chapter 2: Analysis of Mid-latitude Synoptic Scale Systems using QG Height Tendency Equation

Question 1

The QG Height Tendency Eq. can be expressed as:

Answer 1

Question 2

the equation is a

Answer 2

partial differential equation describing the local change of the geopotential height (Φ) on an isobaric surface with respect to time

Question 3

There are three forcing terms on the right-hand side of The QG Height Tendency Eq. From left to right, these forcing terms represent:

Answer 3

1. Geostrophic vorticity advection
2. Differential thermal advection and
3. Differential diabatic heating.

Question 4

The QG Height Tendency Eq. is applied to

Answer 4

the study of troughs and ridges in the middle troposphere – often at 500 hPa – and not at the surface

Question 5

The contribution to the local geopotential height tendency exclusively due to geostrophic vorticity advection can be expressed by:

Answer 5

Question 6

The contribution to the local geopotential height tendency exclusively due to geostrophic vorticity advection can be expressed by:

It depicts the

Answer 6

advection by the geostrophic wind of the geostrophic relative (ع_g) and planetary vorticity (f)

Question 7

Cyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection will result in

Answer 7

local decrease in geopotential height with time

Question 8

Cyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection will result in local decrease in geopotential height with time, because:

Answer 8

Question 9

Cyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection will result in local decrease in geopotential height with time, because:

Answer 9

Question 10

Cyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection will result in local decrease in geopotential height with time, because:

Answer 10

Question 11

Anticyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection will result in

Answer 11

local increase in geopotential height with time

Question 12

Anticyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection will result in local increase in geopotential height with time, because:

Answer 12

Question 13

Anticyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection will result in local increase in geopotential height with time, because:

Answer 13

Question 14

Anticyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection will result in local increase in geopotential height with time, because:

Answer 14

Question 15

In an idealized trough/ridge scenario where the geostrophic wind is

Answer 15

uniform everywhere

Question 16

In an idealized trough/ridge scenario where the geostrophic wind is uniform everywhere and thus geostrophic relative vorticity is ………………………. in the base ……………………………

Answer 16

maximized

of each trough

Question 17

In an idealized trough/ridge scenario where the geostrophic wind is uniform everywhere and thus geostrophic relative vorticity is ………………………….. in the apex …………………………..

Answer 17

minimized

of each ridge

Question 18

In an idealized trough/ridge scenario where the geostrophic wind is uniform everywhere and thus geostrophic relative vorticity is maximized in the base of each trough

Thus, there is an …………………………… geostrophic vorticity advection to the ……………………………… axis

Answer 18

anticyclonic

west of the trough

Question 19

In an idealized trough/ridge scenario where the geostrophic wind is uniform everywhere and thus geostrophic relative vorticity is (minimized) in the (apex) of each (ridge).

Thus, there is an ……………………. geostrophic vorticity advection to the…………………………….

Answer 19

(cyclonic)

west of the trough axis

Question 20

n an idealized trough/ridge scenario where the geostrophic wind is uniform everywhere and thus geostrophic relative vorticity is maximized in the base of each trough

Thus, there is an anticyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection to the west of the trough axis, which is associated with a tendency for height …………

Answer 20

rises

Question 21

In an idealized trough/ridge scenario (Fig.1), where the geostrophic wind is uniform everywhere and thus geostrophic relative vorticity is (minimized) in the (apex) of each (ridge).

Thus, there is an (cyclonic) geostrophic vorticity advection to the west of the trough axis, which is associated with a tendency for height ………..

Answer 21

falls

Question 22

A

Answer 22

Question 23

B

Answer 23

Question 24

C

Answer 24

Question 25

D

Answer 25

Question 26

E

Answer 26

Question 27

F

Answer 27

Question 28

G

Answer 28

Question 29

H

Answer 29

Question 30

A

Answer 30

Question 31

B

Answer 31

Question 32

C

Answer 32

Question 33

D

Answer 33

Question 34

E

Answer 34

Question 35

F

Answer 35

Question 36

At the center of a cyclonic vorticity maximum, the height tendency is

Answer 36

zero.

