Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Oceanography Chapter 6
Oceanography questions
75
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 4
02/17/2016

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Of the following statements about the transfer of heat on Earth, which is/are true?
Definition
-air currents move warmer air from the tropics to higher latitudes
-water vapor in the air carries latent heat with it, which is released in other areas
-ocean currents move warm water from the tropics to higher latitudes
Term
How would a moving object in Earth’s atmosphere be deflected as a result of Earth’s rotation?
Definition
to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
Term
What is the Coriolis Effect?
Definition
the deflection of moving objects to the right in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
Term
Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the North Pole toward the equator?
Definition
toward the right
Term
Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the South Pole toward the equator?
Definition
toward the left
Term
Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the North Pole toward the equator?
Definition
toward the west
Term
Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the West Coast of the United States toward the East Coast of the United States?
Definition
toward the south
Term
Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the East Coast of the United States toward the West Coast of the United States?
Definition
toward the north
Term
Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the east coast of South Africa toward the west coast of South Africa?
Which way would an airplane deflect if flying from the east coast of South Africa toward the west coast of South Africa?
Definition
toward the south
Term
Which direction would an airplane deflect if flying across South Africa from the west coast to the east coast?
Definition
toward the north
Term
Even though it’s on the same spinning planet, the Coriolis effect influences moving objects and diverts them to the _____ of their intended direction in the Northern Hemisphere and to the _____ of their intended direction in the Southern Hemisphere.
Definition
right; left
Term
The Coriolis effect is _____ at the equator and is _____ at the poles.
Definition
zero; strongest
Term
The Coriolis effect is caused by
Definition
the rotation of the Earth
Term
Of the following physical properties of the atmosphere, which is/are true?
Definition
-air always moves from high-pressure regions toward low-pressure regions
-the air temp. is warmer near earths surface than in the upper part of the troposphere
-low pressure at the surface is associated with rising air (movement away from the surface)
-warm air holds more water vapor than cool air
Term
What is a tropical cyclone?
Definition
a low-pressure disturbance that develops over warm, tropical waters
Term
Where are tropical cyclones found?
Definition
lower and middle latitudes
Term
Which of the following names mean "tropical cyclone"?
Definition
hurricane, cyclone, typhoon
Term
Why is heavy rain associated with hurricane formation?
Definition
Rising, moist air cools. As air cools, water condenses and eventually falls.
Term
Why is warm, moist air considered the "fuel" for a hurricane?
Definition
Why is warm, moist air considered the "fuel" for a hurricane?
Term
How big can the diameter of a hurricane become?
Definition
500 miles
Term
Earth's polar regions (above 60° latitude) are classified as deserts because
Definition
cold, dry sinking air in the polar high regions produces little precipitation
Term
How does the Coriolis effect cause the atmosphere to move around high and low pressures in the Northern Hemisphere?
Definition
-The coriolis effect causes air to move counterclockwise around low pressure
-the coriolis effect causes air to move clockwise around high pressure
Term
Which of the following temperature and humidity conditions are most likely to be experienced in eastern Iowa after the cold front passes?
Definition
cold and dry
Term
In the eastern Pacific of the Northern Hemisphere, which ocean temperatures are associated with the most hurricanes?
Definition
27 to 29 degrees C
Term
Which of the following associations between hurricanes—also known as typhoons and cyclones—and wind direction is most accurate?
Definition
an east-to-west movement of hurricanes and easterly winds in the western Atlantic between 10° and 20° degrees north latitude
Term
Which of the following statements best describes the general relationship between ocean currents and hurricanes?
Definition
Warm ocean currents and hurricane paths both broadly move from east to west between 10° and 20° degrees north latitude in the eastern Pacific.
Term
What is a cyclone?
Definition
a center of low atmospheric pressure
Term
Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
Definition
in a counterclockwise direction
Term
Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
Definition
in a clockwise direction
Term
How does air move near the top of a cyclone?
Definition
in the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere
Term
Why are cyclones generally associated with clouds and rain?
Definition
air in cyclones undergoes cooling as it rises
Term
What is an anticylone?
Definition
an center of high atmospheric pressure
Term
Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
Definition
down, and in a clockwise direction
Term
Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
Definition
down, and in a counterclockwise direction
Term
Why are anticyclones not generally associated with clouds and rain?
Definition
air in anticyclones undergoes warming as it decends
Term
Hurricanes frequently make landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but rarely, if ever, occur on the Pacific coast. The primary reason for the rarity of west coast hurricanes is that
Definition
the ocean water does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes
Term
The intensity of tropical cyclones is measured by meteorologists using the __________ scale.
Definition
Saffir-Simpson
Term
Light and variable winds, warm and humid conditions, and frequent rainfall are characteristic of __________ oceanic climate zones.
Definition
equatorial
Term
What is a cyclone?
