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Name: ___________ Geography 1101: Homework Assignment # 3 (30 points total) Please answer in detail using complete sentences or thoughts (thanks!)…different font, or ink color, underline, bold, etc., helps, too. Chapter 5 Questions (15 points) Why is it misleading to describe atmospheric pressure as simply the weight of the air pressing down on a surface? 2 (two) reasons why needed (2) Two reasons why it could be considered misleading to describe atmospheric pressure as simply the weight of the air pressing down on the surface is because the gas molecules exert pressure in all directions and that the gas molecules will exert pressure against things they collide with that isn’t just in the downward direction. When wind moves over any significant distance, why doesn’t it flow straight “down” a pressure gradient? 2 (two) attributes needed at least…..(2) Two reasons why the wind doesn’t flow straight down is the criolis effect makes the wind appear as if it moving to the right in the Sothern Hemisphere and the left in the Southern Hemisphere as well as the gradient is steep and gentle but it is not constant. Why are upper atmosphere winds usually faster than surface winds? 2 (two) reasons why needed (2) The upper atmosphere winds are usually faster than surface winds because of the friction in the earth’s surface as well as in higher pressure areas the wind is faster. What are the Hadley Cells? Definition/brief description. (1) Hadley Cells are the low-latitude overturning circulations that have air rising at the equator and air sinking at medium latitudes, typically about 30° N or S. f Why do the trade winds cover such a large part of the globe? 2 (two) reasons why needed (2) Trade winds cover such a large part of the globe between the 25°N and 25°S which is a big part of the earth and that most of this area is oceanic. Why are the subtropical highs and the ITCZ characterized by little wind? 2 (two) reasons why needed (2) ITCZ and Sup topical highs are characterized by little wind because of the warm condition and the raining condition vbzas. Explain why the trade winds and the antitrade winds blow in opposite directions. 2 (two) reasons needed (2) Trade winds and the antitrade winds blow in opposite directions because of elevation and Coriolis effect. Why does the ITCZ generally shift north of the equator in the Northern Hemisphere summer and south of the equator in winter? 2 (two) reasons why needed (2) The ITCZ shifts due to the Coriolis effect and Earth’s hemisphere. Chapter 6 Questions (15 points) Why does ice float on liquid water? (1) Ice floats on liquid water because it is less dense. Why is evaporation a “cooling” process and condensation a “warming” process? (1) Evaporation is when a liquid turns to gas so it absorbs the heat from the object and when it is in gas form takes the heat with it. Condensation is when you take a gas and turn it to a liquid by adding heat to the object. What happens to the relative humidity of an unsaturated parcel of air when the temperature decreases? (1) When the temperature decreases the relative humidity increases. Why? This is because the temperature is cold and does not leave enough room for water vapor. What happens to the relative humidity of an unsaturated parcel of air when the temperature increases? (1) Why? This is because there is more room for water vapor. Why can’t descending air form clouds? (1) Descending air can’t form clouds because when air cools it’s not able to hold all of the water vapor. Why does the dew point temperature of an air parcel indicate about its actual water vapor content? (1) Dew point temperature shows the actual water vapor content because of the relative humidity and the saturation pressure shows the content. How can rising stable air become unstable above the lifting condensation level? (1) Rising stable air can become unstable because the top layer cools more rapidly than the bottom. Using the global map of average annual precipitation (Figure 6-35), explain the causes of: Wet regions within the tropics (1) There are wet regions because of the regular rainfall it receives as well as warm temperatures. Wet regions along the west coasts of continents in the midlatitudes (between about 40° and 60° N and S) (1) The causes of the wet regions in the midlatitu Dry regions along the west coasts of continents in the subtropics (at about 20° to 30° N and S) (1) There are dry regions along the west coasts because the rainfalls are lower in this area. Dry areas within the midlatitudes (1) There are dry areas within the mid latitudes because of the difference in temperature of the seasons. Describe the four main lifting mechanisms of air: convective (1) Movement caused in liquid of getting hotter and making other water more dense and colder and continue in a circular motion. orographic(1) Relates to mountains and their position and form. frontal (1) Relates to rainfall and the passage. convergent. (1) Coming closer together