GEOG 1900 EXAM 2 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT WELL
DETAILED ANSWERS FOR A GUARANTEED PASS
The difference between pressure gradient force and wind.* - ✅✅PGF: cause of
movement in the atmosphere (winds) and the ocean (currents, waves). The larger
the pressure gradient, the stronger the pressure gradient force, the stronger the
wind
Wind: Horizontal movement of air caused by pressure gradient force, which pushes
the air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
What causes the Coriolis effect and how does it influence movement in the
northern and the southern hemispheres. What influences the magnitude of the
Coriolis effect. What are the temporal and spatial scales of flows that are strongly
influenced by Coriolis on Earth. * - ✅✅Cause: the earth's rotation
Once air has been set in motion by the pressure gradient force, it undergoes an
apparent deflection from its path, as seen by an observer on the earth. This
apparent deflection is called the "Coriolis force" and is a result of the earth's
rotation.
Influence hemispheres: To the right in the northern hemisphere; To the left in the
southern hemisphere
,Influences magnitude: proportional to speed of movement. No deflection felt by
non-moving objects. Is zero at the equator and increases with latitude for a
maximum value at the poles
Temporal & spatial scales: must act over relatively long periods of time
I.e. air circulating in a hurricane vs. a basketball being shot (even though coriolis is
in affect at all times, it won't affect a basketball being shot)
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 eddys- increase with rougher surfaces
In a frictional 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. -
✅✅Know the diagram
All of the items above but for surface winds. - ✅✅Know the diagram
The surface and high elevation flow around low and high pressure centers in the
southern and northern hemisphere. - ✅✅NH- clockwise rotation
SH- counterclockwise rotation
The relationship between high/low surface pressure centers and surface
convergence/divergence - ✅✅High pressure- anticyclones- divergent flow
Low pressure- cyclones- convergent flow
How winds can be measured - ✅✅Wind measurements have speed and direction
(because of sailors)
Scatterometers- estimate water surface roughness- can be used to determine wind
speed and direction
DETAILED ANSWERS FOR A GUARANTEED PASS
The difference between pressure gradient force and wind.* - ✅✅PGF: cause of
movement in the atmosphere (winds) and the ocean (currents, waves). The larger
the pressure gradient, the stronger the pressure gradient force, the stronger the
wind
Wind: Horizontal movement of air caused by pressure gradient force, which pushes
the air from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
What causes the Coriolis effect and how does it influence movement in the
northern and the southern hemispheres. What influences the magnitude of the
Coriolis effect. What are the temporal and spatial scales of flows that are strongly
influenced by Coriolis on Earth. * - ✅✅Cause: the earth's rotation
Once air has been set in motion by the pressure gradient force, it undergoes an
apparent deflection from its path, as seen by an observer on the earth. This
apparent deflection is called the "Coriolis force" and is a result of the earth's
rotation.
Influence hemispheres: To the right in the northern hemisphere; To the left in the
southern hemisphere
,Influences magnitude: proportional to speed of movement. No deflection felt by
non-moving objects. Is zero at the equator and increases with latitude for a
maximum value at the poles
Temporal & spatial scales: must act over relatively long periods of time
I.e. air circulating in a hurricane vs. a basketball being shot (even though coriolis is
in affect at all times, it won't affect a basketball being shot)
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 eddys- increase with rougher surfaces
In a frictional 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. -
✅✅Know the diagram
All of the items above but for surface winds. - ✅✅Know the diagram
The surface and high elevation flow around low and high pressure centers in the
southern and northern hemisphere. - ✅✅NH- clockwise rotation
SH- counterclockwise rotation
The relationship between high/low surface pressure centers and surface
convergence/divergence - ✅✅High pressure- anticyclones- divergent flow
Low pressure- cyclones- convergent flow
How winds can be measured - ✅✅Wind measurements have speed and direction
(because of sailors)
Scatterometers- estimate water surface roughness- can be used to determine wind
speed and direction
