4. Atmospheric Circulation And Wind Systems Flashcards Preview

Physical Geography > 4. Atmospheric Circulation And Wind Systems > Flashcards

Flashcards in 4. Atmospheric Circulation And Wind Systems Deck (37)
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1
Q

desertification

A

transformation of fertile land to desert, usually by overgrazing of livestock, deforestation, or natural drought

2
Q

anemometer

A

instrument used to measure wind speed

3
Q

wind vane

A

instrument used to measure wind direction

4
Q

aerovane

A

combination of anemometer and a wind vane; measures wind direction and speed

5
Q

prevailing wind

A

direction the wind blows most frequently during a specified window of time

6
Q

onshore wind

A

coastal wind flowing from sea to land

7
Q

offshore wind

A

coastal wind flowing from land to sea

8
Q

barometer

A

instrument used to measure air pressure

9
Q

thermal pressure

A

air pressure resulting from changes in temperature

10
Q

dynamic pressure

A

air pressure caused by air movement

11
Q

pressure-gradient force

A

force resulting from changes in barometric pressure across earth’s surface

12
Q

sea-level pressure

A

air pressure that has been adjusted to sea level

13
Q

isobar

A

a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal pressure. isobars are quantitative representations of the changing molecular density of the air over a geographic region

14
Q

coriolis effect

A

the perceived deflection of moving objects in relation to Earth’s surface

15
Q

boundary layer

A

layer of the atmosphere where wind is slowed by friction with Earth’s surface; extends about 1km above the surface

16
Q

Cyclone

A

meteorological system in which air flows toward a low-pressure region, creating counterclockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere

17
Q

anticyclone

A

meteorological system in which air flows away from a high-pressure region, creating clockwise circulation in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise circulation in the Southern Hemisphere

18
Q

ITCZ (intertropical convergence zone)

A

global band of unstable, buoyant air parcels that tracks the migration of the subsolar point

19
Q

subtropical high

A

discontinuous belt of aridity and high pressure made up of anticyclones roughly centered on 30° north and south latitude

20
Q

subpolar low

A

belt of low pressure roughly centered on 60° north and south and made up of cyclonic systems that bring frequent precipitation

21
Q

polar high

A

area of cold, dense air at each pole that forms a zone of thermal high pressure

22
Q

trade winds

A

easterly surface winds found between the ITCZ and the subtropical high, between 0° and 30° north and south latitude

23
Q

doldrums

A

a low-wind region near the equator, associated with the ITCZ

24
Q

horse latitudes

A

the low-wind regions centered on 30° north amd south

25
Q

westerlies

A

surface winds that come from the west and are found in both hemispheres between the subpolar low and the subtropical high

26
Q

polar easterlies

A

cold, dry winds originating near both poles and flowing south amd east

27
Q

polar jet stream

A

a discontinuous narrow band of fast-flowing air found at high altitudes between 30° and 60° latitude in the Northern Hemisphere

28
Q

rossby wave

A

a large undulation in the upper-level westerlies

29
Q

sea breeze

A

local onshore breeze created by heating and cooling differences between water and land

30
Q

land breeze

A

local offshore breeze created by heating and cooling differences between water and land

31
Q

monsoon

A

seasonal reversal of winds, characterized by summer onshore airflow and winter offshore airflow

32
Q

valley breeze

A

local upslope breeze produced by heating and cooling differences in mountainous areas

33
Q

mountain breeze

A

local downslope breeze produced by heating and cooling differences in mountainous areas

34
Q

chinook wind

A

local downslope wind that forms on the leeward side of the Rocky Mountains

35
Q

foehn wind

A

downslope wind that forms on the leeward side of the European Alps

36
Q

santa ana winds

A

winds that originate in the Great Basin and are heated adiabatically as they descend to sea level on the southern California coast and northern Baja California; often associated with major wildfires

37
Q

katabatic wind

A

(or gravity wind) Wind that forms mainly over ice sheets or glaciers when intensely cold, dense, and heavy air spills downslope by the force of gravity