Weather and Climate Exam 1
The maximum pressure range of the atmosphere is between: A) 0-1000 millibars B) 870-1085 millibars C) 720-1335 millibars D) 660-1335 millibars E) 975-1035 millibars
1) 870-1085 millibars
What is the average sea level pressure in the United States? A) 1013 mb B) 766 mb C) 29.92 mb D) 1000mb
1013mb
90% of our atmosphere lies below an altitude of about: A) 16km B) 100km C) 31km D) 6km E) 65km
16 km (52,000 feet)
About what percent of Earth's water can be found in the oceans? A) 70% B) 97% C) 90% D) 53%
97%
Clouds are most likely to _______ incoming solar radiation. (Pick 2) A) Absorb B) Reflect C) Transmit D) Conduct
A&B) Reflect and absorb
What type of severe weather event killed up to 35,000 people in Europe during the summer of 2003? A) A heat wave B) A flood on the Elbe River C) A drought D) A tornado outbreak
A) A heat wave
The subpolar low (polar front) is: A) A zone where the polar easterlies and the westerlies converge B) The forward edge of the Antarctic ice cap C) The boundary between frozen and liquid ocean D) A zone where the trade winds of the two hemisphere meet
A) A zone where the polar easterlies and the westerlies converge
As liquid water is evaporated into the atmosphere, heat energy is: A) Absorbed by the surrounding air B) Absorbed by the remaining liquid C) Absorbed by the evaporation water D) Released by the evaporation water E) Given off by the water vapor
A) Absorbed by the surrounding air
Over the course of this year, the tilt of Earth's polar axis will: A) Remain constant at 23.5 degrees B) Vary from 0 to 23.5 degrees C) Vary from 0 to 47 degrees D) Remains constant at 90 degrees
A) At a constant 23.5 degrees
A halo around the Sun or the Moon indicated the cloud _______ is present. A) Cirrostratus B) Cumulonimbus C) Nimbostratus D) Cirrus E) Altostratus
A) Cirrostratus
Surface high pressure zones are usually associated with: A) Clear or nearly clear weather B) Stormy weather C) Ascending air D) Converging winds
A) Clear or nearly clear weather
The cloud droplets in a cloud are formed by water molecules and: A) Condensation nuclei B) Protons C) Ions D) Molecules of air E) Other water vapor molecules
A) Condensation nuclei
The process of _______ involves the movement or circulation of a mass or substance: A) Convection B) Conduction C) Radiation
A) Convection
The vertical motions that occur when the air is unstable are termed: A) Convection B) Cyclonic C) Convergence D) Subsidence E) Geostrophic
A) Convection
How is the daily maximum temperature affected by the presence of clouds? A) Cooler B) Not conclusive effect C) Warmer D) Warmer during day, cooler at night
A) Cooler
The ________ cloud may have an "anvil head." A) Cumulonimbus B) Cirrostratus C) Altostratus D) Cirrus E) Nimbostratus
A) Cumulonimbus
The typical amount of time it takes for an air mass to pass over a given area is on the order of a few. A) Days B) Minutes C) Months D) Hours E) Weeks
A) Days
The most important cause of temperature variations is: A) Difference in receipt of solar radiation B) Altitude C) Differential heating of land and water D) Ocean currents
A) Differences in receipt of solar radiation
On the average, for every 1km increase in altitude in the troposphere the air temperature: A) Drops about 6.5°C B) Rises about 6.5°C C) Rises by day and drops by night D) Remains unchanged for the first 500 m and then drops
A) Drops about 6.5° celsius
The attractive forces between the hydrogen atoms in one water molecule and the oxygen atoms in another molecule are known as: A) Hydrogen bonds B) Dark forces C) Liquid bonds D) Water bonds
A) Hydrogen bonds
The capacity of the air to hold water vapor A) Increases with an increase in pressure B) Increases with an increase in temperature C) Increases with a decrease in temperature D) Decreases with an increase in temperature
A) Increases with an increase of temperature
Most of the radiation emitted by the Earth and its atmosphere is in the category of: A) Infrared B) X-Rays C) Ultraviolet D) Gamma
A) Infrared
Heat: A) Is a transfer of energy from areas with high temperatures to those with low temperatures B) Is synonymous with temperature C) Is a measure of the average kinetic energy possessed by molecules D) Measures the total kinetic energy in a substance
A) Is a transfer of energy from areas with high temperatures to those with low temperatures
At 45 degrees S latitude, the angle of the noon Sun is lowest and the length of daylight is shortest 29) on? A) June 21st B) September 22nd C) January 23rd D) December 21st E) March 21st
A) June 21st
The wavelengths emitted by the Earth are: A) Longer than those emitted by the Sun B) Ultraviolet C) Shorter than those emitted by the Sun D) About the same as those emitted by the Sun except when the Sun is experiencing sunspots
A) Longer than those emitted by the sun
Air- mass source regions are least likely to exist in: A) Middle-latitude regions B) Polar regions C) Equatorial regions D) Subtropical regions
A) Middle-latitude regions
The two most important properties that should be relatively homogeneous at the same altitude in an air mass are: A) Moisture content and temperature B) Relative humidity and radiation C) Vapor pressure and latitude D) Temperature and carbon dioxide concentration
A) Moisture content and temperature
The stability of an air mass can be affected by: A) Mountain ranges, cyclones and anticyclones B) Cyclones C) Anticyclones D) Mountain ranges
A) Mountain ranges, cyclones and anticyclones
The areas of abundant rainfall on the Earth tend to be: A) Near the equator and in midlatitudes B) Near the equator C) Over oceans D) In mid latitudes E) In polar regions
A) Near the equator and in midlatitudes
Most of the precipitation that falls in the middle latitudes is formed by: A) The Bergeron process B) Condensation of water vapor C) Spontaneous freezing of water droplets in the absence of condensation nuclei D) Collision- coalescence
A) The Bergeron process
What is climate? A) The average weather in an area over a long period of time B) The weather of an area that changes daily C) The storms that come in D) The average sunshine in a day
A) The average weather in an area over a long period of time
A primary difference between the concepts of weather and climate is the: A) Time period involved B) Measuring technique used C) Type of weather elements measured D) Temperature scale used
A) Time period involved
A stable atmosphere is one in which: A) Upward vertical motions are resisted B) Temperatures are adiabatic C) Clouds are forming D) Rising bubbles of air accelerate upward
A) Upward vertical motions are resisted
Why are high clouds always so thin? A) Very little water vapor is present B) Air layers are stable there C) Not enough particulates are present D) Winds are faster at high levels E) Air layers are unstable there
A) Very little water vapor is present.
