Exam 2 Review Questions

What does it mean if airflow in the Northern Hemisphere is anticyclonic? A Air is flowing clockwise B Air is flowing counterclockwise C Air is flowing at a variable speed parallel to isobars D Air is flowing in a straight line parallel to straight isobars

A Air is flowing clockwise

Which statement best defines atmospheric pressure? A Atmospheric pressure is the force applied by air on a unit area of surface. B Atmospheric pressure is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air. C Atmospheric pressure is the force created by strong winds associated with thunderstorms. D Atmospheric pressure is the term used to describe if a storm system will be severe or not.

A Atmospheric pressure is the force applied by air on a unit area of surface.

How does evaporation affect land-water heating differences? A Evaporation tends to lower temperatures more over water bodies than over land. B Evaporation tends to increase temperatures over land C Evaporation tends to increase the temperature over water. D Evaporation affects the temperature of land surfaces and water bodies the same amount

A Evaporation tends to lower temperatures more over water bodies than over land.

Which of the following is NOT a control of temperature? A gravity B continentality C latitude D altitude

A gravity

What type of surface pressure systems are typically associated with fair weather? A high pressure B low pressure C both high and low pressure are associated with fair weather

A high pressure

the heat index is based on

A humidity and air temperature.

Clouds and precipitation are often present with a ___. A low-pressure system B high-pressure system C none of the above are correct.

A low-pressure system

What of the following units of pressure is most commonly used by meteorologists: A millibar (mb) B inches of mercury (in Hg) C pounds per square inch (lb/in2

A millibar (mb)

The height of the tropopause varies with latitude. As a result, the deepest storms are likely to develop: A near the equator. B in the middle latitudes C near the poles. D anywhere on earth; the height of the tropopause has nothing to do with storm depth.

A near the equator.

Which term is defined by the rate at which pressure changes with distance? A pressure gradient B pressure contour C pressure unit area D pressure isoheight

A pressure gradient

Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach 140°F-190°F degrees within 30 minutes on a hot, sunny day. A True B False

A True

What is the average value of sea level pressure? A 101.325 mb B 1013.25 mb C 10132.5 mb D 101325 mb

B 1013.25 mb

What does it mean if airflow in the Northern Hemisphere is cyclonic? A Air is flowing clockwise B Air is flowing counterclockwise C Air is flowing at a variable speed parallel to isobars D Air is flowing in a straight line parallel to straight isobars

B Air is flowing counterclockwise

Incoming radiation that reaches Earth's surface after scattering is A direct insolation. B diffuse radiation C indirect insolation D reflective radiation.

B Diffuse Radiation

Which of the following cities would likely have the greatest annual temperature range? A Seattle B Minneapolis C New Orleans D Los Angeles

B Minneapolis

The relationship between insolation and air temperature through the course of day shows? A air temperature reaches a maximum at noon when absorbed insolation also reaches a maximum. B air temperature reaches a maximum afternoon, whereas absorbed insolation reaches a maximum at noon. C air temperature maximum and minimums are not related to absorbed insolation. D air temperature reaches a minimum at midnight when there is no absorbed insolation.

B air temperature reaches a maximum afternoon, whereas absorbed insolation reaches a maximum at noon.

The reflective quality of a surface is known as its? A conduction. B albedo. C absorption. D scattering.

B albedo.

Where is the pressure gradient force directed from higher pressure toward lower pressure? A only at the equator B at all places on earth C only in the Northern Hemisphere D only in the Southern Hemisphere E at all places on earth except for the equator

B at all places on earth

Clear skies are often present with a ___. A low-pressure system B high-pressure system C none of the above are correct

B high-pressure system

Precipitation is rarely present with a ___. A low-pressure system B high-pressure system C none of the above are correct

B high-pressure system

The vertical direction of air flow in a __ is downward (sinking). A low-pressure system B high-pressure system C none of the above are correct.

B high-pressure system

What is the term used to describe a narrow band of strong winds encircling the Earth in middle-latitudes? A cyclone B jet stream C jet streak D storm system

B jet stream

The principal controls and influences of temperature patterns include A Earth's tilt, rotation, revolution, and sphericity B latitude, altitude, land-water heating differences, cloud cover, and ocean currents. C the distance of the Earth from the sun and sunspot activity. D the seasons and human activity

B latitude, altitude, land-water heating differences, cloud cover, and ocean currents.

The heat capacity of a substance is known as A temperature B specific heat C convection D conduction

B specific heat

Differential transmissivity of shortwave insolation and longwave terrestrial radiation by various atmospheric gases is better known as A global dimming. B the greenhouse effect. C cloud-albedo forcing. D global warming.

B the greenhouse effect.

Which statement is true? A Pressure increases with height. B Mean sea level pressure is approximately 900 mb. C Pressure is the weight of the air above a unit area. D Pressure at the tropopause is approximately 10 mb.

