GEO 122 quiz 2

Which of the following is false regarding the wind?
a. It is initiated by the pressure gradient force.
b. It blows from regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure.
c. The direction of flow can be affected by the rotation of Earth.
d. Air blows fr

Air blows from regions of hotter air to regions of colder air.

As air temperature increases, the speed of the molecules in a mass of air ________ and
the air pressure ________.
a. increases; increases
b. increases; decreases
c. decreases; increases
d. decreases; decreases

increases; decreases

If Earth did not rotate, air would flow
a. perpendicular to the isobars, i.e., straight across the isobars.
b. to the right of its direction of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.
c. to the left of its direction of motion in the Northern Hemisphere.
d. par

perpendicular to the isobars, i.e., straight across the isobars.

Which of the following is true of high pressure areas?
a. Air converges and ascends within high pressure systems.
b. Air descends and diverges within high pressure systems.
c. They generally involve atmospheric pressures lower than 1000 mb.
d. They are ch

Air descends and diverges within high pressure systems

On a weather map of air pressure, what can you infer from a closer spacing of isobars?
a. little without knowing temperature patterns
b. a steep pressure gradient creating a slower flow of air
c. a steep pressure gradient creating a faster flow of air
d.

a steep pressure gradient creating a faster air flow

Which of the following describes the Coriolis force?
a. It drives air from areas of higher to lower barometric pressure.
b. It decreases with height above the surface.
c. It causes the apparent deflection of winds from a straight path.
d. It is the only f

It causes the apparent deflection of winds from a straight path.

The deflection produced by the Coriolis force is caused by
a. the fact that Earth's rotation decreases in speed toward the poles.
b. differing pressure gradients.
c. forces that affect winds but not ocean currents.
d. air temperature.
e. the fact that Ear

the fact that earth revolves.

Which of the following is true regarding the effects of the Coriolis force?
a. The amount of Coriolis deflection is uniform from equator to poles.
b. Coriolis deflection occurs only along parallels, not meridians.
c. The Coriolis force is zero at the pole

The Coriolis force is zero along the equator, increasing to one-half of maximum at 30 latitude and maximum at the poles.

Which of the following matches is correct relative to air circulation?
a. anticyclone = low pressure center
b. cyclone = high pressure center
c. cyclone = clockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere
d. anticyclone = counterclockwise circulation in th

anti-cyclone = counter clock-wise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere.

The intertropical convergence zone is characterized by
a. convergence and uplift of warm surface air.
b. convergence and subsidence of cold surface air.
c. divergence and uplift of warm surface air.
d. divergence and subsidence of cold surface air

convergence and uplift of warm surface air.

Between 20� to 35� north latitude and 20� to 35� south latitude are
a. the largest zone of water surpluses in the world.
b. warm and wet conditions, and the world's great tropical forests.
c. the world's arid and semi-arid desert regions.
d. cyclonic syst

the word's arid and semi-arid desert regions.

The dominant surface winds from the subtropics to high latitudes are the
a. westerlies.
b. trade winds.
c. polar easterlies.
d. geostrophic winds.

westerlies

Air flow in a Northern Hemisphere high pressure zone is
a. downward, outward and clockwise.
b. downward, outward and counterclockwise.
c. inward, upward and clockwise.
d. inward, upward and counterclockwise.
e. downward, inward and clockwise.

downward, outward, and counterclockwise.

The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is associated with
a. the horse latitudes.
b. the principal midlatitude circulations.
c. the equatorial low-pressure trough.
d. subtropical high-pressure development.

Subtropical high-pressure development

The Pacific high and Bermuda high are
a. strongest during the summer months because the ocean temperatures are
warmer than land temperatures at the same latitude.
b. strongest during the summer months because the ocean temperatures are
cooler than land te

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The western side of subtropical high pressure cells tend to be
a. cool and moist.
b. warm, moist, and unstable.
c. dry, stable, and warm, with cooler ocean currents.
d. generally in the same position all year, i.e., they do not migrate with the high
Sun.

