Chapter 7 Vocab

Question 1

4 Forces that control the wind?

Answer 1

• Pressure Gradient Force
• Gravitational Force
• Frictional Force
• Coriolis Force

Question 2

Unit Area?

Answer 2

Area with a dimension of one unit, such as one square meter.

Question 3

Pressure Gradient

Answer 3

The rate at which pressure changes with distance

Question 4

What are Turbulent Eddies?

Answer 4

Turbulent motions leading to mixing of air

Question 5

What are the three turbulent Eddies?

Answer 5

• Mechanical Turbulence
• Thermal Turbulence
• Shear-Induced Turbulence

Question 6

Mechanical Turbulence?

Answer 6

Develops when air encounters obstructions associated with ground roughness.

Question 7

Thermal Turbulence?

Answer 7

Develops when the air near the earths surface is heated sufficiently during the day that it becomes unstable and rises to higher altitudes.

Question 8

Wind Shear

Answer 8

Exists when winds change over distance. Either increasing, or decreasing.

Question 9

Shear-induced Turbulence

Answer 9

Occurs when wind speed changes rapidly with distance, typically with height.

Question 10

Boundary Layer?

Answer 10

Atmospheric layer in which friction is an important force.

Question 11

Angular Momentum

Answer 11

When something is spinning.

Question 12

Hydrostatic Balance

Answer 12

When the upward pressure gradient force is exactly balances with gravity.

Question 13

Geostrophic Balance

Answer 13

Balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force.