Exam 5 Review

Objects that are good absorbers of radiation are not good emitters of radiation. A) FALSE B) TRUE

A) FALSE

The mercurial barometer was invented by ________. A) Torricelli B) Galileo C) Newton D) Watt

A) Torricelli

When warm moist air moves over a cold surface, ________ fog may result. A) advection B) radiation C) steam D) upslope

A) advection

Upper air winds ________. A) are generally faster than surface winds B) are unaffected by the Coriolis force C) are greatly influenced by friction D) both A and B

A) are generally faster than surface winds

In the Southern Hemisphere, the winds associated with a low pressure system blow ________. A) clockwise and toward the center B) counterclockwise and toward the center C) clockwise and outward from the center D) counterclockwise and outward from the center

A) clockwise and toward the center

The cloud form that consists of globular cloud masses that take on a billowy or "cauliflowerlike" structure is called ________. A) cumulus B) stratus C) cirrus D) alto

A) cumulus

The most precise instrument for measuring wind speed is a ________. A) cup anemometer B) wind vane C) wind sock D) wet bulb/dry bulb thermometer

A) cup anemometer

The major risk to humans from the depletion of ozone is the increase in ________. A) deaths due to skin cancer B) chlorine in the atmosphere, which is poisonous to most humans C) deaths due to lung cancer D) CO2 from plant production E) cataracts and damage to the immune systems

A) deaths due to skin cancer

As you go up in elevation, the atmospheric pressure ________. A) decreases B) increases C) stays constant D) none of the above

A) decreases

Orographic lifting is related to mountain barriers, and it is often associated with ________. A) desert conditions on the leeward side of the mountains and excessive rainfall on the windward side B) desert conditions on both sides of the mountains C) excessive rainfall on both sides of the mountains D) desert conditions on the windward side of the mountains and excessive rainfall on the leeward side.

A) desert conditions on the leeward side of the mountains and excessive rainfall on the windward side

Which of the following is the most useful measure of water vapor in the air? A) dew point B) mixing ratio C) temperature D) relative humidity E) air pressure

A) dew point

The process of converting a liquid to vapor is termed ________. A) evaporation B) sublimation C) condensation D) melting

A) evaporation

Heat flows ________. A) from hot to cold B) from cold to hot C) in both directions D) in neither direction

A) from hot to cold

Which of the following is not something that happens to incoming radiation? A) heated B) reflected C) absorbed D) transmitted

A) heated

Closely spaced isobars indicate ________. A) high pressure gradient and high winds B) high pressure gradient and likely gusty winds C) geostrophic conditions D) low pressure gradient and weak gusty winds

A) high pressure gradient and high winds

Fast moving currents of air found near the top of the troposphere are called ________. A) jet streams B) chinooks C) mesocyclones D) El Niño

A) jet streams

Stability prevails when the environmental lapse rate is ________. A) less than the wet adiabatic rate B) greater than the wet adiabatic rate and less than the dry adiabatic rate C) greater than the dry adiabatic rate D) greater than both the wet and dry adiabatic rates

A) less than the wet adiabatic rate

Isobars are lines on a weather map representing what? A) lines of equal air pressure B) lines of equivalent air speed C) lines of equal elevation for the tropopause D) lines showing equal density of bars

A) lines of equal air pressure

Which of the following cloud types is most commonly associated with precipitation? A) nimbostratus B) cirrocumulus C) cirrostratus D) altostratus

A) nimbostratus

The Sahara and Australian deserts (among others) are associated with the ________. A) subtropical high B) equatorial low C) subpolar low D) polar high

A) subtropical high

The Bergeron Process suggests that the coexistence of ice crystals and supercooled water droplets in a cloud is ideal for producing rain because ________ . A) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for water vapor than does liquid water. B) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for liquid water than does water vapor C) the liquid water has a stronger affinity for water vapor than do ice crystals. D) the ice crystals provide nuclei needed to form more water droplets E) the ice crystals provide the nuclei for snowflakes to form as precipitation

A) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for water vapor than does liquid water.