Question 37

Since the geostrophic wind blows

Answer 37

parallel to contours of constant geopotential height

Question 38

Since the geostrophic wind blows parallel to contours of constant geopotential height, geostrophic absolute vorticity advection does

Answer 38

not result in the amplification (or intensification) of troughs and ridges.

Question 39

geostrophic absolute vorticity advection does not result in the amplification (or intensification) of troughs and ridges.  Rather, it results in

Answer 39

their movement from one location to another.

Question 40

geostrophic absolute vorticity advection does not result in the amplification (or intensification) of troughs and ridges.  Rather, it results in their movement from one location to another. This is identical to the interpretation offered with

Answer 40

the quasi-geostrophic vorticity equation

Question 41

When a wind speed asymmetry exists in the vicinity of an upper trough, as shown in the import or export of ........................................... can lead to

Answer 41

cyclonic shear vorticity can lead to a net height tendency in the base of the trough

Question 42

A

Answer 42

Question 43

B

Answer 43

Question 44

C

Answer 44

Question 45

D

Answer 45

Question 46

E

Answer 46

Question 47

F

Answer 47

Question 48

G

Answer 48

Question 49

The following represents a

Answer 49

digging trough

Question 50

A

Answer 50

Question 51

B

Answer 51

Question 52

C

Answer 52

Question 53

D

Answer 53

Question 54

E

Answer 54

Question 55

F

Answer 55

Question 56

The following represents a

Answer 56

lifting trough

Question 57

Digging Trough In the case where a jet streak is located to the

Answer 57

west of the trough axis

Question 58

Digging Trough  In the case where a jet streak is located to the west of the trough axis, as in Fig.3a, there is a

Answer 58

net import of cyclonic vorticity into the base of the trough

Question 59

Digging Trough  In the case where a jet streak is located to the west of the trough axis, as in Fig.3a, there is a net import of cyclonic vorticity into the base of the trough, and we expect

Answer 59

the trough to amplify and dig equatorward toward lower latitudes

Question 60

In the case where a jet streak is located to the west of the trough axis, as in Fig.3a, there is a net import of cyclonic vorticity into the base of the trough, and we expect the trough to amplify and dig equatorward toward lower latitudes.  Such a trough configuration is commonly referred to as a

Answer 60

“digging” trough

Question 61

wind speed maximum on the downstream side of the trough leads to

Answer 61

a net export of vorticity

Question 62

In contrast, a wind speed maximum on the downstream side of the trough leads to a net export of vorticity, leading to a

Answer 62

a weakening and poleward movement of the trough

Question 63

In contrast, a wind speed maximum on the downstream side of the trough leads to a net export of vorticity, leading to a weakening and poleward movement of the trough; this is known as a

Answer 63

“lifting” trough

Question 64

A process that is often strongly linked to the amplification or decay of upper- level troughs and ridges is represented by the

Answer 64

differential thermal advection term

Question 65

A process that is often strongly linked to the amplification or decay of upper- level troughs and ridges is represented by the differential thermal advection term in The QG Height Tendency Eq.

Answer 65

Question 66

the term involves the

Answer 66

vertical derivative of thickness advection

Question 67

This term involves the vertical derivative of thickness advection and represents

Answer 67

thickness tendency that would accompany a given sign of temperature advection within an atmospheric layer.

Question 68

A

Answer 68

Question 69

B

Answer 69

Question 70

C

Answer 70

Question 71

D

Answer 71

Question 72

E

Answer 72

Question 73

F

Answer 73

Question 74

A

Answer 74

Question 75

B

Answer 75

Question 76

C

Answer 76

Question 77

D

Answer 77

Question 78

E

Answer 78

Question 79

The images explain

Answer 79

Geopotential height changes associated with the differential thermal advection

Question 80

Warm advection Suppose a .......................... of warm advection is located................................

Answer 80

maximum near the 700-mb level

Question 81

If the column experiences net warming due to this process, the

Answer 81

thickness of the layer must increase.

