Geography 115 Exam One Fresno State College

Which of the following statements about satellites is(are) true?(a)Infrared satellite images show the temperature of the cloud tops.(b)A satellite in geostationary orbit views the same region of Earth 24 hours a day. (c)The vapor channel can identify regions of the atmosphere that are dry or moist because it is sensitive to the water vapor concentration.(d)The visible channel observes frequencies of electromagnetic energy that our eyes can sense. (e)All of the above are true

All of the above are true

The time of the year when all locations on Earth experience 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness is: a.An equinox. b.A solstice. c.December 21. d.December 1st. e.January 1st. (F) January 21.

An equinox.

The weather data used to compile surface maps are obtained primarily from what instruments? (a)Doppler radars (b)wind profilers (c)rawinsondes (d)Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) (e)Aeronautical Radio Inc., Communications Addressing and Reporting Systems (ACARS)

Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS)

The international standard adopted for measurements is Universal Coordinated Time(UTC) is also known as ___________. (a) Zulu Time (Z) (b) Daylight Time (DT) (c) Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) (d) Both (a) and (c) are correct (e) (a), (b) and (c) are correct.

Both (a) and (c) are correct

Which of the following is not considered a temperature scale? a. Fahrenheit b. Kelvin c. Calorie d. Celsius

Calorie

The temperature scale where 0 represents freezing and 100 boiling: a. Fahrenheit b. Celsius c. Kelvin d. absolute

Celsius

Which of the following is most representative of what is displayed on an infrared GOES satellite image? (a)density (b)cloud top pressure (c)cloud top temperature (d)cloud top relative humidity (e)all of the above

Cloud top temperature

In the northern hemisphere, surface wind blows a. Clockwise and in toward an area of low pressure b. Counterclockwise and in toward an area of low pressure c. Clockwise and inward around an area of high pressure d. Counterclockwise and outward around an area of high pressure e. Both (b) and (d) are correct

Counterclockwise and outward around an area of high pressure

Summers are warmer than winters because: a.The midlatitude cyclones are more effi cient at transporting heat in the summer. b.Earth is tilted toward the sun in the summer. c.Earth is closer to the sun in the summer. d.The polar front is weaker in the summer. e.Land masses heat up more than the ocean.

Earth is tilted toward the sun in the summer.

A northerly wind blows: a.From the south to the north. b.From the east to the west. c.From the north to the south d.From the west to the east. e.Perpendicular to the isobars.

From the north to the south

A vacuum is a good insulator because: a. It absorbs the heat present in the air. b. It conducts the heat from warm to cold c. It is made of molecules that do not conduct heat very well. d. It conducts both heat and cold and they cancel each other. e. Heat cannot be conducted in the absence of molecules.

Heat cannot be conducted in the absence of molecules.

A radiosonde: (a) Is used to monitor surface weather conditions from aloft. (b)Uses radio waves to measure precipitation. (c)Is carried aloft by a balloon and measures weather conditions above the surface. (d)Measures radio waves in the ionosphere. (e)Measures radio waves from a geostationary

Is carried aloft by a balloon and measures weather conditions above the surface.

When a thermometer is directly exposed to the sun: (a) It accurately measures the temperature of the air. (b)It indicates a higher temperature than that of the air. (c)It indicates a lower temperature than that of the air. (d)It measures the temperature of the sun rather than that of the air.(e)It measures the temperature of sunlight.

It indicates a higher temperature than that of the air.

The temperature scale that sets freezing of pure water at 32 F: a. Kelvin b. Fahrenheit c. Celsius d. British

Fahrenheit

A color scale is used to display the intensity of precipitation as measured by a Doppler radar. Which color indicates the heaviest precipitation rate? (a) red (b)blue (c)black (d)green

Red

23 The wind direction at the station (a)Southwest (b)Southeast (c)Northeast (d)South (e)East

Southeast

Almost all of the earth's weather occurs in the: a. exosphere b. stratosphere c. mesosphere d. thermosphere e. troposphere

troposphere

Which of the following can be measured by a Doppler radar? (a)The cloud top temperature. (b)The speed of the wind toward or away from the radar. (c)The atmospheric relative humidity in the vicinity of the radar. (d)The atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of a severe storm. (e)All of the above

(b)The speed of the wind toward or away from the radar.

