Meteorology Test 1: Hobbs
17. Often associated with a front is (are) a. cloudiness. b. precipitation. c. ascending air. d. All of the above are correct.
d
19. Exactly one-half of the surface area of Earth is in sunlight during a. either equinox only. b. the winter solstice only. c. the summer solstice only. d. any instant of time. e. None of the above is correct.
d
26. As solar radiation travels through the atmosphere, a portion of that radiation is a. absorbed by gases. b. reflected by clouds. c. scattered by dust particles and molecules. d. All of the above are correct. e. None of the above is correct.
d
30. A thinner ozone shield would likely mean a. more intense UV radiation received at the Earth's surface. b. greater incidence of skin cancer. c. greater incidence of cataracts and other eye damage. d. All of the above are correct. e. None of the above is correct.
d
34. Which one of the following surfaces absorbs the highest percentage of incident solar radiation at noon? a. fresh snow b. clouds c. land d. a calm ocean e. green grass
d
35. Clouds appear on __________ satellite images. a. visible b. infrared c. water vapor d. All of the above are correct.
d
41. Earth's surface and atmosphere emit primarily what type of electromagnetic radiation? a. visible b. microwaves c. gamma rays d. infrared e. ultraviolet
d
7. Solar radiation that reaches Earth's surface consists of a. infrared radiation. b. visible radiation. c. ultraviolet radiation. d. All of the above are correct.
d
26. The scientific method is a systematic form of inquiry that involves a. observation. b. interpretation. c. speculation. d. reasoning. e. All of the above are correct.
e
46. A greenhouse gas: a. methane b. nitrous oxide c. ozone d. carbon dioxide e. All of the above are correct.
e
41. Temperature in the atmosphere a. increases continuously with increasing altitude and nearness to the Sun. b. is highest near the top of the troposphere. c. increases in the stratosphere as altitude increases. d. is lowest near the surface of the Earth.
c
44. Clouds that form as horizontal layers are described as a. cumuliform. b. fog. c. stratiform. d. ice-crystal clouds.
c
9. According to Wien's displacement law, which one of the following objects emits its most intense electromagnetic energy at the shortest wavelength? a. an ice cube b. your hand c. the atmosphere d. the Sun e. your desk top
d
1. The wavelength of an electromagnetic wave is ______ proportional to its frequency. a. directly b. inversely
b
10. Generally, as the temperature of a radiating surface decreases, a. the rate of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the surface will increase. b. the wavelength at which radiation from the surface is most intense will lengthen. c. Both of the above are correct. d. None of the above is correct.
b
11. If the temperature of the Sun were to ______, the wavelength at which solar radiation is most intense would decrease. a. remain the same b. increase c. decrease
b
16. During its annual orbit about the Sun, Earth is most distant from the Sun in a. January. b. July. c. March. d. September.
b
17. During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the number of hours of daylight is ______ the number of hours of darkness. a. equal to b. greater than c. less than
b
18. __________ fronts are associated with cloudiness and precipitation over a broad geographical area. a. Cold b. Warm
b
2. ______ is the distance between successive wave troughs or (equivalently) successive wave crests. a. Frequency b. Wavelength
b
23. At the equinoxes, the noon Sun has an altitude of 90 degrees at the a. north pole. b. equator. c. Tropic of Capricorn. d. Arctic Circle. e. Tropic of Cancer.
b
36. On a clear day, the albedo of the sea surface is lowest a. at sunrise. b. at noon. c. at sunset.
b
4. All of the following types of electromagnetic radiation have wavelengths shorter than that of visible light with the exception of a. gamma rays. b. ultraviolet radiation. c. radio waves. d. X-rays. e. None of these is correct
b
49. __________ weather is usually associated with cumulonimbus clouds. a. Fair b. Stormy
b
35. The average albedo of the ocean is a. greater than that of clouds. b. greater than Earth's planetary albedo. c. less than 10 percent. d. about 30 percent. e. more than 60 percent
c
37. All other factors being equal, a thicker and more extensive cloud cover is likely to ______ Earth's planetary albedo. a. have no effect on b. reduce c. increase
c
39. The principal absorber(s) of the solar radiation that is intercepted by the Earth-atmosphere system is (are) a. clouds. b. land. c. ocean water. d. aerosols.
