METR 1102 Exam II UNCC ACTUAL
UPDATED QUESTION AND ANSWERS
What is pressure? Horizontal and vertical differences? - CORRECT ANSWERS the result
of a force distributed over an area. Vertical pressure is much greater than horizontal.
Weather during high pressure - CORRECT ANSWERS clear (skies)
Weather during low pressure - CORRECT ANSWERS air rises, rain
Pressure gradient force - CORRECT ANSWERS force acting on the air when differences
in horizontal air pressure exist. Goes from higher to lower pressure at a 90 degree angle.
Coriolis Force - CORRECT ANSWERS The apparent force, resulting from the rotation of
the Earth, that deflects air or water movement.
Coriolis Force deflection - CORRECT ANSWERS to the right in the Northern
Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
Cyclonic vs. anticyclonic flow - CORRECT ANSWERS Cyclonic flow: flow around a low
pressure. The flow is counterclockwise in the NH and clockwise in the SH. Areas of low pressure
are usually referred to as cyclones.
Anticyclonic flow: flow around a high pressure. The flow is clockwise in the NH and
counterclockwise in the SH. Areas of high pressure are usually referred to as anticyclones.
Force balance diagram - CORRECT ANSWERS Pressure gradient towards low (up)
Coriolis towards high (down)
Geostrophic winds middle (middle)
, Hydrostatic balance - CORRECT ANSWERS the balance between vertical pressure
gradient force and gravity
geostrophic wind - CORRECT ANSWERS A wind that moves parallel to the isobars as a
result of the balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis effect.
geostrophic balance - CORRECT ANSWERS balance between pressure gradient force and
coriolis force
Convergence air - CORRECT ANSWERS When air currents collide, some of the air is
force upward, which may lead to clouds and precipitation. Associated with low pressure
Divergence air - CORRECT ANSWERS the moving apart of air. Increased surface
pressure. Associated with high pressure.
scales of atmospheric motion - CORRECT ANSWERS 1) microscale: very small scale
(Ex: nature of wind around tower up to small town/UT campus),
2) mesoscale: moderate scale, most improvements in weather forecasting done here (Ex: small
town up to size of several states combined),
3) synoptic (weather map) scale: national scale up to N. America (Ex: large hurricane),
4) global scale: broadest, generalized wind patterns
thermal circulation - CORRECT ANSWERS circulations brought on by changes in air
temperature, in which warmer air rises and colder air sinks
thermal highs and lows - CORRECT ANSWERS regions of surface high and low
atmospheric pressure created as the atmosphere either cools or warms
sea breeze and land breeze - CORRECT ANSWERS Sea breeze: water to land
Land breeze: land to water
UPDATED QUESTION AND ANSWERS
What is pressure? Horizontal and vertical differences? - CORRECT ANSWERS the result
of a force distributed over an area. Vertical pressure is much greater than horizontal.
Weather during high pressure - CORRECT ANSWERS clear (skies)
Weather during low pressure - CORRECT ANSWERS air rises, rain
Pressure gradient force - CORRECT ANSWERS force acting on the air when differences
in horizontal air pressure exist. Goes from higher to lower pressure at a 90 degree angle.
Coriolis Force - CORRECT ANSWERS The apparent force, resulting from the rotation of
the Earth, that deflects air or water movement.
Coriolis Force deflection - CORRECT ANSWERS to the right in the Northern
Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
Cyclonic vs. anticyclonic flow - CORRECT ANSWERS Cyclonic flow: flow around a low
pressure. The flow is counterclockwise in the NH and clockwise in the SH. Areas of low pressure
are usually referred to as cyclones.
Anticyclonic flow: flow around a high pressure. The flow is clockwise in the NH and
counterclockwise in the SH. Areas of high pressure are usually referred to as anticyclones.
Force balance diagram - CORRECT ANSWERS Pressure gradient towards low (up)
Coriolis towards high (down)
Geostrophic winds middle (middle)
, Hydrostatic balance - CORRECT ANSWERS the balance between vertical pressure
gradient force and gravity
geostrophic wind - CORRECT ANSWERS A wind that moves parallel to the isobars as a
result of the balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis effect.
geostrophic balance - CORRECT ANSWERS balance between pressure gradient force and
coriolis force
Convergence air - CORRECT ANSWERS When air currents collide, some of the air is
force upward, which may lead to clouds and precipitation. Associated with low pressure
Divergence air - CORRECT ANSWERS the moving apart of air. Increased surface
pressure. Associated with high pressure.
scales of atmospheric motion - CORRECT ANSWERS 1) microscale: very small scale
(Ex: nature of wind around tower up to small town/UT campus),
2) mesoscale: moderate scale, most improvements in weather forecasting done here (Ex: small
town up to size of several states combined),
3) synoptic (weather map) scale: national scale up to N. America (Ex: large hurricane),
4) global scale: broadest, generalized wind patterns
thermal circulation - CORRECT ANSWERS circulations brought on by changes in air
temperature, in which warmer air rises and colder air sinks
thermal highs and lows - CORRECT ANSWERS regions of surface high and low
atmospheric pressure created as the atmosphere either cools or warms
sea breeze and land breeze - CORRECT ANSWERS Sea breeze: water to land
Land breeze: land to water
