Convection in the Atmosphere: Winds and the Coriolis Effect

A sample of water evaporates from the Earth's surface and becomes a gas. The gas expands and rises high into the atmosphere. Eventually, the gas condenses and falls back to the ground as rain.

The water's movement through the atmosphere is an example of _______, which is driven by the Sun's _______.

• conduction; heat

• convection; heat

• conduction; gravity

• convection; gravity

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The diagram shows the general pattern of air circulation in the atmosphere. Many of the world's deserts are located at latitudes slightly below 30° N. This includes the region marked with an X on the map. Which of the following statements best explains this?

• Most of the moisture is removed from the air before it rises into the upper atmosphere.

• Air near the equator moves quickly as Earth rotates, so it cannot carry much moisture.

• The descending cooled air from the upper atmosphere contains very little moisture.

• Moist air near the equator tends to flow away from land and toward the oceans.

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Ocean currents and global wind patterns, which are caused by convection currents, most strongly affect a region's...

• day length.

• latitude.

• climate.

• population size.

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Convection currents, which affect weather and climate, are created by

• slow, constant tectonic movement.

• mining of the seafloor.

• erosion of ocean beaches.

• the uneven heating of the Earth.

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Which of the following factors drives all the weather on Earth, including large-scale storms and local weather systems?

• The Coriolis effect curves the motion of wind due to the Earth's rotation.

• The Sun heats up the air at different rates, and the atmosphere undergoes changes to equalize temperatures and pressures.

• The ocean holds thermal energy more efficiently than land.

• The greenhouse effect ensures that some thermal energy will always be trapped near the Earth's surface.

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As the Earth rotates, winds are created that blow in a single direction over a specific area. These winds are responsible for moving clouds around the Earth and creating patterns of weather in different locations around the world.

What are these winds that move in a single direction over a specific area called?

• hurricane force winds

• local winds

• sea breezes

• prevailing winds

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Convection currents, resulting from uneven heating of the Earth's surface, cause _______ to form.

• volcanoes

• mountains

• fossils

• wind

Global winds are directly caused by the Earth's rotation and

• uneven precipitation rates.

• uneven heating of the Earth's surface.

• the Moon's phases.

• the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

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When sunlight strikes the ground it warms the ground and the air near it. The warm air near the ground then rises as it expands. What does this process typically result in on the ground?

• Freezing conditions near the ground generate a high pressure system.

• Floodwater rushes in to cool the hot surface.

• Clouds push the warm air back to the ground.

• Cooler air rushes in to replace the rising warm air.

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The atmosphere flows in large convection currents. What happens during atmospheric convection?

• Cool air rises, and warm air sinks.

• Warm air circles pockets of cool air.

• Warm air rises, and cool air sinks.

• Cool air circles pockets of warm air.

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