c
47. According to projections by global climate models, sea-level rise is expected to accompany global warming because a. heating sea-water causes it to expand. b. higher temperatures at high latitudes may partially melt the polar ice caps. c. Both of the above contribute.
c
48. A doubling of the absolute temperature of the Sun's surface would cause the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth to be a. one-half the amount it now receives. b. twice the amount it now receives. c. sixteen times the amount it now receives. d. None of the above is correct.
c
43. At night, air temperatures near Earth's surface tend to be lowest when the sky is a. completely cloud covered. b. mostly cloudy. c. partly cloudy. d. overcast with high thin clouds. e. clear.
e
12. Air temperatures tend to be relatively low to the ___________ of a low pressure system. a. east and south b. north and west
b
12. During an early phase of the planet's existence, Earth's atmosphere was similar in composition to the atmospheres of Mars and Venus. At that time Earth's principal atmospheric gas was a. nitrogen. b. carbon dioxide. c. oxygen. d. water vapor. e. argon.
b
16. The importance of a gas or aerosol is ______ to its relative abundance in the atmosphere. a. directly proportional b. not necessarily related
b
31. A numerical model consists of ______ and is used to forecast weather. a. line drawings b. mathematical equations c. weather symbols
b
36. Weather radar monitors the movement of a. cloud particles. b. precipitation.
b
40. Weather radar utilizes the _________ effect to monitor the motion of precipitation particles. a. Coriolis b. Doppler c. tornado d. dewpoint
b
15. The source(s) of atmospheric aerosols is (are) a. wind erosion of soil. b. forest fires. c. the spray of ocean waves. d. volcanic eruptions. e. All of these are correct.
e
40. The nation that was the first to orbit a weather satellite was a. Great Britain. b. the former USSR. c. France. d. Egypt. e. the United States.
e
23. A horizontal wind is named for the direction ___________ the wind blows. a. toward which b. from which
b
5. ____________ is used to describe the weight of the overlying air. a. Relative humidity b. Dewpoint c. Pressure d. Temperature
c
14. The principal source of Earth's atmosphere is __________. a. outgassing b. photosynthesis c. the Sun d. collisions with other planets
a
17. A gas that occurs in minute concentrations in the atmosphere and yet shields living organisms from exposure to potentially lethal intensities of solar ultraviolet radiation is a. ozone. b. water vapor. c. carbon dioxide. d. helium. e. nitrogen.
a
19. At the same humidity (water vapor concentration), a cold air mass is _________ a warm air mass. a. denser than b. less dense than c. equally as dense as
a
2. Earth's atmosphere a. shields organisms from potentially lethal levels of solar ultraviolet radiation. b. contains the gases essential for photosynthesis and cellular respiration. c. supplies the water required by all forms of life. d. All of the above are correct.
a
20. Most cloudiness and precipitation associated with a cold front occur as a relatively _________ band along or just ahead of where the front intersects Earth's surface. a. narrow b. broad
a
22. The surface winds in a _________ pressure system bring contrasting air masses together to form fronts. a. low b. high
a
33. On an infrared satellite image, high clouds appear __________ low clouds. a. brighter than b. darker than c. the same as
a
38. On a water vapor satellite image, dry air is indicated by a. areas of black. b. areas of gray. c. areas of bright white.
a
4. Depending on local topography, the maximum range of broadcasts of the NOAA weather radio is about ____________ kilometers. a. 65 b. 100 c. 20 d. 30
a
43. The layer of the atmosphere closest to the surface of the Earth is called the a. troposphere. b. mesosphere. c. stratosphere. d. thermosphere.
a
9. The proportions of the principal gases (nitrogen and oxygen) change with altitude in the a. heterosphere. b. homosphere. c. troposphere.
