Flowing air responding to the difference between higher and lower pressure is responding to the ________.
pressure gradient
When air is heated it expands and ________.
lowers its pressure
A "dynamic low" is produced by ________.
the strong rise of air
At sea level, the atmosphere exerts a force closest to ________ kilogram(s) per square centimeter.
1
The rate of pressure decrease ________.
decreases with altitude
The basic unit of pressure mapped on weather maps is ________.
millibars
Wind speed may be roughly indicated by ________.
spacing of isobars on a weather map
________ are map lines connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure.
Isobars
Which factor is corrected for on most maps of atmospheric pressure?
altitude
City A has an air pressure of 1,000 millibars. City B has an air pressure of 1004 millibars. The distance between the two cities is 100 kilometers. The difference of 4 millibars over 100 kilometers is known as ________.
the pressure gradient
The angle of the wind flow across the isobars ________.
becomes smaller with height
A(n) ________ is a linear zone of lower pressure between two areas of high pressure.
trough
An Earth surface pressure of pressure of 1,005 millibars is associated with ________.
lows or highs depending on conditions
Coriolis effect exists because ________.
the Earth rotates
Which of the following is the force that initially causes the wind to blow?
pressure gradient
Above the influence of friction, most winds follow a(n) ________ course.
geostrophic
The reason winds exist is ________.
the unequal heating of the Earth system
As a general rule, friction is greatest ________.
near Earth's surface
Which of the following refers only to the horizontal motion of air?
A. the general circulation
B. wind
C. subsidence
D. a balance of atmospheric forces
E. updraft
B. wind
Which of the following does NOT act upon winds that blow far above the surface of the Earth?
A. friction
B. gravity
C. pressure gradient
D. geostrophic
E. Coriolis
A. friction
Which of the following is directly from high pressure to low pressure?
A. an upper-air anticyclone
B. an upper-air cyclone
C. a surface anticyclone
D. a surface cyclone
E. pressure gradient force
E. pressure gradient force
If there were no continents and the Earth did not rotate, the surface wind patterns would be simple: Surface winds would blow from ________.
the North in the Northern Hemisphere
The pressure of a gas is proportional to its temperature and ________.
density
Geostrophic wind always flows ________.
parallel to the isobars
In which situation would Coriolis effect be GREATEST?
A. high wind speeds, low latitude
B. low wind speeds, high latitude
C. low wind speeds, low latitude
D. high wind speeds, high latitude
E. Coriolis effect is a constant
D. high wind speeds, high latitude
Coriolis effect is NOT closely related to ________.
wind speed
You are in the Northern Hemisphere. The pressure gradient force is from north to south. The surface wind which blows is from ________.
northeast to southwest
Wind speed is determined by ________.
pressure gradient force
Surface winds tend to be ________ those at a higher level.
slower than
The place with the fastest average winds on Earth is ________.
in Antarctica
Over most of the United States ________ is the time of year with the greatest winds.
winter
Which portion of the United States tends to have the greatest average wind speeds in all seasons?
the Great Plains
A regular mile an hour is 5,280 feet per hour. A knot is ________.
slightly faster than a regular mile per hour
The pressure of a gas is proportional to its density and ________.
temperature
Speed of the wind is unaffected by ________.
Coriolis effect
A counterclockwise atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere is known as a(n) ________.
cyclone
Sinking air that diverges when it reaches Earth's surface is closely associated with ________.
anticyclones
In a surface cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere, winds spiral ________.
clockwise and inward
In a surface anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere, winds spiral ________.
counterclockwise and outward
In the Northern Hemisphere, air converging in a counter-clockwise direction, is termed a(n) ________.
cyclone
Cyclones, in the Northern Hemisphere, are ________ air flows.
counterclockwise
Air in an anticyclone always flows ________ in the Northern Hemisphere.
clockwise
Divergence is most closely associated with ________.
surface air in anticyclones
Zonal" air flow in the middle latitudes means a(n) ________ flow of air.
west-east
Gas molecules in the lower atmosphere ________.
are readily compressed and heated
Most of the broad-scale air-movements that comprise the general circulation are ________.
horizontal
An example of a geostrophic wind is ________.
jet stream
Circulation in the troposphere is mainly a(n) ________ system.
closed
Wind has generated electricity since the ________.
1880s
The following is an example of a disadvantage of the use of wind power for generating electricity:
A. The voltage is not compatible with that of standard transmission lines.
B. The windiest places are seldom densely populated.
C. It can never be cost comp
B. The windiest places are seldom densely populated.
Wind power currently generates close to ________ percent of the world's electricity.
3
In the upper troposphere, where is the region of easterly winds?
at 0-20� from the Equator
The "horse latitudes" are zones of minimal winds which are associated with the ________ system.
subtropical high pressure
Where would be the most likely place to find a subtropical high?
over subtropical oceans
The so-called "winds of commerce" are the ________ winds.
trade
Of the weather elements below, which is the one of which we are usually LEAST aware without the use of weather instruments?
pressure
The antitrade winds can be found ________.
at great heights over the trade winds
Trade winds are found ________.
at 10� north and south of the Equator
The largest Hawaiian Islands are in the far northern tropics, and so are in the ________ portion of the global circulation.
trade wind
The region in which the intertropical convergence can be found is ________.
the Equator
The doldrums are most closely associated with ________.
the ITC
The seasonal shift of the intertropical convergence is greatest ________.
over the continents
Which of the following occurs closest to the Equator?
A. doldrums
B. westerlies
C. subtropical high
D. polar front
E. subpolar low
A. doldrums
The ________ is/are found in the Equatorial zone.
intertropical convergence zone
The intertropical convergence zone may be found as far as ________ north of the equator in July.
25�
Which of the following is NOT descriptive of the intertropical convergence zone?
A. a cloud-free set of places
B. associated with rising air
C. centered around the Equator
D. convergence of the trade winds
E. light and variable winds
A. a cloud-free set of places
The density of a substance might be measured in ________.
kilograms per cubic meter
Rossby waves are ________.
large undulations in the upper air westerlies
Which of the following is TRUE concerning the surface westerlies?
A. are found from 10-20 degrees away from the Equator
B. are composed of winds from all directions
C. are the most reliable air flow on Earth
D. cause weather to move from east to west
E. a
B. are composed of winds from all directions
Cold air pushes equatorward and warm air pushes poleward when ________.
the Rossby waves have great amplitude
The polar front and subtropical jet streams are both high-altitude flows which circulate ________.
from west to east
Surface westerly winds on a global scale exist because of air flow out of the ________ of the general circulation.
subtropical high pressure
The city of Chicago has a latitude (42�N) within which part of the global circulation?
westerlies
The jet stream of the midlatitudes can usually be found at elevations ranging from ________ kilometers.
9 to 12
Which of the below is located in the troposphere above the polar front?
A. the subtropical jet stream
B. the doldrums
C. the polar easterlies
D. the antitrade winds
E. the Rossby waves
E. the Rossby waves
________ knots is the minimum speed for a wind aloft to be termed a "jet stream.
60
The denser packing of molecules at the bottom of the atmosphere than molecules at the top of the atmosphere is a result of ________.
gravity
This part of the global circulation is characterized by rising air, widespread cloudiness, precipitation, and migratory storms.
polar front
The contact zone of warm tropical and cold Polar air is known as the ________.
polar front
Rising and falling of air over large areas is most properly known as ________ and ________.
ascent, subsidence
The major global wind and pressure systems ________.
shift with the seasons
At Earth's surface, warm temperatures are associated with ________.
low pressure
________ and ________ both occur at night.
Mountain breezes, land breezes