A Doppler radar can detect which of the following? (a)the intensity of the precipitation (b)the geographic location of the precipitation (c)the motion of air toward and away from the radar in/near a storm (d)(a) and (b) are correct; (c) is incorrect. (e)(a), (b), and (c) are all correct.

(e)(a), (b), and (c) are all correct.

Geostationary weather satellites are placed in orbit over the equator at a distance of how many kilometers above the Earth's surface?(a)about 500 kilometers (b)about 5000 kilometers (c)about 35,000 kilometers (d)3000 to 7000 kilometers, depending on season. (e)None of the above are correct.

about 35,000 kilometers

The atmospheric greenhouse effect is produced mainly by the: a. absorption and re-emission of visible light by the atmosphere b. absorption and re-emission of ultraviolet radiation by the atmosphere c. absorption and re-emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere d. absorption and re-emission of visible light by clouds e. absorption and re-emission of visible light by the ground

absorption and re-emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere

Warming in the stratosphere is mainly caused by: a. absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone b. release of latent heat energy during condensation c. chemical reactions between ozone and chlorofluorocarbons d. frictional heating caused by meteorites

absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone

During an equinox: a. the days and nights are of equal length b. at noon the sun is overhead at the equator c. the earth is not tilted toward nor away from the sun d. all of the above

all of the above

During the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere: a. astronomical winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere b. the noon sun is overhead at 23.5oS latitude c. at middle latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the longest night of the year d. all of the above

all of the above

The solar radiation traveling through the earth atmosphere is affected by a. reflection by cloud b. absorption by gas molecules c. scattering by particles in the atmosphere d. all of the above

all of the above

Which of the following helps to explain why even though northern latitudes experience 24 hours of sunlight on June 22, they are not warmer than latitudes further south? a. solar energy is spread over a larger area in northern latitudes b. some of the sun's energy is reflected by snow and ice in the northern latitudes c. increased cloud cover reflects solar energy in the northern latitudes d. solar energy is used to melt frozen soil in the northern latitudes e. all of the above

all of the above

In a hilly region the best place to plant crops that are sensitive to low temperatures is: a. on the valley floor b. along the hillsides c. on the top of the highest hill d. in any dry location

along the hillsides

The lowest temperature is usually observed: a. at the time of sunset b. near midnight c. several hours before sunrise d. around sunrise e. several hours after sunrise

around sunrise

Radiational cooling typically occurs a. during the afternoon b. at night c. during the late morning

at night

Where are the days and nights of equal length all year long? a. at 66.5o b. nowhere c. at 23.5o d. at the Equator

at the Equator

The time of day when the relative humidity reaches a maximum value is usually: a. at the time when the air temperature is highest b. in the middle of the afternoon c. at the time when the air temperature is lowest d. just before sunrise e. about midnight

at the time when the air temperature is lowest

Under what condition will surface warming occurs a. if the incoming shortwave radiation received at the surface is less than the outgoing long wave radiation b. if the incoming shortwave radiation received at the surface is larger than the outgoing long wave radiation c. if the net radiation is positive d. if the net radiation is negative e. both (b) and (c) are correct

both (b) and (c) are correct

Identify the incorrect statement below a. The diurnal temperature range is the difference between the daily maximum and minimum temperatures b. the daily mean temperature is the average of the daily maximum and minimum temperatures c. largest diurnal range of temperature occurs in humid and tropical areas d. cities near large bodies of water typically have large diurnal temperature ranges e. both (c) and (d) are incorrect

both (c) and (d) are incorrect

During the afternoon the greatest temperature difference between the surface air and the air several meters above occurs on a: a. clear, calm afternoon b. clear, windy afternoon c. cloudy, calm afternoon d. cloudy, windy afternoon

clear, calm afternoon

Ideal conditions for a strong radiation inversion: a. clear, calm, dry, winter night b. clear, calm, moist, summer night c. cloudy, calm, moist, winter night d. cloudy, windy, moist, summer night e. clear, windy, dry, summer night

clear, calm, dry, winter night

Hypothermia is most common in a.hot, humid weather. b.cold, wet weather. c.hot, dry weather. d.cold, dry weather.

cold, wet weather.

