Problem 1
Mercury is 13.5 times denser (heavier) than water. If you built a barometer using water rather than mercury, how tall (in inches) would it have to be to record standard sea-level pressure?
Problem 3
If you wanted to erect wind turbines to generate electricity, would you search for a location that typically experiences a strong pressure gradient or a weak pressure gradient? Explain.
Problem 6
If divergence in the jet stream above a surface low-pressure center exceeds convergence at the surface, will surface winds likely get stronger or weaker? Explain.
Problem 7
You and a friend are watching TV on a rainy day when the weather reporter states that, "The barometric pressure is 28.8 inches and rising." Hearing this, you say, "It looks like fair weather is on its way." Your friend responds with the following questions. "I thought air pressure had something to do with the weight of air. How does inches relate to weight? And, why do you think the weather is going to improve?" How would you respond to your friend's queries?
Problem 8
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere and are directly west of the center of a cyclone, what is the probable wind direction? What if you were west of an anticyclone?
Problem 9
It is late afternoon on a warm summer day and you are enjoying some time at the beach. Until the last hour or two, winds were calm. Then a breeze began to develop. Is it more likely a cool breeze from the water or a warm breeze from the adjacent land area? Explain.