What is not a necessary ingredient for cloud formation? A) Warm surface air temperatures B) Cold surface air temperatures C) Heavy air pressure D) Light air pressure
A) Warm Surface Air Temperatures
Overnight temperatures are warmer when the air is humid because: A) Water vapor is a good absorber of outgoing long-wave radiation B) Water vapor is a good absorber of incoming shortwave radiation, causing more energy to be stored during the day. C) Water vapor is good at scattering long-wave radiation D) Water vapor and clouds cause the Earth system to have a higher nighttime albedo.
A) Water vapor is a good absorber of outgoing long wave radiation
A place located along a windward coast: A) Will probably have cooler summer temperatures than an inland place at the same latitude. B) Will probably have warmer summer temperatures than an inland place at the same latitude C) Will probably have summer temperatures that are very similar to an inland place at the same latitude.
A) Will probably have cooler summer temperatures than an inland palace at the same latitude
Which air mass causes occasional drought to the Southern Great Plains of the United States? A) cT B) cP C) mT D) mP
A) cT
Which air mass is unstable in the winter but stable in the summer? A) mP B) cP C) cT D) mT
A) mP
Uncinus Clouds
Are hooked shaped clouds, often precursors to bad weather
Assuming the average value of the environmental lapse rate, what would be the temperature in the troposphere at a height of 3 km if the temperature at the surface is 20°C? A) 9.2°C B) 32.9°C C) 0.5°C D) The answer cannot be calculated with the information given
B) 32.9°C
A pole moving (northward moving in the Northern Hemisphere) ocean current is: A) Either a warm or cold current B) A warm current C) Warm in summer and cold in winter D) A cold current
B) A warm current
Relative humidity depends on the water vapor present in the air and the: A) Latitude B) Air temperature C) Pressure D) Altitude E) Dew point
B) Air temperature
When an area is experiencing several consecutive days of rather constant weather, it is experiencing: A) Warm- front weather B) Air- mass weather C) Cold- front weather D) Occluded front weather
B) Air-mass weather
Studies have shown that on average ozone depletion is the greatest over this area. A) North America B) Antartica C) Europe D) the Middle East
B) Antarctica
Upper air winds: A) Are unaffected by the Coriolis force B) Are generally faster than surface winds C) Are greatly influenced by friction D) Do not influence surface weather
B) Are generally faster than surface winds
Taken as a whole, the large scale or general circulation patterns of the atmosphere exist: A) As a cause of temperature contrasts B) As nature's method of balancing heat energy differences C) As a result of the different landforms on Earth's surface D) As a result of Earth's motion through space E) Because of the earth's rotation
B) As nature's method of balancing heat energy differences
The usual size of an air mass is: A) At most a few kilometers across B) At least 1600 km across C) Between 100 and 200 km across D) Around 1000 km across
B) At least 1600 km across
What best explains the "bumps" as seen in the CO2 concentrations on the graph above? A) A cyclic pattern in the eruption of volcanoes, causing more CO2 to be released each spring B) Changes in plant growth that result in less CO2 being absorbed during the dormant season C) Greater amounts of CO2 released by the burning of fossil fuels for heat during the winter D) Higher levels of traffic producing more CO2 during the summer travel season
B) Changes in plant growth that result in less CO2 being absorbed during the dormant seasons
The growth of a cloud droplet into a raindrop large enough to fall to Earth is a warm cloud is accomplished primarily through: A) Condensation of water vapor B) Collision and coalescence C) Evaporation of water in the cloud D) Supercooling of water E) Hygroscopic action
B) Collision and coalescence
Sea salt, dust particles, and soot are all examples of: A) Freezing nuclei B) Condensation nuclei C) Hydrophobic nuclei D) Anthropogenically- produced cloud nuclei
B) Condensation nuclei
An air mass is often as it moves over the Earth's surface. This modification is largely due to: A) Jet streams above B) Contact with the new surface below C) Strong pressure gradients D) Clouds E) Lifting along fronts
B) Contact with the new surface below
The most important process of cloud formation in the atmosphere is: A) Cooling by compression of air B) Cooling by expansion of air C) Cooling by release of latent heat of vaporization D) Radiation cooling
B) Cooling by expansion of air
Which of the following correctly describes the equinoxes? A) They occur in June and December B) Days and nights are equal in length in all parts of the world. C) The Sun's vertical rays are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. D) The length of daylight at the Arctic Circle is 24 hours
B) Days and nights are equal in all parts of the world
The length of daylight gets progressively longer going south from the equator on: A) June 21st B) December 21st C) March 21st D) September 22nd
B) December 21st
With an increase in altitude, air pressure: A) Increases at a constant rate B) Decreases at a decreasing rate C) Decreases at a constant rate D) Decreases at a increasing rate
B) Decreases at a decreasing rate