The tropopause is the boundary between ________. A) the troposphere and stratosphere B) tropical and polar air masses C) the troposphere and mesosphere D) two layers of high ozone concentration

A) the troposphere and stratosphere

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ________. A) troposphere B) mesosphere C) stratosphere D) ionosphere

A) troposphere

The normal lapse rate in the troposphere is about ________ per kilometer. A) 3.5°C B) 6.5°C C) 1.5°C D) 9.5°C

B) 6.5°C

If you live in southwestern North America and are experiencing drought conditions, what do you hope will happen? A) A La Niña period will begin. B) An El Niño period will begin. C) Conditions will return to a normal, with neither La Niña nor El Niño. D) The temperatures will decrease in the eastern equatorial Pacific.

B) An El Niño period will begin.

Albedo is a constant 30 percent everywhere on Earth . A)TRUE B) FALSE

B) FALSE

Ozone is important to humans because it ________. A) absorbs infrared radiation which is harmful to humans B) absorbs ultraviolet radiation with is harmful to humans C) is a pollutant that is harmful to humans D) reflects solar rays that would cause global warming E) passes solar rays that would maintain our present climate range

B) absorbs ultraviolet radiation with is harmful to humans

Which of the following gases is an efficient absorber of the earth's emitted energy? A) oxygen B) carbon dioxide C) argon D) nitrogen E) none of the above

B) carbon dioxide

Which of the following is not a mechanism that will cause air to rise? A) convective cooling B) conduction cooling C) orographic lifting D) frontal Wedging E) convergence

B) conduction cooling

Which of the following is not a mechanism for heat transfer? A) conduction B) contraction C) radiation D) convection E) They are all mechanisms for heat transfer.

B) contraction

The heat transfer mechanism that requires the movement of material is ________. A) radiation B) convection C) conduction D) contraction

B) convection

In the Northern Hemisphere, the winds associated with a low pressure system (cyclone) blow ________. A) clockwise and toward the center B) counterclockwise and toward the center C) clockwise and outward from the center D) counterclockwise and outward from the center

B) counterclockwise and toward the center

Thunder and lightning are associated with these clouds. A) cirrostratus B) cumulonimbus C) altostratus D) cirrus

B) cumulonimbus

A sea breeze usually originates during the ________. A) evening and flows toward the land B) day and flows toward the land C) evening and flows toward the water D) day and flows toward the water

B) day and flows toward the land

The process by which water vapor changes directly to a solid is called ________. A) evaporation B) deposition C) condensation D) melting

B) deposition

This pressure zone is associated with abundant precipitation and warm temperatures. A) subtropical high B) equatorial low C) subpolar low D) polar high

B) equatorial low

Which of the following is not a type of fog caused by cooling of near surface air to below its dew point? A) radiation fog B) frontal fog C) advection fog D) upslope fog

B) frontal fog

Where is the Coriolis force greatest? A) low latitude B) high latitude C) anywhere air moves north or south D) intermediate latitudes

B) high latitude

Water is unique because ________. A) it is light enough to escape the earth's gravity but it has not done so B) it exists in three different states at normal conditions in the earth's atmosphere C) its molecules are in motion even when it is solid D) it forms from a wide range of chemical processes E) it contracts when it becomes a gas

B) it exists in three different states at normal conditions in the earth's atmosphere

The classification of air as stable or unstable is based on ________. A) temperature B) motion C) humidity D) state

B) motion

The Coriolis effect influences ________. A) only wind speed B) only wind direction C) both wind speed and wind direction D) neither wind speed nor wind direction

B) only wind direction

A steep pressure gradient ________. A) would be depicted by widely spaced isobars B) produces strong winds C) is only possible in the tropics D) produces light winds

B) produces strong winds

If "fair" weather were approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be ________. A) steady B) rising C) falling D) none of these

B) rising

The cloud form that is best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky is termed ________. A) cumulus B) stratus C) cirrus D) alto

