Atmosphere & Ocean Circulation

Which choice best describes air pressure in the atmosphere?

• air pressure increases with altitude

• air pressure decreases with altitude

• air pressure is mostly unchanged throughout the atmosphere

• air pressure fluctuates through the layers of the atmosphere

Which of the following contributes to the unequal warming of earth?
I. variation in the angle of sunlight that reaches Earth
II. variation in the amount of surface area over which the Sun's rays are distributed
III. variation in the amount of sunlight reflected from clouds

• I only
• I and II only
• II and III only
• III only

Which of the following has the highest albedo?

• soil
• snow
• water
• pavement

Each of these factors influences atmospheric convection cells EXCEPT

• air temperature

• air pressure

• prevailing winds

• Coriolis effect

As air rises, expands and cools, the air will

• reach its dew point and a cloud will form

• reach its latent heat capacity and precipitation will fall

• rotate clockwise in the northern hemisphere due to the Coriolis Effect

• increase its capacity to hold water vapor

Which of the following does NOT play a role in causing a rain shadow?

• cold polar air

• prevailing trade winds

• mountain ranges

• adiabatic cooling

Which convection cell occurs between 30 and 60 degrees north or south of the equator?

• polar

• ferrell

• hadley

• fennel

Each of the following are factors that influence ocean currents EXCEPT

• Precipitation

• salinity

• prevailing winds

• coriolis effect

High productivity and nutrient availability in the ocean occurs in the areas with

• gyres

• upwelling

• warm waters

• prevailing wersterlies

Increased melting of polar ice caps is likely to disrupt which of the following phenomena?

• El Nino - southern oscillation (ENSO)

• thermohaline circulation

• rotation of southern hemisphere gyres

• upwelling off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand