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CHAPTER 9
ATMOSPHERE’S PLANETARY CIRCULATION
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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds about a subtropical high blow
clockwise and inward.
counterclockwise.
counterclockwise and outward.
clockwise and outward.
None of these is correct.
2.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Viewed from above in the Southern Hemisphere, surface winds about a subtropical high blow
clockwise and inward.
counterclockwise.
counterclockwise and outward.
clockwise and outward.
None of these is correct.
3. Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, winds above the atmospheric boundary layer
blow ______ about the center of a subtropical high.
a. clockwise and parallel to isobars
b. clockwise and across isobars toward low pressure
c. counterclockwise and parallel to isobars
d. counterclockwise and across isobars toward high pressure
e. None of the above is correct.
4.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The eastern flank of a subtropical anticyclone is characterized by
unstable air.
ascending air.
dry climates.
All of these are correct.
None of these is correct.
5.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The western flank of a subtropical anticyclone is characterized by
relatively stable air.
mostly descending air.
moist climates.
All of these are correct.
None of these is correct.
6. A broad region of very light winds or calm conditions prevail
a. in subpolar lows.
b.
c.
d.
e.
in the trade wind belts.
along the horse latitudes.
near 60 degrees latitude.
at the Tropic of Cancer.
7. Subtropical anticyclones are ______-core systems.
a. cold
b. warm
8. Over a broad region about the center of a subtropical high, the horizontal air pressure gradient is
______ and winds are ______.
a. weak...............calm
b. steep...............calm
c. weak...............strong
d. steep...............strong
e. None of these is correct.
9.
a.
b.
c.
d.
The trade winds blow out of the ______ flank of the subtropical anticyclones.
poleward
equatorward
eastern
western
10. In the Northern Hemisphere, trade winds blow from the __________.
a. north
b. east
c. southeast
d. south
e. northeast
11. In the Southern Hemisphere, trade winds blow from the _________.
a. north
b. east
c. southeast
d. south
e. northeast
12. The global westerlies blow out of the ______ flank of the subtropical anticyclones.
a. poleward
b. equatorward
c. eastern
d. western
13. Viewed from above, surface winds blow ______ about the Icelandic low.
a. clockwise and outward
b. clockwise and inward
c. counterclockwise and outward
d. counterclockwise and inward
14. The trade winds of the two hemispheres converge in the
a. subpolar lows.
b. ITCZ.
c. polar highs.
d. subtropical highs.
e. None of these is correct.
15. The trade winds of the two hemispheres
a. diverge at the equator.
b. are highly variable in speed and direction.
c. flow toward the east in a pattern of long-waves.
d. are very persistent in direction.
e. None of the above is correct.
16. The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)
a. is a discontinuous belt of cumulonimbus clouds.
b. marks the convergence of the trade winds of the two hemispheres.
c. is located near the equator on average.
d. is a discontinuous belt of thunderstorms.
e. All of the above are correct.
17. A front is a narrow zone of transition between air masses that contrast in
a. temperature.
b. humidity.
c. density.
d. Any of these is correct.
e. None of these is correct.
18. Hadley cells are located in ______ latitudes of both hemispheres.
a. tropical
b. middle
c. high
19. Hadley cells are
a. located in midlatitudes.
b. similar to huge convection cells.
c. linked to the subpolar lows.
d. driven by the westerlies.
e. None of these is correct.
20. In the Northern Hemisphere, when the seasons shift from winter to summer, the
semipermanent subtropical highs shift __________.
a. eastward
b. northward
c. southward
d. westward
21. In the Northern Hemisphere, when the seasons shift from summer to winter, the
semipermanent subtropical anticyclones shift __________.
a. eastward
b. northward
c. southward
d. westward
22. In the Northern Hemisphere autumn, the ITCZ shifts
a. eastward.
b. poleward.
c. westward.
d. equatorward.
23. In the Southern Hemisphere spring, the subtropical highs shift
a. eastward.
b. poleward.
c. westward.
d. equatorward.