Concerning rainfall patterns, areas of persistent high pressure tend to cause: A) Moderate rainfall B) Desert regions C) Severe flooding D) Pronounced wet and dry seasons
B) Desert regions
Which of the following outlines the steps of the scientific method in the correct order? A) Test hypothesis; develop hypothesis; collect data; accept/modify/ reject hypothesis B) Develop hypothesis; test hypothesis; accept/modify/ reject hypothesis; collect data C) Collect data; develop hypothesis; test hypothesis; accept/modify/ reject hypothesis D) Collect data; test hypothesis; develop hypothesis; accept/modify/ reject hypothesis
B) Develop hypothesis; test hypothesis; accept/ modify/ reject hypothesis; collect data
All of the following are lifting mechanisms in the atmosphere EXCEPT: A) Convection B) Divergence C) Orographic D) Frontal wedging
B) Divergence
Which of the following statements is an expression of climate? A) Big Rapids, MI, recorded six inches of snowfall today B) February is the wettest month in Los Angeles, CA, with an average rainfall of 3.92 inches. C) Tornado warnings are in effect for Oklahoma City, OK. D) Tomorrow's high is forecasted to be 67°F
B) February is the wettest month in Los Angeles, CA, with an average rainfall of 3.92 inches.
A convergence of winds near the surface is associated with cloud production because it: A) Increases the lapse rate B) Forces the air to rise C) Creates a vortex or spiral pattern D) Increases the wind speed E) Increases the dew point
B) Forces the air to rise
Which of the following has the smallest impact on winds? A) Friction B) Humidity C) Coriolis effect D) Pressure gradient force
B) Humidity
Which of the following factors would have the net effect of making a place warmer in the summer? A) At a high elevation B) In the middle of a landmass C) At a high latitude D) Near an ocean
B) In the middle of a land mass
How is the annual mean temperature calculated? A) It is the average of all the daily mean temperatures for the year. B) It is the average of all 12 monthly mean temperatures C) It is the average of the warmest and the coldest temperatures recorded during that year D) It is the average of the warmest and the coldest monthly mean temperatures
B) It is the average of all 12 monthly mean temperatures
The Coriolis effect occurs because of this characteristic of the Earth: A) Its atmosphere B) Its rotation C) Its magnetic field D) Its dense core
B) Its rotation
Although the idealized version of Earth features continuous pressure belts that continue zonally around the planet, the real Earth has broken- up pressure cells that vary seasonally. What explains this? A) The oceans experience drastic temperature changes from season to season B) Large landmasses heat differently than oceans and interpret the pressure pattern C) The effects of the Coriolis force vary seasonally D) The intensity of incoming solar radiation varies radically along the same line of latitudes
B) Large landmasses heat differently than oceans and interpret the pressure pattern
Jet streams are associated with fronts because of the: A) Higher pressure behind the front B) Large temperature gradient C) Reduced friction above the front D) Clouds forming there
B) Large temperature gradient
What do isobars represent on a map? A) The highest pressures on the map B) Lines connecting points of equal air pressure C) Areas of convergence in the upper atmosphere D) The lowest pressures on the map
B) Lines connecting points of equal air pressure
What is the Earth's surface made up of? A) Crust, Middle, Center, Atmosphere B) Lithosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere C) Atmosphere, Crust, Dirt, Rock D) Sky, Dirt, Mountains, Clouds
B) Lithosphere, Biosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere
Which two gases make up a combined total of 99% of clean, dry air in the homosphere? A) Oxygen and carbon dioxide B) Nitrogen and oxygen C) Carbon dioxide and water vapor D) Nitrogen and argon
B) Nitrogen and oxygen
An air parcel rises over a mountain and cools adiabatically. Which lifting mechanism has acted on this parcel? A) A frontal wedging B) Orographic lifting C) Convergence D) Convective lifting
B) Orographic lifting
Which of the following gases is the best absorber of ultraviolet light? A) Water vapor B) Oxygen (including ozone) C) Carbon dioxide D) Carbon monoxide E) Nitrogen
B) Oxygen
This atmosphere component absorbs damaging ultraviolet radiation from the Sun: A) Argon B) Ozone C) Nitrogen D) Helium E) Neon
B) Ozone
The primary force which causes all wind is: A) Centrifugal force B) Pressure gradient force C) Geostrophic force D) Coriolis effect E) Inertia force
B) Pressure gradient force
A primary reason for drawing isotherms on a map of temperature values is to allow: A) Determination of temperature ranges B) Recognition of temperature patterns C) Calculation of mean values D) Elimination of extreme values
B) Recognition of temperature patterns
Air-mass source regions tend to be dominated by: A) Fast wind speeds B) Slow moving anticyclones C) Cyclones D) Converging winds E) Dry air
B) Slow moving anticyclones
The annual temperature range is quite small near the equator. This is true primarily because: A) The elevation of most land areas there is near sea level. B) Solar radiation is nearly uniform all year C) Wind speeds tend to be always slow D) Low pressure systems are almost never present E) The Earth emits more infrared energy at these locations.
