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Physical Geography 1000 > Atmospheric and ocean circulations > Flashcards

Atmospheric and ocean circulations Flashcards

1
Q

one of the most important outputs of the Earth-atmosphere energy system

A

global circulation of winds and ocean currents

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2
Q

true or false
our atmosphere is shared by all humanity

A

true

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3
Q

air pressure

A

the weight of the atmosphere described as force per area

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4
Q

air pressure is due to the

A

weight of the air above us

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5
Q

air pressure is key to understand

A

wind

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6
Q

air pressure makes _____

A

gradients

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7
Q

_____ and _____ decrease with altitude in the atmosphere

A

density and pressure

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8
Q

what affects density

A

water vapour in the air

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9
Q

moist air is ______

A

lighter

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10
Q

why is moist air lighter

A

the molecular weight of water is less than that of the molecules making up dry air

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11
Q

warm, humid air is associated with

A

low pressure

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12
Q

cold, dry air is associated with

A

high pressure

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13
Q

a ______ is used to measure atmospheric pressure

A

barometer

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14
Q

how does a barometer measure atmospheric pressure

A

using liquid mercury because mercury reacts to changes in pressure

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15
Q

an ______ barometer is used to measure pressure without liquid

A

aneroid

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16
Q

how is atmospheric pressure measured today

A

by electronic sensors that provide continuous measurements over time

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17
Q

how to compare pressure conditions from place to place

A

pressure measurements are adjusted and compared to a standard of normal-sea level pressure

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18
Q

standard atmosphere and pressure at sea level

A

temp = 15 degrees Celcius
pressure = 101.325 kPa
density = 1.23 kg/m3

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19
Q

what scales are used to measure pressure

A
  1. millibars
  2. inches of mercury
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20
Q

what is the normal range for air pressure

A

980 to 1050 mb

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21
Q

wind

A

the generally horizontal motion of air across earth’s surface

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22
Q

anemometer

A

measures wind speed

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23
Q

wind vane

A

determines wind direction

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24
Q

winds are named for the

A

direction from which they originate

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25
Q

wind is Lethbridge is often moving

A

westerly (west to east)

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26
Q

four forces that determine both the speed and direction of wind

A
  1. gravitational force
  2. pressure gradient force (PGF)
  3. Coriolis effect
  4. friction force
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27
Q

PGF

A

drives air from areas of higher barometric pressure to areas of lower

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28
Q

gradient

A

rate of change in some property over distance

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29
Q

can there be wind without a pressure gradient force

A

NO

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30
Q

does air motion have to be horizontal to create pressure gradients

A

NO, it can also be vertical

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31
Q

at higher pressure there are ____ winds

A

lighter

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32
Q

low pressure there is _____ winds

A

strong

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33
Q

why is the flow of wind a vector

A

it has speed and direction

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34
Q

thermal circulation system

A

occur with horizontal PG created by contrasting thermal environments

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35
Q

Aloft

A

what is above us

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36
Q

at a higher pressure the air is _____ (cold or warm)

A

cold

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37
Q

at a low pressure the air is _____ (cold or warm)

A

warm

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38
Q

what is used to balance the imbalance in pressure

A

wind to move matter

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39
Q

what develops in warm air

A

air rises which creates a low pressure at the surface

40
Q

what develops in cold air

A

air falls and an area of high pressure develops at the surface

41
Q

why would a be warmer than b

A

based on a different surface (one that absorbs more heat)

42
Q

why is the warm pressure higher

A

air in A is warmer and it expands thus it rises and more air is above this pressure.
It also is less dense which means there is less to move through

43
Q

how can the air pressure be equalized

A

by the physical transfer of matter from the high pressure to the low pressure with the development of a wind pattern

44
Q

what is found at the surface of A and the surface of B

A

A- surface pressure falls (low pressure)
B- surface pressure rises (high pressure)