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Which of the following is true of the polar front zone?
a. The polar jet stream is usually located above it.
b. It is a zone in which warm and cold air mix.
c. It is a zone of frequently strong winds.
d. All of these are true

All of these are true

Land-sea breezes are caused by
a. the fact that water heats and cools faster than land surfaces.
b. cooler air flowing offshore (toward the ocean) in the afternoon.
c. onshore (toward the land) air flows that develop in the afternoon as the land
heats fas

onshore air flows that develop in the afternoon as the land heats faster than neighboring water surfaces

During the day along the coast, the wind tends to blow toward the ________ because
________.
a. land; land heats more rapidly than water
b. land; land heats more slowly than water
c. water; water heats more slowly than land
d. water; water heats more rapi

land; land heats more rapidly than water

A monsoon climate is characterized by ________ summers and ________ winters.
a. dry; dry
b. dry; wet
c. wet; dry
d. wet; wet

wet; dry

Which of the following is true of the monsoons in the Indian subcontinent?
a. Dry winds blow offshore from March through May.
b. A wet period occurs in the summer between June and September.
c. Cool dry winds blow out from Asia during winter months.
d. Sp

All of these are correct

Ocean surface currents are produced by
a. the frictional drag of winds.
b. the Coriolis force and water density differences.
c. land-sea breezes.
d. friction, Coriolis force, and water density differences only.

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Coriolis force

the apparent deflection of moving objects on Earth from a straight path, in relationship to the differential speed of rotation at varying latitudes. Deflection is to the right in the Northern Hemisphere; it produces a maximum effect at the poles and zero

Air pressure

the pressure produced by the motion, size, and number of gas molecules and exerted on surfaces in contact with the air.

Intertropical convergence zone (Equatorial low pressure trough

A thermally caused low pressure area that almost girdles earth, with air converging and ascending all along its extent

Monsoon

refers to an annual cycle of dryness and wetness, with seasonally shifting winds produced by changing atmospheric pressure systems.

El Ni�o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

Sea surface temperatures increase, sometimes more than 8C (14F) above normal in the central and easter pacific, replacing the normally cold, nutrient rich water along Peru's coastline. Pressure patterns and surface ocean temperatures shift from their usua

Which of the following is true of upwelling zones?
a. They are nutrient-rich.
b. They occur along the west coasts of continents.
c. They are most common above deep ocean basins.
d. They are nutrient-rich and along the west coasts only.
e. All of these are

they are nutrient rich

Which of the following is false regarding thermohaline circulation?
a. Fresh water is entering the ocean from melting glaciers.
b. Its speed is increasing.
c. A complete cycle can take 1000 years to complete.
d. Surface polar waters are becoming less sali

surface polar waters are becoming less saline, while surface tropical waters are becoming more saline

The El Ni�o-Southern Oscillation
a. involves a pool of warm water shifting north and south.
b. blocks upwelling off of South America during the El Ni�o phase.
c. has warmer water in the Pacific during the La Ni�a phase.
d. cycles through a positive phase

blocks upwelling off of south america during the El Nino phase

Water covers about ________ of Earth's surface.
a. 50 percent
b. 90 percent
c. 25 percent
d. 71 percent

71%

When water freezes, its density
a. increases.
b. decreases.
c. remains the same as in the liquid state

decreases

Which of the following is true of the distribution of land and water on Earth?
a. The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by water.
b. The Northern Hemisphere is dominated by water.
c. They are evenly distributed in both hemispheres.
d. Most of the water on

the southern hemisphere is dominated by water

The largest portion of fresh water today is located in
a. clouds.
b. groundwater resources.
c. ice caps and glaciers.
d. the major rivers and lakes of the world

ice caps and glaciers

Other than ice sheets and glaciers, the largest repository of fresh water is located in
a. lakes and saline seas.
b. groundwater.
c. soil moisture storage.
d. rivers and streams.

lakes and saline seas

What is the heat energy involved in the change of state, or phase, in water?
a. mechanical heat
b. sensible heat
c. fusion heat
d. latent heat

latent heat

When water condenses, it ________ heat energy and ________ the surrounding air.
a. absorbs; cools
b. absorbs; heats
c. releases; cools
d. releases; heats

releases; heats

. Most of the precipitation and evaporation on Earth takes place over the
a. land masses.
b. oceans.
c. poles of the planet.
d. ice caps and glaciers combined.

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Relative humidity is
a. the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the normal amount.
b. the amount of moisture in the air relative to your own sensible feelings.
c. the amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature expressed as a
percenta

the amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature expressed as a percentage of the moisture capacity in the air.

The capacity of the air to hold water vapor is basically a function of
a. the temperature of both the water vapor and the air.
b. the water vapor content.
c. freezing temperature.
d. latent heat.

the temperature of both the water vapor and the air.