24. The midlatitude westerlies are more energetic in ______ than in ______.
a. winter...............summer
b. summer...............winter
25. Long-waves in the westerlies undergo changes in
a. wavelength.
b. number of waves.
c. wave amplitude.
d. All of these are correct.
26. On a typical day, ______ Rossby long-waves encircle the globe.
a. 1 to 2
b. 2 to 5
c. 3.5
d. dozens of
e. more than 100
27. Which one of the following westerly wave patterns favors the maximum north-south exchange
of air masses?
a. zonal flow
b. meridional flow
c. split flow
28. The westerly wave pattern that is likely to persist for the longest time is
a. zonal
b. meridional
29. A blocking pressure system is associated with a ______ flow pattern in the westerlies.
a. zonal
b. meridional
30. The average winter location of the polar front jet stream is
a. southern Canada.
b. Iceland.
c. southern United States.
d. northern Canada.
e. Mexico.
31. The average summer location of the polar front jet stream is
a. southern Canada.
b. Iceland.
c. southern United States.
d. northern Canada.
e. Mexico.
32. Viewed from above an essentially straight jet streak, the strongest horizontal divergence takes
place in the ______ quadrant.
a. left rear
b. right rear
c. left front
d. right front
33. Horizontal divergence occurs to the ______ of an upper-air trough.
a. east
b. north
c. west
d. south
34. Horizontal convergence occurs to the ______ of an upper-air ridge.
a. east
b. north
c. west
d. south
35. Horizontal divergence occurs to the ______ of an upper-air ridge.
a. east
b. north
c. west
d. south
36. Horizontal convergence occurs to the ______ of an upper-air trough.
a. east
b. north
c. west
d. south
37. A synoptic-scale cyclone is most likely to develop on the ______ side of an upper-air trough.
a. east
b. north
c. west
d. south
38. A synoptic-scale cyclone is most likely to develop on the ______ side of an upper-air ridge.
a. east
b. north
c. west
d. south
39. In the Midwest, drought is most likely with a ______ circulation pattern in the westerlies.
a. strong zonal
b. split-flow
c. weak meridional
d. blocking
40. Across the United States, temperature contrasts are generally greatest during a ______
circulation pattern in the westerlies.
a. strong zonal
b. strong meridional
c. weak meridional
d. weak zonal
41. During droughts, when soil moisture is low, the Bowen ratio is relatively
a. low
b. high
42. Upwelling
a. brings cold bottom water to the ocean surface.
b. is the long-term average condition off the northwest coast of South America.
c. is suppressed during El Niño.
d. supports important fisheries.
e. All of the above are correct.
43. An extreme and persistent El Niño
a. can be expected every year in mid-December.
b. may be accompanied by weather extremes in various parts of the world.
c. involves an interaction between the tropical Atlantic ocean and atmosphere.
d. seldom lasts longer than a few weeks.
44. The intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is
a. also known as the horse latitudes.
b. an area of clear skies where the trade winds meet the midlatitude westerlies.
c. the sinking portion of the Hadley cells.
d. the persistent band of cloudiness near the equator.
45. The tropical deserts of the world are found at latitudes near 30o because
a. the intertropical convergence zone occurs there.
b. of the doldrums.
c. of the sinking air associated with the polar front.
d. of the sinking air associated with the subtropical highs.
46. The Bermuda high is
a. located on average about 30 degrees N latitude over the Atlantic Ocean.
b. caused by the rising air in the Hadley cell.
c. the spawning ground for hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean.
d. associated with the development of El Niño.
47. The Icelandic low
a. is a type of fish caught in the North Atlantic Ocean.
b. is caused by the sinking air in the Hadley cell.
c. is located on average about 60 degrees N latitude over the North Atlantic.
d. completely disappears in summer.
48. If you travel to Honolulu, Hawaii (latitude 21 degrees N), you would most likely experience
winds blowing from the
a. northeast
b. southwest
c. west
d. northwest
49. Chicago, IL (latitude 42 degrees N) is located in the wind belt known as the ___________.
a. northeast trades
b. southeast trades
c. polar easterlies
d. westerlies
50. La Niña __________ follows El Niño.
a. sometimes
b. always