GHY 104 Test 2 With
Complete Solution
Driving force of wind (wind essentials) - ANSWER the imbalance between the
equator and polar energy
Air pressure and its measurements - ANSWER key to understanding wind; is a
product of temperature and density of air; standard is 1013.2mb
Friction force - ANSWER hinders air from one place to another=drag; without
it winds would move in paths parallel to isobars at high rates of speed
Coriolis Effect - ANSWER basically a deflection or change in direction caused
by earth;s rotation; without it winds would move in a straight direction
Gravity - ANSWER counteracts centrifugal force; density decreases as altitude
increases; heavy cold air sinks and light warm air rises
Pressure gradient force - ANSWER difference in pressure across the earth's
surface that encourages air flow from one place to another; drives air from H
(more dense) to L (less dense)
Isobar - ANSWER a line that connects points of equal air pressure across the
Earth's surface; closer=high wind speed; lower=low wind speed
Wind measurement - ANSWER anemometer and wind vane
Anemometer - ANSWER measures wind speed in kmh, mph, maps, or knots;
ex: wind mill
, Wind vane - ANSWER determines direction;
Wind - ANSWER description and measurement; horizontal movement of air
Wind direction - ANSWER winds named for what direction they originate
from
What produces wind? - ANSWER differences in air pressure (density)
Mercury barometer - ANSWER Torricelli
Aneroid barometer - ANSWER no liquid, more compact
Knots - ANSWER nautical mph, covering 1 min. of Earth's arc in 1 hour (1.15
mph)
High pressure - ANSWER air that is descending from above; air that is
therefore diverging at the surface
Low pressure - ANSWER air that is ascending from below; air that is therefore
converging at the surface
Coriolis force - ANSWER apparent deflection of objects; "spinning"
Where on earth's surface is spinning at a maximum and where is it a
minimum? - ANSWER Coriolis is therefore maximum at the poles and
non-existent at the equator
Southern Hemisphere - ANSWER left turns
Northern Hemisphere - ANSWER right turns
Pressure Gradient + Coriolis
(upper-level winds) - ANSWER Earth's rotation adds the Coriolis force, giving
a "twist" to air movement; high pressure and low pressure areas develop a
Complete Solution
Driving force of wind (wind essentials) - ANSWER the imbalance between the
equator and polar energy
Air pressure and its measurements - ANSWER key to understanding wind; is a
product of temperature and density of air; standard is 1013.2mb
Friction force - ANSWER hinders air from one place to another=drag; without
it winds would move in paths parallel to isobars at high rates of speed
Coriolis Effect - ANSWER basically a deflection or change in direction caused
by earth;s rotation; without it winds would move in a straight direction
Gravity - ANSWER counteracts centrifugal force; density decreases as altitude
increases; heavy cold air sinks and light warm air rises
Pressure gradient force - ANSWER difference in pressure across the earth's
surface that encourages air flow from one place to another; drives air from H
(more dense) to L (less dense)
Isobar - ANSWER a line that connects points of equal air pressure across the
Earth's surface; closer=high wind speed; lower=low wind speed
Wind measurement - ANSWER anemometer and wind vane
Anemometer - ANSWER measures wind speed in kmh, mph, maps, or knots;
ex: wind mill
, Wind vane - ANSWER determines direction;
Wind - ANSWER description and measurement; horizontal movement of air
Wind direction - ANSWER winds named for what direction they originate
from
What produces wind? - ANSWER differences in air pressure (density)
Mercury barometer - ANSWER Torricelli
Aneroid barometer - ANSWER no liquid, more compact
Knots - ANSWER nautical mph, covering 1 min. of Earth's arc in 1 hour (1.15
mph)
High pressure - ANSWER air that is descending from above; air that is
therefore diverging at the surface
Low pressure - ANSWER air that is ascending from below; air that is therefore
converging at the surface
Coriolis force - ANSWER apparent deflection of objects; "spinning"
Where on earth's surface is spinning at a maximum and where is it a
minimum? - ANSWER Coriolis is therefore maximum at the poles and
non-existent at the equator
Southern Hemisphere - ANSWER left turns
Northern Hemisphere - ANSWER right turns
Pressure Gradient + Coriolis
(upper-level winds) - ANSWER Earth's rotation adds the Coriolis force, giving
a "twist" to air movement; high pressure and low pressure areas develop a
