Download Chapter 7: Air-Sea Interaction Study Guide

Chapter 7: Air-Sea Interaction Study Guide
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Know your windbelts, air masses, seasons, and lines of latitude (Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle, Equator,
ITCZ, Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of Capricorn)
Radiation emitted back into the atmosphere has a longer wavelength than incoming solar radiation
Earth's oceans and land masses absorb about 50% of INSOLATION
The amount of energy radiated back into space between 35oN and 40oS latitude is greater than the
amount of energy absorbed by the atmosphere.
The percentage of solar radiation directed to Earth absorbed by the clouds and the atmosphere is about:
25%.
As a result of the Coriolis effect in the northern hemisphere, winds are deflected to the right of the
original direction.
The deflection of air masses to the right or left (depending on latitude) as they move from one latitude to
another is called the Coriolis effect.
Idealized pressure belts and wind systems are significantly modified by Earth's tilted axis of rotation and
variations in the Coriolis effect.
The temperate regions are characterized by westerly winds.
The strongest winds on Earth are the trade winds.
Low pressure systems in the northern hemisphere rotate counterclockwise.
Hurricanes are ranked from 1 to 5 using the Saffir-Simpson Scale
Hurricanes are an efficient way to redistribute heat from one area to another.
Colder air moving over significantly warmer ocean surface water may produce sea smoke.
The following represents the most probable sequence of ice formation from early to late: pancake ice,
ice floe, pack ice
When ice forms from seawater, the remaining seawater will have a higher salinity.
An ice floe is a slab of ice formed by coalescing pancake ice.
Polar ice never totally disappears.
The ocean zone where sound can travel extremely long distances is called the SOFAR channel.
The SOFAR channel is located at a depth of approximately 1000 meters.
Water vapor contributes to the majority of greenhouse warming.
Consequences of global warming include: droughts in agricultural areas, increased hurricane frequency,
melting of glacial ice, and sea level rise
The Kyoto Protocol is an agreement amongst 60 nations to voluntarily limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Be familiar with Figure 7-2 on page 196 and Figure 7-10 on page 204.
Short Answer and Discussion. Answer two. Make sure you write the number of the question you chose. Use
complete sentences.
1. Discuss the impact of the Coriolis effect on atmospheric circulation. Provide at least two examples where
the Coriolis effect significantly impacts global atmospheric circulation.
2. Compare and contrast the characteristics of a cold front and a warm front.
3. Describe the impact of a hurricane on the Earth's heat budget. How is the frequency of hurricanes/ cyclones/
typhoons related to season and latitude?
4. Discuss the causes of global warming and list the anthropogenic causes of global warming in order of
increasing contribution to the problem.
5. How do water vapor and small airborne particles complicate the creation of accurate models of the Earth's
atmosphere?