a
1. A relatively thin envelope of gases and suspended particles that encircles the planet is known as a. the jet stream. b. the atmosphere. c. pollution.
b
1. __________ is defined as the state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. a. Climate b. Weather
b
11. Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds blow ___________ about the center of a high pressure system. a. clockwise and outward b. clockwise and inward c. counterclockwise and outward d. counterclockwise and inward
b
13. As a general rule, lows that track from west to east across southern Canada produce ___________ precipitation compared to lows that track along the Gulf of Mexico coast. a. more b. less c. about the same amount of
b
13. The ______is the portion of the atmosphere in which the ozone shield occurs. a. troposphere b. stratosphere c. mesosphere d. thermosphere e. ionosphere
b
16. The temperature and moisture characteristics of an air mass depend on a. the phase of the Moon. b. the properties of the surface over which the air mass resides and travels. c. conditions in the upper atmosphere. d. None of the above is correct.
b
19. During photosynthesis, green plants remove ______ from the atmosphere and release ______ to the atmosphere. a. oxygen...............carbon dioxide b. carbon dioxide..............oxygen c. water vapor..............hydrogen d. ozone.............carbon dioxide e. nitrogen..............water vapor
b
22. Air pollution is ______ the consequence of human activity. a. always b. often but not always c. never
b
29. A geostationary satellite orbits Earth at a _________ altitude than a polar-orbiting satellite. a. lower b. higher
b
29. The behavior of a system (such as the Earth-atmosphere system) a. is controlled primarily by random events. b. is governed by well-known natural laws. c. is so variable that it is fruitless to try to model the system. d. can never be predicted. e. is well beyond the realm of human understanding.
b
32. An infrared satellite image is more useful than a visible satellite image __________. a. during daylight b. at night
b
33. The National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Network collects weather data primarily for __________ purposes. a. forecasting b. hydrologic, agricultural, and climatic c. aviation d. None of the above is correct.
b
34. In the portion of the atmosphere where most clouds occur, the air temperature _________ with increasing altitude. a. rises b. drops c. is constant
b
37. Meteorologists monitor the movement of plumes of water vapor at higher altitudes of the atmosphere using a. ground-based radar. b. water vapor satellite imagery. c. visible satellite imagery.
b
38. Air temperatures in the upper stratosphere are ______ air temperatures in the lower stratosphere. a. lower than b. higher than c. about the same as
b
4. Carbon dioxide was an abundant gas in the atmosphere in Earth's distant past. Its subsequent decline was caused primarily by a. chemical conversion to nitrogen. b. cycling into the ocean, sediments, and bedrock. c. removal by photosynthesis. d. None of the above is correct.
b
50. Clouds located at different altitudes __________ move in the same direction indicating __________ in the horizontal wind direction with altitude. a. always. . . . . . . a change b. sometimes. . . . . . . no change c. sometimes. . . . . . . a change
b
7. ____________ is (are) typically found near the center of a high pressure system. a. Strong winds b. Light winds or calm air c. Rainy weather d. Lightning
b
8. Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds in a low pressure system blow a. clockwise and inward. b. clockwise and outward. c. counterclockwise and inward. d. counterclockwise and outward.
b
From your experience, weather systems usually cross the coterminous United States in a. less than an hour. b. several days. c. one to two months. d. several years.
b
11. The atmosphere is composed of a. a mixture of gases called air. b. mostly nitrogen and carbon dioxide. c. a mixture of gases and tiny suspended particles (aerosols). d. nitrogen and oxygen exclusively. e. mostly water vapor, oxygen, and ozone.
c
14. An air mass is a huge volume of air that is relatively uniform horizontally in a. temperature. b. humidity. c. Both of the above are correct.
c
15. A front is a narrow zone of transition between air masses that contrast in a. temperature. b. humidity. c. Either or both of the above are correct.
c
2. Climate is defined as weather conditions at some locality averaged over a standard period of _____ years. a. 10 b. 20 c. 30 d. 100
c
21. In North America, tornadoes are most common a. along the U.S. East Coast. b. along the U.S. Pacific Coast. c. in the central United States. d. in Alaska.
