt(s) with strong, reliable, generally easterly winds is (are) the:
trade winds.
Which wind belt curves to the right due to the Coriolis effect and blow from northeast to southwest?
Northeast trade winds
Based on the characteristics, what is the name of the wind belt being described as cold, dry winds generally from the east?
Polar easterlies
Polar high pressure occurs in which of the following regions?
Poles(90 degrees)
Hurricanes frequently make landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but rarely, if ever, occur on the Pacific coast. The primary reason for the rarity of West Coast hurricanes is that __________.
the ocean water near the U.S. coast does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes
To survive, a hurricane needs to be over water with a temperature of about 80°F or greater. The cool California Current and coastal upwelling generally keep the water along the Pacific coast below about 75°F.
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A cold air mass moving into an area occupied by relatively warm air is called a(n) ________.
cold front
Air warmed by the land that rises and is replaced by cooler air from the ocean may produce a:
sea breeze
The largest loss of life from a hurricane is usually due to:
storm surge
Typically, the United States is influenced more by ________ air masses during the winter and more by ________ air masses during the summer.
polar; tropical
A tropical cyclone with a wind speed of 220 km/hr. would be classified as Category ________ on the Saffir-Simpson Scale of hurricane intensity.
4
Which of the following is responsible for 90% of the deaths associated with hurricanes?
Storm surge
What are tropical cyclones called in the western North Pacific Ocean?
Typhoons
As you have learned, there are six stages in the development of a middle-latitude cyclone. The cross-sectional images below depict each of the six stages in the development of a middle-latitude cyclone.
Apply your knowledge of how air masses and fronts interact to create a cyclone by matching the image with its corresponding description of the stage in the life cycle that image represents. Apply the "yes" or "no" answers to the questions in the orange boxes.
top: no, front develops, wavedevelops, cyclonic circulation established
bottom:occlusion begins, occluded front developed, yes, no
Which of the following statements provides a possible logical explanation for the increased number of tornadoes during the 1990s and 2000s compared to the 1950s and 1960s?
Select all that apply.
-Population increases mean that more people could report tornadoes in more areas.
-Using Doppler radar more effectively allows scientists to detect more tornadoes than was previously possible.
It can be difficult to use the data we have to determine the cause of an apparent increase in tornado frequency. However, improvements in Doppler radar and an increase in population are possible explanations. Separating out observational bias to make sure measured trends are robust is a critical part of the scientific process.
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____________ winds are created when cold air descending the sheltered (leeward) side of the Rockies is warmed by compression.
Chinook
A circulation pattern consisting of a light wind blowing into the city from the countryside is characteristic of a ______________
country breeze
A _______________ is the result of the air over land heating, expanding, and rising, thereby creating a low-pressure area into which cooler air from over the ocean can move.
sea breeze
Heated air from mountain slopes gliding up along that slope results in a ______________-
valley breeze
You are enjoying time at the beach on a warm summer day. It is late afternoon, and a breeze has started to develop. For most of the day, the winds were calm; the breeze only started within the past hour or so. Based on these details, what can you say about this breeze? Select all of the options that apply to this scenario.
-Warm land has now sufficiently heated the overlying air, so that cooler air over the ocean is now moving onshore as a sea breeze.
-The breeze is most likely a cool breeze coming from the water.
Time of day, location, time of year, and air pressure all play a role in changes in the direction, intensity, and temperature of wind. Since air moves from high pressure (cold) to low pressure (warm) areas, and because water is likely to be colder than land towards the end of a hot summer day, the breeze on the beach is likely cool and coming from the water.
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One of the most important considerations when designing an airport is ensuring that when planes take off, they face into the wind and that the runway is oriented to match the prevailing wind direction. Note that a runway would be built along a direction that can be described by two complimentary (180° opposite) directions (e.g., N-S would indicate a runway that runs along a straight line oriented north and south).
Examine the accompanying wind rose diagram. Based on the information shown, determine the correct answers to the following questions.
top:the direction of planes will travel when taking off, the location on earth where you may find a wind rose like the one shown here, group 2
2nd: group 1
3rd:the correct orientation for the runway
bottom: group 1
At what latitude(s) on Earth is the speed of rotation the greatest?
0 degrees
What type of force is the Coriolis effect?
fictitious
Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Coriolis effect?
-In the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the left of its intended direction.
-In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes an object to be deflected to the right of its intended direction.
In which direction must the merry-go-round be pushed to simulate the Coriolis effect on Earth?
counterclockwise
You just got your pilot's license, and you want to fly your plane from point A to point B. You remember from your oceanography class that you must account for the Coriolis effect when aiming for your destination. Where must you aim to land at point B?
to the west of B
The density of mercury is 13.5 times greater than the density of water. If you were to build a barometer that used water instead of mercury to record the standard pressure at sea level, what would be the height of that barometer? Assume that the mercury barometer is 76 centimeters, or 29.92 inches, long (this is the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level).
1026 centimeters (403.92 inches)
The height of a water-based barometer would be 1026 centimeters (403.92 inches).
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Before ranking, calculate the change in air pressure in each state by finding the difference between the minimum and maximum isobar line in each state. If there is not an isobar line in a state, find the nearest lines on either side of it.
Kanasa, Idaho, Ohio, Washington
During the time represented in the map, Kansas had the highest wind speeds, followed by Idaho, and then Ohio. Washington had the lowest wind speeds.
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Which of the following options describe the features of the ideal location to erect wind turbines in order to generate the most electricity?
-a strong pressure gradient
-flat, elevated land
The image below shows that about 30 percent of the Sun's energy is reflected and scattered back into space.
How would a 50 percent increase in Earth's albedo impact average surface temperatures?
-Ice sheets would advance, thereby increasing Earth's overall albedo and further cooling Earth's surface.
-Higher albedo would result in cooler temperatures on Earth.
Determine which line on the graph represents Urbana and which represents San Francisco and label each for the correct city. Indicate how you figured this out by answering the question below.
-The ocean near San Fran limits its temperature variations
-Urbana
-San Fran
Clouds are the gatekeepers of solar radiation at Earth's surface. They control how much temperatures vary throughout the day. Cloud cover during day reflects a lot of sunlight, and affects the daily maximum temperature. Cloud cover at night acts like a blanket, trapping any warmth close to Earth, and affects the daily minimum temperature.
The weather on four different summer days is described below. On which day would you expect the greatest temperature range? Which day would have the smallest range in temperature?
Greatest Temp:
-Clear skies during the day and clear skis at night
Intermediate temperature range:
-Clear skies during the day and cloudy skies at night
-Cloudy skies during the day and clear skies at night
Smallest temp:
-Cloudy skies during the day and cloudy skies at night
A variety of factors, like clouds, albedo, and geographic location, influence local climates. However, the angle between the sunlight and Earth's surface and the number of daylight hours remain dominant factors. The greatest temperature range is found during periods with clear days with clear nights. An intermediate range is found during periods with either cloudy days and clear nights or clear days and cloudy nights. The smallest temperature range is found during periods with cloudy days and cloudy nights.
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In the Northern Hemisphere, September 23 is known as ________.
autumnal equinox
Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
Westerlies
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