Test 2 Review Flashcards
(142 cards)
0
Q
General, worldwide atmospheric circulation (ex. trade winds, westerlies, polar easterlies)
A
Primary circulation
1
Q
What are the three levels of atmospheric circulation?
A
Primary, secondary, and tertiary
2
Q
Migration of high and low pressure systems; mesoscale wind circulation between high and low pressure systems
A
Secondary circulation
3
Q
Local winds (ex. Santa Ana winds, land breeze, sea breeze)
A
Tertiary circulation
4
Q
The force exerted on you by air molecules; although air molecules are invisible, they still have weight and take up space
A
Air pressure
5
Q
A tube closed at the top, containing mercury with a Toricelllian vacuum above it and a mercury bath at the open bottom end; the pressure on the open bath determines the height of the mercury column above it
A
Mercury Barometer
6
Q
A closed, flexible container of gas and attached to the container is a mechanism to move a pointer on a scale; when atmospheric pressure changes, the container changes internal volume, moving the scale to indicate the pressure outside of it relative to the fixed pressure inside it
A
Aneroid barometer
7
Q
What is the normal sea level air pressure?
A
14.7 lbs/in2 or 1013.2 mb
8
Q
The force which results when there is a difference in pressure across a surface (control on wind velocity)
A
Pressure gradient force
9
Q
True or False: the greater the pressure gradient, the faster the wind flow
A
True
10
Q
How is wind generated?
A
- Air rises at point B because it is warmer and a void is created
- Low pressure at point B
- Air pressure at point A is higher
- Air moves from point A to point B
- Surface wind is created
11
Q
A breeze blowing toward the sea, especially at night, owing to the relative warmth of the sea
A
Land breeze
12
Q
A breeze blowing toward the land from the sea, especially during the day, owing to the relative warmth of the land
A
Sea breeze
13
Q
Since the earth rotates on its axis, it produces a deflective force that affects wind direction (if the earth did not spin on its axis, winds would follow the direction of the pressure gradient); stronger towards the poles; deflected right in the NH and left in the SH
A
Coriolis force
14
Q
Acts on the wind flow and the effect becomes more and more severe as you get closer to the surface
A
Friction force
15
Q
The part of the atmosphere that lies above the frictional force, on average at an altitude of about 1000m
A
Free atmosphere
16
Q
True or False: Coriolis force balances pressure gradient force
A
True
17
Q
The theoretical wind that would result from an exact balance between the Coriolis effect and the pressure gradient force
A
Geostrophic wind
18
Q
When the wind swirls clockwise in the northern hemisphere or counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere
A
Anticyclonic air flow
19
Q
When the wind swirls counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere or clockwise in the southern hemisphere
A
Cyclonic air flow
20
Q
Air comes together at the center of the low near the ground; converging air rises and the water vapor within cools and eventually condenses
A
Air convergence
21
Q
Air moves away from the center of the high near the ground; air has to come from above to fill the void, leads to a sinking motion in the center of a high pressure system and clear air
A
Air divergence
22
Q
True or False: Air convergence is associated with high pressure
A
False: Air convergence is associated with low pressure and air divergence is associated with high pressure
23
Q
Wind blowing steadily toward the equator from the northeast in the northern hemisphere or the southeast in the southern hemisphere, especially at sea
A
Trade winds
24
A wind blowing from the west; the belt of prevailing winds in the mid-latitudes of the northern and southern hemispheres; generated from the subtropical high pressure cell
Westerlies
25
Why do the Westerlies gather strength and speed in the southern hemisphere?
Because there is less land there to cause friction to slow them down, an almost unbroken belt of oceans
26
Known to sailors as doldrums, the area encircling the earth near the equator where the northeast and southeast trade winds come together
Intertropical Convergence Zone
27
What months do the dry monsoon occur in?