c
23. Remote sensing of the atmosphere is carried out by __________. a. weather radar b. weather satellite sensors c. All of the above are correct. d. None of the above is correct.
c
24. The three atmospheric constituents that are most important for their meteorological interactions are a. nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. b. water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane. c. carbon dioxide, ozone, and water vapor. d. hydrogen, helium, and argon.
c
24. Typically, the day's ___________ temperature occurs around sunrise. a. maximum b. average c. minimum
c
25. Often the day's highest air temperature and lowest relative humidity occur a. around midnight. b. near sunrise. c. during early to mid-afternoon. d. None of the above is correct.
c
26. On average, 10 cm of freshly fallen snow melt down to _____ cm of liquid water. a. 5 b. 10 c. 1.0 d. 0.1
c
27. A northeast wind blows from the __________ toward the __________. a. southwest. . . . . . .northwest b. southeast. . . . . . .northeast c. northeast. . . . . . .southwest d. west. . . . . . .east
c
27. An example of a secondary air pollutant is a. automobile exhaust. b. sulfur dioxide from coal burning. c. photochemical smog. d. oxygen. e. dust from soil erosion.
c
3. Radioactive decay of an isotope of potassium is a source of the inert gas ______ in the Earth's atmosphere. a. nitrogen b. oxygen c. argon d. carbon dioxide
c
30. A weather map is an example of a ______ model. a. conceptual b. numerical c. graphical d. physical e. computer
c
32. A global climate model that is run on a computer and used to predict the climatic future is a ______ model. a. conceptual b. graphical c. numerical d. physical
c
34. The variation of temperature, air pressure, and dewpoint (a measure of humidity) with altitude within the troposphere is measured using a a. barometer. b. thermometer. c. radiosonde. d. anemometer
c
36. The subdivision of the atmosphere where most weather phenomena occur is the a. stratosphere. b. mesosphere. c. troposphere. d. ionosphere.
c
48. The aurora borealis (northern lights) is most likely to be visible a. near the equator. b. during daylight hours. c. at high latitudes. d. in the Southwest U.S. e. in Louisiana.
c
18. A gas that occurs in relatively low concentrations in the atmosphere and is required for photosynthesis by green plants is a. oxygen. b. argon. c. sulfur dioxide. d. hydrogen. e. carbon dioxide.
e
35. Properties of the atmosphere are monitored by a. radar. b. radiosondes. c. dropwindsondes. d. satellites. e. All of these are correct.
e
37. Within the atmosphere, the lowest average air temperature occurs a. within the troposphere. b. at the tropopause. c. within the stratosphere. d. at the stratopause. e. at the mesopause.
e
27. Through absorption, solar radiation is a. converted to heat energy. b. scattered to space. c. reflected to space. d. destroyed. e. None of the above is correct.
a
28. The National Weather Service issues a weather __________ when hazardous weather is considered possible based on current or anticipated atmospheric conditions. a. watch b. warning
a
28. The layer of the atmosphere that contains the ozone shield is the a. stratosphere. b. mesosphere. c. troposphere d. thermosphere.
a
30. All other factors being equal, temperatures are _________ during clear nights. a. coldest b. warmest
a
31. All other factors being equal, an overcast sky _________ the day's maximum temperature. a. lowers b. raises c. has no effect upon
a
41. A cloud in contact with the Earth's surface is known as a. a cumuliform cloud. b. fog. c. a cirrus cloud. d. a thunderstorm.
b
42. The greenhouse effect is primarily the consequence of atmospheric a. carbon dioxide. b. water vapor. c. oxygen. d. ozone. e. methane.