B) Solar radiation is nearly uniform all year
Ozone is concentrated in the: A) Thermosphere B) Stratosphere C) Troposphere D) Mesosphere
B) Stratosphere
The ozone layer is in the: A) Mesosphere B) Stratosphere C) Thermosphere D) Ionosphere E) Troposphere
B) Stratosphere
While ascending through the atmosphere, you record temperature with a standard thermometer and find that the temperature has risen from -48°C (-54°F) to -18°C (0.4°F) over the last 10 km (6.2 miles). Which of the following regions of the atmosphere are you most likely in? A) Mesosphere B) Stratosphere C) Thermosphere D) Troposphere
B) Stratosphere
Most of the solar energy absorbed by planet Earth and its atmosphere is absorbed by: A) Clouds B) The Earth's surface C) Atmospheric gases D) Atmospheric dust
B) The Earth's surface
When an air mass is warmer than the surface over which it is moving: A) The letter k is added after the air mass symbol B) The air becomes more stable C) Visibility within the air mass is usually very good D) The lapse rate in the air mass is increased
B) The air becomes more stable
The basic elements of weather and climate include all of the following, except: A) The pressure of the air. B) The chemical composition of the air C) The type and amount of cloudiness D) The humidity of the air E) The temperature of the air
B) The chemical composition of the air
The primary force causing ocean currents is: A) Temperature differences between cold water below and warm water above B) The major winds C) The Coriolis effect D) The Earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun E) The Earth's rotation about its axis
B) The major wind patterns
What is meteorology? A) The study of plants B) The study of the atmosphere C) The study of weather D) The study of the sky
B) The study of the atmosphere Meteor= sky
The process that brings cold, nutrient- rich water to the surface along the coasts of Peru and Ecuador is called: A) Thermocline suppression B) Upwelling C) El Nino D) The Southern Oscillation
B) Upwelling
These two conditions, working together, will make the atmosphere the most unstable. A) Cool the surface and cool the air aloft B) Warm the surface and cool the air aloft C) Cool the surface and warm the air aloft D) Warm the surface and warm the air aloft
B) Warm the surface and cool the air aloft
During natural processes, heat transfer is always from: A) Gases to solids B) Warmer to cooler substances C) Cooler to warmer substances D) Solids to liquids
B) Warmer to cooler substances
Which of the following associations is CORRECT? A) High latitude= low annual temperature range B) Water= high specific heat C) Land= distributes heat through convection D) Evaporation= raises the temperature of air
B) Water = high specific heat
The best explanation for the cause of atmospheric pressure is: A) Wind force B) Weight of the air above C) Air compression D) Air temperature E) Air density
B) Weight of the air above
Adiabatic processes are only important for air: A) That is stagnant B) Which is rising or sinking C) Masses which remain near the Earth's surface D) That is polluted E) That is saturated
B) Which is rising or sinking
What would happen on Earth if the Sun were 'turned off' and ceased to provide heat for the Earth? A) Living organisms would slowly adapt to life without sunlight B) Winds and oceans currents would stop C) Intense storms would develop D) The Earth would quickly overheat
B) Winds and ocean currents would stop
The ______ air mass may produce an occasional 'nor'easter' in the winter. A) mT B) mP C) cP D) cT
B) mP
Which air mass code letter is paired with the WRONG word? A) m= maritime B) t= temperature C) a= arctic D) c= continental
B) t= temperature
An inversion represents an extremely stable atmosphere because a parcel of air that rises into an inversion will eventually become ______ and ______ dense than the air surrounding it. A) Colder, more B) Warmer, less C) Warmer, more D) Colder, less
B) warmer, less
Which of the following is an example of mesoscale wind? A) A traveling anticyclone B) Hurricane C) A sea breeze D) Waves in the westerlies
C) A sea breeze
All of the following accompany a classic New England nor'easter EXCEPT: A) Widespread power outages and transportation interruptions B) Heavy snowfall C) A strong storm forming in Canada and moving into New England from the North D) mP air pulled in from the Atlantic Ocean
C) A strong storm forming in Canada and moving into New England from the North
If the Earth were not rotating: A) Earth would lose its atmosphere B) All winds would cease C) Air would move directly from high to low pressure D) Atmospheric pressure would decrease
C) Air would move directly from high to low pressure
You observe a cloud at an altitude of 3000m. This cloud name would have the prefix. A) Strato B) Cirro C) Alto D) Medial
C) Alto
Which of the following would not be associated with stable atmospheric conditions? A) Temperature inversion B) Afternoon thunderstorms C) Buildup of pollutants D) Widespread fog
C) Buildup of pollutants
The stability of the air layer close to the Earth's surface can vary markedly. Much of this variation is caused by: A) Changes in wind direction B) Changes in pressure C) Changes in heating or cooling of the surface D) Changes in wind speed
C) Changes in the heating and cooling of the surface