October through May
28
Picks up moisture from the ocean and brings the rain that sustains agriculture
Wet monsoon
29
A tropical atmospheric circulation that is defined by the average over longitude, which features rising motion near the equator, poleward flow 10-15 km above the surface, descending motion in the subtropics, and equator-ward flow near the surface
Hadley Cell
30
The average motion of air in the mid-latitudes; characterized by sinking air near 30 degrees and rising air farther poleward
Ferrel Cell
31
What is the leading edge of the polar easterlies?
The polar front
32
Boundary between continental polar air mass and topical maritime airmass where frontal precipitations can take place
Polar front
33
A change in the velocity and trajectory of upper air wind flows
Index cycle
34
Maintains air masses within their boundaries
Zonal flow
35
Allows very cold air from the arctic to move to lower latitudes from the tropics
Meridional flow
36
What is the driving force of ocean currents?
The frictional drag of the winds
37
Large body of air whose physical properties are more or less uniform horizontally for hundreds of km; horizontal dimension can be as big as a continent and vertical dimension can extend throughout the troposphere
Air mass
38
What are the air mass classifications?
Maritime, continental, arctic, antarctic, tropical, or equatorial
39
What are the principal air masses?
1. Continental polar in the NH
2. Maritime polar over northern oceans
3. Maritime tropical in the Atlantic and Pacific
40
Created because of thermodynamic and dynamic changes
Secondary air masses
41
Cold air mass moving south over warm land
Thermodynamic
42
Air mass has to go over topographic barrier
Dynamic
43
What is developing when continental polar and maritime tropical air masses clash and the maritime tropical air mass at the surface is forced to rise above the ground
Mid-latitude cyclone
44
What are the stages of a mid-latitude cyclone?
1. Frontogenesis and cyclogenesis (early stage)
2. Mature (open) stage
3. Occluded (dying) stage
45
Which stage: creation of fronts, warm/moist air rises, condensation reached, low pressure forms at apex of two fronts
Frontogenesis
46
Which stage: creation of a mid-latitude cyclone, warm air is the fuel tank, not producing frontal precipitations, stratiform and cumuliform clouds
Cyclogenesis
47
Which stage: storm is fully developed and precipitation is generated, but it has not reached full potential, cold front travels faster than the warm front and cold air is actively pushing warm air up
Mature (open) stage
48
Which stage: cold front catches up with the warm front and no warm sector is connected to the storm, most intense phase in terms of heavy and steady rainfall and strong winds
Occulded (dying) stage
49
Which front is typical of zonal flow conditions
Stationary front
50
Upper air flow starting to slow down and move above ground, enters a meridional phase
Frontal wave
51
Warm air glides on top of cool air
Warm front
52
Cold air is actively pushing warmer air aloft
Cold front
53
300 yards diameter, winds more than 300 mph, traveling speed 25-40 mph
Tornado
54
When is tornado season?
April-July, 74% take place March-July
55
Why does tornado season start in April?
In April, the polar jet stream, polar front, and continental polar air mass are slowly retreating to higher latitudes. Clashes between warm/moist and cold air masses along the polar front are more severe.
56
Tornados form in regions of the atmosphere that have:
1. Extremely unstable air (convection of warm/moist air)
2. Weather systems that force warm/moist air upward
3. Large amounts of vertical wind shear that increases with velocity away from the surface
57
500-600 miles in diameter, winds 75-100 mph, traveling speed 10-20 mph
Hurricane
58
What are the classifications of tropical disturbances and their wind speeds?
1. Tropical disturbance: wind 23-38 mph
2. Tropical storm: wind 39-73 mph
3. Hurricane: wind 74+ mph
59
What do you need for a hurricane to form?
Sea surface temperature over 81 degrees F, westward trajectory, no land obstacles, creation of a vortex, Coriolis force must be strong enough, moving away from low latitudes, little or no vertical wind shear, divergence of air aloft must exceed the convergence at the surface
60
Where wind velocity would be at its highest
Eye wall
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Large quantity of sea water pushed inland by the strong winds of a hurricane during landfall
Storm surge
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Why do hurricanes lose their intensity after landfall?
Because the latent heat flux over the warm ocean surface is no longer available
63
Why don't hurricanes form at the equator?
