Chapter 5 Quiz

1. As a general rule, friction is greatest ________.
  at the middle latitudes 
  near the Earth’s surface
  at jet stream altitudes 
  near the poles 
  near the equator 
 

Answer:

2. A(n) ________ is an elongated zone of lower pressure between two areas of high pressure.
  cyclone 
  storm 
  trough 
  ridge 
  
anticyclone    
 

Answer: 

3. Atmospheric pressure is measured with a device called a ________.
  inclinometer 
  theodolite 
  barometer 
  anemometer 
  thermometer 
 

Answer: 

4. Which of the following does NOT act upon winds that blow far above the surface of the Earth?
  Pressure gradient 
  Geostrophic 
  Gravity 
  Coriolis effect 
  Friction 
 

Answer: 

5. At Earth’s surface, warm temperatures are associated with ________.
  adiabatic cooling 
  low pressure 
  high pressure 
  cyclones 
  anticyclones 
 

Answer: 

6. Which of the following is NOT one of the seven major components of global circulation?
  Monsoon 
  Trade winds 
  Polar easterlies 
  Intertropical convergence 
  Westerlies 
 

Answer: 

7. Gas molecules in the lower atmosphere ________.
  tend to stay at rest 
  are readily compressed and heated 
  infrequently collide with each other 
  are strongly bound to each other 
  tend to explode when they collide with each other 

Answer: 
 
8.  The so-called “winds of commerce” are the ________ winds.
  westerly 
  trade 
  monsoon 
  horse latitude 
  Rossby wave 
 

Answer: 

9. City A has an air pressure of 1,000 millibars. City B has an air pressure of 1,004 millibars. The distance between the two cities is 100 kilometers. The difference of 4 millibars over 100 kilometers is known as ________.
  the pressure gradient 
  force 
  the Coriolis effect 
  wind 
  velocity 

Answer: 
 
10. The Coriolis effect exists because ________.
  friction and pressure gradient are balanced 
  the Earth is an oblate spheroid 
  gravity exists 
  the Earth rotates 
  geostrophic force and gravity are balanced 

Answer: 
 

11. 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 Southern Hemisphere 
  the south everywhere on Earth 
  west to east everywhere on Earth 
  the north in the Northern Hemisphere 
  the east in the Southern Hemisphere 
 

Answer: 

12. Most of the broad-scale air movements that comprise the general circulation are ________.
  started by the Coriolis effect 
  adiabatic 
  vertical 
  jet streams 
  horizontal 
 

Answer: 

13. Out of the weather elements below, which one are we usually the LEAST aware of without the use of weather instruments?
  Pressure 
  Temperature 
  Wind direction 
  Moisture 
  Wind speed 
 

Answer: 

14. Wind speed is determined by ________.
  latitude 
  parallax 
  the Coriolis effect 
  random motions of gas molecules 
  pressure gradient force 
 

Answer: 

15. Which of the following refers only to the horizontal motion of air?
  A balance of atmospheric forces 
  Wind 
  General circulation 
  Updraft 
  Subsidence 
 

Answer: 

16. Air in an anticyclone always flows ________ in the Northern Hemisphere.
  from the northeast 
  from the southwest 
  clockwise 
  slowly 
  counterclockwise 

Answer: 
 
17. In which situation would the Coriolis effect be GREATEST?
  High wind speeds, high latitude 
  Low wind speeds, low latitude 
  High wind speeds, low latitude 
  Low wind speeds, high latitude 
  In any situation, as the Coriolis effect is a constant 
 

Answer: 

18. The denser packing of molecules at the bottom of the atmosphere than at the top of the atmosphere is a result of ________.
  friction 
  the Coriolis effect 
  the sorting caused by the varying weights of the gases 
  very good planning at the time of Earth’s beginnings
  gravity 

Answer: 

 
19. The speed of the wind is unaffected by ________.
  friction 
  pressure gradient 
  differences in heating between locations 
  the roughness of Earth’s surface
  the Coriolis effect 

Answer: 
 
20. A thermal low is closely associated with ________.
  ascent of air 
  very cold surface conditions 
  storms 
  very warm surface conditions 
  descent of air 
 

Answer: 

21. The basic unit of pressure mapped on weather maps is ________.
  knots 
  millibars 
  pounds per square inch 
  miles per hour 
  micrometers 

Answer: 
 

22. Which of the following occurs closest to the equator?
  Subpolar low 
  Polar front 
  Westerlies 
  Doldrums 
  Subtropical high 

Answer: 
 
23. Flowing air responding to the difference between higher and lower pressure is responding to the ________.
  intertropical convergence 
  anticyclone 
  trade winds 
  pressure gradient 
  Coriolis effect 
 

Answer: 
24. Which of the following is one of the causes of monsoons?
  Jet streams strengthen in the summer. 
  Continents heat and cool differently than oceans. 
  Oceans have large, seasonal temperature changes. 
  Polar easterlies bring contrasting air to the tropics. 
  Land cools off quickly in the summer. 

Answer: 
 
25. Cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere are ________ air flows.
  north-flowing 
  mythical 
  counterclockwise 
  south-flowing 
  clockwise