What changes have increased the risk associated with the Santa Ana winds in southern California? A) Very little flammable material exists anymore in the landscape, so houses burn more easily B) Climate change has increased the local rainfall, leading to mudslides C) Commonly used landscapes trees are more flammable than naturally occurring vegetation D) There hasn't been an increased risk-People have started building outside of fire zones now
C) Commonly used landscape trees are more flammable than naturally occurring vegetation
You are flying in an airplane at 36,000 feet above sea level. You see lightning outside your airplane window. The cloud that is close by is: A) Cumulus B) Altocumulus C) Cumulonimbus D) Stratus E) Cirrus
C) Cumulonimbus
Hail is most commonly associated with: A) Cirrocumulus clouds B) Altostratus clouds C) Cumulonimbus clouds D) Cirrus clouds E) Nimbostratus clouds
C) Cumulonimbus Clouds
Clouds that have extensive vertical dimensions are often classified as: A) Very thin B) Nimbus C) Cumulus D) Lenticularis E) Cirrus
C) Cumulus
During a clear, relatively calm day, the relative humidity will tend to _____ from sunrise to early afternoon. A) Increase B) Remain nearly steady C) Decrease
C) Decrease
The addition of water vapor will cause the density of air to: A) Increase B) Vary widely in a horizontal direction C) Decrease D) Stay the same
C) Decrease
The temperature of rising air parcels _____ as they move upward. A) Increases B) Remains constant C) Decreases D) May either increase or decrease
C) Decreases
Low sun angles result in reduced solar energy because: A) Day lengths are shorter B) Absorption is reduced C) Energy is spread over a larger area D) Sun- Earth distance is greater
C) Energy is spread over a larger area
According to Hadley, the most important factor causing circulation patterns in the atmosphere was: A) High-low pressure distribution B) Subsidence C) Equator- pole temperature contrast D) Convection
C) Equator to pole temperature contrasts
The two changes of state that are the most important part of the water cycle for the atmosphere would be: A) Condensation, freezing B) Melting, freezing C) Evaporation, condensation D) Condensation, melting E) Melting, sublimation
C) Evaporation and condensation
Clouds are classified and named according to their altitude and: A) Size of droplets in the cloud B) Amount of precipitation produced C) Form or appearance D) Temperature
C) Form or Appearance
The absorption of long wave radiation by certain gases in the lower atmosphere is responsible for: A) Photon effect B) Atmospheric window effect C) Greenhouse effect D) Adiabatic effect
C) GreenHouse Effect
Compared to continental air masses with the same air temperature, maritime air masses: A) Have lower water vapor content B) Have about the same water vapor content C) Have higher water vapor content
C) Have higher water vapor content
In which phase do water molecules have the lowest kinetic energy? A) Vapor B) Liquid C) Ice D) It has the same kinetic energy in all three phases
C) Ice
Anticyclonic flow is: A) Associated with low pressure B) Associated with storms and rainy conditions C) In the opposite direction of Earth's rotation D) Associated with air converging at the surface
C) In the opposite direction of the Earth's rotation
Which if the following does NOT happen to solar radiation as it passes through the atmosphere? A) Absorption B) Transmission C) Intensification D) Scattering
C) Intensification
The cP air- mass in North America originates in: A) the Arctic basin B) the North Atlantic C) Interior Alaska and Canada D) Siberia E) Greenland
C) Interior Alaska and Canada
The Southern Oscillation: A) Is more important to weather in the United States than anywhere else in the world B) Is another name for a La Nina event C) Is a cycle of strengthening and reversing trade winds in the equatorial Pacific D) Does not have the ability to drastically alter climate and is of little concern
C) Is a cycle of strengthening and reversing trade winds in the equatorial Pacific
The term meteorology: A) Is the study of meteors and their effects on the atmosphere B) Is the study of the long-term average weather conditions at a given location C) Is the study of the atmosphere and its related weather systems D) Can be used interchangeably with climate because they have the same meaning
C) Is the study of the atmosphere and its related weather systems.
The 90 degrees angle rays strike the Tropic of Cancer on: A) July 4th B) December 21st C) June 21st D) September 22nd E) March 21st
C) June 21st
Planetary scale flow such as trade-winds are best classified as: A) Mesoscale B) Synoptic C) Macroscale D) Microscale
C) Macroscale
A nor'easter typically occurs when: A) The polar jet stream weakens and allows mP air to invade New England B) A cP air mass from the northeast moves into Texas C) NE winds associated with a low-pressure system draw a mP air into the northeastern United States D) The NE trade winds strengthen in the Pacific during a La Nina event
C) NE winds associated with a low-pressure system draw a mP air into the northeastern United States
Which of the following is the MOST abundant gas in the atmosphere? A) Oxygen B) Carbon Dioxide C) Nitrogen D) Hydrogen E) Argon
C) Nitrogen
Why are cT air masses of minor importance for the U.S.? A) Mountains block their approach B) Prevailing winds steer them away C) No large source region is near the U.S. D) Upper level subsidence limits their formation
C) No large source region is near the U.S.
