Intro to Weather and Climate (Exam 3)

You meet someone in another class who expresses skepticism about climate change and global warming. The student explains that weather in their area has been the coolest they can remember that season. Using what you've learned from the climate change chapter, select all the replies that would be accurate to share with your classmate.

-"Global warming" means that the average global temperature is increasing. It doesn't mean that temperatures everywhere are hotter. -Weather and climate are different. Cooler weather in one location does not mean the global climate is also cooler.

How would abrupt changes in climate, such as harsh summers with low rainfall for multiple years, affect people? Select all of the likely effects:

-Alter crops being grown and reduce food security -Shift the dominant plant types growing in a region -Limit availability to water for some areas -Increase energy demands for cooling buildings

Which of the following statements is true?

-Altitudinal zonation makes it possible to grow many different types of crops -Altitudinal zonation strongly influences the plants (and crops) that grow there -Plants that grow well in the temperate mid-latitudes (e.g. Nebraska) can also thrive in the tropics if grown at higher elevations -Elevation plays a major role in a region's climate

Ratios of O/O typically increase:

-As one moves close to the poles -As conditions grow colder

Dust in the Vostok ice core seems to increase in association with:

-Colder temperatures and ice ages -Due to a stronger Polar Front jet stream

Which statement best describes why there are so many more tornadoes since the 1990s?

-Population increases result in more tornadoes reported than before -Technology allows for easier spotting with radar and easier confirmation with smartphones

Certain agricultural crops do better in certain altitudinal zones. In which zones does corn grow well? (select all that apply)

-Tierra Caliente -Tierra Templada -Tierra Fria

When scientists talk about ____ , they're often looking at averages of precipitation, temperature, humidity, sunshine, wind, and other measures of weather that occur over a long period in a particular place. In some instances, they might look at these averages over _____ years. And, we refer to these three-decade averages of weather observations as Climate _____

1. Climate 2. 30 3. Normals

____ climates are found across the continents that border the ____ Ocean, ____ , and ____

1. Polar 2. Arctic 3. Greenland 4. Antarctica

____ climates are found mainly around the ____. They have high ____ and lots of ____ throughout the year. Conditions thus are very humid. Because these climates provide plenty of heat and water, they are lush in vegetation and animal life.

1. Tropical 2. equator 3. temperature 4. rain

Two of the most important factors determining an area's climate are ____ and ____.

1. temperature 2. precipitation

Tropical cyclones can be short or long-lived storms. Using the above figure of Hurricane Ike, how long was the storm rated a hurricane?

10 days

In the graphical model of a mature mid-latitude cyclones below, select the number associated with coldest surface air temperatures.

2

In the graphical model of a mature mid-latitude cyclones below, select the number associated with the location of the warm front.

2

The Dry Climates (Group B) have less precipitation than evaporation. Dry climate zones cover about ____ percent of the world's land area.

26

How much carbon is released each day from all of the world's one billion automobiles?

3 million tons

What amount of carbon dioxide do human's release today?

30 billion tons

Climographs represent averaged weather data for what duration of time?

30 years

If we begin our journey at the coast (0 meters) where it is 26 degrees Celsius, what will the temperate be when we reach the upper limit of the Tierra Fria zone at 3000 meters if we use the ELR?

6.5 degrees Celsius

What contains an equivalent amount of carbon as a gallon of gasoline?

A 5-pound bag of charcoal briquettes

Why is warm, moist air considered the "fuel" for a hurricane?

Air cools as it rises. As air cools, water vapor will condense out as liquid water. Condensation releases heat, providing energy to the hurricane.

Factors in climate change include:

All of the above

Which of the following is an example of an anthropogenic (human-caused) climate control?

All of the above

Which of the following statements about midlatitudes cyclones are correct?

All of the above

Why are nocturnal (nighttime) tornadoes so dangerous?

All of the above

Tropical monsoon climates

All of the above.

What exhibits such a large variety of both spatial and temporal scales?

Atmosphere

Consider the climograph in Fig 3. Which month averages the most rainfall?

August

What are the two major factors in the study of both ancient and present-day climatic conditions of the Earth ?

Changes in the relationship between the Earth and the Sun and the changes in the surface of the planet itself

What Paleoclimatologists seek to explain ?