In clear weather the air next to the ground is usually than the air above during the night, and then the air above during the day. a. colder, warmer b. colder, colder c. warmer, colder d. warmer, warmer

colder, warmer

The transfer of heat by molecule-to-molecule contact: a. conduction b. convection c. radiation d. ultrasonic

conduction

The number or mass of air molecules in a given space or volume is called: a. density b. pressure c. temperature d. weight

density

Assuming that the night will remain clear, calm, and unsaturated, the predicted minimum temperature is 32 F. Suddenly the wind speed increases and remains gusty throughout the night. The minimum temperature will most likely be: a. about the same as predicted, but will occur earlier in the night b. higher than predicted due to the release of latent heat c. much lower than predicted due to radiational cooling d. higher than predicted due to mixing

higher than predicted due to mixing

In most areas the warmest time of the day about 5 feet above the ground occurs: a. around noon b. in the afternoon between 2 and 5 pm c. in the early evening after 6 pm d. just before the sun sets

in the afternoon between 2 and 5 pm

In the stratosphere, the air temperature normally: a. decreases with increasing height b. increases with increasing height c. both increases and decreases depending on the season d. cannot be measured

increases with increasing height

Most of the radiation emitted by a human body is in the form of: a. ultraviolet radiation and is invisible b. visible radiation but is too weak to be visible c. infrared radiation and is invisible d. humans do not emit electromagnetic radiation

infrared radiation and is invisible

Consider an object or surface at a certain temperature, emitting radiation at a certain wavelength. The cooler the object, the ________ the wavelength and the ________ intense the emission. a. longer, more b. longer, less c. shorter, mored. shorter, less

longer, less

The earth's radiation is often referred to as radiation, while the sun's radiation is often referred to as radiation. a. shortwave, longwave b. shortwave, shortwave c. longwave, shortwave d. longwave, longwave

longwave, shortwave

Without the atmospheric greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would be: a. higher than at present. b. lower than at present. c. the same as it is now. d. much more variable than it is now.

lower than at present.

Wind machines can prevent surface air temperatures from reaching extremely low readings by: a. blowing smoke over an orchard or field b. increasing the evaporation rate from fruits and vegetables c. mixing surface air with air directly above d. reducing the rate of cooling by evaporation e. increasing the likelihood of condensation on fruits and vegetables

mixing surface air with air directly above

As altitude increases in the atmosphere, air density decreases _____________ the decrease in air pressure. a. in a completely different way than b. much less than c. much more than d. in much the same way as

much more than

The most abundant gases in the earth's atmosphere by volume are: a. carbon dioxide and nitrogen b. oxygen and water vapor c. nitrogen and oxygen d. oxygen and helium e. oxygen and ozone

nitrogen and oxygen

Which below is not considered a greenhouse gas? a. carbon dioxide (CO2) b. nitrous oxide (N2O) c. water vapor (H2O) d. methane (CH4) e. oxygen (O2)

oxygen (O2)

The gas that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere: a. water vapor b. nitrous oxide c. carbon dioxide d. ozone e. chlorofluorocarbons

ozone

If you wanted to estimate the intensity of precipitation, what weather product would you examine? (a)atmospheric sounding (b)radar reflectivity image (c)radar radial velocity image (d)satellite water vapor image

radar reflectivity image

Which of the following series of electromagnetic waves is correctly ordered from lowest to highest energy? a.radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays b.infrared, radio, microwave, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays c.infrared, radio, microwave, visible, X-rays, ultraviolet d.infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, radio, microwave e.ultraviolet, X-rays, infrared, visible, radio, micro wave f. X-rays, ultraviolet, infrared, visible, radio, microwave

radio, microwave, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-rays

Temperature, pressure, wind and moisture are measured through the depth of the troposphere by what instrument? (a)rawinsonde (b)wind profiler (c)Doppler radar (d)GOES satellite

rawinsonde

The wind-chill factor: a. relates body heat loss with wind to an equivalent temperature with no wind. b. indicates the temperature at which water freezes on exposed skin. c. takes into account humidity and air temperature in expressing the current air temperature.d. tells farmers when to protect crops from a freeze. e. determines how low the air temperature will be on any given day.

relates body heat loss with wind to an equivalent temperature with no wind.

If the average temperature of the sun increased, the wavelength of peak solar emission would: a. shift to a shorter wavelength. b. shift to a longer wavelength. c. remain the same. d. impossible to tell from given information

shift to a shorter wavelength.