b
42. Wispy-appearing clouds that occur at high altitudes are composed of mostly a. tiny liquid water droplets. b. tiny ice crystals. c. methane. d. solid carbon dioxide
b
44. Clouds, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and methane strongly ______ infrared radiation. a. reflect b. absorb c. scatter
b
45. Cumuliform clouds _________ form along or ahead of a cold front. a. never b. typically c. always
b
47. Cumulus clouds that exhibit considerable vertical growth are ___________ to produce precipitation. a. likely b. unlikely
b
10. An atmospheric gas that varies significantly in concentration from one location to another near sea-level is a. nitrogen. b. oxygen. c. water vapor. d. All of these are correct. e. None of these is correct.
c
13. The ultimate source of solar radiation is a. convection. b. nuclear fission. c. nuclear fusion in the Sun. d. sunspots. e. solar tides.
c
28. A scientific model is an ______ representation of the way a system works. a. exact b. erroneous c. approximate
c
29. The principal threat to the ozone shield is a. aircraft exhaust. b. the burning of fossil fuels. c. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). d. volcanic eruptions. e. global warming.
c
3. All of the following types of electromagnetic radiation have wavelengths longer than that of visible light with the exception of a. infrared radiation. b. microwaves. c. radio waves. d. ultraviolet radiation. e. None of these is correct.
c
44. The layer of the atmosphere where most weather takes place is the __________. a. mesosphere. b. ionosphere. c. troposphere. d. stratosphere.
c
45. Which of the following is defined on a basis different from that for the others listed? a. stratosphere b. mesosphere c. homosphere d. troposphere
c
48. A thunderstorm cloud: a. cumulus b. cirrus c. cumulonimbus d. stratiform
c
7. Today, the principal source of atmospheric oxygen is a. outgassing. b. photodissociation of water vapor. c. photosynthesis by plants. d. radioactive decay of soil. e. volcanic eruptions.
c
46. ___________ usually indicate fair weather. a. Scattered cumulus clouds b. Stratiform clouds
a
49. Compared to the rest of the 20th century, the global mean annual temperature during the decade of the 1990s was relatively a. high. b. low.
a
43. __________ clouds occur at relatively high altitudes and have a fibrous or wispy appearance. a. Ice-crystal b. Water-droplet
a
45. The chief reason for the upward trend in atmospheric carbon dioxide since the mid-1800s is a. the burning of fossil fuels. b. deforestation. c. less photosynthesis worldwide. d. volcanic eruptions. e. CFCs.
a
46. Most water vapor in the atmosphere occurs in the _________. a. troposphere b. stratosphere c. mesosphere d. ionosphere
a
5. All other factors being equal, a more CO2-rich atmosphere is a ______ atmosphere. a. warmer b. colder
a
5. Red has the ______ wavelength in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. a. longest b. shortest
a
50. An infrared radiometer flown onboard a weather satellite is used to measure a. cloud surface temperatures. b. the solar wind. c. the solar constant.
a
6. Ultraviolet radiation, gamma rays, and X-rays have frequencies ______ that of visible light and infrared radiation. a. higher than b. lower than c. equal to
a
6. Water vapor is a. an invisible gas. b. uniformly distributed within the atmosphere. c. concentrated within the lower stratosphere. d. visible in clouds. e. the principal gas in the ionosphere.
a
6. __________ pressure systems are usually accompanied by fair weather and __________ pressure systems are usually accompanied by stormy weather. a. High...............low b. Low...............high
a
8. ______ is (are) partially blocked by ozone in the stratosphere. a. Ultraviolet radiation b. Microwaves c. X-rays
a
14. Today, the solar altitude is at a maximum around a. sunrise. b. 6 pm. c. noon. d. 9 am. e. sunset.
c
18. During winter in either hemisphere, the number of hours of sunlight is ______ the number of hours of darkness. a. equal to b. greater than c. less than
c
21. On the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the noon Sun has an altitude of 90 degrees where? a. Tropic of Cancer b. Arctic Circle c. Tropic of Capricorn d. Antarctic Circle e. the equator
c
24. The period of daylight at any point along the equator a. ranges from about 9 to 15 hours over the period of a year. b. ranges from about 11 to 13 hours over the period of a year. c. is essentially the same throughout the year. d. None of the above is correct.