A mass of air becomes saturated when it reaches the
a. highest temperature of the day.
b. lowest temperature of the day.
c. specific humidity point.
d. dew-point temperature.

lowest temperature of the day.

As temperature increases during the day, relative humidity usually
a. increases.
b. decreases.
c. remains the same.

decreases

The elevation at which the bottoms of clouds begin to form represents the elevation at
which
a. dew point occurs.
b. relative humidity reaches 100 percent.
c. absolute humidity reaches 100 percent.
d. both A and B
e. both A and C

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An air parcel is considered unstable when it
a. either remains as it is, or changes its initial position.
b. continues to rise until it reaches an altitude at which the surrounding air has a
similar density.
c. resists displacement upward.
d. ceases to as

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Adiabatic temperature changes occur as a result of
a. the addition or removal of heat energy from the air.
b. changes in the absolute humidity of the air.
c. expansion or compression of the air.

expansion or compression of the air

Air that is not saturated will cool or heat at a rate of ________ as it rises or descends,
respectively.
a. 10C degrees per 1000 m (5.5F degrees per 1000 ft)
b. 6C degrees per 1000 m (3.3F degrees per 1000 ft)
c. 6.4C degrees per 1000 m (3.5F degrees per

1oC degrees per 1000 m (5.5 degrees per 1000 ft)

Areas between 25 degrees to 35 degrees latitude usually become ________ because
this area is dominated by air that is sinking and being ________.
a. deserts; cooled by expansion
b. deserts; heated by compression
c. rain forests; cooled by expansion
d. rai

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Gyre

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Thermohaline circulation

Differences in temperature and salinity produce density differences important to the flow of deep, sometimes vertical, currents. traveling at slower speeds than wind driven surface currents, the thermohaline circulation hauls larger volumes of water.

Dew point temperature

the temperature at which a given mass of air becomes saturated, absorbing all the water it can. Any further cooling or addition of water vapor results in active condensation.

latent heat

the heat energy that is absorbed or released in the phase change of water and is stored in one of the 3 states: Ice, water, or water vapor. includes the latent heat of melting, freezing, vaporization, evaporation, and condensation.

relative humidity

the ratio of water vapor actually in the air (content) compared to the maximum water vapor possible (capacity) at that temperature; expressed as a percentage.

cold front

the leading edge of a cold air mass; identified on a weather map as a line marked with a series

convection

The vertical transfer of heat from one place to another through the actual physical movement of air; involves a strong vertical motion.

frontal precipitation

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orographic precipitation

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warm front

the leading edge of an advancing warm air mass that is unable to push cooler, passive air out of the way; tends to push the cooler, underlying air into a wedge shape.

tropical cyclone

a cyclonic circulation originating in the tropics, with winds

As air sinks down the leeward side of a mountain, it will move into a region of ________
air pressure and will therefore be ________ by compression.
a. higher; heated
b. higher; cooled
c. lower; heated
d. lower; cooled

higher; heated

Fog often lingers in river valleys because
a. the water in the river cools off faster at night than the land does.
b. cold air sinks into low areas such as river valleys.
c. some evaporation may occur from the river, thereby supplying moisture to the
cool

cold air sinks into low areas such as river valleys

A radiation fog is most likely to develop when
a. the nighttime air is very warm.
b. the sky is full of stratus clouds.
c. the sky is clear.
d. both A and B
e. both B and C

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Which of the following is true regarding air masses?
a. An air mass always retains the characteristics of its source region.
b. They are homogenous in terms of temperature and humidity.
c. They extend to the bottom of the stratosphere.
d. They are classif

they are homogenous in terms of temperature and humidity.

Lake effect snow involves
a. heavy snowfall on the leeward shores of Great Lakes.
b. heavy snowfall on the windward shores of the Great Lakes.
c. cP and cA air masses being humidified and warmed by the Great Lakes.
d. humidified and warmed air causing hea

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Summer afternoon thundershowers in the southeastern United States are more than
likely a result of
a. convectional lifting.
b. orographic lifting.
c. frontal lifting.
d. subtropical high pressure disturbance.

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Orographic refers to
a. convection stimulated principally by local heating.
b. lifting along the edges of conflicting air masses.
c. air mass modification and the formation of secondary air masses.
d. forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrie

forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrier

Which of the following statements is true?
a. When air is cooled, its ability to hold moisture decreases.
b. There is greater precipitation near the equator than near the poles.
c. Winters in Siberia should be very dry, with little precipitation.
d. Preci

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After a cold front passes, the temperature ________ and the pressure ________
(relative to the conditions that existed prior to the passage of the front).
a. increases; increases
b. increases; decreases
c. decreases; increases
d. decreases; decreases

decreases; increases.