Jet streams: A) Were first detected by George Hadley B) Do not go below 50 degrees latitude C) Occur at 25,000 to 40,000 feet in middle latitudes D) Reverse direction 180 degrees in summer E) Are usually about ten miles wide
C) Occur at 25,000 to 40,000 feet in middle latitudes
The pressure gradient force is directed from higher to lower pressure: A) Everywhere B) Only at the poles C) Only at the equator D) Only in the Northern Hemisphere E) Everywhere except the equator
C) Only at the equator
El Nino events are characterized by: A) Strengthening of the NE trade winds B) A very strong cold current flowing along the Eastern edge of South America C) Pooling of unusually warm water in the Eastern tropical Pacific D) Warm water piling up near Indonesia
C) Pooling of unusually warm water in the Eastern tropical Pacific
Ozone: A) Is considerably beneficial at the surface of the Earth B) Is concentrated in the mesosphere C) Protects life on Earth by filtering harmful UV radiation from sunlight D) Is rapidly depleting for reasons scientistic do not yet fully understand
C) Protects life on Earth by filtering harmful UV radiation from sunlight
If "fair" weather is approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be: A) Steady B) Falling C) Rising D) Pressure tendency has nothing to do with forecasting good or bad weather
C) Rising
Most of the Earth's deserts are located in the: A) Doldrum belt B) Boundary between liquid and frozen oceans C) Subsidence areas of subtropical highs D) Areas along the polar front E) Trade wind belt
C) Subsidence areas of subtropical highs
The cyclones and anticyclones of the midlatitudes are part of the ______ circulations. A) Trade wind B) Mesoscale C) Synoptic or Macroscale D) Hadley E) Microscale
C) Synoptic or macroscale
Circulations in the Earth's atmosphere are fundamentally caused by: A) Heating of the ozone layer B) Frontal storm systems C) Temperature contrasts between different locations D) Gravity E) Ocean currents
C) Temperature contrasts between different locations
The large rainfall totals associated with the Indian monsoon occurs when: A) The ITCZ shifts south towards the Tropic of Capricorn B) The winds shift to the north, blowing off of the Eurasian subcontinent C) The ITCZ shifts to the north, near the Himalaya Mountains D) High pressure develops over the Indian subcontinent
C) The ITCZ shifts to the north, near the Himalaya Mountains
Summertime wildfires in California are fanned by: A) Hadley circulations B) Katabatic winds C) the Santa Ana winds D) The westerlies
C) The Santa Ana winds
In the United States, lake-effect snows occur over which area? A) Lake Champlain B) The eastern side of the Cascade Mountains C) The leeward shores of the Great Lakes D) The windward side of the Mississippi River
C) The leeward shores of the Great Lakes
The divergence near the group that is associated with the subtropical high pressure zone can be cited as the origin of: A) Cyclogenesis B) Polar easterlies C) Trade winds D) Jet streams E) Sea breeze
C) Trade winds
The primary purpose served by surface ocean currents is to A) Help dissipate excess energy received at the poles during their periods of 24- hour daylight B) Drive atmospheric wind patterns C) Transfer heat and equalized the imbalance of energy between the poles and the equator D) Equalize climate impacts felt on opposite sides of the same continent.
C) Transfer heat and equalize the imbalance of energy between the poles and the equator
The atmosphere is highly ______ with respect to solar radiation. A) Absorptive B) Conductive C) Transparent D) Reflective
C) Transparent
The "weather sphere" is in the: A) Stratosphere B) Mesosphere C) Troposphere D) Thermosphere
C) Troposphere
The summit of Mt. Everest (8.85 km) is found in the: A) Stratosphere B) Thermosphere C) Troposphere D) Mesosphere
C) Troposphere
The four thermal layers of the atmosphere in order beginning from the surface are: A) Thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, troposphere B) Stratosphere. troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere C) Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere D) Mesosphere, stratosphere, thermosphere, troposphere
C) Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere
Horizontal variations in air pressure cause a force which makes the wind blow. These pressure variations are caused by: A) Earth's rotation B) Greenhouse effect C) Uneven heating of the Earth's surface D) Warm temperature in the stratosphere E) Non- circular shape of Earth
C) Uneven heating of the Earth's surface
Sinking or subsiding air cannot form clouds due to the: A) Loss of particulates B) Removal of water vapor C) Warming temperatures D) Release of latent heat E) Formation of unstable layers
C) Warning temperatures
Which of the following is the MOST important atmospheric component with regard to the Earth's climate and the formation of weather systems? A) Oxygen B) Ozone C) Water vapor D) Argon E) Nitrogen
C) Water vapor
Which of these factors influences the sensation of temperature that the human body feels? A) Wind speed B) Air temperature C) Wind speed, air temperature, and humidity D) Humidity
C) Wind speed, air temperature, and humidity
Water vapor represents what fraction of the air near the Earth's surface? A) About 20% B) 40-100% C) less than 4% D) About 10% E) 0-100%
C) less than 4% but varies from place to place
Stratus clouds
Clouds are best described as sheer, layers covering much or all of the sky.
Cirrus clouds
Clouds are high, white and thin
High clouds are those that form at altitudes of at least. A) 6500ft (200m) B) 32,800ft (10,000m) C) 65,617ft (20,000m) D) 20,000ft (6,000m)
D) 20,000 ft (6000 m)
In the process of scientific inquiry, a theory is best defined as: A) A final solution to a scientific problem that is proven correct and will never be disproven B) The initial formulation of an idea based on a few observed facts C) A "best guess" that may explain how something works, but it has yet untested and unproven D) A hypothesis that has been extensively tested and is generally accepted by the scientific community
D) A hypothesis that has been extensively tested and is generally accepted by the scientific community.