Cimate variations for all parts of the Earth during any given geologic period

Which Mexico cities have an arid (desert) climate?

Ciudad Juarez (32N)

A transition zone in the atmosphere where an advancing cold air mass displaces a warm air mass.

Cold Front

What is defined as the measure of the degree to which a region's climate typifies that of an interior of a large landmass.

Continentality

Long-lasting rainstorms occur when a cold air front encounters a receding warm air front.

False

The only source of flooding related to a hurricane is from excessive rainfall.

False

When a cold air front moves rapidly toward a warm air front, there isn't time to predict the light and longer-lasting rains that result from the warm air dissipating.

False

Today's landscape gives clues to the climate of the past, what is an example of signs of their activity?

Glaciers

Mexico has seven main climate regions, which city has tropical wet-and-dry

Guadalajara (21N)

Which location experiences greater temperature variability over a year?

Houston, Texas

Which location is warmer in the month of August (A)?

Houston, Texas

A positive-feedback mechanism is one that ______________ the conditions or system output.

Increases

The climate of the last 10,000 years in the southeastern United States - with several inland water bodies:

Lake sediments

In terms of Obliquity, what characteristic is favorable to ice age formation?

Lesser tilt

Which of the following is false regarding the tropical rain forest ecosystems?

Low-growing vegetation is dense to the forest floor.

What is true of the last 30 to 40 years in terms of climate change?

Major weather events appear to be getting more frequent and causing more damage

Which location experiences a near absence of rain during the northern hemisphere winter months (D-M)?

Mangalore, India

A cylinder of cyclonically flowing air that form vertically inside a severe thunderstorm.

Mesocyclone

The atmosphere over urban centers is an example of which atmospheric scale?

Micro-Scale

What are midlatitdue cyclones

Migrating low-pressure cells that move in the band of the westerlies

How can increased carbon dioxide uptake, or carbon sequestration, by global forests change earth's climate?

Net global forest growth removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus cooling the earth's climate.

Which of the following would best be described as a climatic event?

None of the above are climatic events

Which Milankovitch parameter is on a 41,000 year cycle?

Obliquity

A transition zone in the atmosphere where an advancing cold air mass sandwiches a warm air mass between another cold air mass pushing the warm air into the upper atmosphere.

Occluded Front

What is occlusion in a midlatitude cyclone?

Occlusion is the process by which a cold front overtakes a warm front

The climate of the North Atlantic Ocean for the past million years:

Ocean sediments

The highest frequency of tornadoes in the United States occurs in

Oklahoma

Characteristics of synoptic scale

Only A, B, and C are correct

A rainshadow is most often associated with which atmospheric lifting mechanism?

Orographic

The scientific study of the climatic conditions of past geologic ages

Paleoclimatology

Type of climate s normally located along leeward lower east coast continents such as in southeast and central Argentina, Uruguay and south of Brazil, the southeast portions of east Asia, the southern United States, South Africa, and eastern Australia

Humid Subtropical Hot-Summer Climate

An intense cyclonic storm consisting of an organized mass of thunderstorms that develops over the warm oceans of the tropics.

Hurricane

Which storm systems usually create the greatest damage?

Hurricanes.

Oxygen isotope analysis is most commonly performed on which type of proxy data?

Ice cores

The climate of Antarctica for the past 100,000 years:

Ice cores

Why has the earth experienced natural climate change?

In cycles of tens or often hundreds of thousands of years, the earth's tilt and its orbit around the sun gradually change. These natural changes have contributed to dramatic shifts in earth's climate.

Which of the following is not true of tropical and subtropical hot desert climates?

In most years, they do not receive any precipitation.

Example of forces that shape the atmospheric conditions in each of these parts of the world

In the Sahara, high pressure combined with its tropical location allows for more solar radiation to reach the ground and heat it throughout the year

The future effects of climate change can be modeled in shifting climate type coverage. All of the following trends can be observed in the gif above except for: ____ .

Polar regions will shift to arid climate types.

Which Milankovitch parameter is a non-factor when our earth is near-circular in form?

Precession of the equinoxes

How are rain patterns different near warm and cold fronts?

Rain near a cold front occurs over a smaller spatial area and is more intense than near a warm front

Where does rain occur in a warm front?

