Plickers Questions

In the Northern Hemisphere, the polar jet stream is strongest when a) air north of the polar front is much colder than air south of the polar front b) air north of the polar front is much warmer than air south of the polar front c) air temperatures on opposite sides of the polar front are equal d) air temperatures on the East Coast of the U.S are much colder than on the West Coast of the U.S

a) air north of the polar front is much colder than air south of the polar front

Which set of conditions, working together, will make the atmosphere the most stable? a) cool the surface and warm the air aloft b) cool the surface and cool the air aloft c) warm the surface and cool the air aloft d) warm the surface and warm the air aloft

a) cool the surface and warm the air aloft

Atmospheric shortwaves usually move ____ than longwaves, and ____ when they move through a longwave ridge. a) faster, weaken b) faster, strengthen c) slower, weaken d) slower, strengthen

a) faster, weaken

An air quality index value of 100 on a particular day would indicate ____ conditions a) good b) unhealthful c) extremely hazardous d) moderately hazardous

a) good

At the same sub-freezing temperature, the saturation vapor pressure just above a liquid water surface is _______ the saturature vapor pressure above an ice surface a) greater than b) the same as c) less than

a) greater than

Suppose a west wind of 20 knots blows over a coastal region which is densely covered in shrubs. If this same wind moves out over the middle of a large calm lake, its speed and direction would probably be: a) greater than 20 knots and more northwesterly b) less than 20 knots and more northwesterly c) greater than 20 knots and more southwesterly d) less than 20 knots and more southwesterly

a) greater than 20 knots and more northwesterly

Surface winds are generally strongest and most gusty a) in the afternoon b) in the early morning c) around midnight d) just after sunset

a) in the afternoon

If the flow of air into a surface low pressure area is greater than the divergence of air aloft, the surface pressure in the center of the low will a) increase b) decrease c) remain the same d) deepen

a) increase

An mT air mass lying above a cold ground surface represents a(n) ___ situation a) stable b) unstable c) occluded d) stationary

a) stable

As surface air ruses in toward the eye of a hurricane, the air expands and should cool. The main reason the surface air is not cooler around the eye is because a) the sinking air near the eye warms the air b) friction with the water adds heat to the air c) the warm water heats the air d) sunlight heats the air

a) the sinking air near the eye warms the air

At approximately what height above sea level does half the mass of the atmosphere lie below? [Hint: Use the exponential pressure change with height equation and solve for z and use H = 8 km. Also, you will need to use the following: ln e -x/y = - x/y a) 0.5 km b) 5.0 km c) 5.5 km d) 8.0 km

b) 5.0 km

At what pressure level does the temperature first go below the freezing point? a) 1000 mb b) 920 mb c) 810 mb d) 350 mb

b) 920 mb

The surface pressure at the base of warm and cold columns of air are equal. Air pressure in the warm column of air will ______ with increasing height _____ than in the cold column a) decrease, more rapidly b) decrease, more slowly c) increase, more rapidly d) increase, more slowly

b) decrease, more slowly

Which of the following are the typical numerical weather prediction models that we covered in this course able to correctly forecast a) a low pressure system outside of the models domain b) flooding rain in the Mississippi river flood plain c) a tornado in Ypsilanti, MI d) the high temperature 12 days from now

b) flooding rain in the Mississippi river flood plain

Rain with a pH of 5.5 would be considered a) acidic b) normal c) neutral d) basic

b) normal

If a supercell thunderstorm is producing a tornado, the tornado would be found in the cusp of the "hook echo". What weather product would a meteorologist examine to observe the hook echo? a) infrared satellite image b) radar reflectivity image c) weather balloon sounding d) sea level pressure analysis

b) radar reflectivity image

Volcanoes are an important natural source of a) ozone b) sulfur dioxide c) carbon monoxide d) chlorofluorocarbons

b) sulfur dioxide

The reversal of the positions of surface high and low pressure at opposite ends of the Pacific Ocean is called: a) El Nino b) the southern oscillation c) upwelling d) La Nina

b) the southern oscillation

Using the diagram above, if the air at 700 mb has a dewpoint of 0 deg C and the air at 1013 mb has a dewpoint of 15 deg C what will the dewpoint of air that rises from 1013 mb to 700 mb be? a) 0 deg C b) 5 deg C c) 10 deg C d) 15 deg C

c) 10 deg C

what does the blue color in the figure above show? a) Accretion b) Erosion c) Near Sea level elevation d) No change

c) Near sea level elevation

Condensation onto hygroscopic nuclei is possible at relative humidities less than 100 percent due to the: a) curvature effect b) collision -coalescence c) solute effect d) terminal velocity

c) solute effect

According to a general rule, which of the following would a numerical weather prediction model with a horizontal grid-spacing of 10 km be able to fully resolve a) cloud with diameter of 5 km b) thunderstorm with diameter of 20 km c) tropical storm with a diameter of 200 km d) B and C

c) tropical storm with a diameter of 200 km

In terms of the three-cell general circulation model, the driest region of the earth should be a) 0 and 30 b) 0 and 60 c) 30 and 60 d) 30 and poles

d) 30 and poles

use the following illustration of a mid-latitude cyclone, the dashed lines show the positions of the fronts 6 hours ago. Refer to Exhibit 13-1. At which of the 4 positions would expect to hear the following 12-hour forecast: "clearing and colder today with continued rising pressures?" a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4

d) 4

which of the following would require the most computations for a 24 hour forecast a) 1 time resolution; 100 grid spacing, 300 x 300 model domain b) 1 time resolution; 30 grid spacing, 300 x 300 model domain c) 6 time resolution; 10 grid spacing, 100 x 100 model domain d) 6 time resolution; 1 grid spacing, 100 x 100 model domain

d) 6 time resolution (hr); 1 grid spacing (km); 100 X 100 Model domain (km)

Using the MOS Statistics, pretend that it is Sept 14, 2012 and you have class on Sept 16 2pm EDT. What would you be your best forecast for the temp? a) 52 b) 67 c) 70 d) 73

d) 73

which variable would forecasters be interested in monitoring in order to forecast the strengths of a thunderstorm's updraft? a) wind shear b) Helicity c) surface pressure d) Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE)

d) Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE)

If you wanted to determine how well a numerical weather prediction model forecasted temperature three days into the future at EMU, what time would you go outside to measure the temperature for a model run Jan 1 12 UTC a) Jan 1, 7am b) Jan 1, Noon c) Jan 3, 7am d) Jan 4, 7am

d) Jan 4, 7am

Suppose the eye of a hurricane passed directly over you, and you survived the experience. If winds were from the northeast as the eyewall first approached you, from what direction did the winds blow when the eyewall reached you the second time? a) NW b) NE c) SE d) SW

d) SW

which of the following regions would you expect to have the most tornadoes in March? a) Oklahoma b) Kansas c) Michigan d) Southern Gulf States

d) Southern Gulf States

Severe thunderstorms are different from ordinary thunderstorms in that severe thunderstorms a) have an anvil b) contain hail c) have a strong updraft and downdraft d) have a tilted updraft in the mature stage

d) have a tilted updraft in the mature stage