January 28th lecture

Question 1

If air moves in the Meridional, what direction is it moving?

Answer 1

North to south

Question 2

What is the Coriolis effect?

Answer 2

The application of angular momentum of the earths winds, and oceans

Question 3

As you approach the poles ( as wind ) what happens to your angualr velocity?

Answer 3

Your angular velocity increases

Question 4

In the northern hemisphere as you move northward what direction are you deflected? why?

Answer 4

You are deflected to the East,

This is because in order for there to be a increase in angular velocity you need to have an eastward acceleration.

Question 5

For air travelling northwards in the northern hemisphere, what direction is the deflection acceleration?

Answer 5

It is deflected eastward

Question 6

For air travelling southwards in the northern hemisphere what direction is the deflection of acceleration?

Answer 6

It is deflected westward

Question 7

For air travelling northwards in the southern hemisphere, what direction is the deflection of acceleration?

Answer 7

It is deflected westward

Question 8

For air travelling Southward in the southern hemisphere, what direct is the deflection of acceleration?

Answer 8

There is a eastward acceleration.

Question 9

What is it called when air moves from east to west?

Answer 9

Zonal air motion

Question 10

What happens when you have zonal winds? (what happens in both directions)

Answer 10

If the air moves eastward it will take less time to complete one rotation of the planet as it is traveling faster over the earths surface.

If it moves westward, it is opposing the earths rotation and would take longer to complete a rotation.

Question 11

While air travels eastward what happens to its angular velocity?

Answer 11

it increases

Question 12

While air travels westward what happens to its angular velocity?

Answer 12

It decreases

Question 13

Eastward motion in the northern hemisphere leads

to what?

Answer 13

A southward acceleration

Question 14

Westward motion in the northern hemisphere

leads to what?

Answer 14

A northward acceleration

Question 15

Why is it that when you have wind going eastward in the northern hemisphere the winds travels to the equator?

Answer 15

This is due to when you have an increase in angular velocity you also get an increase in radius

Question 16

What is a Hadley cell? ( 3 steps )

Answer 16

• Warm, moist air rises to the Equator
• flows poleward ( and is deflected to the right )
• Sinks in subtropics and returns to surface flow

Question 17

What is a Ferrel cell

Answer 17

• poleward surface flow, rising in the mid-latitudes

- Returns equatorward at height and sinks in subtropics

Question 18

What do hadley and Ferrel cells drive?

Answer 18

• Drives northeasterly TRADES in sub-tropics

* Drives WESTERLIES in mid-latitudes

Question 19

How are clouds and precipitation created?

Answer 19

Since rising air is often moist and since air cools as it rises, that moisture can’t held, producing clouds and precipitation

Question 20

Why is there dry conditions in the sub tropics?

Answer 20

Sinking air can hold more moisture (as it is
warming as descending), which normally means
dry, clear conditions

Question 21

What three factors make the 3 cell model idelaized?

Answer 21

• tilt of the earths axis and seasons
• Lower heat capacity of continental rock vs seawater
• uneven distribution of land and ocean