B) stratus

The term ________ is used to describe the conversion of a solid directly to a gas, without passing through the liquid state. A) evaporation B) sublimation C) condensation D) melting

B) sublimation

The atmosphere acquires most of its energy from ________. A) solar radiation B) the Earth's surface C) water vapor D) wind

B) the Earth's surface

When water vapor condenses to form clouds, ________. A) the air gets colder B) the air gets warmer C) the air temperature stays the same D) the air temperature can change in either direction depending on other conditions

B) the air gets warmer

The main difference between weather and climate is that ________. A) climate is the daily variations that actually occur at a location and weather is the general pattern of climate over time B) weather is the daily variations that actually occur at a location and climate is the general pattern of weather over time C) climate is the regional pattern based on latitude and humidity while weather is the daily pattern based on season. D) weather is the regional pattern based on latitude and humidity while climate is the daily pattern based on season. E) climate is a political opinion while weather is reality.

B) weather is the daily variations that actually occur at a location and climate is the general pattern of weather over time

The mixing ratio = mass of water vapor (grams)/ mass of dry air (kilograms). So if you have 10 grams of water vapor in 100 kilograms of dry air, what is the mixing ratio? A) 10 g/kg B) 100 g/kg C) 0.1 g/kg D) 0.01 g/kg E) 1 g/kg

C) 0.1 g/kg

On the average, how much of the Sun's energy that is intercepted by Earth is reflected back to space? A) 10% B) 20% C) 30% D) 40%

C) 30%

One half of the atmosphere is below ________. A) 1 km (0.6 miles) B) 3.5 km (2.1 miles) C) 5.6 km (3.5 miles) D) 7.2 km (4.3 miles) E) 10 km (6 miles)

C) 5.6 km (3.5 miles)

What is the difference between a gas and a liquid? A) A gas is composed of individual atoms that have no bonds, while a liquid is made up of molecules with bonds between atoms. B) A liquid is composed of individual atoms that have no bonds, while a gas is made up of molecules with bonds between atoms. C) A liquid has a fixed volume but a gas does not. D) A gas has a fixed volume but a liquid does not. E) A liquid is "wet," meaning it will attach to things, while a gas does not do this.

C) A liquid has a fixed volume but a gas does not.

Which of the following does not happen when the humidity exceeds 100%? A) It rains B) It snows C) It gets warmer D) Clouds form E) It hails

C) It gets warmer

When a mass of cold air collides with a mass of warm air, what happens? A) The cold air is warmed and the warm air is cooled by their mixing. B) The cold air rises above the warm air. C) The warm air rises above the cold air. D) The boundary between the two air masses keeps them separate, and they do not interact in any way.

C) The warm air rises above the cold air.

Air may best be described as ________. A) an element B) a compound C) a mixture D) none of these

C) a mixture

High clouds that form delicate veil-like patches or extended wispy fibers are termed ________. A) cumulus B) stratus C) cirrus D) alto

C) cirrus

Low air pressure systems are usually associated with ________. A) diverging surface winds and low pressure aloft B) descending air and low pressure aloft C) converging air, precipitation, and high pressure aloft D) clear weather

C) converging air, precipitation, and high pressure aloft

A land breeze usually originates during the ________. A) evening and flows toward the land B) day and flows toward the land C) evening and flows toward the water D) day and flows toward the water

C) evening and flows toward the water

If stormy weather were approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be ________. A) steady B) rising C) falling D) none of these

C) falling

When air is unstable, the environmental lapse rate is ________. A) less than the wet adiabatic rate B) zero C) greater than the dry adiabatic rate D) greater than both the wet and dry adiabatic rates

C) greater than the dry adiabatic rate

Widely spaced isobars often indicate ________. A) high winds B) variable winds C) light winds D) cyclonic winds

C) light winds

Earth receives energy from the Sun in this way. A) conduction B) convection C) radiation D) all of these

