GEOG 2200 Exam 1

According to the video "Hunt for the Supertwister", only about 20 or 25 percent of supercell thunderstorms produce tornadoes. And only perhaps ______ percent to ______ percent of those produce what we call significant tornadoes, the large ones, the long-track, the ones that do 90 to 95 percent of the damage and fatalities. Select one correct option. a. 1 percent to 5 percent b. 5 percent to 10 percent c. 10 percent to 15 percent d. 15 percent to 20 percent e. 20 percent to 25 percent

a. 1 percent to 5 percent

"If we can increase warning times by five or ten minutes, that's really significant. If we can push back the forecast of tornado to _____ minutes before the tornado forms, people have _____ minutes to get to their shelters. Small increases of just 10 min, 15, min. 20. min., can have a great impact on the value of that forecast." (Quote from NOVA - Hunt for the Supertwister) a. 15 b. 10 c. 5 d. 20 e. 2

a. 15

What event caused ALL major airports along the U.S. east coast to be closed for the first time ever? a. 1993 Blizzard (Storm of the Century) b. 1888 Blizzard c. 1965 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak d. 2005 Hurricane Katrina

a. 1993 Blizzard (Storm of the Century)

The number of atoms and molecules that make up the layers of the atmosphere changes based on elevation. The first 18,000 feet of the atmosphere contains about _______________ of the air molecules. a. 50% b. 33% c. 25% d. 75% e. 10%

a. 50%

What is a Nor'easter? a. A mid-latitude cyclone with prevailing winds from the northeast. b. A mid-latitude cyclone on the U.S. southeast coast that brings heavy snowfall. c. A hurricane affecting the U.S. northeast coast. d. A hurricane affecting the U.S. southeast coast.

a. A mid-latitude cyclone with prevailing winds from the northeast.

Based on the below figure (purple graph), what is the peak monthly period for tornadoes to occur with the United States? a. April - June b. July - September c. October - December d. January - March

a. April - June

Place the life cycle stages of a thunderstorm in the correct order: (A) Mature Stage (B) Cumulus Stage (C) Dissipating Stage a. B-C-A b. A-B-C c. B-A-C d. C-B-A

a. B-C-A

What lifting mechanism forces air upward along a large hill or mountainous barrier which produces cloud formation and precipitation to form in the atmosphere? Select all that apply: a. Convective b. Orographic c. Frontal d. Convergent e. Divergent f. Suppression g. Depression

a. Convective b. Orographic c. Frontal d. Convergent

What hazard causes damage patterns similar to a tornado? a. Derecho b. Lightning c. High winds d. Blizzard e. Hurricane

a. Derecho

Aside from rain, what other hazards can be present during a severe thunderstorm? (Select all that apply.) a. Hail b. Lightning c. Tornadoes d. Blizzard conditions

a. Hail b. Lightning c. Tornadoes d. Blizzard conditions

Who is particularly at risk of suffering adverse impacts from a tornado? Select all that apply: a. Immobile and disabled people b. Mobile-home residents c. People unaware of tornado warnings d. People staying in exterior rooms with window

a. Immobile and disabled people b. Mobile-home residents c. People unaware of tornado warnings d. People staying in exterior rooms with window

Which hazard is more deadly than the other hazards listed? a. Lightning b. Tornadoes c. Hail d. Rain

a. Lightning

What are the necessary ingredients or mechanisms that are needed for a thunderstorm to develop in the atmosphere? Select all that apply: a. Moisture b. An unstable air mass c. A lifting mechanism d. Cool temperatures

a. Moisture b. An unstable air mass c. A lifting mechanism

According to the video "Hunt for Supertwister", today's system relies in part on a network of Doppler radar. Doppler can sense the movement of _____ and _____ in remarkable detail. Please select TWO items. a. Moisture b. Hail c. Trees d. Tornadoes e. Air

a. Moisture e. Air

Which air mass source regions influence the weather of the continental U.S.? Select all that apply: a. Polar regions b. Tropical regions c. Oceanic regions d. Continental regions e. Mountain regions

a. Polar regions b. Tropical regions c. Oceanic regions d. Continental regions

Good sources for receiving timely and accurate warning information in case of severe weather are... Select all that apply: a. Television b. NOAA weather radio c. Newspapers d. Neighbors

a. Television b. NOAA weather radio

At the surface, what are signs indicating a front? Select all that apply: a. The "convergence" or coming together of winds. b. A change in temperature. c. A change in pressure. d. The presence of daylight.

a. The "convergence" or coming together of winds. b. A change in temperature. c. A change in pressure.