Because the Coriolis force is near zero there, so there isn't the turning needed to spin the air into tight low-pressure centers
64
List factors that effect the amount of run off
1. Intensity and duration of rainfall
2. Deep soil, dense vegetation, fractured bedrock, and gentle slopes reduce runoff
3. Thin or absent soil, then vegetation, and steep slopes increase runoff
65
Surplus water that flows across the surface toward stream channels; constitutes the total runoff from an area together with precipitation and subsurface flows
Overland flow
66
Penetration of soil surface, leads to gravity percolation, where water might reach the ground water zone
Infiltration
67
When precipitation strikes vegetation
Interception
68
Intercepted water that drains across a plant and down
Stem flow
69
Precipitation that falls through the plant canopy
Throughfall
70
Water held in pore spaces of the soil layer and available for plants
Soil moisture
71
Factors that control soil moisture content:
Amount of precipitation, insolation, temperature variation, wind velocity, direct evaporation and transpiration of plants, amount of runoff, gravity percolation, type of soil
72
The process by which water permeates the soil or porous rock into the subsurface environment
Gravity percolation
73
Max amount of water that can be retained in the soil after gravitational water has drained away
Field capacity
74
Can finer soil hold more or less water?
Finer soil can hold more water
75
Moisture held at the surface of soil particles by surface tension, stored water supply
Capillary water
76
Water lost to the plants because of gravity percolation
Gravitational water
77
Excluding ice sheets and glaciers, represents the earth's largest accessible store of fresh water (94%)
Groundwater
78
Rock layer, porous and permeable to groundwater flow (sandstone and limestone)
Aquifer
79
Permeable layer on top and an impermeable layer beneath; recharge area extends above the entire aquifer, water percolates down the water table
Unconfined aquifer
80
Bounded above and below by impermeable layers of rock or sediments (exists between aquicludes); recharge area is more restricted, obtains water from a distant area where the rock layers of the aquifer reach the surface
Confined aquifer
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Rock layer that is impermeable to groundwater infiltration
Aquiclude
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Area where gravity percolation is active
Zone of aeration
83
Area where subsurface water accumulates
Zone of saturation
84
The upper surface of groundwater, contact zone between the zone of aeration and saturation in an aquifer; slope controls groundwater movement
Water table
85
What are some problems associated with groundwater resources?
Drawdown, overpumping or "groundwater mining", and groundwater pollution
86
Lowering of the water table around a well creating a "cone of depression"; in an unconfined aquifer when the pumping rate exceeds the replenishment flow of water in the the aquifer
Drawdown
87
When aquifers are pumped beyond their flow and recharge capacities
Overpumping or "groundwater mining"
88
What are some causes of groundwater pollution?
Industrial injection wells, septic tank outflows, seepage from waste, industrial toxic wastes, agricultural residues, waste landfills
89
What percentage of pollution is point source (gas tank, septic tank, waste pond)?
35%
90
What percentage of pollution is non-point source (from a broad area, such as an agricultural field or urban runoff)?
65%
91
The unchanneled downslope movement of surface water
Sheetflow
92
The channeled movement of water along a valley bottom
Streamflow
93
Portion of the terrain in which a drainage system is established
Valley
94
Higher land above the valley sides that separates adjacent valleys, directs overland flow creating small tributaries of a valley stream
Interfluves
95
A river or stream flowing into a larger river or lake
Tributary
96
Catchment area or watershed, collection of water and sediments
Drainage basin
97
Forms perimeter of a drainage basin, joins all the highest points separating the basin from adjacent ones
Drainage divide
98
Uppermost area of the basin, source of the mainstream channel
Headwaters
99
Part of the river where it empties into another body of water
Mouth
100
The main course of the river
Trunk
101
Refers to the extent of channelization in a drainage basin
Drainage density
102
High or low drainage density: soils are thin and impermeable, vegetation is sparse, and there are steep slopes
High drainage density
103
High or low drainage density: soils are thick or permeable and there is dense vegetation or forests
Low drainage density
104
Which drainage pattern is created from rocks with uniform resistance?
