Question 1

​A wind rose indicates
A) ​the wind speed at a location at a particular time.
B) ​the percentage of time that the wind blows from different directions.
C) ​observed wind speed and direction on a surface map.
D) ​spinning wind patterns caused by buildings or other obstructions.
E) ​a rose fossilized by wind.

Accepted Answer

A wind rose is a graphic tool used by meteorologists and climatologists to display information about the wind's speed and direction at a particular location. It shows the percentage of time that the wind blows from different directions, typically with different colors or symbols representing different wind speeds. It is commonly used in mapping and analyzing wind patterns and climates.

Question 2

​Suppose the wind speed increased from 5 mph to 10 mph. We can conclude that the force exerted by the wind increased by a factor of
A) ​0.5.
B) ​2.
C) ​4.
D) ​5.
E) ​25.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​Suppose the wind speed increased from 5...

Question 3

​Dust storms on Mars are generally
A) ​infrequent.
B) ​extremely large.
C) ​small.
D) ​nonexistent.
E) not able to be recorded.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​Dust storms on Mars are generally
A) ​infrequent.
B)...

Question 4

​The wind's speed generally increases with height above Earth's surface because
A) ​only the lowest layer of air rotates with Earth.
B) ​air temperature normally decreases with height.
C) ​wind instruments are not accurate at Earth's surface.
D) ​friction with Earth's surface slows the air near the ground.
E) ​air parcels expand and become less dense as they rise above the surface.

Accepted Answer

Friction with Earth's surface slows down the air near the ground, causing wind speeds to be generally lower close to the surface. As you move higher above the surface, the influence of friction decreases, allowing wind speeds to increase.

Question 5

​The nighttime counterpart of the sea breeze circulation is called
A) ​Chinook.
B) ​Santa Ana.
C) ​land breeze.
D) ​a night breeze.
E) ​foehn.

Accepted Answer

The nighttime counterpart of the sea breeze circulation is called a land breeze. During the night, the land cools faster than the ocean, causing the air over the land to become cooler and denser. This denser air creates a high-pressure zone over the land, which drives air from the sea towards the land, creating the land breeze circulation.

Question 6

​On a clear, windy day, the depth to which mixing occurs above the surface depends upon
A) ​wind direction.
B) ​surface heating.
C) ​precipitation type.
D) ​cloud coverage.
E) ​nuclei types in the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

Surface heating is a significant factor in determining the depth to which mixing occurs above the surface on a clear, windy day. As the sun heats the surface, warm air rises and mixes with the cooler air above, leading to stronger mixing and deeper mixing depths. Additionally, wind speed and direction can impact mixing depth, but surface heating is the primary driver. Precipitation type, cloud coverage, and nuclei types in the atmosphere do not have a significant impact on mixing depth in this scenario.

Question 7

​The most practical location for building a wind turbine would be
A) ​​in a region of strong, gusty winds.
B) ​on the downwind side of a mountain.
C) ​in a narrow valley.
D) ​in a region of moderate, steady winds.
E) ​anywhere on top of a mountain.

Accepted Answer

A wind turbine would work best in a region of moderate, steady winds as the consistent wind flow would produce a consistent energy output from the turbine. Regions of strong, gusty winds may cause damage to the turbine while locations on the downwind side of a mountain or in a narrow valley may result in turbulent wind flow, which can negatively impact the performance of the turbine. Building a wind turbine anywhere on top of a mountain may also result in inconsistent wind flow due to the varied terrain.

Question 8

​Surface winds are generally strongest and most gusty
A) ​in the afternoon.
B) ​in the early morning.
C) ​around midnight.
D) ​just after sunset.
E) ​just before sunrise.

Accepted Answer

Surface winds are generally strongest and most gusty in the afternoon due to the effects of solar heating on the earth's surface. As the temperature on the ground rises, warm air rises and cooler air rushes in to fill the void, resulting in gusty winds.

