Chapter 6

1. Chapter 6 Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulations Robert W. Christopherson Tim Schultz

2. Review: Wind Essentials • Wind occurs because • air pressure is constant but temperatures are different. • air from the ocean flows onto land. • of differences in air pressure. • gravity exerts a downward force on the atmosphere.

3. Review: Driving Forces within the Atmosphere • Which of the following is incorrectly matched? • pressure gradient force : movement directly across the isobars • Coriolis force : deflection to the right in the southern hemisphere • friction force : not significant above 500 meters • cyclone : low pressure

4. Review: Atmospheric Patterns of Motion • The equatorial low-pressure trough • is another name for the intertropical convergence zone. • remains over the equator year-round. • frequently has clouds and rain. • all of the above • A and C only

5. Review: Global Winds • Which of the following is true of the trade winds? • Unlike other winds, they are named for the direction they blow instead of the direction they originate. • They are westerly in both hemispheres. • They blow from the equator toward the subtropics. • They are part of the Hadley circulation cells.

6. Review: Upper Atmosphere Circulation • How many jet streams are there? • one • two • three • four • two in winter, one in summer, in each hemisphere

7. Review: Upper Atmosphere Circulation • Which statement is true of Rossby waves? • They do not have significant impact outside of the polar and subpolar regions. • They generate cyclonic storm systems. • They occur only when the sea surface is calm. • They cut across the jet stream.

8. Review: Local Winds • A sea breeze occurs when • predominant westerlies encounter a landmass. • cold air descends and diverges over a coast. • land warms more rapidly than water, creating a pressure gradient. • waves crashing on the beach create an onshore wind.

9. Review: Oceanic Currents • Oceanic currents generally • follow global high-pressure circulation. • move north to south along western margins of continents. • follow the influence of severe winter storms (low pressure). • move west to east along the equator.