PHSC 210 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Micrometeorology - Answer-studies atmospheric features and phenomena lasting minutes and
extending up to a kilometer in size
Eddies - Answer-a swirling mass that causes air to mix
Entrainment - Answer-mixing of an air current with surrounding environment air; In a cloud, this
process mixes in dry air and causes cloud to dissipate and air to cool
Global Circulation Patterns are mainly influenced by - Answer-solar heating and distribution of land
masses
Hadley Cell - Answer-G.C.P. between rising warm air of the equator and sinking cold air of Ferrel cell
(between equator and 30 degrees latitude); has easterly surface winds
,Polar Cell - Answer-G.C.P. between Ferrel Cell and Pole air; operates between 60-90 latitude; easterly
surface winds
Ferrel Cell - Answer-G.C.P. between Polar Cell and Hadley Cell.
Operates between 30-60 latitude
has westerly surface winds
ITCZ - Answer-Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.
Contains doldrums
Trade Winds - Answer-Easterly winds between sub tropical highs and equator
Westerlies - Answer-west to east motion of atmosphere in mid latitudes
Polar Front - Answer-Interface between Polar and Ferrel Cells where cold polar easterlies meet warm
westerly air brought poleward from subtropics; provides favorable location for cyclone development
Jet Stream - Answer-Near tropopause, wind along polar front with high speeds
Synoptic Meteorology - Answer-studies atmospheric features and phenomena lasting days and
extending to hundreds of kilometers in size
(includes motion and intensification of low pressure systems and fronts)
Pacific and Bermuda Highs - Answer-Two persistent sub tropical high pressure regions
Aleutian and Icelandic Low - Answer-In winter, combined with low along polar front
, Siberian High - Answer-a high pressure region that forms over central Asia during winter. Influence of
this feature extends West and causes monsoon dry season in India and SE Asia
Monsoon - Answer-Wind pattern that changes direction over the year leading to a dry season
El Nino - Answer-quasi-periodic (2-7 years) shift of warm water in equatorial Pacific
El Nino effects are most pronounced where and when? - Answer-Off the coast waters of Peru during
Christmas
Normal Conditions (w/o El Nino) - Answer-Pacific Ocean has a pool of warm water near Australia and
cooler pool off of Peru. The warm air provides rain to Australia and SE Asia and cool air keeps Peru dry.
Equatorial Easterlies are strong because of surface pressure near Australia and lower in Peru.
Southern Oscillation Index - Answer-measure of pressure difference between eastern and western
tropical Pacific Ocean.
Conditions during El Nino - Answer-Pool of warm water shifts East across Pacific. Low pressure shifts to
central Pacific, thus weakening easterlies which allows warm water to shift further east with its rain.
Peru experiences flooding and the fishing industry is negatively effected.
El NINA - Answer-associated with wetter western Pacific and cool dry Peru (opposite of EL NINO)
El NINO effects in USA - Answer-El Nino effects the Pacific High and Aleutian Low which influence
continental pressure systems and in Atlantic. During winter, rain in California, mild Alaska winters,
wetter colder in Midwest and SE!
(opposite during El NINA)
AND ANSWERS
Micrometeorology - Answer-studies atmospheric features and phenomena lasting minutes and
extending up to a kilometer in size
Eddies - Answer-a swirling mass that causes air to mix
Entrainment - Answer-mixing of an air current with surrounding environment air; In a cloud, this
process mixes in dry air and causes cloud to dissipate and air to cool
Global Circulation Patterns are mainly influenced by - Answer-solar heating and distribution of land
masses
Hadley Cell - Answer-G.C.P. between rising warm air of the equator and sinking cold air of Ferrel cell
(between equator and 30 degrees latitude); has easterly surface winds
,Polar Cell - Answer-G.C.P. between Ferrel Cell and Pole air; operates between 60-90 latitude; easterly
surface winds
Ferrel Cell - Answer-G.C.P. between Polar Cell and Hadley Cell.
Operates between 30-60 latitude
has westerly surface winds
ITCZ - Answer-Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone.
Contains doldrums
Trade Winds - Answer-Easterly winds between sub tropical highs and equator
Westerlies - Answer-west to east motion of atmosphere in mid latitudes
Polar Front - Answer-Interface between Polar and Ferrel Cells where cold polar easterlies meet warm
westerly air brought poleward from subtropics; provides favorable location for cyclone development
Jet Stream - Answer-Near tropopause, wind along polar front with high speeds
Synoptic Meteorology - Answer-studies atmospheric features and phenomena lasting days and
extending to hundreds of kilometers in size
(includes motion and intensification of low pressure systems and fronts)
Pacific and Bermuda Highs - Answer-Two persistent sub tropical high pressure regions
Aleutian and Icelandic Low - Answer-In winter, combined with low along polar front
, Siberian High - Answer-a high pressure region that forms over central Asia during winter. Influence of
this feature extends West and causes monsoon dry season in India and SE Asia
Monsoon - Answer-Wind pattern that changes direction over the year leading to a dry season
El Nino - Answer-quasi-periodic (2-7 years) shift of warm water in equatorial Pacific
El Nino effects are most pronounced where and when? - Answer-Off the coast waters of Peru during
Christmas
Normal Conditions (w/o El Nino) - Answer-Pacific Ocean has a pool of warm water near Australia and
cooler pool off of Peru. The warm air provides rain to Australia and SE Asia and cool air keeps Peru dry.
Equatorial Easterlies are strong because of surface pressure near Australia and lower in Peru.
Southern Oscillation Index - Answer-measure of pressure difference between eastern and western
tropical Pacific Ocean.
Conditions during El Nino - Answer-Pool of warm water shifts East across Pacific. Low pressure shifts to
central Pacific, thus weakening easterlies which allows warm water to shift further east with its rain.
Peru experiences flooding and the fishing industry is negatively effected.
El NINA - Answer-associated with wetter western Pacific and cool dry Peru (opposite of EL NINO)
El NINO effects in USA - Answer-El Nino effects the Pacific High and Aleutian Low which influence
continental pressure systems and in Atlantic. During winter, rain in California, mild Alaska winters,
wetter colder in Midwest and SE!
(opposite during El NINA)
