most abundant greenhouse gas that also influences air density
water vapor
the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere
tropopause
Inter-tropical Convergence Zone
area where warm, moist air rises close to the equator
Tropic of Cancer
located at 23.5� N latitude
Polar easterlies
prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes
The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the
albedo
The Sun reaches its most northerly point in the sky, directly overhead along the Tropic of Cancer, during the
summer solstice
The average albedo of Earth's surface is about
30%
T/F: The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun is directly overhead along the equator in March
false
T/F: The angle at which direct sunlight strikes the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed
true
A zone of high atmospheric pressure results when there is relatively __________ air aloft
cool, dry
The lowermost portion of the atmosphere where most weather occurs is called the
troposphere
The two factors that are most important in determining the density of air are
temperature and water vapor content
T/F: Within the troposphere, the atmosphere gets warmer with increasing altitude
false
T/F: Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air
true
Describe the physical properties of the atmosphere, including its composition, temperature, density, water vapor content, pressure, and movement
The atmosphere is composed almost entirely of nitrogen and oxygen. The lowest portion of the atmosphere is the troposphere, which is the area where temperature gets cooler with altitude. Warm air is less dense and so it rises. Cold air is denser, so it si
The apparent deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude) as they move from one latitude to another is called the
Coriolis effect
Winds blowing out of the north toward the south in the southern hemisphere will appear to
be deflected toward the east
T/F: The Coriolis effect describes how moving objects on Earth appear to follow curved paths due to Earth's rotation
true
Earth's polar regions (above 60� latitude) are classified as deserts because __________
cold, dry sinking air in the polar high regions produces little precipitation
The wind belt(s) with strong, reliable, generally easterly winds is (are) the
trade winds
The temperate regions are characterized by
westerly winds
T/F: The large atmospheric circulation cells that occur between the equator and 30� latitude in each hemisphere are called Hadley cells
true
T/F: The trade winds can be found between 30� and 60�N and S latitudes
false
The intensity of tropical cyclones is measured by meteorologists using the __________ scale
Saffir-Simpson
Low-pressure regions in the northern hemisphere rotate
counterclockwise
Air warmed by the land that rises and is replaced by cooler air from the ocean may produce a
sea breeze
The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the
Saffir-Simpson Scale
T/F:A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold
false
T/F:The Saffir-Simpson scale rates the relative intensity of tropical cyclones
true
Describe the difference between cyclonic and anti-cyclonic flow and show how the Coriolis effect is important in producing both clockwise and counterclockwise flow patterns
As air moves away from high-pressure regions and toward low-pressure regions, the Coriolis effect modifies its direction. In the Northern Hemisphere, air moving from high to low pressure curves to the right and results in a counterclockwise (cyclonic) flo
Describe the types of destruction caused by hurricanes. Which one causes the majority of fatalities and destruction?
Destruction from hurricanes is caused by high winds and flooding from intense rainfall. Storm surge, however, causes the majority of a hurricane's coastal destruction and loss of life. In fact, storm surge is responsible for 90% of the deaths associated w
The thickness of sea ice is limited primarily by
the insulating nature of the ice itself
T/F: An iceberg is a variety of sea ice
False
Of the following statements about the doldrums, which is/are true?
This is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Which of the following are valid names of boundaries between global wind belts or at the poles?
the horse latitudes
Of the following characteristics or features, which is/are associated with middle latitude storms, such as those that originate in the North Pacific Ocean between 40 and 60 degrees latitude?
the prevailing westerlies
most abundant greenhouse gas that also influences air density
water vapor
the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere
tropopause
Inter-tropical Convergence Zone
area where warm, moist air rises close to the equator
Tropic of Cancer
located at 23.5� N latitude
Polar easterlies
prevailing wind pattern at polar latitudes
The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the
albedo
The Sun reaches its most northerly point in the sky, directly overhead along the Tropic of Cancer, during the
summer solstice
The average albedo of Earth's surface is about
0.3
T/F: The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun is directly overhead along the equator in March
FALSE
T/F: The angle at which direct sunlight strikes the ocean's surface is important in determining the amount of solar energy that is absorbed
TRUE
A zone of high atmospheric pressure results when there is relatively __________ air aloft
cool, dry
The lowermost portion of the atmosphere where most weather occurs is called the
troposphere
The two factors that are most important in determining the density of air are
temperature and water vapor content
T/F: Within the troposphere, the atmosphere gets warmer with increasing altitude
FALSE
T/F: Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air
TRUE
Describe the physical properties of the atmosphere, including its composition, temperature, density, water vapor content, pressure, and movement
The atmosphere is composed almost entirely of nitrogen and oxygen. The lowest portion of the atmosphere is the troposphere, which is the area where temperature gets cooler with altitude. Warm air is less dense and so it rises. Cold air is denser, so it si
The apparent deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude) as they move from one latitude to another is called the
Coriolis effect
Winds blowing out of the north toward the south in the southern hemisphere will appear to
be deflected toward the east
T/F: The Coriolis effect describes how moving objects on Earth appear to follow curved paths due to Earth's rotation
TRUE
Earth's polar regions (above 60� latitude) are classified as deserts because __________
cold, dry sinking air in the polar high regions produces little precipitation
The wind belt(s) with strong, reliable, generally easterly winds is (are) the
trade winds
The temperate regions are characterized by
westerly winds
T/F: The large atmospheric circulation cells that occur between the equator and 30� latitude in each hemisphere are called Hadley cells
TRUE
T/F: The trade winds can be found between 30� and 60�N and S latitudes
FALSE
The intensity of tropical cyclones is measured by meteorologists using the __________ scale
Saffir-Simpson
Low-pressure regions in the northern hemisphere rotate
counterclockwise
Air warmed by the land that rises and is replaced by cooler air from the ocean may produce a
sea breeze
The strength of a hurricane is ranked from 1 to 5 on the
Saffir-Simpson Scale
T/F:A maritime polar air mass is likely to be dry and cold
FALSE
T/F:The Saffir-Simpson scale rates the relative intensity of tropical cyclones
TRUE
Describe the difference between cyclonic and anti-cyclonic flow and show how the Coriolis effect is important in producing both clockwise and counterclockwise flow patterns
As air moves away from high-pressure regions and toward low-pressure regions, the Coriolis effect modifies its direction. In the Northern Hemisphere, air moving from high to low pressure curves to the right and results in a counterclockwise (cyclonic) flo
Describe the types of destruction caused by hurricanes. Which one causes the majority of fatalities and destruction?
Destruction from hurricanes is caused by high winds and flooding from intense rainfall. Storm surge, however, causes the majority of a hurricane's coastal destruction and loss of life. In fact, storm surge is responsible for 90% of the deaths associated w
The thickness of sea ice is limited primarily by
the insulating nature of the ice itself
T/F: An iceberg is a variety of sea ice
FALSE
Of the following statements about the doldrums, which is/are true?
This is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Which of the following are valid names of boundaries between global wind belts or at the poles?
the horse latitudes
Of the following characteristics or features, which is/are associated with middle latitude storms, such as those that originate in the North Pacific Ocean between 40 and 60 degrees latitude?
the prevailing westerlies