GCC FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What does the circulation of the atmosphere and ocean ultimately do? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Moves heat from warm to cool locations
The meridional component of the westerlies brings what type of heat exchange? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅North to South and Poleward
What type of weather is typically associated with a low-pressure system? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Stormy
What would most be impacted by the Coriolis force? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Fast moving air at a
mid latitude location
Geostrophic wind - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Unaccelerated horizontal movements, Follows a
straight path, Found above the atmospheric boundary layer
What differentiates the gradient wind from the geostrophic wind? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Path is
curved
Where are the horse latitudes found? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Between 30 and 35 °N and °S and
under the subtropical highs
What types of winds are likely found in the horse latitudes? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Surface winds
are light and air is calm
What is a jet stream? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Relatively narrow corridor of strong wind in the
upper atmosphere
Which of the following is true with respect to Northern Hemisphere weather and jet stream? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅When the polar jet is to your south it is cold and when the polar jet is to your north, it
is warm
, When is the jet stream typically the strongest? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Winter
In which direction does an onshore wind flow? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅From sea to land
What affect does friction have on wind? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Slows it down
In which direction does the Coriolis force act? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅To the right of motion in
the Northern Hemisphere and To the left of motion in the Southern Hemisphere
How does the air pressure in Denver, CO, compare with the air pressure at sea level? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Substantially lower than sea level
What is the main difference between heat sources and sinks with regards to the ocean currents? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Heat sinks chill and stabilize overlying air and Heat sources destabilize air
by adding energy to the overlying air
What are common characteristics of El Niño and La Niña? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Significant
changes in tropical Pacific SST and Significant shifts in planetary scale circulations
The Southern Oscillation considers which of the following variables? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Air
pressure
How do conditions during the La Niña phase of ENSO compare to El Niño? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅They are generally the opposite
Impacts of El Niño on tropical weather systems - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Intensity, Frequency, and
Spatial distribution
Which of the following is common during a La Niña phase? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Greater
likelihood of cyclone formation in the Atlantic Basin
What does the circulation of the atmosphere and ocean ultimately do? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Moves heat from warm to cool locations
The meridional component of the westerlies brings what type of heat exchange? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅North to South and Poleward
What type of weather is typically associated with a low-pressure system? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Stormy
What would most be impacted by the Coriolis force? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Fast moving air at a
mid latitude location
Geostrophic wind - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Unaccelerated horizontal movements, Follows a
straight path, Found above the atmospheric boundary layer
What differentiates the gradient wind from the geostrophic wind? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Path is
curved
Where are the horse latitudes found? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Between 30 and 35 °N and °S and
under the subtropical highs
What types of winds are likely found in the horse latitudes? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Surface winds
are light and air is calm
What is a jet stream? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Relatively narrow corridor of strong wind in the
upper atmosphere
Which of the following is true with respect to Northern Hemisphere weather and jet stream? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅When the polar jet is to your south it is cold and when the polar jet is to your north, it
is warm
, When is the jet stream typically the strongest? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Winter
In which direction does an onshore wind flow? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅From sea to land
What affect does friction have on wind? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Slows it down
In which direction does the Coriolis force act? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅To the right of motion in
the Northern Hemisphere and To the left of motion in the Southern Hemisphere
How does the air pressure in Denver, CO, compare with the air pressure at sea level? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅Substantially lower than sea level
What is the main difference between heat sources and sinks with regards to the ocean currents? -
CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Heat sinks chill and stabilize overlying air and Heat sources destabilize air
by adding energy to the overlying air
What are common characteristics of El Niño and La Niña? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Significant
changes in tropical Pacific SST and Significant shifts in planetary scale circulations
The Southern Oscillation considers which of the following variables? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Air
pressure
How do conditions during the La Niña phase of ENSO compare to El Niño? - CORRECT
ANSWER✅✅✅They are generally the opposite
Impacts of El Niño on tropical weather systems - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Intensity, Frequency, and
Spatial distribution
Which of the following is common during a La Niña phase? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅Greater
likelihood of cyclone formation in the Atlantic Basin