What is the common "nickname" given to the region with the highest tornado strikes in the United States? a. Tornado Alley b. Tornado Country c. Tornado Valley d. Tornado Central

a. Tornado Alley

A *blizzard* is a winter storm associated with *heavy snowfall* and *strong winds*. a. True b. False

a. True

A *funnel cloud* is a violently rotating column of descending air from a thunderstorm that *does not* make contact with the ground. a. True b. False

a. True

A *tornado warning* is issued when a tornado is observed by a trained spotter or detected on Doppler Radar. a. True b. False

a. True

A front is defined as the boundary between *two* air masses. a. True b. False

a. True

A winter storm warning indicates that severe winter conditions have begun or are about to set in throughout the warning area. a. True b. False

a. True

Air pressure *decreases* with *increasing* altitude (height in the atmosphere). a. True b. False

a. True

An *occluded* front is the leading edge where a warmer air mass is replaced by a colder air mass. a. True b. False

a. True

An air mass is a large body of air with generally uniform temperature and humidity. a. True b. False

a. True

As warm air rises, it cools and eventually the water vapor in the warm air will condense to form clouds. a. True b. False

a. True

Does the following symbol below represent a *stationary* front? a. True b. False

a. True

Hail stones formed when *updrafts* in thunderstorms carry raindrops above the freezing line. a. True b. False

a. True

How lightning is generated is still not entirely clear or understood yet. a. True b. False

a. True

If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance by a lightning bolt. a. True b. False

a. True

Most Americans killed in tornadoes occur in mobile homes. a. True b. False

a. True

Ocean evaporation rates into the atmosphere are higher in warm ocean currents (i.e., along the east coasts of continents) than in cold ocean currents (i.e., along the west coasts of continents). a. True b. False

a. True

The Fujita Scale (F-Scale) is currently used to estimate wind speeds based on a tornado's damage. a. True b. False

a. True

The United States experiences *more* tornadoes than any other country. a. True b. False

a. True

The deflection of the coriolis force causes air around a *high pressure* system to move *clockwise* direction and around a *low pressure* system *counter-clockwise* direction in the *northern hemisphere*. a. True b. False

a. True

The highest number of hail reports between 1955 and 2002 typically occurs over Tornado Alley (i.e., Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas). a. True b. False

a. True

The presence of winds that turn clockwise with height provides an ideal condition for the formation of supercells since they are a mechanism for rotation. a. True b. False

a. True

Warm air is *denser* (heavier) than cold air. a. True b. False

a. True

Weather fronts typically track or move *west to east* due to prevalent *westerly winds* over North America. a. True b. False

a. True

When compared to the previous decade, the number of tornadoes reported in 2017 was higher than the expected to the 11-year average (2005-2015). a. True b. False

a. True

While strong tornadoes (EF-4 and EF-5) tend to be more deadly, weak tornadoes (EF-0 and EF-1) can still kill people. a. True b. False

a. True

Most weather frequently occurs __________________ of air masses. a. along the boundary b. in the center c. below d. above

a. along the boundary

When living in a mobile home, the best way to protect yourself is to: a. leave the home and seeking shelter elsewhere. b. go into an interior room without windows. c. hide under sturdy furniture. d. do nothing.

a. leave the home and seeking shelter elsewhere.

Which two units are commonly used to measure air pressure in the United States? a. millibars b. inches of mercury c. milligrams pascals d. joules

a. millibars b. inches of mercury

What other variables can influence air pressure besides change in elevation? Select all that apply: a. radiation (heating) from the sun b. earthquakes c. weather systems d. tidal stages e. cooling from the moon

a. radiation (heating) from the sun c. weather systems

The wind chill temperature index reflects... a. the body's perception of cold temperature when exposed to wind. b. the body's perception of warm temperature when exposed to wind. c. the body's perception of cold temperature when exposed to humidity. d. the body's perception of hot temperature when exposed to humidity.

a. the body's perception of cold temperature when exposed to wind.

