Climatology

Question 1

High Pressure

Answer 1

Subsiding air(descending), anticlockwise in rotation in S hemisphere

Question 2

Low Pressure

Answer 2

Rising air, clockwise in rotation in S hemisphere

Question 3

Coriolis force

Answer 3

Deflection of wind and ocean currents as result of world spinning. Deflection left in SH and right in NH

Question 4

Doldrums

Answer 4

place of zero hzontal air flow. Associated with equator(ITCZ)

Question 5

ITCZ

Answer 5

Inter Tropical Convergence Zone. Band of LP’s as a result of perpendicular heating from sun

Question 6

Advection

Answer 6

hzontal movement of air in atmosphere

Question 7

Convection

Answer 7

LP currents(vertical) resulting from suns heating

Question 8

PGF always moves from …

Answer 8

High to low

Question 9

Relationship between geostrophic flow and isobars?

Answer 9

Geostrophic flow is always parallel to the isobars

Question 10

Isobars

Answer 10

lines of eql psi

Question 11

Primary circulation(vertical) cells

Answer 11

Hadley(0-30°)
Ferrell(30-60°)
Polar(60-90°)

Question 12

4 main psi cells

Answer 12

Equatorial low (equator 0°)

Sub-tropical high (30°)

Sub-polar low (60°)

Polar high (90°)

Question 13

Pressure cell characteristics

Answer 13

Equatorial LP - thundershowers due to convection
Subpolar LP - Cold fronts/rainfall
All HP - Descending air, deserts + clear skies

Question 14

Secondary Circulation(hzontal)

Answer 14

Tropical easterly (trade winds) 5-30

Westerly wind belt 30- 60

Polar easterly wind belt 60-90

Question 15

Atmospheric Circulation

Answer 15

Distributes thermal ene over earth surface

Question 16

Atmospheric psi

Answer 16

force per unit area exerted over earth

Question 17

How are HP’s formed?

Answer 17

When air go down at surface

Question 18

Pressure Gradient strength

Answer 18

Depends on distance of isobars - further isobars = weak pressure gradient and vice versa.

Question 19

PGF

Answer 19

Force acting on atmosphere as result of pressure gradient. Moves air from HP to LP also makes speed of wind. eg strong PGF = higher wind speed.

Question 20

Monsoon Winds

Answer 20

Seasonal reversal of atmos psi and winds

Question 21

Fohn Winds

Answer 21

Dry hot winds where there are significant changes in altitude(eg mountainous area)

Question 22

DALR

Answer 22

Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate

Question 23

SALR or WALR

Answer 23

Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate or Wet Adiabatic Lapse Rate. Both the same thing