Question 9

​An offshore wind blows
A) ​from land to water.
B) ​from water to land.
C) ​only at night.
D) ​only during the day.
E) ​a minimum distance of 100 miles away from the shore.

Accepted Answer

An offshore wind blows from land to water, typically occurring when the land cools faster than the ocean at night, causing the air above the land to cool and move towards the water.

Question 10

​Thermal turbulence above the surface is usually most severe
A) ​immediately after sunset.
B) ​during maximum surface heating.
C) ​around midnight.
D) ​just before sunrise.
E) ​about midmorning, or soon after the minimum temperature is reached.

Accepted Answer

Thermal turbulence is caused by the uneven heating of the surface, so it is most severe during maximum surface heating, which typically occurs in the afternoon.

Question 11

​Suppose a west wind of 20 knots blows over a coastal region which is densely covered in shrubs. If this same wind moves out over the middle of a large calm lake, its speed and direction would probably be
A) ​greater than 20 knots and more northwesterly.
B) ​less than 20 knots and more northwesterly.
C) ​greater than 20 knots and more southwesterly.
D) ​less than 20 knots and more southwesterly.
E) ​less than 20 knots and westerly.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​Suppose a west wind of 20 knots...

Question 12

​The howling of wind on a blustery night is believed to be caused by
A) ​variations in air temperature.
B) ​winds blowing around a frozen surface.
C) ​snowflakes striking one another but not sticking together.
D) ​air flowing past obstructions.
E) ​wind lifting, then lowering small objects at the surface.

Accepted Answer

The howling of wind on a blustery night is caused by air flowing past obstructions. This can create variations in pressure and turbulence, leading to the sound of howling or whistling.

Question 13

​The size and shape of a turbulent eddy depends upon
A) ​the composition of the obstacle.
B) ​the size and shape of the obstacle.
C) ​the wind direction.
D) ​topography of the surrounding landscape.
E) ​elevation where the obstacle is located.

Accepted Answer

The size and shape of a turbulent eddy depend primarily on the size and shape of the obstacle. Other factors, such as wind direction or surrounding landscape, can influence turbulence patterns but do not determine the size and shape of individual eddies.

Question 14

​A sea breeze circulation will reverse direction and become a land breeze
A) ​once every few days.
B) ​at the beginning and the end of the summer.
C) ​several times per day.
D) ​once per day.
E) ​once a month.

Accepted Answer

A sea breeze circulation typically starts in the afternoon and reverses direction and becomes a land breeze during the night, occurring once per day.

Question 15

​In south Florida the prevailing winds are northeasterly. Because of this, the strongest sea breeze is usually observed on Florida's ____ coast, and the strongest land breeze on Florida's ____ coast.
A) ​east; west
B) ​west; south
C) ​east; south
D) ​east, east
E) ​west; east

Accepted Answer

The answer of ​In south Florida the prevailing winds are...

Question 16

​Which of the below determines how high a wind wave will grow over the open ocean?
A) ​water quality
B) ​density of water
C) ​length of time the wind blows over the water
D) ​shoreline topography
E) ​geographical location

Accepted Answer

The length of time the wind blows over the water determines how high a wind wave will grow over the open ocean.

Question 17

​If huge waves pound against the beach communities of Southern California for several days during clear, calm weather, it is a good bet that
A) ​the winds are strong somewhere out over the Pacific Ocean.
B) ​an earthquake has occurred somewhere on the ocean floor.
C) ​it is raining offshore.
D) ​it is a period of high tides.
E) ​there is a large difference in water density between the shoreline of Southern California and the middle of the Pacific.

Accepted Answer

Strong winds out over the Pacific Ocean can create large swells that travel across the ocean and eventually break on the shores of Southern California. These swells can produce large waves even if the local weather is calm and clear.

Question 18

​A wind reported as 45$\degree$ would be a wind blowing from the:
A) ​NE.
B) ​S.
C) ​SW.
D) ​NW.
E) ​E.

Accepted Answer

A wind reported as 45° is coming from the northeast (NE) direction.