Definition
a center of low atmospheric pressure
Term
Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
Definition
in a counterclockwise direction
Term
Which way does air converge on a cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
Definition
in a clockwise direction
Term
How does air move near the top of a cyclone?
Definition
in the same direction as air in the upper atmosphere
Term
Why are cyclones generally associated with clouds and rain?
Definition
air in cyclones undergoes cooling as it rises
Term
What is an anticylone?
Definition
an center of high atmospheric pressure
Term
Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Northern Hemisphere?
Definition
down, and in a clockwise direction
Term
Which way does air move in an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere?
Definition
down, and in a counterclockwise direction
Term
Why are anticyclones not generally associated with clouds and rain?
Definition
air in anticyclones undergoes warming as it decends
Term
Hurricanes frequently make landfall on the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but rarely, if ever, occur on the Pacific coast. The primary reason for the rarity of west coast hurricanes is that
Definition
the ocean water does not get warm enough to supply the needed heat energy for hurricanes
Term
The intensity of tropical cyclones is measured by meteorologists using the __________ scale.
Definition
Saffir-Simpson
Term
Light and variable winds, warm and humid conditions, and frequent rainfall are characteristic of __________ oceanic climate zones.
Definition
equatorial
Term
Of the following statements about the trade winds, which is/are true?
Definition
The trade winds generally blow from eat to west
-The trade winds are strong and steady winds, hence the name
-The trade winds are found between about 5 and 30 degrees north or south latitude
Term
Of the following statements about the doldrums, which is/are true?
Definition
-The doldrums are an area of low atmospheric pressure.
-The doldrums are found as a global belt along the equator.
-There is usually little wind but a lot of rain associated with the doldrums.
-This is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
-The doldrums are the boundary between the northeast trade winds and the southeast trade winds.
Term
Surface winds in the tropics generally blow
Definition
- from the east
- towards the equator
Term
Which of the following are valid names of boundaries between global wind belts or at the poles?
Definition
-the polar high
-the polar front
-the doldrums
-the horse latitudes
Term
Hurricane Katrina moved 425 km during which of these time periods?
Definition
August 28 at 10 A.M. to August 29 at 10 A.M.
Term
The organized, denser portion of Hurricane Katrina (not including the wispy outer spiral bands) was:
Definition
900 km in diameter on August 28 at 9 P.M.
Term
Which of the following statements about sea-surface temperatures during the time period covered by the animation is correct?
Definition
The coldest temperature in the Gulf of Mexico was 27°C.
Term
Which of the following statements regarding sea-surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico during the time period covered by the animation is correct?
Definition
Sea-surface temperature decreased after the passage of Hurricane Katrina due to the latent heat of condensation.
Term
Which of the following statements about water temperatures at 25° N, 84° W from August 25 to August 30 is correct?
Definition
The temperature decreased from 32°C to 27°C.
Term
Where do glaciers form?
Definition
in places where more snow falls in the winter than melts away in the summer
Term
What is the snow line?
Definition
the elevation above which snow persists throughout the year
Term
What is the zone of wastage?
Definition
the part of a glacier where snow melting exceeds snow accumulation
Term
Under what conditions will the front of a glacier remain stationary?
Definition
Glacial fronts remain stationary when melting and snow accumulation are equal.
Term
What is an end moraine?
Definition
a ridge of debris deposited at the end of a glacier
Term
How does an end moraine form?
Definition
Pieces of rock are transported to the front of a glacier as ice within the glacier moves.
Term
Will plucking occur if a glacier is not advancing?
Definition
Yes, because glacial ice is still moving inside the glacier even if the glacier’s front is not advancing.
Term
The thickness of sea ice is limited primarily by
Definition
the insulating nature of the ice itself
Term
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?
Definition
- the prevailing westerlies
- contrasting air masses
- the jet stream
- the polar front
Term
Of the following characteristics or features, which is/are generally related to the formation or movement of hurricanes?
Definition
-warm ocean water
-the trade winds
-water's latent heat of condensation
-warm air with lots of water vapor
Term
Weather (short-term conditions of air temperature, wind speed/direction, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure) occurs because
Definition
Earth's surface is heated unevenly by the sun
Term
The percentage of solar radiation reflected from the surface of Earth back into space is known as the
Definition
albedo
Term
An increase in Earth's tilt would cause
Definition
colder winters and warmer summers
Term
As discussed in the video, air always moves from _____ atmospheric pressure regions to _____ atmospheric pressure regions.
Definition
high; low
Term
Earth's atmosphere is heated primarily by
Definition
re-radiation of solar energy from Earth's surface back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation
Term
A zone of high atmospheric pressure results when there is relatively __________ air aloft.
Definition
cool; dry
Supporting users have an ad free experience!