Meteorology
Chapter 7 Worksheet 3 Name: ________________________________
Circle the letter that corresponds to the correct answer 1) Which of the following statements about airflow in the middle and upper troposphere is true? a) The flow is west‐to‐east throughout the midlatitudes. b) The predominant flow is easterly in the midlatitudes and westerly in the tropics. c) The flow is predominantly from the poles toward the equator. d) The predominant flow is from the equator poleward. 2) Jet streams: a) are usually about ten miles wide. b) occur at 25,000 to 40,000 feet in middle latitudes. c) were first detected by George Hadley. d) reverse direction 180 degrees in summer. e) do not go below 50 degrees latitude. 3) Jet streams are associated with fronts because of the: a) higher pressure behind the front. b) reduced friction above the front. c) large temperature gradient. d) clouds forming there. 4) When are upper air winds fastest? a) anytime surface temperature gradients are weak b) in summer c) in winter d) These winds maintain about the same speed throughout the year. 5) The greater strength of jet stream winds during winter is due to: a) warmer temperatures at high altitudes. b) lower humidity. c) stronger Coriolis effect. d) greater horizontal temperature contrasts. e) greater air density. 6) The wave‐like or meandering pattern of the upper level winds in middle latitudes is of major importance for: a) reducing wind speeds in the tropics. b) transporting heat between equator and poles. c) reducing the Coriolis effect. d) causing westerly winds. e) causing jet streams. 7) The primary force causing ocean currents is: a) the major winds. b) temperature differences between cold water below and warm water above. c) the earth's rotation about its axis. d) the earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun. e) the Coriolis effect. 8) The Gulf Stream is the name given to: a) the circulation of water in the Gulf of Mexico. b) a warm current carrying water from the equator along the East Coast of the United States. c) the current carrying cold water from the North Pole along the West Coast of the United States. d) a counter‐clockwise surface current in the Gulf of California. 9) Which of the following is a characteristic of deserts located near cold ocean currents? a) They are often cool and shrouded in fog. b) They often have unstable atmospheric conditions. c) They tend to be warmer than inland deserts. d) They receive more rain than other deserts. 10) El Niño events are characterized by: a) strengthening of the NE trade winds. b) a very strong cold current flowing along the eastern edge of South America. c) warm water piling up near Indonesia. d) pooling of unusually warm water in the eastern tropical Pacific. 11) The process that brings cold, nutrient‐rich water to the surface along the coasts of Peru and Ecuador is called: a) thermocline suppression. b) El Niño. c) upwelling. d) the Southern Oscillation. 12) All of the following can result from a strong El Niño event EXCEPT: a) the suppression of the Southern Oscillation. b) depletion of fish populations as upwelling is suppressed along the western coast of South America. c) weakening or reversing of the Pacific tradewinds. d) abnormally high air pressure over Indonesia. 13) The Southern Oscillation: a) is a cycle of strengthening and reversing trade winds in the equatorial Pacific. b) is another name for a La Niña event. c) does not have the ability to drastically alter climate, and is of little concern. d) is more important to weather in the United States than anywhere else in the world. 14) Two of the strongest El Niño events on record began in what years? a) 1984 and 1999. b) 1976 and 2003. c) 1983 and 1997. d) 2004 and 2007. 15) The areas of abundant rainfall on the earth tend to be: a) in midlatitudes. b) in polar regions. c) near the equator and in midlatitudes. d) near the equator. e) over oceans. 16) The amount of precipitation received at a given location is primarily controlled by: a) overnight temperatures. b) annual temperature range. c) the solar energy budget. d) the humidity of the air at that place. e) circulation patterns in the atmosphere. 17) The major features of precipitation distribution patterns are determined by: a) general circulation and pressure patterns. b) solar radiation available. c) temperature lapse rates. d) ocean water temperature. e) annual temperature range. 18) What option below best characterizes the rainfall distribution at a station located south of the Sahara desert at about 20 degrees N latitude? a) adequate precipitation all year around b) dry all year around c) winter dry season d) summer dry season 19) What option below best characterizes the rainfall distribution at a station located on an island in the Arctic Ocean at about 80 degrees N latitude? a) winter dry season b) adequate precipitation all year around c) dry all year around d) summer dry season 20) What option below best characterizes the rainfall distribution at a station located along the equator? a) summer dry season b) adequate precipitation all year around c) dry all year around d) winter dry season 21) What option below best characterizes the rainfall distribution at a non‐desert station located immediately to the north of the Sahara desert? a) winter dry season b) adequate precipitation all year around c) dry all year around d) summer dry season 22) What option below best characterizes the rainfall distribution at a station, such as New York City, located at about 40 degrees N latitude? a) adequate precipitation all year around b) summer dry season c) winter dry season d) dry all year around 23) Most of the earth's deserts are located in the: a) boundary between liquid and frozen oceans. b) tradewind belt. c) subsidence areas of subtropical highs. d) areas along the polar front. e) doldrum belt. Circle “T” if the statement is true or “F” if the statement is false T F 24) Strong surface low‐pressure systems occur in conjunction with wave‐like flow aloft. T F 25) Strong pressure gradients are associated with uniformly cold temperatures. T F 26) When reading maps showing the distribution of pressure aloft, high contour readings indicate low pressure and low contour readings indicate high pressure. T F 27) Zonal refers to the east‐west direction while meridional refers to the north‐south direction.
T F 28) Changes in the polar jet stream help maintain the earth's heat budget. T F 29) The jet stream is best able to accomplish a transfer of heat from south to north when it has meridional flow. F 30) The equatorial currents in the ocean are the principle driving force for the other ocean
currents. F 31) During an El Niño event, the water temperatures in the eastern Pacific rise. F 32) El Niño has no measurable impacts on weather in the United States.
F 33) You examine sea surface temperature data collected off the coast of Peru and find that temperatures are 1.5°C below average. From this, you can reasonably conclude that a La Nina event may be in progress. F 34) The Southern Oscillation refers to a change in surface pressure over the south Atlantic Ocean.
F 35) Continents have no significant influence on global precipitation patterns. F 36) Phytoplankton populations off the coast of South America bloom when upwelling is present.
F 37) For large landmasses, the interiors always receive more precipitation than any of the coasts.
T T T T T T T T Answer the following questions 38) What feature of the earth's heat budget leads to the transfer of heat from the equator to the poles by winds and ocean currents? 39) Cold water rising from deep in the ocean to replace warmer water at the surface is called ________. 40) Name the two latitude zones where precipitation is most abundant. 41) How do mountain ranges alter precipitation patterns?