Exam 1 study guide
When it is January and winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is ____ and ____ in the Southern Hemisphere. January; summer January; winter July; winter July; summer
January; summer
Where is most of the Ozone found? In the Stratosphere near the Stratopause In the Troposphere near the ground At lower levels of the Stratosphere In the lower levels of the Heterosphere
at lower levels of the stratosphere
Radiational cooling typically occurs: during the afternoon during the late morning at night
at night
During summer near the North Pole, the sun is above the horizon ______ in the mid-latitudes. for a longer period of time than for a shorter period of time than for the same amount of time as
for a longer period of time than
____ holds a planet's atmosphere close to its surface. Radiation Gravity Cloud cover Moisture Pressure
gravity
In a conditionally unstable atmosphere, the environmental lapse rate will be ____ than the moist adiabatic rate and ____ than the dry adiabatic rate. greater; less greater; greater less; greater less; less
greater; less
Which of the following are caused by the bending of light through ice crystals? rainbows and halos halos and the green flash halos and sundogs sundogs and sun pillars mirages and sundogs
halos and sundogs
Since the turn of this century, CO2 in the atmosphere has: been increasing in concentration. been decreasing in concentration. remained at about the same concentration from year to year. disappeared entirely.
increasing in concentration
In the stratosphere, the air temperature normally: decreases with increasing height. increases with increasing height. both increases and decreases depending on the season. cannot be measured.
increasing with increasing hight
The Earth's surface and atmosphere predominately emits what type of radiation? visible microwave gamma ray infrared
infrared
Most of the radiation emitted by a human body is in the form of: ultraviolet radiation and is invisible. visible radiation but is too weak to be visible. infrared radiation and is invisible. humans do not emit electromagnetic radiation.
infrared radiation and is invisible
The earth emits radiation with greatest intensity at: infrared wavelengths. radio wavelengths. visible wavelengths. ultraviolet wavelengths.
infrared wavelengths
During the course of a year, the sun will first disappear from view for the entire day at the South Pole on what day? June 21 January 1 September 23 March 21
march 21
At the North Pole the sun will rise above the horizon on ____ and set below the horizon on ____. June 22; September 23 September 23; December 22 March 21; September 23 June 22; December 22 March 21; December 22
march 21, September 23
The rate at which the temperature changes inside a rising (or descending) parcel of saturated air is called the: environmental lapse rate. dry adiabatic lapse rate. moist adiabatic lapse rate. latent heat release rate.
moist adiabatic lapse rate
Water heats up ____ and cools off ____ than land. more quickly; more quickly more quickly; more slowly more slowly; more quickly more slowly; more slowly
more slowly; more slowly
In July, at middle latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, the day is ____ long and is ____ with each passing day. less than 12 hours; getting longer less than 12 hours; getting shorter more than 12 hours; getting longer more than 12 hours; getting shorter
more than 12 hours, getting shorter
Which of the following are NOT units of pressure? millibars newtons inches of mercury (Hg) pascals
newtons
The most abundant gases in the earth's atmosphere by volume are: carbon dioxide and nitrogen. oxygen and water vapor. nitrogen and oxygen. oxygen and helium. oxygen and ozone.
nitrogen and oxygen
In a volume of air near the earth's surface, ____ occupies 78 percent and ____ nearly 21 percent. nitrogen, oxygen hydrogen, oxygen oxygen, hydrogen nitrogen, water vapor hydrogen, helium
nitrogen, oxygen
How much radiant energy will an object emit if its temperature is at absolute zero? the maximum theoretical amount none the same as it would at any other temperature depends on the chemical composition of the object
none
The ultimate source of solar radiation is convection nuclear fission sun spots nuclear fusion
nuclear fusion
The bending of light that occurs when it enters and passes through a substance of different density is called: diffraction. reflection. refraction. scattering.
refraction
In the northern hemisphere, the number of hours of daylight begins to shorten after the: spring equinox. summer solstice. autumn equinox. winter solstice.
