Chapter 19 Air Pressure and Wind

Front

What instrument is used for measuring air pressure?

Back

Barometer

Front

What are jet streams?

Back

Fast-moving rivers of air that travel between 120 and 240 kilometers per hour in a west-to-east direction, above the friction layer.

Front

What is air pressure?

Back

The pressure exerted by the weight of air.

Front

What are cyclones?

Back

Centers of low pressure, in which wind blows counterclockwise.

Front

What effect does Earth's rotation have on free-moving objects such as water and wind?

Back

It causes them to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.

Front

What is the definition of wind?

Back

The movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The deflection of moving objects caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Front

What is a high-pressure system?

Back

An area where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that of the surrounding areas, usually associated with clear skies.

Front

What is a low-pressure system?

Back

An area where the atmospheric pressure is lower than that of the surrounding areas, often associated with clouds and precipitation.

Front

What role do trade winds play in weather patterns?

Back

They are consistent winds that blow from east to west in the tropics, influencing weather and ocean currents.