45 Questions
What is high pressure?
Pressure that is higher than average
What did Torricelli use to measure pressure?
Mercury
What did Torricelli observe when he pumped water from a well?
The water came shooting out with little effort
What was the record high pressure mentioned in the text?
In Siberia in December 1968
In which ocean are typhoons typically found?
Pacific Ocean
What does low pressure indicate in a typhoon?
Lifting air
Why do we use millibars to represent pressure instead of just 1.0 bar?
To show variation in pressure
What is the main cause of wind according to the text?
Differential heating
What instrument can be used to measure atmospheric pressure?
Barometer
What is the relationship between wind patterns and land masses?
Land masses affect wind direction
Which instrument is used to measure wind speed and direction?
Wind vane
In what unit is wind direction typically measured?
Degrees
How are winds named?
Based on the direction they come from
What does the term 'anemometer' refer to?
A device that measures wind speed
How do anemometers typically measure wind speed?
Using a cup or flywheel mechanism
Which force is responsible for driving the winds from high pressure to low pressure?
Pressure gradient force
What is the term for a high pressure center?
Anticyclone
In which direction does the air curve due to the Coriolis effect in the Northern Hemisphere?
To the right
What causes the Coriolis force?
Earth's rotation
What does the pressure gradient force result from?
High and low pressure
Where is the Coriolis force the greatest?
At the poles
Which of the following is a major driving component of wind patterns?
Subtropical high pressure systems
In which direction does air move out of a high pressure system?
Clockwise
What is the band of low pressure near the equator called?
Intertropical Convergence Zone
Which region is considered the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ)?
The equator
What causes the air to lift and create low pressure in the equator region?
Heating of the equator
What happens to the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) during the summer in the northern hemisphere?
It shifts northward
Which force affects the movement of air from high to low pressure?
Pressure gradient force
What is the horizontal component of convection called?
Advection
What does the ITCZ stand for?
Intertropical Convergence Zone
Which direction does the air flow at the equator?
Counterclockwise
What is the name of the high pressure belt where the air descends?
Subtropical High
Which wind belt is the result of air descending at the subtropical high and moving northward?
Westerlies
What happens to the air when it reaches the poles?
It descends and becomes the Polar Easterlies
What is the horizontal movement of the air called?
Circulation
Which weather phenomenon is caused by cold air pulling up in a valley and causing moisture to condense?
Valley fog
What is the term for the temperature at which condensation begins in the air?
Dew point temperature
Which winds are known for their extreme dryness and are responsible for causing fires in canyons?
Santa Ana winds
Which region experiences extremely strong winds flowing down off the Rockies onto the Great Plains?
East side of the Rockies
What is the term for the pressure system where air is lifting up?
Low pressure
Which mountain is mentioned as the highest point in California?
Mount Whitney
Which force causes the air to curve due to the rotation of the Earth in the Northern Hemisphere?
Coriolis force
What is the term for the band of low pressure near the equator?
Intertropical convergence zone
Which pressure system funnels air through a gap and slides down a mountain?
High pressure
Which pressure system is associated with descending air in the desert area?
High pressure
Study Notes
Introduction to Wind Measurement and Wind Vectors
- Wind vane and anemometer are used to measure wind speed and direction.
- Wind direction is typically measured in degrees, with 0 degrees indicating north.
- Winds are named based on the direction they come from, not the direction they go to.
- The term "anemometer" refers to a device that measures wind speed.
- An anemometer typically uses a cup or flywheel mechanism to measure wind speed.
- Anemometers are commonly used in weather forecasting and can be found in weather maps.
- Wind vectors represent wind direction and speed, with the length of the line indicating wind speed.
- Wind vectors are often represented by arrows on weather maps.
- The pressure gradient force, temperature differences, and the Coriolis force contribute to wind speed.
- Air flows from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure.
- The Coriolis force causes winds to curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Wind speed increases with larger pressure differences between high and low pressure systems.
Test your knowledge on wind measurement and wind vectors with this introductory quiz. Learn about the tools used to measure wind speed and direction, how wind vectors represent wind speed, and the factors that contribute to wind speed. Challenge yourself and discover more about the fascinating world of wind!
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