Which of the following hazards can be produced by a thunderstorm? Select all that apply: a. tornadoes b. lightning c. high winds d. flash flooding e. hail f. blizzards g. ice storm h. dust storm

a. tornadoes b. lightning c. high winds d. flash flooding e. hail f. blizzards g. ice storm h. dust storm

Based on the below figure (blue graph), what is the peak time period for tornadoes to occur with the United States? a. 12 am (midnight) - 4 am b. 5 am - 11 am c. 12 pm (noon) - 2 pm d. 3 pm - 7 pm e. 8 pm - 11 pm

b. 5 am - 11 am

According to the lecture notes, official tornado warnings, on average, are issued only _______ minutes before a twister usually strikes. a. 5 b. 8 c. 14 d. 20 e. 30

b. 8

A tornado classified as "EF1" typically exhibits wind speeds of what magnitude range? a. 65 - 85 mph b. 86 -110 mph c. 111 - 135 mph d. 136 - 165 mph e. 166 - 200 mph

b. 86 -110 mph

Why does Florida experience fewer hailstorms when compared to Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming? a. Lower number of thunderstorms b. A higher freezing level c. Air mass types are different d. The influence of Coriolis force

b. A higher freezing level

What moisture sources help explain why there is a significant amount of rain to fall in the southeastern United States? Select all that apply: a. Mississippi River b. Atlantic Ocean c. Gulf of Mexico d. Ohio River e. Lake Pontchartrain

b. Atlantic Ocean c. Gulf of Mexico

Often mistaken for tornado damage, what thunderstorm hazard produces damage as a result of "straight line" and long-lived wind storms? a. Microburst b. Derecho c. Macroburst d. Lightning e. Squall Line

b. Derecho

According to Tim Marshall in "Hunt for the Supertwister", what are the factors that will cause an upswing in the number of tornado fatalities? Please select TWO factors. a. Storm Chasers b. Expansion of cities c. No improvements in housing construction d. No improvements in warnings e. No improvements in tornado awareness

b. Expansion of cities c. No improvements in housing construction

A tornado watch is issued when a tornado has been observed by a trained spotter or detected on Doppler Radar. a. True b. False

b. False

All fronts stretch both horizontally and vertically and exhibit identical slopes independent of front characteristics (e.g. cold or warm air mass). a. True b. False

b. False

Annually, Louisiana reports the highest average number of tornadoes in the United States between 1981 and 2010. a. True b. False

b. False

Downbursts are strong squall lines that produce straight-line winds - not tornadoes. a. True b. False

b. False

Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature is lowered below 25.0 °C (77.0 °F). a. True b. False

b. False

If you crack open the windows in your home will *reduce* the damage to your home. a. True b. False

b. False

Maritime polar (mP) and continental tropical (cT) are the two air masses that collide together to form the dangerous weather that occurs in Tornado Alley. a. True b. False

b. False

Severe Storms account for the highest percentage (%) of the total billion dollars losses between 1980 and 2017. a. True b. False

b. False

StormReady is a network of storm chasers that provide real-time meteorological information to National Weather Service. a. True b. False

b. False

The atmosphere is *stable* when a parcel of air continues to rise up through the atmosphere when it is pushed up. a. True b. False

b. False

The cross-section of a hailstone shows a uniform look and does not exhibit layers of ice. a. True b. False

b. False

The pressure gradient force (PGF) moves air from areas of lower pressure to areas of higher pressure. a. True b. False

b. False

Typically, a cold front moves *slower* than a warm front. a. True b. False

b. False

When representing pressure systems graphically on, for example, a weather map, a low pressure system is denoted by which letter? a. S b. L c. H d. A e. O

b. L

A key air mass type influencing summer weather and climate in Louisiana is __________. a. Continental Polar (cP) b. Maritime Tropical (mT) c. Continental Tropical (cT) d. Maritime Polar (mP)

b. Maritime Tropical (mT)

The "Storm of the Century" (1993) was a: a. hurricane b. Nor'easter c. fire d. hail storm e. flood event

b. Nor'easter

According to the figure below, which two regions tend to observe the highest annual average of flash lightning density in the United States? (Select two.) a. Northeast b. South c. Mid-South d. Northwest e. Southwest

b. South c. Mid-South

What is a weather spotter? a. Doppler radar b. a person forwarding meteorological information to the National Weather Service c. a device deployed into the vortex d. a vehicle equipped to measure tornado wind speeds

b. a person forwarding meteorological information to the National Weather Service