Rain occurs along and in front of a warm front

Why does rain occur near a cold front?

Rising warm air cools, resulting in cloud formation and rain

If Earth had less axial tilt, what would the affect be on our seasons?

Seasons would have lesser variability

An example of planetary-scale

Semipermanent pressure centers

Based on long-term hurricane data and the above figure, what is the date with the most storms?

September 10

Which of the following is NOT a factor in the development of Urban Heat Islands?

Setting aside of "open space"

From the graph in figure 2 {2}, which of the following weather events appears to be occurring with greater frequency and causing the greater damage?

Severe storms

Relatively rapid rise in the height of the ocean along a coastline.

Storm Surge

What type of climate only found in the Northern Hemisphere because there is no large landmass at the same latitude in the Southern Hemisphere

Subarctic

Hurricane Ike made multiple landfalls. Which US state was the first impacted directly?

Texas

Climates may best be defined as:

The prevailing set of weather conditions at a place over a number of years

Which of the following is a correct statement describing the above figures?

The relationship between the Keeling Curve (CO2 levels) correspond very closely with increases in the global temperature.

A storm that typically ranges in size from several kilometers (several miles) to over 50 kilometers (30 miles) in diameter created by the rapid lifting of moist warm air which creates a cumulonimbus cloud.

Thunderstorm

The highest number of tornadoes in the United States occurs in the southern plains, south of Lake Michigan, and west central Florida. This region of the United States is known as

Tornado Alley

The climate for each year over the past 200 years in the heavily vegetated northwest United States:

Tree rings

Unlike the rest of the continental United States, South Florida is mostly classified as Am or ________.

Tropical Monsoon

What was the first stage of Hurricane Ike (and most tropical cyclones)?

Tropical depression

Which climate has the highest mean annual temperature of any climate on Earth?

Tropical desert

During this stage, there is little to no rotation associated with the storm.

Tropical disturbance

Storms are given a name once they exceed 38 mph sustained winds during this stage.

Tropical storm

All of the following names refer to tropical cyclones: cyclone, typhoon, hurricane, willy willy.

True

In addition to the dangers of flooding and wind speed from the hurricanes, tornadoes are also commonly associated with hurricanes.

True

Rainstorms are generally shorter when a cold air front comes in quickly and collides with a warm air front.

True

Violent weather are more commonly associated with a cold front.

True

When warm air collides with a cold air front, its slow journey up the slope of the cold air front causes longer rains.

True

Upward movement of air in the atmosphere.

Updraft

Which of these climate controls would most likely have the fastest impact on climate change?

Urban Heat Islands

Currently, Polaris is our "North Star". According to Milankovitch theory, which star will be our "North Star" in the future?

Vega

A transition zone in the atmosphere where an advancing warm air mass displaces a cold air mass.

Warm Front

What are the three cyclical movements related to Earth's orbit regards to the Milankovitch theory?

eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession

What is the condition of outside air at a certain time and place

elements of weather

The scale that correlates wind speed and structural damage in a tornado is the

enhanced Fujita scale.

What analyzing the ratio of oxygen-16 to oxygen-18 recorded in rocks, fossils, ice and sediments help the scientist find?

find evidence of the climate at the time they were formed.

The temperature curve on the climograph of a tropical rainforest climate will typically

fluctuate only slightly around 80 °F during the year.

Mid-latitude or _______ cyclones are large traveling atmospheric cyclonic storms up to 2000 km (1250 mi) in diameter with centers of low atmospheric pressure.

frontal

What causes wind on top of hills and mountains

hot air raising while cool air sinks

Tropical storms officially become a ____ when their sustained wind speed exceeds 119 kph (74 mph).

hurricane

Locations with the greatest average annual temperature variability are usually

in the interior of continents in the mid-latitudes.

Wave cyclones are most common

in the mid-latitudes

In dendrochrology, the scientist wants to choose a tree that:

is growing in an area that relies on precipitation for existence

Global circulation patterns of winds and ocean currents, which drive weather systems and, ultimately, climate patterns are created by?

latitudinal energy imbalance between tropical and polar regions.

