Comprehensive Geography and Oceanography: Troposphere, Climate, and Ocean Currents

How thick is the troposphere?

10 km

At which latitude is the troposphere thickest?

Equator (0°)

What happens if the water vapor concentration in air exceeds the saturation vapor pressure?

It condenses

Can warm air hold more or less water vapor than cold air?

More

Is water vapor (H2O) more or less dense than the primary components of air (N2 and O2)?

Less

Is surface air pressure high or low under warm rising air?

Low

Is surface air pressure high or low under cool sinking air?

High

What major atmospheric feature is associated with persistent cloudiness?

ITCZ (Intertropical Convergence Zone)

In the northern hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects flow to which direction?

Right

What name is given to the east-to-west winds found within 30 degrees of the equator?

Trade Winds

At what latitudes would you expect to find deserts?

30° N and 30° S

Do deserts form at latitudes where air is rising or sinking?

Sinking

What percentage of solar radiation reaching Earth reaches the ocean surface?

~50%

What is the primary process that carries heat from the oceans back into the atmosphere?

Evaporative heat flux

What are the two types of basic weather patterns?

Cyclones and anticyclones

Where do extra-tropical cyclones typically form?

At the polar fronts

Why don't tropical cyclones form in the tropical south Atlantic or tropical southeast Pacific Oceans?

Water is too cold

At what latitude are sub-polar gyres found?

60° N

In the sub-tropical gyres, are surface water temperatures high or low and nutrients high or low?

High temperatures, low nutrients

In the sub-polar gyres, are surface water temperatures high or low and nutrients high or low?

Low temperatures, high nutrients

What is the Warm Pool?

The region of warmest surface water

Where is the Warm Pool found?

Western Pacific near Indonesia

In which geographic direction is Ekman transport associated with the Westerlies over the Antarctic Circumpolar Current?

North

Wind-driven currents typically extend to what depth in the ocean?

100 m

What happens to wave speed as a deep water wave shoals?

Decreases

What determines the speed of a shallow water wave?

Water depth

What is the typical period of a tsunami?

10 minutes

What wave pattern forms when the tide reflects in an estuary?

Standing wave

Where are internal tides likely to be generated?

Where tides propagate over steep topography and stratification is present