Which of the following is true of migrating centers of low pressure in the Northern
Hemisphere?
a. The winds diverge from the pressure system and spiral outward in a clockwise
fashion.
b. These pressure systems tend to move east to west along storm tracks

These pressure systems are characterized by converging, ascending air that spirals inward in a counterclockwise fashion.

The area along a cold front is described by which of the following?
a. wind direction shifting and strong, warm air abruptly lifted by colder air
b. warm air being lifted gently and steadily over cooler air
c. an area of clear skies and north winds
d. the

wind direction shifting and strong, warm air abruptly lifted by colder air.

The area along a warm front is best described by which of the following?
a. wind direction shifting and strong, warm air abruptly lifted by colder air
b. warm air being lifted gently and steadily over cooler air
c. an area of clear skies and north winds
d

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Storm tracks across the United States and Canada generally
a. shift to the south in winter, and toward the north in summer.
b. move east to west.
c. move south to north.
d. exist in spring and fall only

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In which of the following areas will thunderstorms not develop?
a. in areas of orographic uplift
b. in areas of surface convergence
c. along frontal boundaries
d. under areas of strong high pressure

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Hurricanes derive their energy from
a. the latent heat of vaporization.
b. the latent heat of fusion.
c. the heat of condensation.
d. the latent heat of sublimation.

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Which of the following is true of hurricanes in the western Atlantic?
a. The peak months of occurrence are from August to October.
b. They are generally called cyclones or typhoons in this part of the world.
c. They are associated with the cool, southward

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Hurricanes die when they move over land because
a. the Coriolis force is not sufficient to sustain them over land.
b. the land temperature is not warm enough to sustain the low pressure system.
c. evaporation and subsequent condensation are no longer suff

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Which of the following lists the correct, generalized sequence of climates from the poles
to the equator?
a. Highland ? Microthermal ? Mesothermal ? Dry, Arid, and Semiarid? Tropical
b. Highland ? Dry, Arid, and Semiarid ? Mesothermal ? Microthermal ? Pol

Polar -- microthermal -- mesothermal, dry, arid, and semi arid, tropical

The tropical rain-forest climate receives most of its rainfall as a result of ________.
a. frontal uplift
b. orographic uplift
c. convectional uplift

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Which of the following is false regarding the tropical rain-forest climate?
a. It is influenced by the ITCZ year-round.
b. It does not experience a winter season.
c. The annual temperature range is larger than the daily temperature range.
d. Thunderstorms

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The bulk of the Amazon River drainage basin is dominated by which one of the following
climate classifications?
a. Tropical Monsoon
b. Tropical Savanna
c. Tropical Rain Forest
d. Humid Subtropical, Hot Summer Climates, Moist All Year

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The dry season in the tropical monsoon climate occurs when
a. cold air masses dominate the region.
b. the ITCZ is not overhead.
c. the ITCZ is overhead.
d. cold ocean currents shift into the region

The ITCZ is not overhead

The Tropical Savanna climate has
a. the ITCZ in summer and the subtropical high in winter.
b. the polar front in winter and the subtropical high in summer.
c. the ITCZ all year-round.
d. the polar front all year-round.

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The humid subtropical climate receives ________ precipitation during the summer and
________ precipitation in winter.
a. convectional; frontal
b. frontal; convectional
c. orographic; frontal
d. convectional; ITCZ

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The Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. is a moist environment because of
a. the effect of maritime air masses.
b. the presence of mountains.
c. the predominant direction the winds blow at that latitude (about 45 to 50
degrees north).
d. all of these
e.

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Mediterranean dry-summer climates
a. experience dry conditions in summer due to the subtropical high overhead.
b. experience wet conditions in winter due to the ITCZ overhead.
c. are bordered poleward by steppe climates.
d. experience wet conditions in su

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Which climate is characterized by the seasonal variation in monthly average
temperatures?
a. boreal forest
b. tundra
c. ice cap
d. dry-midlatitude

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The spatial distribution of Earth's dry regions are attributable to all of the following
factors except
a. subtropical high-pressure cells between 15� and 35� N and S latitudes.
b. rain shadows to the lee of mountain ranges.
c. the equatorial low-pressure

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