c
31. Formation and dissociation of ozone in Earth's atmosphere is related to the a. atmospheric absorption of ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. b. formation and maintenance of the "warm layer" in the stratosphere. c. Both of the above are correct. d. None of the above is correct.
c
33. Which one of the following surfaces has the highest albedo for visible solar radiation? a. ocean water b. black asphalt c. fresh snow d. green grass e. old snow
c
12. Solar radiation a. is most intense at a shorter wavelength than terrestrial infrared radiation. b. does not interact with components of the atmosphere. c. heats the atmosphere which, in turn, heats Earth's surface. d. that reaches the outer atmosphere consists of mostly microwaves. e. None of the above is correct.
a
15. Earth is closest to the Sun during the a. Northern Hemisphere winter. b. Northern Hemisphere summer. c. Southern Hemisphere spring. d. Southern Hemisphere fall. e. Southern Hemisphere winter.
a
20. Earth's rotational axis is oriented perpendicular to the Sun's rays on the first day of a. spring. b. summer. c. winter. d. None of the above is correct.
a
22. Except at the poles, nights everywhere are about 12 hours long when? a. equinoxes b. solstices c. aphelion d. perihelion e. 21 December
a
25. Earth's solar constant a. is actually variable. b. refers to the intensity of solar radiation that actually reaches Earth's surface. c. is about 0.5 calories per square centimeter per minute. d. must be measured at perihelion. e. must be measured at aphelion.
a
32. Which one of the following surfaces has the lowest albedo for visible solar radiation? a. black asphalt road b. green grass c. fresh snow d. desert e. white beach sand
a
38. The surface of Earth is absorbing solar radiation. If more solar radiation is absorbed than emitted, then the temperature of Earth's surface will a. rise. b. fall. c. not change.
a
40. Earth's planetary albedo is about ______ percent. a. 30 b. 71 c. 23 d. 47 e. 8
a
10. Weather systems in the middle latitudes of the Earth generally move in the direction towards the a. east. b. south. c. west. d. north.
a
20. Atmospheric aerosols a. are generated by both human activities and natural processes. b. may play a role in cloud formation. c. may influence air temperature. d. include sea-salt crystals. e. All of the above are correct.
d
21. Air pollutants are gases or aerosols that a. occur in concentrations that threaten the well-being of living organisms, especially humans. b. often are natural components of the atmosphere. c. may disrupt the orderly functioning of the environment. d. All of the above are correct. e. None of the above is correct.
d
3. The climate of some locality governs a. the type of crops that can be cultivated. b. the fresh water supply. c. the average heating and cooling requirements for homes. d. All of the above are correct.
d
39. In the troposphere, air temperature______ with increasing altitude. a. always increases b. always decreases c. usually increases d. usually decreases e. does not change
d
39. Weather radar emits pulses of __________ energy that are reflected by precipitation particles (e.g., raindrops, snowflakes). a. radio b. visible c. infrared d. microwave
d
42. The layers of the atmosphere, in order, from the surface up are a. stratosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, troposphere. b. troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere. c. thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere. d. troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
d
47. The ______ features a relatively high concentration of electrically charged particles. a. troposphere b. stratosphere c. mesosphere d. ionosphere
d
49. The solar wind a. consists of a stream of electrically-charged sub-atomic particles. b. continually flows from the Sun. c. is deflected by Earth's magnetic field. d. All of the above are correct. e. None of the above is correct.
d
50. A relatively active Sun is accompanied by a. expansion of the auroral oval toward the equator. b. solar flares. c. disruption of electric power grids. d. All of the above are correct. e. None of the above is correct.
d
8. The portion of the atmosphere in which the principal gases (nitrogen and oxygen) occur everywhere in the same proportions is the a. troposphere. b. stratosphere. c. homosphere. d. All of these are correct. e. None of these is correct.
d
25. Aerosol is the name given to a. the combination of "fixed" gases in the atmosphere. b. an instrument used to measure the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. c. the layer of atmosphere above the stratosphere. d. solid and liquid particles small enough to be suspended in air.
d