Siberian Express is the term used when: A) An unusually cold air mass enters the Rocky Mountains B) An mP air mass from the north Atlantic enters New England and generates snowfall C) An outbreak of bitterly cold air from Canada intrudes over a large part of the United States D) A modified air mass originating in Siberia reaches the Pacific Northwest
D) A modified air mass originating in Siberia reaches the Pacific Northwest
What affects climate? A) Latitude B) Altitude C) What's upwind D) All of the above
D) All of the above
What are the ways that heat is transferred? A) Convection B) Conduction C) Radiation D) All of the above
D) All of the above
Which of the following statements is TRUE of lake- effect snowfall? A) Lake- effect events are not capable of generating more than a centimeter or two of snow B) Lake- effect snowfall accounts for only a small portion of seasonal snowfall along the eastern edges of the Great Lakes C) Lake- effect events are produced through the modification of mP air masses D) Along the Great Lakes, lake- effect snowfall usually only occurs within 80km of the leeward lake shores
D) Along the Great Lakes, lake- effect snowfall usually only occurs within 80km of the leeward lake shores
A cyclone is generally defined by meteorologists as: A) A tornado on the ground B) An area of high pressure C) An intense, violent storm D) An area of low pressure
D) An area of low pressure
Water's temperature increases slowly because the energy absorbed is used to _____ instead of to increase the kinetic energy of the molecules. A) Decreases the specific heat of the water B) Create hydrogen bonds C) Decreases the motion of the water molecules D) Break hydrogen bonds
D) Break hydrogen bonds
An isotherm on a map: A) Identifies all places that have the same annual mean temperature B) Represents the coldest place on the map C) Represents the warmest place on the map D) Connects points of equal temperature
D) Connects points of equal temperature
Under what conditions does light and fluffy snow form? A) Cold air and no humidity B) Warm air and low humidity C) Warm air and high humidity D) Cold air and low humidity
D) Cool air and low humidity
Of the following choices, the surface with the HIGHEST albedo is: A) Thin cloud B) Grass C) Water (Sun near zenith) D) Fresh snow
D) Fresh snow
Which type of lifting mechanism results from warm air lifting over cold air? A) Orographic lifting B) Convergence C) Convection lifting D) Frontal wedging
D) Frontal wedging
Chinook winds, land-sea breezes and Santa Ana winds are examples of _____ circulations. A) Vortex B) Macroscale C) Microscale D) Mesoscale E) Synoptic
D) Mesoscale
Of the following cloud types, which is most likely to produce the most rain? A) Cumulus B) Altocumulus C) Stratocumulus D) Nimbostratus E) Stratus
D) Nimbostratus
Which of the following gases does not absorb any portion of incoming solar radiation? A) Water vapor B) Oxygen C) Ozone D) Nitrogen
D) Nitrogen
According to current scientific theory, what is the likely reason for the upward trend in overall CO2 concentrations demonstrated in the above graph? A) Large and increasingly frequent volcanic eruptions B) The causes are still unknown C) Changes in Earth's atmospheric brought by natural climate variation D) Rapidly increasing fossil fuel combustion and the resulting emissions
D) Rapidly increasing fossil fuel combustion and the resulting emissions
Supercooled water is water which is: A) Produced from dry ice B) A special form of ice C) Part liquid and part solid D) Still liquid at temperatures below 0°C E) Of a slightly different chemical nature than ordinary
D) Still liquid at temperatures below 0°C.
The C in ITCZ stands for convergence. What does convergence refer to? A) Surface winds in the mid latitudes B) Winds aloft near the poles C) Surface winds in a monsoon D) Surface winds along the equator
D) Surface winds along the equator
The property which primarily controls how much water can be present as a gas is: A) Amount of dry air gases present B) Water's specific heat C) Number of particulates present D) Temperature of the air E) Availability of latent heat
D) Temperature of the air
Refer to the map above. Which of the following areas is most likely to be experiencing rain or other significant weather? A) Western Canada B) The Southwest C) The Pacific Northeast D) The Great Lakes region
D) The Great Lakes region
Winds are usually named for: A) The direction or place from which they are heading B) The altitude where they are strongest C) The Approximate latitude of their origin D) The direction or place from which they are blowing
D) The direction or place from which they are blowing
The primary cause of Earth's seasons is: A) Varying distance from the Sun, which changes how much radiation Earth receives from the Sun B) Varying orbital speed C) Regular changes in radiation emitted by the Sun D) Tilt of Earth's rotation axis, which causes sun angles and daylight length to vary
D) Tilt of Earth's rotation axis, which causes sun angles and daylight length to very
Where are lenticular clouds most likely to form? A) Over oceans B) Along coastlines C) In desert regions D) To the lee of mountains
D) To the lee of mountains
A location on a windward coast refers to a place where the prevailing wind is: A) Away from land B) Strong C) Always light or calm D) Toward the land
D) Toward the land
A cT air mass is: A) Cold and humid B) Warm and humid C) Cold and dry D) Warm and dry
D) Warm and dry
Most of the United States is situated in which zone of prevailing winds? A) Northerlies B) Subpolar easterlies C) Trade winds D) Doldrums E) Westerlies
D) Westerlies
The air masses that have the greatest influence on weather conditions in the Midwestern United States are: A) mP and cP B) cT and cP C) mT and cT D) cP and mT E) mP and mA
D) cP and mT
Most of the precipitation for the region East of the Rocky Mountains come from: A) mA air mass B) Evaporation from soils and vegetation C) Modification mP air masses D) mT air masses
D) mT air masses
Cyclonic airflow is characterized by: A) Convergence both at the surface and aloft B) Divergence both at the surface and aloft C) Divergence aloft and convergence at the surface D) Convergence aloft and divergence at the surface
Divergence aloft and convergence at the surface
The atmosphere is most unstable when the temperature of the air _____ with height. A) Increases slightly B) Is uniform C) Increases rapidly D) Drops rapidly E) Decreases slightly
Drops rapidly
Clouds and precipitation form in the air primarily due to: A) Release of latent heat B) Moisture being added to the air C) Excessive numbers of condensation nuclei D) Absorption of infrared radiation E) Air being cooled as it rises through adiabatic cooling
E) Air being cooled as it rises through adiabatic cooling
The term pressure gradient refers to: A) Highest and lowest pressures at a station B) Change in pressure from the tropopause to sea level C) Change in pressure at a weather station over 3 hours time. D) Change in wind speed at the same station E) Change in pressure along a horizontal surface
E) Change in pressure along a horizontal surface
The process by which a cloud droplets first form is: A) Precipitation B) Collision and coalescence C) Evaporation D) Supercooling E) Condensation
E) Condensation
During the process of adiabatic cooling, the temperature decreases because the air has: A) Lost heat to the colder air at higher altitudes B) Been compressed C) Emitted infrared radiation D) Lost some of its water vapor E) Expanded to a larger volume
E) Expanded to a large volume
The important difference between liquid droplets and ice crystals in a supercooled cloud is that ice crystals: A) Increase the water vapor content of the cloud B) Are smaller C) Are more pure D) Are colder E) Grow much more rapidly
E) Grow much more rapidly
Why are maritime air masses from the North Atlantic of only limited concern for weather in the U.S.? A) Temperatures are usually mild over this region B) Polar fronts block these air masses from the U.S. C) They never cause severe storms D) Question is incorrect, these air masses are very important E) Prevailing winds move them away from the U.S.
