Atmospheric Circulation and Air Masses
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Atmospheric Circulation and Air Masses

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Questions and Answers

What atmospheric circulation cell is located between the polar front and the poles?

  • Polar Cell (correct)
  • Subtropical Cell
  • Hadley Cell
  • Ferrell Cell

    • Which type of winds blow from the high-pressure areas near the poles towards low-pressure areas?

  • Polar Easterlies (correct)
  • Equatorial Winds
  • Subtropical Westerlies
  • Tropical Easterlies

    • What is the main characteristic of the Coriolis Force?

  • It causes moving bodies to veer to the right in the Northern Hemisphere. (correct)
  • It is stronger at lower wind speeds.
  • It causes winds to blow faster.
  • It deflects moving bodies to the right in the Southern Hemisphere.

    • What is geostrophic flow dependent upon?

    <p>A balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does no Coriolis force exist?

    <p>Between 0° and 5°N &amp; S</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What describes the Jet Streams?

    <p>Strong geostrophic winds blowing from west to east in the upper atmosphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

    <p>Act as a convergence point for trade winds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does adiabatic cooling occur?

    <p>Due to air mass expansion and decrease in pressure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the Coriolis effect have on wind patterns in the atmosphere?

    <p>It deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which atmospheric circulation cells are located between 30°N and 60°N?

    <p>Ferrel Cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes polar maritime air masses (mP)?

    <p>Cooler temperatures with moderate moisture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following scenarios accurately describes stable air?

    <p>It is characterized by heavy, subsiding air with high pressure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of air mass is classified as tropical maritime (mT)?

    <p>Warm and very humid air</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pressure belt is typically found at 30° latitude in both hemispheres?

    <p>Subtropical High Pressure Zone</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining characteristic of the polar cell in atmospheric circulation?

    <p>It involves cold, sinking air near the poles.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary cause of geostrophic flow in the atmosphere?

    <p>The balance of pressure gradient forces and Coriolis effect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect does the Coriolis force have on wind in the Northern Hemisphere?

    <p>It causes winds to deflect to the right.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to air in the subtropical high-pressure belt as it sinks?

    <p>It compresses and heats adiabatically.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor contributes to the formation of frontal rain in the Ferrel Cell?

    <p>Cool air squeezing beneath warm air.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic feature of the Hadley Cell?

    <p>Air rises, creating low pressure at the surface.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary source of the tropical easterly winds at the Equatorial Low Pressure Belt?

    <p>Converging surface winds at the ITCZ.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the polar cell, what primarily causes the formation of high pressure at the surface?

    <p>Cold polar air sinking.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the geostrophic flow in the atmosphere?

    <p>To balance gravitational and Coriolis forces.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does adiabatic heating occur during atmospheric circulation?

    <p>When compressed air heats up as it sinks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of air mass is considered unstable and very humid?

    <p>Maritime Tropical (mT)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes stable air masses?

    <p>Heavy air that is associated with high pressure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following air mass types is hot and dry?

    <p>Continental Tropical (cT)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of air mass is primarily formed over tropical oceans and often results in instability?

    <p>Maritime Tropical (mT)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which air mass type is associated with extremely cold and dry conditions?

    <p>Continental Antarctic (CAA)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining characteristic of maritime Polar (mP) air masses?

    <p>Very cool and moderately moist</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about equatorial air masses is correct?

    <p>They have high temperatures and extreme humidity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of air mass is known to be stable due to its very dry characteristics?

    <p>Continental Arctic (CA)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to warm air at the equatorial low pressure belt?

    <p>It expands and rises.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of air descending in the subtropical high-pressure belt?

    <p>The air is compressed and heats up adiabatically.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process is primarily responsible for the formation of thunderstorms in the Hadley Cell?

    <p>Rising air cooling and condensing at the dew point temperature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes the Ferrel Cell's interaction with air masses?

    <p>It involves the convergence of warm westerly and cold polar easterly winds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary outcome when cool polar air converges with warm surface air?

    <p>Formation of a front and rising warm air.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the Coriolis force impact atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere?

    <p>It deflects moving air to the right.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of winds are found at the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

    <p>Tropical easterly winds from the equatorial low pressure belt.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon occurs when air rises in the Hadley Cell?

    <p>It leads to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary direction of the trade winds in the tropics?

    <p>From east to west</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What phenomenon does the Coriolis force primarily affect?

    <p>Wind direction and patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which wind system is characterized by being dry and cold, blowing towards low-pressure areas from near the poles?

    <p>Polar easterlies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes geostrophic flow?

    <p>Winds blowing parallel to the isobars due to a balance of forces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of Ferrell's law in atmospheric circulation?

    <p>It states that winds are deflected towards the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At which latitudes does the Coriolis force have no influence?

    <p>0° — 5°N and S</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What drives the formation of jet streams in the atmosphere?

    <p>Balance between pressure gradients and Coriolis force in upper atmospheres</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process is referenced by adiabatic cooling?

