Chapter 6 Assignment
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Utah Valley University *
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1010
Subject
Geography
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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2
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1.What is wind and what generates it?
Wind is the result of horizontal variations in atmospheric air pressure hence air pressure is what generates it.
2.Describe atmospheric pressure.
It’s the weight of the air above a given point.
3.What is an isobar?
An isobar is a line drawn on a map connecting points of equal barometric pressure.
4. Describe why air pressure decreases with an increase in altitude.
As altitude increases, pressure decreases because there is essentially less aiir above us therefore the air becomes less dense. 5. Does wind blow from high pressure to low pressure-or the other way?
Just like heat or gases move, wind blows horizontally from high to
low pressure
6. Why does a cold, dry air mass produce higher surface pressure
than a warm, humid air mass?
Cold air is composed of salwar moving molecules, so they are more closely packed together resulting in being more dense. While warm air is composed of faster-moving molecules that are more spread out. 7. How does divergence aloft affect surface pressure?
If the divergence aloft is stronger than the convergence at the lower levels, surface pressure and constant pressure surfaces will
fall. If the divergence aloft is weaker than the convergence in the lower levels, then the surface and constant pressure surfaces will rise.
8. What is the force responsible for wind speed on Earth's surface?
The Pressure Gradient Force directs wind from high to low pressure areas which results in wind blowing. So, the greater the pressure difference, the greater the wind speed.
9. Briefly describe how the Coriolis force modifies air movement.
The Coriolis effect is basically the deflective force of Earth's rotation. It modifies air by causing it to be deflected to the right of its path of motion in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in
the Southern Hemisphere.
10. Describe the direction air flow in high- and low-pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere.
Because of the deflection in the Northern Hemisphere, the air flows around low pressure in a counterclockwise direction and around high pressure in a clockwise direction.
11.What is the name of the prevailing upper-level winds that affect the U.S.?
The Prevailing Westerlies
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