GEOG 1900 EXAM #2 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT FULL
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Will cause winds to flow from the equator to the poles
As winds gain speed, the deflection increases until the coriolis force equals the pressure gradient
force. at this point, the wind will be blowing parallel to the isobars
when this happens the wind is referred to as geostropic
What causes atmospheric friction and where is it important for the types of wind we study.* -
✔✔ viscosity- friction within fluid
molecular viscosity- friction within fluid due to molecular properties
eddy viscosity- friction associated with the dissipation of kinetic energy due to eddy's- increase
with rougher surfaces
in a friction boundary layer, the horizontal winds are deflected by friction, which acts opposite to
the direction of motion
Given a distribution of pressure over space you should be able to know: 1)where the pressure
gradient force is pointing. 2) Where, given this pressure gradient, flow that is geostrophically
balances, would go. 3) What are the forces responsible for generating this geostrophic flow and
their positions in relationship to the flow. - ✔✔ diagram
,All of the items above but for surface winds*. - ✔✔ diagramun
Understand the different parameters describing water vapor concentration presented in class
(vapor pressure, dew/frost point temperature, specific humidity, mixing ration) - ✔✔ saturation
concept- saturated (relative humidity of 100%)= maximum amount of water vapor in air of
certain temperature can hold
- although expressed in temperature units, this is really a measurement of atmospheric moisture
- high dew point = higher vapor content
-low dew point = lower vapor content
frost point temperature occurs when dew point temperature is below 0c (ie change from the name
dew to frost)
- although expressed in temperature units this is really a measurement of atmospheric moisture
The principles behind how sling psychrometers and hair hygrometers measure atmospheric
humidity - ✔✔ psychrometer compares temperatures of wet-bulb thermometer and dry bulb
thermometer
- evaporation results in loss of latent heat and cools the wet bulb
- evaporation and hence, cooling is proportional to air moisture
- if the air is saturated (100% relative humidity) then both thermometers read the same
temperature
- the greater the difference between the thermometer readings, the lower the relative humidity.
, hair hygrometer- reads the humidity directly
- based on the humidity dependant change of length of particular fibers. hair will work in
principle, but instruments use synthetic fibers
General patterns of air moisture distribution and: how/why it changes in the vertical, how/why it
changes over continents with distance from oceans. - ✔✔
Why cloud/fog formation requires saturation (or relative humidity of 100%)? How does this
increase in relative humidity usually come about in the atmosphere? - ✔✔ requires saturation,
Understand the greenhouse effect. * - ✔✔ A fraction of the infared energy emitted by the surface
passes through the atmosphere without being absorbed and reaches space.. absorbed by
atmospheric greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gasses warm and in turn emit infrared radiation.
A fraction of the radiation emitted by GHGs escapes into space but some makes its way back to
the surface where new absorption can occur
earths surface mean temperature is 15C, earths mean temperature without natural greenhouse
effect would be -18C
Definition of spatial pressure gradient and pressure gradient force* - ✔✔ spatial pressure
gradient: change in pressure along a particular spatial dimension
- the force associated with pressure gradients is the most important cause of movement in the
atmosphere (winds) and the oceans currents/ waves
pressure gradient force: force is exerted from an area of high pressure towards an area of low
pressure
- the larger the pressure gradient, the stronger the pressure gradient force, the stronger the wind
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Will cause winds to flow from the equator to the poles
As winds gain speed, the deflection increases until the coriolis force equals the pressure gradient
force. at this point, the wind will be blowing parallel to the isobars
when this happens the wind is referred to as geostropic
What causes atmospheric friction and where is it important for the types of wind we study.* -
✔✔ viscosity- friction within fluid
molecular viscosity- friction within fluid due to molecular properties
eddy viscosity- friction associated with the dissipation of kinetic energy due to eddy's- increase
with rougher surfaces
in a friction boundary layer, the horizontal winds are deflected by friction, which acts opposite to
the direction of motion
Given a distribution of pressure over space you should be able to know: 1)where the pressure
gradient force is pointing. 2) Where, given this pressure gradient, flow that is geostrophically
balances, would go. 3) What are the forces responsible for generating this geostrophic flow and
their positions in relationship to the flow. - ✔✔ diagram
,All of the items above but for surface winds*. - ✔✔ diagramun
Understand the different parameters describing water vapor concentration presented in class
(vapor pressure, dew/frost point temperature, specific humidity, mixing ration) - ✔✔ saturation
concept- saturated (relative humidity of 100%)= maximum amount of water vapor in air of
certain temperature can hold
- although expressed in temperature units, this is really a measurement of atmospheric moisture
- high dew point = higher vapor content
-low dew point = lower vapor content
frost point temperature occurs when dew point temperature is below 0c (ie change from the name
dew to frost)
- although expressed in temperature units this is really a measurement of atmospheric moisture
The principles behind how sling psychrometers and hair hygrometers measure atmospheric
humidity - ✔✔ psychrometer compares temperatures of wet-bulb thermometer and dry bulb
thermometer
- evaporation results in loss of latent heat and cools the wet bulb
- evaporation and hence, cooling is proportional to air moisture
- if the air is saturated (100% relative humidity) then both thermometers read the same
temperature
- the greater the difference between the thermometer readings, the lower the relative humidity.
, hair hygrometer- reads the humidity directly
- based on the humidity dependant change of length of particular fibers. hair will work in
principle, but instruments use synthetic fibers
General patterns of air moisture distribution and: how/why it changes in the vertical, how/why it
changes over continents with distance from oceans. - ✔✔
Why cloud/fog formation requires saturation (or relative humidity of 100%)? How does this
increase in relative humidity usually come about in the atmosphere? - ✔✔ requires saturation,
Understand the greenhouse effect. * - ✔✔ A fraction of the infared energy emitted by the surface
passes through the atmosphere without being absorbed and reaches space.. absorbed by
atmospheric greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gasses warm and in turn emit infrared radiation.
A fraction of the radiation emitted by GHGs escapes into space but some makes its way back to
the surface where new absorption can occur
earths surface mean temperature is 15C, earths mean temperature without natural greenhouse
effect would be -18C
Definition of spatial pressure gradient and pressure gradient force* - ✔✔ spatial pressure
gradient: change in pressure along a particular spatial dimension
- the force associated with pressure gradients is the most important cause of movement in the
atmosphere (winds) and the oceans currents/ waves
pressure gradient force: force is exerted from an area of high pressure towards an area of low
pressure
- the larger the pressure gradient, the stronger the pressure gradient force, the stronger the wind