The strongest radiation inversions occur when a. skies are overcast b. skies are partly cloudy c. skies are clear d. precipitation is falling

skies are clear

What is the name given to the final weather product created with data gathered from a radiosonde? (a)sounding (b)meteogram (c)surface analysis (d)wind profiler data image (e)weather balloon-o-gram

sounding

Closely spaced isobars indicate __________. (a) steep pressure gradient and weak winds (b) steep pressure gradient and high winds (c) weak pressure gradient and weak winds (d) weak pressure gradient and high winds

steep pressure gradient and high winds

Temperature inversion occurs in which of the following layers of the atmosphere a. troposphere and stratosphere b. mesosphere and thermosphere c. stratosphere and thermosphere d. thermosphere and troposphere

stratosphere and thermosphere

Which of the following determine(s) the kind (wavelength) and amount of radiation that an object emits? a. temperature b. thermal conductivity c. density d. latent heat

temperature

Which of the following provides a measure of the average speed of air molecules: a. pressure b. temperature c. density d. heat

temperature

Which of the following can the infrared satellite sensor on the GOES satellite measure? (a)intensity of precipitation (b)amount of vapor in the atmosphere (c)surface dew point temperature (d)temperature of cloud tops

temperature of cloud tops

Low clouds retard surface cooling at night better than clear skies because: a. the clouds absorb and radiate infrared energy back to earth. b. the water droplets in the clouds reflect infrared energy back to earth. c. the clouds start convection currents between them.d. the clouds are better conductors of heat than is the clear night air. e. the formation of the clouds releases latent heat energy.

the clouds absorb and radiate infrared energy back to earth.

The word "weather" is defined as: a. the average of the weather elements b. the climate of a region c. the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and placed. d.any type of falling precipitation

the condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and placed.

The primary source of energy for the earth's atmosphere is: a. energy from within the earth b. the sun c. erupting volcanoes d. lightning discharges associated with thunderstorms e. latent heat released during the formation of hurricanes

the sun

An important reason for the large daily temperature range over deserts is: a. there is little water vapor in the air to absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation b. the light-colored sand radiates heat very rapidly at night c. dry air is a very poor heat conductor d. free convection cells are unable to form above the hot desert ground e. the ozone content of desert air is very low

there is little water vapor in the air to absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation

The lag in daily temperature refers to the time lag between the: a. time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature b. time of minimum temperature and the time of maximum solar radiation c. minimum and maximum temperature for a day d. minimum and maximum solar energy received at the surface for a given day e. sunrise and sunset

time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature

Which of the following is not a channel used by weather satellites in monitoring the weather? (a) visible (b) infrared (c) ultraviolet (d) water vapor

ultraviolet

The ozone layer, which absorbs much of the sun's __________ radiation, is found in the ___________. a.visible, troposphere b.visible, stratosphere c.infrared, troposphere d.infrared, stratosphere e.ultraviolet, troposphere f.ultraviolet, stratosphere

ultraviolet, troposphere

Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 0.4 and 0.7 micrometers is called: a.ultraviolet light b. visible light c. infrared light d. microwaves

visible light

Thermal belts are: a. pockets of warm air resting on a valley during the afternoon b. pockets of cold air resting on a valley floor at night c. warmer hillsides that are less likely to experience freezing conditions d. cold, below-freezing air found at the top of a mountain

warmer hillsides that are less likely to experience freezing conditions

The gas that shows the most variation from place to place and from time to time in the lower atmosphere: a. ozone (O3) b. carbon dioxide (CO2) c. water vapor (H2O) d.methane (CH4) e. argon (Ar)

water vapor (H2O)

If you want to keep an object cool while exposed to direct sunlight, you should: a. put it inside a brown paper bag. b. wrap it in black paper. c. wrap it in aluminum foil with the shiny side facing inward. d. wrap it in aluminum foil with the shiny side facing outward.

wrap it in aluminum foil with the shiny side facing outward.

The seasons are due to: a.The tilt of Earth as it orbits the sun. b.The change in distance from Earth to the sun. c.The change in Earth's albedo as glaciers and sea ice melt seasonally. d.The change in vegetation cover and CO2concentration between Spring an Fall. e.The change in emission of infrared radiation due to temperature variations.

The tilt of Earth as it orbits the sun.

Atmospheric pressure is caused by: a.The temperature of the overlying air. b.The weight of the overlying air. c.The lapse rate in the air column. d.The solar radiation penetrating through the air column. e.The amount of water leaving the air column as precipitation.

The weight of the overlying air.

