The type of weather system known as a 'mid-latitude cyclone' CANNOT form over the tropical ocean because:

The type of weather system known as a 'mid-latitude cyclone' CANNOT form over the tropical ocean because:

Answer: surface temperature contrasts are not large and the Coriolis force is weak in the tropics

Vorticity refers to:

Vorticity refers to:

Answer: the spin of air parcels

The planetary vorticity of an air parcel moving from low toward high latitude in the Northern Hemisphere will:

The planetary vorticity of an air parcel moving from low toward high latitude in the Northern Hemisphere will:

Answer: increase

If we assume that the absolute vorticity of flowing air is conserved, air moving northeastward will bend ___ to compensate for the ___ in the earth's vorticity.

If we assume that the absolute vorticity of flowing air is conserved, air moving northeastward will bend ___ to compensate for the ___ in the earth's vorticity.

Answer: anticyclonically; increase

Which of the following statements is NOT correct about vorticity?

Which of the following statements is NOT correct about vorticity?

Answer: the earths vorticity is zero at the poles

During baroclinic instability,

During baroclinic instability,

Answer: wave cyclones can intensify into large storm systems, strong wind speed shear exists from the surface up to at least the 500 mb level, rising and descending air motions exist, temperature advection is occurring (all of these)

On an upper-level chart where the isotherms cross the isobars (or contours) and temperature advection occurs, the atmosphere is called:

On an upper-level chart where the isotherms cross the isobars (or contours) and temperature advection occurs, the atmosphere is called:

Answer: baroclinic

A small, moving disturbance imbedded in a longwave is called:

A small, moving disturbance imbedded in a longwave is called:

Answer: a shortwave

Atmospheric shortwaves usually move ___ than longwaves, and ___ when they move through a longwave ridge.

Atmospheric shortwaves usually move ___ than longwaves, and ___ when they move through a longwave ridge.

Answer: faster; weaken

Atmospheric shortwaves usually move ___ at a speed that is ___ than longwaves.

Atmospheric shortwaves usually move ___ at a speed that is ___ than longwaves.

Answer: west to east; faster

Rossby waves are also known as:

Rossby waves are also known as:

Answer: longwaves

An upper-level trough that shows retrograde motion would probably be moving toward the:

An upper-level trough that shows retrograde motion would probably be moving toward the:

Answer: west

Longwaves in the middle and upper troposphere usually have lengths on the order of:

Longwaves in the middle and upper troposphere usually have lengths on the order of:

Answer: thousands of kilometers

If the outflow of air around a surface high pressure area is greater than the convergence of air aloft, you would observe:

If the outflow of air around a surface high pressure area is greater than the convergence of air aloft, you would observe:

Answer: a decrease in the central pressure

When upper-level divergence of air above a surface low pressure area is stronger than the convergence of surface air, the surface pressure will ___ and the storm itself will ___

When upper-level divergence of air above a surface low pressure area is stronger than the convergence of surface air, the surface pressure will ___ and the storm itself will ___

Answer: decrease; intensify

Like hurricanes, polar lows have a clear area in their center

Like hurricanes, polar lows have a clear area in their center

Answer: true

Strong storms that develop over water, poleward of the polar front, are called:

Strong storms that develop over water, poleward of the polar front, are called:

Answer: polar lows

Developing low pressure areas generally have ___ air near the surface and diverging air aloft.

Developing low pressure areas generally have ___ air near the surface and diverging air aloft.

Answer: converging; diverging

For a surface storm system to intensify, the upper-level low (or trough) should be located to the ___ of the surface low.

For a surface storm system to intensify, the upper-level low (or trough) should be located to the ___ of the surface low.

Answer: west

An upper-level pool of cold air that has broken away from the main flow is called

An upper-level pool of cold air that has broken away from the main flow is called

Answer: a cut-off low