Where are tropical cyclones found?

lower and middle latitudes

A cold air mass originating over an ocean is designated

mP

An air mass that forms over the southernmost portions of the Pacific ocean (near Antarctica) would be a ​[?] air mass:

mP (maritime Polar)

A cool and moist airmass associated with a coast

mP - Maritime polar

A warm and moist airmass associated with a coast.

mT - Maritime tropical

The ____ climate is strongly influenced by the oceans, which maintain fairly steady temperatures across the seasons.

maritime

Which climate type is considered an arid climate in which the total annual precipitation is less than half the annual potential evapotranspiration?

midlatitude desert

Dry climates are most common

near areas of sub-tropical high pressure.

Globally, the average rainfall is highest

near the equator.

"Cold and dry" temperature and precipitation patterns are characteristics of

polar climates.

"Hot and wet" temperature and precipitation patterns are characteristics of

rainforests in the equatorial tropics.

A climograph

shows the monthly precipitation and temperature for a location.

_____ is an increase in the height of the ocean's surface in the region beneath and around the eye of a hurricane.

surge

In the United States, mid-latitude cyclone development is usually the result of

the interaction of cP and mT air masses

Climate is

the long-term atmospheric condition including extremes that may occur.

Palynology involves:

the study of pollen

Orographic lifting is

air forced to rise over a barrier, such as a mountain range

Tundra climates

are found at both high latitudes and high altitudes.

Most warm air masses affecting North America

are moist

Which location corresponds with a humid subtropical climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.

area A

Which location corresponds with a hot semi-arid climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.

area B

Which location corresponds with a Mediterranean climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.

area C

Which location corresponds with a hot desert climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.

area D

Which location corresponds with a subarctic climate type? Please reference Fig. 4.

area F

What are climate zones

areas that are divided by precipitation and temperature

Why major eruptions alter the Earth's radiative balance ?

because volcanic aerosol clouds absorb terrestrial radiation and scatter a significant amount of the incoming solar radiation, an effect known as "radiative forcing" that can last from two to three years following a volcanic eruption.

How human activities contribute to climate change?

by causing changes in Earth's atmosphere in the amounts of greenhouse gases, aerosols

Which is the coldest air mass?

cA

A very cold and very dry airmass located over land.

cA - Continental arctic

During the summer months, which is the warmest air mass?

cT

A warm and dry airmass located over land

cT - Continental tropical

Summer afternoon thundershowers in the southeastern United States are more than likely a result of

convection lifting

Tropical rainforest climates are produced by

converging air near the equator.

What climate characteristics is the polar climate group most likely to have?

cool and dry

Tornadoes that travel across lakes or oceans are called _____

waterspouts

What is a set of conditions in the atmosphere in one location for a limited period of time

weather

The climate each year over the past few hundred years for a small island located in the Pacific Ocean near the equator:

Coral

Midlatitude cyclones in the United States rotate in which direction?

Counterclockwise

Which of the following is an example of a(n) macro-scale climate control?

Distribution of oceans and continents

____ climates occupy the most extensive area of land on Earth.

Dry

Which of the following is true of the Mediterranean climate?

Dry summers and wet winters

Why human health is vulnerable to climate change?

Due heat stress, an increase in waterborne diseases, poor air quality, and diseases transmitted by insects and rodents

Which Milankovitch parameter seems to be a factor evidenced in the Vostok ice core?

Eccentricity

Broadly define where the majority of Tropical climates are located using the above figure.

Equatorial regions

Which part of a hurricane consists of dry, descending air?

Eye

What happens when air masses of different temperatures meet?

Well-defined boundaries form between the air masses

When do midlatitude cyclones stop producing storms?

When the cold front has completely taken over the warm front

Interpret the Am climograph for Miami, FL. Which of the following best describe the expected climate?

Winters are modestly cooler (~10-15 degrees) than summers and precipitation is limited during the winter months.

What best describes the Milankovitch cycle?

a cyclical movement related to the Earth's orbit around the Sun

What is a tropical cyclone?

a low-pressure disturbance that develops over warm, tropical waters

Tropical cyclones do not form exactly on the Equator because

there is no Coriolis force at the Equator.

The ____ desert is an environment of extremes: it is the driest and hottest place on earth

tropical

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type? (India)

tropical monsoon

This climograph is characteristic of which climate type? (Brazil)

tropical rain forest