E) Prevailing winds move them away from the U.S.
The cloud form that is best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky is termed. A) Cirrus B) Cumulus C) Alto D) Mackerel sky E) Stratus
E) Stratus
The primary factor which determines what type and how much radiation an object emits is its: A) Size B) Color C) Conductivity D) Density E) Temperature
E) Temperature
The annual temperature range at most latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere is much smaller than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason for that is that: A) A greater proportion of the land surface is mountainous in the Southern Hemisphere B) The Earth is closest to the Sun during the Southern Hemisphere summer C) Less area is covered by desert in the Southern Hemisphere D) Rainfall and cloudiness are greater in the Southern Hemisphere E) There is a greater percentage of water surface in the Southern Hemisphere
E) There is a greater percentage of water surface in the Southern Hemisphere
Atmospheric pressure is caused by: A) Earth's magnetic field B) The rotation of Earth C) The weight of the air above D) Solar radiation
Earth's magnetic field
Cloud cover reduces both the daily high and the daily low temperatures (T/F)
False
During a typical day, the lowest temperature usually occurs about midnight. (T/F)
False
Locations that have the Sun angle always have very similar temperatures (T/F)
False
Seasonal temperature variations are due primarily to the changing distance between the Earth and the Sun. (T/F)
False
Snow-covered surfaces have a low albedo. (T/F)
False
Surface air temperatures rise and fall more slowly over land areas. (T/F)
False
Surface air temperatures rise and fall more slowly over land areas: (T/F)
False
Weather and climate are synonymous terms. (T/F)
False
Weather influences people, but people don't influence the weather. (T/F)
False
Cumulus clouds
Globular, flat base, and vertical growth
The heat released when water vapor condenses to form a cloud or when liquid droplets freeze in a cloud: A) Evaporation more water B) Cools off the cloud C) Makes the air heavier D) Adds water to the cloud E) Helps the cloud to rise higher
Helps the cloud rise higher
Locations on Earth which have the largest annual temperature change from summer to winter are often: A) At low altitudes B) Very humid C) At high latitudes D) Near an ocean E) At the equator
High altitudes
An air-mass source region: A) Is generally an area characterized by a cyclonic circulation pattern B) Is best typified by the central United States C) Is characterized by a general stagnation of atmospheric circulation D) May consist of both land and water
Is characterized by a general stagnation of atmospheric circulation
The longest day of the year in the United States occurs on: A) March 3rd B) December 4th C) November 18th D) June 21st E) September 30th
June 21st
The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on approximately: A) January 3rd B) September 22nd C) June 21st D) March 21st
March 21st
Relative humidity indicates the: A) Actual amount of water in the air B) Chance for evaporation of water C) Chance of cloud formation D) Probability of precipitation E) Nearness to saturation for the air
Nearness to saturation for the air
Summer temperatures along the California coast are cooler than along the coast of South Carolina, due to the influence of: A) Altitude B) Ocean currents C) Evaporation D) Latitude E) Specific heat
Ocean currents
The Earth receives energy from the Sun by: A) Scattering B) Convection C) Radiation D) Conduction
Radiation
The wave-like or meandering pattern of the upper level winds in middle latitudes is of major importance for: A) Transporting heat between equator and poles B) Reducing wind speeds in the tropics C) Reducing the Coriolis effect D) Causing westerly winds E) Causing jet streams
Transporting heat between equator and poles
A scientific hypothesis may be regarded as a tentative explanation of observes facts or events (T/F)
True
Comfortable room temperature is roughly 22°C. (T/F)
True
Deserts, with their very dry air, experience cool nighttime temperatures because of a week greenhouse effect. (T/F)
True
Fairbanks, Alaska (65°N), has more hours of daylight in June than Miami, Florida (26°N). (T/F)
True
Isotherm lines do not always pass directly through observing station locations. (T/F)
True
Pure white sunlight contains all of the colors of the visible light spectrum. (T/F)
True
Scientific hypotheses are rejected when they do not agree with the observed data. (T/F)
True
The melting point of ice is 32°C. (T/F)
True
The warmest temperature ever recorded in the United States occurred in Death Valley, CA (T/F):
True