What key component in emergency management was lacking during the 2007 blizzard compared to the 1978 blizzard according to the YouTube video (Fox Providence: 1978 Nor'easter and Blizzard)? a. NOAA weather radios b. communication c. preparedness d. response

b. communication

The following symbol represents which type of frontal boundary? a. stationary b. occluded c. warm d. cold

b. occluded

The 1993 Storm of the Century had wind speeds comparable to a hurricane of which category? a. Category 1 b. Category 2 c. Category 3 d. Category 4 e. Category 5

c. Category 3

What hazard caused the crash of the DELTA L1011 aircraft at the Dallas/Fort Worth airport in 1985? a. Blizzard b. Derecho c. Microburst d. Lightning e. Tornado

c. Microburst

______________ is calculated as the change in pressure between two locations divided by the change in the distance of those two locations. a. Coriolis force (CF) b. Pressure grade change (PGC) c. Pressure gradient force (PGF) d. Pressure gradient fall (PGF) e. Pressure change force (PCF)

c. Pressure gradient force (PGF)

In which region would you expect very little or minimum change in air pressure excluding tropical cyclones? a. Polar b. Continental c. Tropics d. Arctic

c. Tropics

________________ is the change in wind speed and/or direction with height. a. Confluence b. Divergence c. Wind shear d. Vorticity e. Updraft

c. Wind shear

An air mass designated as 'mP' would be relatively __________ and __________. a. dry; cold b. dry; warm c. humid; cold d. humid; warm

c. humid; cold

The majority of lightning deaths in the United States occur during what type of activity? a. work b. daily routine c. leisure d. driving e. unknown

c. leisure

According to the video "Hunt for the Supertwister," a 250 or 300 mile an hour wind can only be compared to those that might be experienced on the fringes of a nuclear explosion. A 300 miles per hour is not three times as strong as a 100 miles per hour; it is ________ times as strong. Fill in the blank with a NUMBER.

9

How many homes were destroyed during The Chinese hail storm of 1986? Enter number not text.

100

How many billion-dollar weather/climate disasters occurred in the United States during 2017? Enter number not text.

16

What was the circumference (in inches) of the largest hailstone to fall in United States? Enter number not text.

18.75

On average, how many tornadoes does Louisiana experience or observe in a given year between 1991-2010? Enter numerical value (not text).

37

The state of Louisiana is ranked _____th in the total number of U.S. deaths related to lightning between 1959 and 2016. Enter number not text.

5

Match the following EF-scale classifications with their correct wind speed range as implemented by the National Weather Service in 2007. EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5

EF0: 65-85 mph EF1: 86-110 mph EF2: 111-135 mph EF3: 136-165 mph EF4: 166-200 mph EF5: 200-< mph

The deadliest tornado outbreak in the United States occurred during which year? a. 2013 b. 1974 c. 2011 d. 1925 e. 1985

d. 1925

Approximately how many people are struck annually by lightning in the United States? a. 50 b. 100 c. 200 d. 300 e. 500

d. 300

Which meteorological hazard is produced as a result of a sudden discharge or charge separation in a cloud? a. Microburst b. Tornado c. Hail d. Lightning e. Derecho

d. Lightning

In what state occurred the deadliest tornado on record since 1950? a. Louisiana b. North Carolina c. Alabama d. Missouri e. Oklahoma

d. Missouri

According to the figure below, which region exhibits the most thunderstorm days per year? a. West b. Northeast c. Midwest d. Southeast e. Great Plains

d. Southeast

What type of thunderstorm tends to form along or ahead of a cold front and can produce heavy precipitation, hail, lightning, strong winds, and possible tornadoes? a. squall line b. multi-cell cluster c. single cell d. supercell

d. supercell

Which of the following supplies should you include in a winter car kit? a. Blankets b. Flashlight c. Water d. Shovel e. All of the above

e. All of the above

What basic ingredients or requirements are necessary for a tornado to form? a. Cold air aloft b. Warm, moist air at the surface c. Strong upper-level winds d. Wind shear e. All of the above ingredients are necessary to form a tornado.

e. All of the above ingredients are necessary to form a tornado.

The majority of tornado causalities in the United States occur from __________ tornadoes. a. EF/F-0 and EF/F-1 b. EF/F-1 and EF/F-2 c. EF/F-2 and EF/F-3 d. EF/F-3 and EF/F-4 e. EF/F-4 and EF/F-5

e. EF/F-4 and EF/F-5

What lightning type occurs inside a single storm cloud and is commonly referred to as "sheet lightning"? a. Inter-Cloud Lightning b. Cloud to Ground Lightning c. Anvil to Ground Lightning d. Cloud to Cloud Lightning e. Intra-Cloud Lightning

e. Intra-Cloud Lightning

What color is used to graphically identify a high pressure system on a weather map? a. orange b. blue c. yellow d. purple e. red

e. red