Question 82

The sign of the height tendency depends on

Answer 82

whether the pressure surface in question lies above or below the level of maximum thermal advection

Question 83

The sign of the height tendency depends on whether the pressure surface in question lies above or below the level of maximum thermal advection:

Answer 83

* Height raises above the level of maximum warming. * Height falls below the level of maximum warming. * For a pressure surface located exactly at the level of maximum thermal advection, the height tendency would be zero.

Question 84

A similar interpretation applies to ....................... of cold advection in the ................

Answer 84

a local maximum lower troposphere

Question 85

A similar interpretation applies to a local maximum of cold advection in the lower troposphere (Fig. 4b); only the signs of the height tendency are

Answer 85

reversed relative to those in the warm-advection case

Question 86

Differential thermal advection of either sign is frequently observed in

Answer 86

the vicinity of midlatitude cyclones

Question 87

Warm advection to the .................................................. is often associated with

Answer 87

east of such systems (ahead of a warm front) ## Footnote pressure falls in the lower troposphere and a building of an upper ridge downstream of the system.

Question 88

Behind the surface cold front to the

Answer 88

west of a cyclone, lower-tropospheric cold advection

Question 89

Behind the surface cold front to the west of a cyclone, lower-tropospheric cold advection is consistent with

Answer 89

rising surface pressure and falling upper-level geopotential height surfaces.

Question 90

The role of the diabatic term in Eq.(1) is similar to that of

Answer 90

the thermal advection

Question 91

Diabatic warming............................... increases with ..................

Answer 91

J =dQ/dt hight

Question 92

Diabatic warming increasing with height leads to ................ , implying a ....................................

Answer 92

x \< 0 local decrease in geopotential height with time

Question 93

Conversely, diabatic warming decreasing with

Answer 93

height (or diabatic cooling increases with height)

Question 94

Conversely, diabatic warming decreasing with height (or diabatic cooling increases with height), leads to ......... implying a ....................

Answer 94

x \> 0 local increase in geopotential height wind time

Question 95

the following is the equation of

Answer 95

the QG Height Tendency Eq.

Question 96

the terms are 1. Geostrophic vorticity advection 2. Differential thermal advection and 3. Differential diabatic heating.

Answer 96

three forcing terms of the GQ height tendency equation

Question 97

the following equation represents

Answer 97

The contribution to the local geopotential height tendency exclusively due to geostrophic vorticity advection

Question 98

................................................ will result in local decrease in geopotential height with time

Answer 98

Cyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection

Question 99

.......................................................................... will result in local increase in geopotential height with time

Answer 99

Anticyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection

Question 100

In an idealized trough/ridge scenario (Fig.1), where the geostrophic wind is uniform everywhere and thus geostrophic relative vorticity is maximized

Answer 100

in the base of each trough thus there is an anticyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection to the west of the trough axis, which is associated with a tendency for hight rises

Question 101

In an idealized trough/ridge scenario (Fig.1), where the geostrophic wind is uniform everywhere and thus geostrophic relative vorticity is minimized

Answer 101

in the apex of each ridge this, there is a cyclonic geostrophic vorticity advection to the west of the trough axis, which is associated with a tendency for hight falls

Question 102

....................................................... blows parallel to contours of constant geopotential height

Answer 102

the geostrophic wind

Question 103

............................................................. does not result in the amplification (or intensification) of troughs and ridges

Answer 103

geostrophic absolute vorticity advection

Question 104

.................................................... results in their movement from one location to another

Answer 104

geostrophic absolute vorticity advection

Question 105

....................................................... is identical to the interpretation offered with ...........................................

Answer 105

geostrophic absolute vorticity advection the quasi-geostrophic vorticity equation

Question 106

......................................................... can lead to a net height tendency in the base of the trough.

Answer 106

wind speed asymmetry exists in the vicinity of an upper trough the import or export of cyclonic shear vorticity

Question 107

..................................................................... is represented by the differential thermal advection term

Answer 107

A process that is often strongly linked to the amplification or decay of upper- level troughs and ridges

Question 108

the following is

Answer 108

Differential Thermal Advection