C) radiation

Which mechanism for heat transfer can operate in a vacuum? A) contraction B) conduction C) radiation D) convection

C) radiation

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are ________. A) gamma B) ultraviolet C) radio D) infrared

C) radio

Which one of the fogs listed below may be categorized as an evaporation fog? A) advection B) radiation C) steam D) upslope

C) steam

Ozone is concentrated in the ________. A) troposphere B) mesosphere C) stratosphere D) ionosphere

C) stratosphere

Ozone filters out most of the ________ radiation in sunlight. A) infrared B) gamma C) ultraviolet D) microwave

C) ultraviolet

The major absorber of terrestrial radiation is ________. A) oxygen B) ozone C) water vapor D) carbon Dioxide E) none of the above

C) water vapor

The dew point is the temperature at which ________. A) water in the liquid state changes to vapor B) hailstones are formed C) water vapor condenses to a liquid D) cumulus clouds change to cumulonimbus clouds

C) water vapor condenses to a liquid

Which of the following devices measures both wind direction and speed? A) anemometer B) wind vane C) wind sock D) None of these can measure both wind speed and direction.

C) wind sock

Cloud water droplets remain a liquid to temperatures as low as ________. A) 0°C B) 0°F C) -10°C D) -40°C E) -25°C

D) -40°C

Standard sea level pressure in inches of mercury is ________. A) 7.52 inches B) 14.70 inches C) 28.70 inches D) 29.92 inches

D) 29.92 inches

The angle of the noon sun varies by ________ degrees each year. A) 15 B) 23.5 C) 47 D) 73.5 E) It is different in different places.

D) 73.5

As you go up in elevation, the temperature ________. A) decreases B) increases C) stays constant D) It depends on what atmospheric layer you are in. E) none of the above

D) It depends on what atmospheric layer you are in.

Where is the top of the atmosphere? A) 21 km above sea level B) 32 km above sea level C) 100 km above sea level D) There is no defined upper limit to the atmosphere.

D) There is no defined upper limit to the atmosphere.

High air pressure systems are usually associated with ________. A) diverging winds B) descending air C) clear weather D) all of these

D) all of these

This term is used to describe clouds found in the middle height range. A) cumulus B) stratus C) cirrus D) alto

D) alto

Which of these instruments is not used to measure air pressure? A) mercurial barometer B) aneroid barometer C) barograph D) anemometer

D) anemometer

Clouds are classified on the basis of their ________. A) thickness B) height C) shape or form D) form and height E) thickness and height

D) form and height

Another name for the area of equatorial low pressure is the ________. A) subpolar easterlies B) westerlies C) doldrums D) horse latitudes

D) horse latitudes

Which of the following is not an element that influences weather? A) humidity B) clouds C) wind D) longitude E) temperature

D) longitude

Important weather phenomena typically occurs in the ________. A) stratosphere B) troposphere C) thermosphere D) mesosphere E) all of the above

D) mesosphere

Which one of the following are the three most abundant gases in the dry atmosphere? A) oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide B) argon, carbon dioxide, nitrogen C) carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen D) nitrogen, oxygen, argon

D) nitrogen, oxygen, argon

The force that generates wind is ________. A) Coriolis force B) gravity force C) centrifugal force D) pressure gradient force

D) pressure gradient force

What causes seasons? A) the elliptical orbit of the earth B) the changing tilt angle of the earth C) differences in the amount of daylight D) seasonal changes in the angle of the sun above the horizon E) none of the above

D) seasonal changes in the angle of the sun above the horizon

Relative humidity is a measure of ________. A) how much water vapor is in the air B) the ratio of water vapor in air to the amount of air C) the amount of water vapor in the air compared to some standard amount of water vapor D) the ratio of the water vapor in the air to the amount of water vapor that it would take to saturate the air E) none of the above

D) the ratio of the water vapor in the air to the amount of water vapor that it would take to saturate the air

This fog results from adiabatic cooling. A) advection B) radiation C) steam D) upslope

D) upslope