GEOG 1900 - Intro To Weather And Climate: Q’s & A’s
What instruments are used to measure upper-level winds? Correct Ans -
Radiosondes (weather balloons), Tethersonde, Doppler radar
What parameters do Radiosondes measure? Correct Ans - Pressure,
Altitude, Temperature, Relative humidity, Wind speed and direction
Tethersonde Correct Ans - Weather balloon anchored by tether
Doppler Radar Correct Ans - Measures upper level winds.
Average surface pressure Correct Ans - 1013.2 mb
Pressure usually varies from what amount to what amount? Correct Ans -
980 to 1030 mb
What is wind caused by? Correct Ans - Wind is caused by differences in
atmospheric pressure between locations
Air moves from higher pressure areas to lower pressure areas due to?
Correct Ans - Pressure gradient force
How do pressure gradients come about? Correct Ans - Develop via
unequal heating of atmosphere
Differences in temperature between regions produces changes in? Correct
Ans - Pressure at surface and aloft.
As air warms and expands, what happens to pressure? Correct Ans -
Pressure on surface decreases while pressure aloft increases.
As air warms and expands you get what types of air columns at surface and
aloft? Correct Ans - Larger air column aloft, smaller air column at
surface.
As air cools and contracts, what happens to pressure at the surface and aloft?
Correct Ans - Pressure at surface increases while pressure aloft decreases.
,As air cools and contracts, what happens to the air column aloft and at the
surface? Correct Ans - Smaller air column aloft. Larger air column at
surface.
sea breeze Correct Ans - During the day the land warms the air above it.
This warm air moves oceanward aloft, while surface winds bring cool marine
air landward at the surface, creating thermal circulation.
Land breeze Correct Ans - At night radiation cooling over land creates a
reversal of the thermally driven winds.
Valley breeze Correct Ans - During the day, mountain hill slopes are
heated intensely by the sun, making the air expand and rise. An air current
moves up valleys from the plains toward the summit.
Mountain breeze Correct Ans - At night, the hill slopes are chilled by
radiation, setting up a reversal in the thermal circulation. the cooler, denser
hill slope air moves valleyward down the hill slopes.
What does the Coriolis force do to a moving object on the Earth's surface?
Correct Ans - Creates a force to deflect the object
In which direction does the Coriolis force deflect moving objects in the
northern hemisphere? Correct Ans - To the right
In which direction does the Coriolis force deflect moving objects in the
southern hemisphere? Correct Ans - To the left
How does the Coriolis effect change as one moves away from the equator
towards the poles? Correct Ans - Increases
Where is the greatest deflection by the Coriolis force observed? Correct
Ans - At the poles
Is there any deflection by the Coriolis force along the equator? Correct
Ans - No
What is the center of low pressure associated with? Correct Ans -
Cyclone
, What is the center of high pressure associated with? Correct Ans -
Anticyclone
In which direction do cyclones rotate in the northern hemisphere? Correct
Ans - Counterclockwise
In which direction do anticyclones rotate in the northern hemisphere?
Correct Ans - Clockwise
In upper atmosphere, centripetal force is needed to form an anticyclone and
keep air doing what? Correct Ans - outspiraling (top)
In upper atmosphere centripetal force is needed to form a cyclone and keep
air? Correct Ans - Inspiraling (bottom)
What type of force is needed to form a cyclone in the upper atmosphere?
Correct Ans - Centripetal force
For an anticyclone, the centripetal force are Coriolis force winds that are
faster or slower than geostrophic winds? Correct Ans - Faster
For a cyclone, the centripetal force are Coriolis winds that are faster or slower
than geostrophic winds? Correct Ans - Slower
How does friction influence wind direction at the surface? Correct Ans -
Friction influences wind direction at the surface by working directly against
the wind to slow it down.
What happens when wind speed decreases due to friction at the surface?
Correct Ans - When wind speed decreases due to friction at the surface, the
Coriolis force becomes weaker.
What forces combine at the surface to influence wind direction? Correct
Ans - At the surface, the three forces that combine to influence wind
direction are the pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, and friction.
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