C Pressure is the weight of the air above a unit area.

In 1868, the Christmas Day record high temperature of 101°F would have most likely occurred in which city? A New York City, NY B Miami, Florida C Sydney, Australia D Phoenix, AZ

C Sydney, Australia

On a cold, windy day, the air feels because the wind . A colder; increases the cooling effect of the air. B warmer; mitigates against the cold temperatures. C colder; increases evaporative heat loss from our skin. D warmer; disperses clouds, allowing more sunlight to reach the ground.

C colder; increases evaporative heat loss from our skin.

During summer, cities located near the coast are than those in the interior at the same latitude, while in the winter they are . A warmer; warmer B warmer; cooler C cooler; warmer D cooler; cooler

C cooler; warmer

In the Northern Hemisphere, the force of friction, along with the pressure gradient and Coriolis forces, causes surface winds to blow: A clockwise and in towards the center of surface low-pressure systems. B clockwise and out away from the center of surface low-pressure systems. C counterclockwise and in towards the center of surface low-pressure systems. D counterclockwise and out away from the center of surface low-pressure systems.

C counterclockwise and in towards the center of surface low-pressure systems.

A line connecting points of equal temperature is a(n) A isobar. B topographic contour. C isotherm. D isohyet.

C isotherm.

When light passes from one medium to another, resulting in a change in speed and direction of insolation, A transmission happens. B Rayleigh scattering is the predominant effect. C refraction occurs. D albedo increases.

C refraction occurs.

A strong pressure gradient is associated with which of the following? A weak winds B nearly calm winds C strong winds D higher concentration of ozone E None of the above are correct

C strong winds

The temperature on a cloudy night is likely to be ________ than that on a clear night because ________. A colder; the clouds reflect more energy B colder; the clouds absorb heat energy and store it C warmer; the clouds absorb heat energy and then reradiate some of it back to the ground D warmer; the clouds absorb heat energy and store it

C warmer; the clouds absorb heat energy and then reradiate some of it back to the ground

Which two gases are good absorbers of longwave radiation emitted from Earth? A oxygen and hydrogen B ozone and dust C water vapor and carbon dioxide D nitrogen and oxygen

C water vapor and carbon dioxide

the wind-chill temperature index is based on A humidity and air temperature. B surface material and air temperature. C wind speed and air temperature. D time of day and air temperature.

C wind speed and air temperature.

Low-latitude energy surpluses and high-latitude energy deficits produce the poleward transport of energy and mass in each hemisphere, through atmospheric circulation and ocean currents. On the average, which of the following is true regarding the distribution of shortwave and longwave energy at Earth's surface by latitude? A The equatorial zone is a region of net deficits. B The polar regions are areas of net surpluses. C The midlatitudes are the area of the largest surpluses throughout the year. D The distribution shows an imbalance of net radiation from equator to poles.

D The distribution shows an imbalance of net radiation from equator to poles.

What two forces are in balance when geostrophic balance is achieved? A The Coriolis force balances the gravitational force. B The frictional force balances the gravitational force. C The vertical pressure gradient force balances the frictional force. D The horizontal pressure gradient force balances the Coriolis force. E The gravitational force balances the vertical pressure gradient force

D The horizontal pressure gradient force balances the Coriolis force.

Friction________surface wind speeds, ultimately leading to air spiraling _________surface high-pressure centers. A increases; away from B decreases; toward C increases; toward D decreases; away from

D decreases; away from

Energy gained or lost when a substance changes from one state to another is A radiation B conduction. C convection. D latent heat.

D latent heat.

Land has a ________ specific heat than water and therefore heats more ________. A higher; slowly B higher; quickly C lower; slowly D lower; quickly

D lower; quickly

Isobars on a surface map represent constant values of which variable? A wind speed B temperature C station pressure D sea level pressure E dewpoint temperature

D sea level pressure

High altitudes are cooler than low altitudes because A polar air masses are more common at high altitudes. B the upper atmosphere has closer proximity to the coldness of space. C the Sun's energy is more dispersed at the top of the atmosphere. D there are fewer air molecules to absorb and radiate sensible heat.

D there are fewer air molecules to absorb and radiate sensible heat.

If the earth did not rotate, the Coriolis force would be: A strongest at the poles and zero at the equator. B strongest at the equator and zero at the poles C strong and negative everywhere on earth. D zero everywhere on earth.

D zero everywhere on earth.

Which of the following forces influences wind speed and direction? A gravity B Coriolis C friction D pressure gradient force E All of the above.

E All of the above.

air temperature above the oceans is usually more moderate than that above the continents because A there is no mixing between the layers of the land. B land has a lower specific heat. C the surface of the land is opaque. D there is less evaporation from most land surfaces. E e) All the above.

E e) All the above.