READING QUESTIONS: Air Pressure & Wind
NAME________________________
PSCI 131
DUE: Monday, February 29th
Winter 2016
48 pts
All answers should be in your own words.
Understanding Air Pressure (p. 260-262)
1. Give a definition of air pressure. (2 pts) ___________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the air pressure at sea level, in pounds per square inch, millibars, and inches? (3 pts)
a. Pounds per square inch: _____________
b. Millibars (mb): ____________
c. Inches (in.): ___________
3. EXTRA CREDIT: What is the lowest recorded air pressure for an Atlantic Ocean hurricane, and what
was the name and year of the hurricane? (3 pts)
a. Pressure: ___________ mb
b. Name and year: __________________________
4. Describe how a mercury barometer measures air pressure. (3 pts) ______________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
5. List two advantages of an aneroid barometer over a mercury barometer. (2 pts)
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Factors Affecting Wind (p. 262-265)
6. List the three factors that control wind direction and speed. (3 pts)
a. ___________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________
7. Define pressure gradient force. (2 pts) __________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
8. On the weather map below, which location (A, B, C, or D) would have the strongest wind, and why? (2
pts)
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
A
B
C
D
9. Give a brief definition of Coriolis Effect. (2 pts) ____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
10. How does the Coriolis Effect influence wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere? In the Southern
Hemisphere? (2 pts) __________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Highs and Lows (p. 266-268)
11. In the boxes below, sketch a cyclone and an anticyclone in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Include a letter in each that indicates the air pressure (H or L), and draw arrows showing the correct
direction of wind movement at ground level around the cell (clockwise or counterclockwise). (5 pts)
Cyclones
Anticyclones
Northern
Hemisphere
Southern
Hemisphere
12. Why do low-pressure cells have lower-than-normal air pressure? (2 pts)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
13. Describe the general weather conditions associated with high and low pressure. (2 pts)
a. High: _______________________________________________________________________
b. Low: _______________________________________________________________________
General Circulation of the Atmosphere (p. 268-271)
14. Which wind belt does most of the United States exist within?
a. Polar easterlies
b. Polar front
c. Westerlies
d. Trade winds
15. EXTRA CREDIT: Refer to the “Eye on Earth” box on page 269. Examine the photo and read the
caption, then answer these questions: (2 pts total)
a. What is responsible for the fact that the dust plume is curved? __________________________
b. What global wind belt is carrying the dust plume from Africa to South America?
i. Polar easterlies
ii. Polar front
iii. Westerlies
iv. Trade winds
16. Which two prevailing wind belts converge in the stormy region called the polar front? (2 pts)
__________________________________________________________________________________
17. Give a brief description of why India has monsoons. (3 pts) _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
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El Niño, La Niña, and the Southern Oscillation (p. 274-278)
18. How does El Niño tend to affect weather in Peru and Chile? How does it affect weather in Australia and
Indonesia? (4 pts)
a. Peru and Chile: _______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
b. Australia and Indonesia: ________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
19. What is the Southern Oscillation? (2 pts) _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
20. In the table below, circle the correct word in each box to describe the conditions during El Niño and La
Niña events. (6 pts)
Air pressure over eastern
equatorial Pacific
Air pressure over western
equatorial Pacific
Sea surface temperature in
eastern equatorial Pacific
Sea surface temperature in
western equatorial Pacific
Strength of Pacific trade winds
Direction of ocean current flow
along equator
El Niño
La Niña
High / Low
High / Low
High / Low
High / Low
Cold / Warm
Cold / Warm
Cold / Warm
Cold / Warm
Strong / Weak
Strong / Weak
West / East
West / East
21. EXTRA CREDIT: Referring to Figure 25, describe winter climate conditions in North America and
eastern Australia under both El Niño and La Niña conditions. (Remember that the seasons are reversed
in the Southern Hemisphere.) (8 pts maximum)
a. North America during El Niño: __________________________________________________
b. North America during La Niña: __________________________________________________
c. Eastern Australia during El Niño: __________________________________________________
d. Eastern Australia during La Niña: __________________________________________________