Question 19

​A sea or land breeze is caused by
A) ​differences in humidity.
B) ​temperature differences.
C) ​the Coriolis force.
D) ​ocean tides.
E) ​strong surf conditions.

Accepted Answer

A sea or land breeze is caused by temperature differences. During the day, land heats up faster than the ocean, causing air to rise over the land and cooler, denser air over the ocean to flow in, resulting in a sea breeze. At night, land cools down faster than the ocean, causing air to rise over the warmer ocean and cooler, denser air over the land to flow in, resulting in a land breeze. The humidity, Coriolis force, ocean tides, and surf conditions may affect the strength and direction of the sea or land breeze, but they are not the initial cause.

Question 20

​During the summer in humid climates, nighttime clouds tend to form over water during a
A) ​land breeze.
B) ​chinook wind.
C) ​sea breeze.
D) ​Santa Ana wind.
E) ​lake breeze.

Accepted Answer

During the summer in humid climates, nighttime clouds tend to form over water during a land breeze. This occurs because at night, the land cools down faster than the water, causing the air over the land to cool and descend, creating a pressure difference that drives the cooler air from the land towards the water. This movement of air from land to sea at night is known as a land breeze.

Quiz 9: Wind - Small-Scale and Local Systems

A wind rose indicates

Suppose the wind speed increased from 5 mph to 10 mph. We can conclude that the force exerted by the wind increased by a factor of

Dust storms on Mars are generally

The wind's speed generally increases with height above Earth's surface because

The nighttime counterpart of the sea breeze circulation is called

On a clear, windy day, the depth to which mixing occurs above the surface depends upon

The most practical location for building a wind turbine would be

Surface winds are generally strongest and most gusty

An offshore wind blows

Thermal turbulence above the surface is usually most severe

Suppose a west wind of 20 knots blows over a coastal region which is densely covered in shrubs. If this same wind moves out over the middle of a large calm lake, its speed and direction would probably be

The howling of wind on a blustery night is believed to be caused by

The size and shape of a turbulent eddy depends upon

A sea breeze circulation will reverse direction and become a land breeze

In south Florida the prevailing winds are northeasterly. Because of this, the strongest sea breeze is usually observed on Florida's coast, and the strongest land breeze on Florida's coast.

Which of the below determines how high a wind wave will grow over the open ocean?

If huge waves pound against the beach communities of Southern California for several days during clear, calm weather, it is a good bet that

A wind reported as 45 $\degree$ would be a wind blowing from the:

A sea or land breeze is caused by

During the summer in humid climates, nighttime clouds tend to form over water during a

Quiz 9: Wind - Small-Scale and Local Systems

​A wind rose indicates

​Suppose the wind speed increased from 5 mph to 10 mph. We can conclude that the force exerted by the wind increased by a factor of

​Dust storms on Mars are generally

​The wind's speed generally increases with height above Earth's surface because

​The nighttime counterpart of the sea breeze circulation is called

​On a clear, windy day, the depth to which mixing occurs above the surface depends upon

​The most practical location for building a wind turbine would be

​Surface winds are generally strongest and most gusty

​An offshore wind blows

​Thermal turbulence above the surface is usually most severe

​Suppose a west wind of 20 knots blows over a coastal region which is densely covered in shrubs. If this same wind moves out over the middle of a large calm lake, its speed and direction would probably be

​The howling of wind on a blustery night is believed to be caused by

​The size and shape of a turbulent eddy depends upon

​A sea breeze circulation will reverse direction and become a land breeze

​In south Florida the prevailing winds are northeasterly. Because of this, the strongest sea breeze is usually observed on Florida's ____ coast, and the strongest land breeze on Florida's ____ coast.

​Which of the below determines how high a wind wave will grow over the open ocean?

​If huge waves pound against the beach communities of Southern California for several days during clear, calm weather, it is a good bet that

​A wind reported as 45 °\degree° would be a wind blowing from the:

​A sea or land breeze is caused by

​During the summer in humid climates, nighttime clouds tend to form over water during a