    <p>Decreasing temperature of air as it expands due to lowered pressure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Atmospheric Circulation Cells

    • Hadley cells are located between the equator and 30°N/S latitude
    • Ferrel cells are between 30°N/S latitude and 60°N/S latitude
    • Polar Cells are between 60°N/S latitude and the poles
    • The ITCZ, or Intertropical Convergence Zone, is a low-pressure belt where trade winds converge

    ### Air Masses

    • Air masses are large bodies of air with similar temperature, pressure and humidity characteristics
    • Stable air is associated with high pressure, subsiding air, and no rain
    • Unstable air is associated with low pressure, rising air, and rain
    • Equatorial air masses are hot and humid
    • Tropical air masses can be maritime (mT) - very humid and unstable, or continental (cT) - hot, dry, and stable
    • Polar air masses can be maritime (mP) - cool, moderately moist, and slightly unstable, or continental (cP) - very dry and stable
    • Artic and Antarctic air masses are extremely cold and dry
    • Adiabatic heating occurs when air pressure increases and the air mass compresses

    ### Global Pressure Belts

    • Low pressure occurs when air rises
    • High pressure occurs when air sinks
    • The Equatorial Low Pressure Belt is at the equator
    • The Subtropical High Pressure Belt is at 30°N/S latitude
    • The Subpolar Low Pressure Belt is at 60°N/S latitude
    • The Polar High Pressure Belt is at the poles

    ### Wind Systems

    • Polar easterlies are cold, dry winds that blow from the poles towards the equator
    • Subtropical westerlies are warm, moist winds that blow from west to east in the middle latitudes
    • Tropical easterlies (trade winds) are warm, moist winds that blow from east to west towards the equator

    The Coriolis Force

    • The earth's rotation causes winds to deflect to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
    • This force is stronger when winds blow faster
    • The Coriolis force does not apply between 0° to 5°N/S

    ### Geostrophic Flow

    • This is a balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force
    • It occurs in ocean currents and winds in the upper atmosphere where there is no friction
    • Winds blow parallel to isobars
    • Jet streams are strong geostrophic winds in the upper atmosphere
    • Adiabatic cooling occurs when air pressure decreases and an air mass expands

    Atmospheric Circulation

    • Hadley Cell

      • Air rises at the equator due to warm temperatures, creating low pressure.
      • Rising air cools and condenses, forming cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms.
      • In the upper atmosphere, air diverges and sinks at 30° latitude, creating high pressure.
      • As air sinks, it adiabatically heats, creating warm and dry conditions.
      • Surface winds converge towards the equator, known as tropical easterlies or trade winds.

    • Ferrel Cell

      • Warm westerly winds from the subtropical high-pressure belt converge with cold polar easterlies from the subpolar high-pressure belt at the polar front.
      • Cooler air forces warmer air to rise, creating frontal rain.

    • Polar Cell

      • Cold air sinks at the poles, creating high pressure.
      • Air flows towards the subpolar low-pressure belt.

    Air Masses

    • A large volume of air with similar characteristics of temperature, pressure, and humidity.
    • Can be stable or unstable.

    Air Mass Types:

    • Equatorial Air Masses (mE, cE)

      • High temperatures.
      • Extremely humid due to tropical oceans and forests.
      • Very unstable.

    • Tropical Air Masses (mT, cT)

      • Warm temperatures.
      • mT: Very humid and unstable.
      • cT: Hot and dry, stable.

    • Polar Air Masses (mP, cP)

      • mP: Very cool, moderately moist, slightly unstable.
      • cP: Very dry and stable, very cold inland in subpolar regions.

    • Artic & Antarctic Air Masses (CA, CAA)

      • Extremely cold and dry due to frozen waters.
      • Very stable.

    Global Pressure Belts:

    • Equatorial Low Pressure Belt (ELPB)

      • Warm air rises at the equator due to convection currents.
      • Low pressure.
      • Responsible for the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

    • Subtropical High Pressure Belt (STHPB)

      • Air diverges in the atmosphere towards the poles.
      • Cool air sinks and is adiabatically heated.
      • High pressure.

    • Subpolar Low Pressure Belt (SLPB)

      • Cool polar air converges with warm surface air.
      • Warm air rises, creating frontal rain.

    • Polar High Pressure Belt (PHPB)

      • Cold air sinks at the poles, creating high pressure.

    Winds

    • Polar Easterly

      • Dry, cold winds blowing from high-pressure areas near the poles towards low-pressure areas.

    • Subtropical Westerly

      • Warm, prevailing winds in the middle latitudes blowing from the subtropical high-pressure belt towards the subpolar low-pressure belt.

    • Tropical Easterly (Trade Winds)

      • Warm, moist winds blowing from east to west.
      • Originate from the subtropical high-pressure belt towards the equatorial low-pressure belt.

    Coriolis Force

    • Due to Earth's rotation, surface winds are deflected off their normal North and South directions.
    • Deflects winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
    • This force is not observed at the equator.

    Geostrophic Flow

    • A theoretical wind resulting from the balance between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force.
    • It occurs in the upper atmosphere where surface friction is minimal, allowing for geostrophic balance to occur.
    • The wind blows parallel to the isobars.

    ### Jet Streams

    • Strong geostrophic winds blowing from west to east in the upper atmosphere.

    Adiabatic Heating and Cooling

    • Adiabatic Heating: Increase in heat due to air mass compression (decreasing volume).
    • Adiabatic Cooling: Decrease in heat due to air mass expansion (increasing volume).

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    Description

    Test your knowledge on atmospheric circulation cells and air masses. This quiz covers the characteristics of Hadley, Ferrel, and Polar cells, as well as the different types of air masses and their properties. Challenge yourself and enhance your understanding of meteorology!

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