22 The weather at the station (a)Fog (b)Snow (c)Freezing rain (d)Thunderstorm (e)Sleet

Thunderstorm

The sun emits a maximum amount of radiation at wavelengths near , while the earth emits maximum radiation near wavelengths of . a. 0.5 micrometers, 30 micrometers b. 0.5 micrometers, 10 micrometers c. 10 micrometers, 30 micrometers d. 1 micrometer, 10 micrometers

0.5 micrometers, 10 micrometers

The sea level pressure at the station shown above is (a) 1025 mb (b) 102.5mb (c) 1002.5 mb (d) 750 mb (e) 660 mb

1002.5 mb

What is the pressure at the station three hours ago? (a) 987mb (b) 998.7mb (c) 997.6mb (d) 998 mb (e) 1098.7mb

1098.7mb

The term normal refers to weather data averaged over a. at least a day b. several months c. one year d. 30 years

30 years

Which latitude below would experience the fewest hours of daylight on Dec. 22? a. 60 S b. 20 S c. 0 (Equator) d. 20 N e. 60 N

60 N

If a map is created using data collected at Fresno Airport at 1400 UTC, December 4, what is the local date and time? (Answers below apply to the Central Time Zone of the USA.) (a)2:00 PM on December 4 (b)2:00 AM on December 4 (c)8:00 AM on December 4 (d)8:00 PM on December 4 (e)8:00 PM on December 3

8:00 AM on December 4

Questions 21 to 23 are based on the surface station model above 21.The surface pressure is (a)972.0 mb (b)997.2 mb (c)97.2 mb (d)1097. 2 mb

997.2 mb

An inversion layer is: a.A layer of the atmosphere where the air is very warm. b.A layer of the atmosphere where the air is very cold. c.A layer of the atmosphere where the temperature increases with height. d.A layer of the atmosphere where the temperature decreases with height. e.A layer of the atmosphere where the height decreases rather than increasing.

A layer of the atmosphere where the temperature increases with height.

The "ozone hole" is: a.A region of the stratosphere where the concentration of ozone is very low and more ultraviolet radiation from the sun can go through. b.A region of the troposphere where the concentration of ozone is very low and where there is less incidence of respiratory diseases. c.A region of the troposphere where the concentration of ozone is abnormally high. d.A region of the stratosphere over Antarctica where ozone reacts and destroys all the other gases. e.A region of the stratosphere over Antarctica where scientists have intentionally decreased the ozone concentration to warm up the South Pole

A region of the stratosphere where the concentration of ozone is very low and more ultraviolet radiation from the sun can go through.

___________ removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, whereas __________ adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. a.Forest burning, photosynthesis. b.Volcanic eruptions, respiration. c.Photosynthesis, respiration. d.Respiration, photodissociation. e.Forest burning, photodissociation

Photosynthesis, respiration.

Why is the North Pole cooler than the equator during the summer, even though there are 24 hours of daylight per day? a.The North Pole is further away from the sun than the equator. b.The polar region emits more infrared radiation than the equator. c.The sun is lower above the horizon at the North Pole than at the equator. d.Snow and ice at the North Pole absorb more radiation than land and water at the equator. e.Stratospheric ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation over the polar region

The sun is lower above the horizon at the North Pole than at the equator.

What is the amount of infrared energy sensed by a GOES satellite related to? (a)The solar radiation reflected by the surface. (b)The solar radiation absorbed by the surface. (c)The emission of energy from only water molecules. (d)The temperature of the highest surface (cloud top or ground) visible from the satellite.

The temperature of the highest surface (cloud top or ground) visible from the satellite

Absolute zero is a.The freezing point of water. b.The freezing point of air. c.The theoretical temperature at which the Celsius scale and the Fahrenheit scale intersect. d.The theoretical temperature at which all molecular motion is presumed to cease. e.The point at which we are absolutely sure the temperature is zero

The theoretical temperature at which all molecular motion is presumed to cease.

The "easterlies" are: a.Winds that blow from the east. b.Winds that blow to the east. c.Winds that blow from the East Coast. d.Winds that blow toward the East Coast. e.Winds that blow only on Easter.

Winds that blow from the east.

In the Northern Hemisphere, which day has the fewest hours of sunlight: a.Summer solstice. b.Autumnal equinox. c.Winter solstice. d.Vernal equinox.

Winter solstice.