Quiz 4 - Global Circulation

1. 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 weak pressure gradient creating a slower flow of air

  2. Air flows ________ high pressure area because the density of the air in the high pressure zone is ___________ than that of the surrounding air

(a) into; more dense

(b) into; less dense

(c) out of; more dense

(d) out of; less dense

  3. Which of the following is true of objects and wind moving over a distance on Earth's surface?

(a) They are always deflected from a straight path to the west in the southern hemisphere.

(b) They are affected only by the pressure gradient and the friction force.

(c) They are always deflected clockwise by the friction force.

(d) They are apparently deflected clockwise from a straight path in the Northern hemisphere.

  4. Which of the following matches is incorrect relative to air circulation?

(a) anticyclone = high pressure center

(b) cyclone = low pressure center

(c) anticyclone = clockwise circulation in the Southern hemisphere

(d) cyclone = counterclockwise circulation in the Northern hemisphere

  5. On the Earth between 30º and 60º north latitude, winds flow from the _______ as they flow out of the _______ pressure zone toward the ________ pressure zone

(a) northeast; subtropical high; subpolar low

(b) west-southwest; subtropical high; subpolar low

(c) northeast; subpolar low; subtropical high

(d) west-southwest; sub polar low; subtropical high

  6. In the horse latitudes surface winds are _________ because ________.

(a) strong; air converges into this region from both north and south.

(b) strong; the horse latitudes are located directly under a high pressure zone characterized by descending, rather than horizontally moving air.

(c) weak; air converges into this region from both north and south.

(d) weak; the horse latitudes are located directly under a high pressure zone characterized by descending, rather than horizontally moving air.

  7. 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 faster than the nearby water surfaces.

(d) the fact that warmer air is denser and settles to the surface of the land.

  8. Mountain-valley breezes are caused by

(a) warmer air descending mountain slopes during the day.

(b) valley air ascending the mountain slopes at night.

(c) warm air rising upslope during the day and cooler air descending the slopes at night.

(d) gravity drainage.

  9. Ocean currents are produced by

(a) the frictional drag of winds.

(b) the Coriolis force and water density differences.

(c) land-sea breezes.

(d) A & B

  10. If the 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 in the Northern hemisphere.

(d) parallel to the isobars, i.e. along isobars.