45
Q

isobar

A

isoline plotted on a weather map that connects points of equal pressure

46
Q

_____ of isobars shows intensity of the pressure difference

A

spacing between them

47
Q

the steep gradient of isobars causes

A

faster air movement from high to low pressure

48
Q

wider spaced isobars mark a _____ pressure change

A

gradual

49
Q

Coriolis force

A

makes wind travelling in a straight path appear to be deflected in relation to earth’s rotating surface

50
Q

Coriolis force is an apparent force that affects

A

the direction of moving objects

51
Q

Coriolis force in the Northern Hemisphere

A

deflection is to the right according to the original motion

52
Q

Coriolis force in the Southern Hemisphere

A

deflection is to the left according to the original motion

53
Q

where is Coriolis force maximized

A

in areas with max rotation per unit area (more polewards)

54
Q

what can Coriolis force deflect

A
  1. wind
  2. artillery
  3. airplanes
55
Q

the strength of Coriolis force is proportional to

A

wind speed

56
Q

where does the Coriolis force strengthen more

A

poleward

57
Q

how to figure out which vector shows the most Coriolis force

A

the one the most poleward
(70 Latitude has more Coriolis force than 60 latitude)

58
Q

Coriolis force is dependent on

A

latitude

59
Q

Coriolis force at the equator

A

translational movement of the surface

60
Q

what value is Coriolis force at the equator

A

zero

61
Q

what is Coriolis force at the poles

A

rotational movement

62
Q

where is friction found

A

in the boundary layer (where atmosphere and surface meet)

63
Q

what does friction cause

A

drag as the wind moves across the surface

64
Q

friction ____ with height

A

decreases

65
Q

why does friction decrease with height

A

there is no friction aloft because there is nothing to impose friction

66
Q

what happens to surface winds without friction

A

they would move parallel to isobars at high speeds

67
Q

_____ air winds are NOT affected by friction forces

A

upper

68
Q

_____ surfaces produce more friction

A

rougher

69
Q

geostrophic winds occurs were

A

friction is minor (not existent)

70
Q

geostrophic winds are located

A

above the planetary boundary layer

71
Q

geostrophic winds are the balance

A

between PGF and Coriolis force

72
Q

_____ winds are reduced by friction

A

surface

73
Q

what type of wind has a weaker Coriolis force

A

surface winds

74
Q

how do surface winds cross the isobars

A

at an angle

75
Q

surface winds spirals into ___

A

cyclones

76
Q

surface winds spiral out of _____

A

anticyclones

77
Q

what happens if the friction force increases

A

the angle the wind crosses the isobar gets bigger

78
Q

how do geostrophic winds cross the isobars

A

parallel

79
Q

surface winds have a CF and PGF force _____

A

no longer perpendicular

80
Q

surface winds are a _____ of forces

A

three-way balance

81
Q

why do local winds have pressure differences

A

linked to temp differences that occur due to variations in surface or terrain

82
Q

land and sea breezes are a result of

A

temp differences in surface properties

83
Q

mountain and valley winds are a result of

A

temp differences in terrain

84
Q

what direction is the breeze

A

its a sea breeze from the sea to the land

85
Q

the water has a ____ temp and as such ____ pressure on surface and a ____ pressure aloft

A
  1. cold
  2. high pressure
  3. low pressure
86
Q

the land has a _____ temp and as such ____ pressure on surface and a ___ pressure aloft

A
  1. warm
  2. low pressure
  3. high pressure
87
Q

what direction is the breeze

A

its a land breeze from land to water

88
Q

the water has a _____ temp and as such ____ pressure on surface and a ___ pressure aloft

A
  1. cool
  2. Low pressure
  3. High pressure
89
Q

the land has a _____ temp and as such ____ pressure on surface and a ___ pressure aloft

A
  1. Cold (more cold than water)
  2. High pressure
  3. Low pressure
90
Q

is this at day or night

A

night

91
Q

is this day or night

A

day

92
Q

air rising up a slope creates a

A

valley wind

93
Q

what pressure is higher low or high

A

low

94
Q

cold air falling down a slope creates

A

mountain wind

95
Q

where is pressure higher

A

adjacent to the slope than over the valley

Physical Geography 1000 (21 decks)

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