AOSC Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
Coriolis Force - (ANSWER)A pattern of deflection as air travels around the globe that does not exist at
the equator. (i.e. at the equator it is at its minimum of zero and at the pole it is at maximum)
Gradient Wind - (ANSWER)The 3-way balance between PGF, Coriolis, and centrifugal forces.
Three cell model - (ANSWER)A model of global wind patterns that depicts three convection cells in each
hemisphere, bordered by alternating bands of high and low pressure.
Single Cell Model - (ANSWER)Air rises at equator, travels poleward aloft, sinks at the poles, then air near
the surface travels equatorward. DOES NOT EXPLAIN WESTERLIES
Hadley Cell - (ANSWER)A cell model that occurs in the tropics and is thermally direct (rising where it is
hot).
Rising motion at/near equator (low pressure) eventually hits max hight and starts to travel poleward.
Winds begin to increase poleward and air sinks near midlatitudes (high pressure) and the flow is
returned to the equator. TRADE WINDS/EASTERILIES
Ferrel Cell - (ANSWER)Cell that moves air form 30 degrees to 60 degrees latitude. Thermally indirect (i.e.
rising where it is cool)
Air moves poleward near the surface and air then rises near 60 degrees N, 60 degrees S when it
converges with polar air then return flow equatorward aloft.
Polar Cell - (ANSWER)Cells of air circulation occurring between 60 degrees north and south and each
pole. Thermally direct (i.e. rising where it is warmer)
polar jet stream - (ANSWER)Move from east to west and is much stronger than subtropical jet streams.
Can deform and lead to severe weather in the U.S.
Ekman Transport - (ANSWER)The net motion of fluid as the result of a balance between Coriolis and
turbulent drag forces. Direction of this determines if there is upwelling or downwelling.
, AOSC Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
Upwelling - (ANSWER)The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging
currents
Downwelling - (ANSWER)The movement of water from the surface to greater depths.
Air masses - (ANSWER)A large body of air whose temperature and humidity are the same in any
horizontal direction. Tends to take the characteristics of the region its located in.
Continental Arctic (cA) - (ANSWER)Extremely cold, dry, and stable. Ice and snow covered surface formed
over arctic.
Continental Polar (cP) - (ANSWER)Cold, dry, stable air mass formed poleward of 60 degrees latitude.
Continental Tropical (cT) - (ANSWER)hot, dry, stable air aloft; unstable surface air formed between 30
degrees N - 30 degrees S
Cold Fronts - (ANSWER)Blue triangles pointing towards warm air that moves much faster than warm
fronts. Forces warm air up, releasing latent heat, leading to storms.
Maritime Polar (mP) - (ANSWER)Cool, moist, and unstable air mass formed poleward of 60 degrees
latitude.
Maritime Tropical (mT) - (ANSWER)Warm, moist, usually unstable air mass formed between 30 degrees
N - 30 degrees S.
Midlatitude Cyclones - (ANSWER)An area of low pressure that can deepen very rapidly. These are very
important for the global heat transport.
Cyclogenesis - (ANSWER)The development or strengthening of middle-latitude (extratropical) cyclones.
- (ANSWER)The boundary between 2 air masses
Coriolis Force - (ANSWER)A pattern of deflection as air travels around the globe that does not exist at
the equator. (i.e. at the equator it is at its minimum of zero and at the pole it is at maximum)
Gradient Wind - (ANSWER)The 3-way balance between PGF, Coriolis, and centrifugal forces.
Three cell model - (ANSWER)A model of global wind patterns that depicts three convection cells in each
hemisphere, bordered by alternating bands of high and low pressure.
Single Cell Model - (ANSWER)Air rises at equator, travels poleward aloft, sinks at the poles, then air near
the surface travels equatorward. DOES NOT EXPLAIN WESTERLIES
Hadley Cell - (ANSWER)A cell model that occurs in the tropics and is thermally direct (rising where it is
hot).
Rising motion at/near equator (low pressure) eventually hits max hight and starts to travel poleward.
Winds begin to increase poleward and air sinks near midlatitudes (high pressure) and the flow is
returned to the equator. TRADE WINDS/EASTERILIES
Ferrel Cell - (ANSWER)Cell that moves air form 30 degrees to 60 degrees latitude. Thermally indirect (i.e.
rising where it is cool)
Air moves poleward near the surface and air then rises near 60 degrees N, 60 degrees S when it
converges with polar air then return flow equatorward aloft.
Polar Cell - (ANSWER)Cells of air circulation occurring between 60 degrees north and south and each
pole. Thermally direct (i.e. rising where it is warmer)
polar jet stream - (ANSWER)Move from east to west and is much stronger than subtropical jet streams.
Can deform and lead to severe weather in the U.S.
Ekman Transport - (ANSWER)The net motion of fluid as the result of a balance between Coriolis and
turbulent drag forces. Direction of this determines if there is upwelling or downwelling.
, AOSC Final Exam Questions With Complete Solutions
Upwelling - (ANSWER)The upward movement of ocean water toward the surface as a result of diverging
currents
Downwelling - (ANSWER)The movement of water from the surface to greater depths.
Air masses - (ANSWER)A large body of air whose temperature and humidity are the same in any
horizontal direction. Tends to take the characteristics of the region its located in.
Continental Arctic (cA) - (ANSWER)Extremely cold, dry, and stable. Ice and snow covered surface formed
over arctic.
Continental Polar (cP) - (ANSWER)Cold, dry, stable air mass formed poleward of 60 degrees latitude.
Continental Tropical (cT) - (ANSWER)hot, dry, stable air aloft; unstable surface air formed between 30
degrees N - 30 degrees S
Cold Fronts - (ANSWER)Blue triangles pointing towards warm air that moves much faster than warm
fronts. Forces warm air up, releasing latent heat, leading to storms.
Maritime Polar (mP) - (ANSWER)Cool, moist, and unstable air mass formed poleward of 60 degrees
latitude.
Maritime Tropical (mT) - (ANSWER)Warm, moist, usually unstable air mass formed between 30 degrees
N - 30 degrees S.
Midlatitude Cyclones - (ANSWER)An area of low pressure that can deepen very rapidly. These are very
important for the global heat transport.
Cyclogenesis - (ANSWER)The development or strengthening of middle-latitude (extratropical) cyclones.
- (ANSWER)The boundary between 2 air masses