Dendritic
105
Which drainage pattern is created by parallel valleys of weak rock between ridges of resistance?
Trellis
106
Which drainage pattern is created from a dome upland or volcano?
Radial
107
Which drainage pattern is created from multiple channels flowing inward toward the center of a lowland or basin?
Centripetal
108
Which drainage pattern is created by linear joint patterns in bedrock that control the water movement?
Rectangular
109
Which drainage pattern is created following ice sheets retreating, chaotic arrangement of channels connecting smalls lakes and marshes?
Deranged
110
What factors have an impact on drainage patterns?
Land topography/steepness, rock resistance to weathering and erosion, variable climate and hydrology, and structural controls imposed by the underlying rocks
111
A trough which moves water and sediments supplied to the stream
Stream channel
112
Rate of fall in altitude of the stream surface in the downstream direction
Stream gradient
113
Line of maximum stream velocity
Line of thalweg
114
Volume of water passing through a given cross-section of a stream in a given unit of time; Q=W*D*V and as Q increases, some combination of the width, depth, and velocity increases
Stream discharge
115
Leads to bank caving, transport of sediments, and disposition of sediments
Stream erosion
116
Ability of a stream to move particles of a specific size, function of velocity and available energy
Stream competence
117
Total possible load a stream can transport; function of solution, suspension, saltation, and traction
Stream capacity
118
Invisible part of the stream load resulting from chemical weathering
Dissolved load
119
Consists of fine grain clastic particles (clay, silt, sand); the lighter the sediment, the closer to the surface it is carried
Suspended load
120
Heaviest particles move close to the stream floor, moved by traction and saltation
Bedload
121
Bedload or suspended load will be increased, reduced, or stopped
Stream deposition
122
Created because stream velocity drops due to friction
Point bar
123
Sand, silt, clay, gravel, or other matter deposited by flowing water
Alluvial deposit
124
Remnants of older floodplains created by renewed activity of the main stream channel
Terrace
125
Stream begins active downward erosion again when region is affected by a land mass uplift, lowers the base level of the stream and leads to renewed vertical erosion of the river bed
Rejuvenated river
126
Forms at the mouth of a river when it enters a lake or ocean; river's velocity decreases and sediments drop out first
Delta
127
The point of a flood hydrograph when rainfall is at its greatest; period of time between the peak discharge; represents increased discharge rates as the result of storm water entering a drainage basin on a flood hydrograph
Storm hydrograph
128
True or False: Sea breeze takes place at night
False, sea breeze takes place during the day
129
True or False: The Coriolis effect is maximized at the poles
True, at the equator it is nonexistent
130
True or False: Geostrophic wind results from pressure gradient force, free atmosphere, and friction
False, free atmosphere has no friction
131
Which is directly involved with the formation of subtropical high pressure cells?
Hadley cell, air is pushed towards the surface and surface pressure rises
132
What is the common name for alluvial deposits found on the inside curve of a meander?
Point bar
133
Westerlies take place between _______ of latitudes in both hemisphere.
30-60 degrees
134
Which soil as the poorest field capacity?
Sandy loam, coarse soil is poorer than fine soil
135
The index cycle refers to:
Variations in upper air wind flow
136
What percentage of the US population derives its water from groundwater sources?
50%
137
True or False: In stream erosion, abrasion refers to a chemical process of rock decomposition of the banks of a stream channel.
False, the correct term would be corrosion
138
In soil, where is gravity percolation active?
The zone of aeration
139
Which does not refer to a meander?
Midstream line of thalweg
140
True or False: Typhoons can make landfall in Australia.
False, tropical cyclones can make landfall in Australia
Hurricanes: Atlantic Ocean NH and Eastern Pacific NH
Typhoons: Western Pacific NH
Cyclones: Western Pacific SH and Indian Ocean
141
In the NH, the Trade Winds are known as NW Trade Winds
False, they are called NE Trade Winds