summer solstice
Which of the following determine the kind (wavelength) and amount of radiation that an object emits? temperature thermal conductivity density latent heat
temperature
Which of the following provides a measure of the average speed of air molecules? pressure temperature density heat
temperature
The gas that shows the most variation from place to place and from time to time in the lower atmosphere is which of the following? ozone (O3) carbon dioxide (CO2) water vapor (H2O) methane (CH4)
water vapor
The most abundant greenhouse gas in the earth's atmosphere is: carbon dioxide (CO2). nitrous oxide (N2O). water vapor (H2O). methane (CH4). chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
water vapor
Which of the following is considered a variable gas in the earth's atmosphere? water vapor nitrogen oxygen argon helium
water vapor
Suppose two identical air columns have the same temperature and the same number of air molecules inside. If one column is saturated with water vapor and the other is completely dry, then the air density is greatest in: the dry column the saturated column
the saturated column
The sun emits a maximum amount of radiation at wavelengths near ____, while the earth emits maximum radiation near wavelengths of ____. 0.5 micrometers, 30 micrometers 0.5 micrometers, 10 micrometers 10 micrometers, 30 micrometers 1 micrometer, 10 micrometers
.5 micrometers, 10 micrometers
What portion of the atmosphere is CO2? 0.039% 44% 79% 21%
0.039
The fraction of the sun's energy absorbed by the Earth's surface is approximately: 7% 30% 50% 80% 93.2%
50%
What latitude listed below would experience the fewest hours of daylight on December 22? 60o S 20o S 20o N 60o N
60 N
Which latitude below would experience the fewest hours of daylight on Dec. 22? 60°S 20°S 0°(Equator) 20°N 60°N
60 N
At 0oC (32oF), the heat of vaporization of water is about 540 calories per gram 600 calories per gram 1.0 calories per gram 0.5 calories per gram
600 calories per gram
The albedo of the moon is 7%. This means that 7% of the sunlight that strikes the moon is reflected 7% of the sunlight that strikes the moon is absorbed 93% of the sunlight that strikes the moon is reflected 93% of the sunlight that strikes the moon is absorbed
7% of the sunlight that strikes the moon is reflected
The Earth radiates most at about 0.25 microns 0.5 microns 5 microns 10 microns
10 microns
Which of the following environmental lapse rates would represent the most unstable atmosphere in a layer of unsaturated air? 3°C per 1,000 m 6°C per 1,000 m 9°C per 1,000 m 11°C per 1,000 m
11C per 1,000 m
What is the atomic mass of NH3 ? 17 28 32 44 48
17
Which of the following weather elements ALWAYS decreases as we climb upward in the atmosphere? wind temperature pressure moisture all of these
Pressure
The transfer of heat by molecule-to-molecule contact is: conduction. convection. radiation. ultrasonic.
conduction
Which of the following is TRUE about rainbows? The rainbow will be seen in the west when the sun is setting. Rainbows form when rays from the sun are scattered. The brightest rainbows are seen around noon. To see a rainbow at sunrise, you should look toward the west.
To see a rainbow at sunrise, you should look toward the west.
Incoming solar radiation in middle latitudes is less in winter than in summer because: the sun's rays slant more and spread their energy over a larger area. the sun's rays are weakened by passing through a greater thickness of atmosphere. the cold dense air lowers the intensity of the sun's rays. all of these a and b only
a and b only
You can raise relative humidity by evaporating water into the air warming the air cooling the air a and b a and c
a and c
An increase in albedo would be accompanied by ____ in radiative equilibrium temperature. an increase a decrease no change unstable oscillations
a decrease
White light is ____ of electromagnetic radiation. a single long wavelength a single short wavelength a mixture of all visible wavelengths a mixture of all types
a mixture of all visible wavelengths
A sounding can be measured by: a thermometer. a psychrometer. a radiosonde. a barograph.
a radiosonde
A high water vapor pressure indicates: a relatively large number of water vapor molecules in the air a relatively small number of water vapor molecules in the air a relatively high rate of evaporation an abundant supply of condensation nuclei in the air
a relatively large number of water vapor molecules in the air
At the 500 mb level, the amount of oxygen inhaled in a single breath is ____ of that inhaled at sea-level. about the same about one-quarter about one-half about three-quarters
about one half
In equal volumes, cold air is ____ warm air more dense than about the same density as less dense than
about the same density
If the environmental lapse rate is less than the moist adiabatic rate, the atmosphere is: conditionally unstable. absolutely stable. absolutely unstable. neutrally stable.
absolutely stable
When the environmental lapse rate decreases more rapidly with height than the dry adiabatic rate, the atmosphere is: absolutely stable. absolutely unstable. convectively unstable. conditionally unstable.
absolutely unstable
Warming in the stratosphere is mainly caused by: absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone. release of latent heat energy during condensation. chemical reactions between ozone and chlorofluorocarbons. frictional heating caused by meteorites.
absorption of ultraviolet radiation by ozone
In the atmosphere, tiny solid or liquid suspended particles of various composition are called: aerosols. carcinogens. greenhouse gases. microbes. none of these
aerosols
The maximum in daytime surface temperature typically occurs ______ the earth receives its most intense solar radiation. before after exactly when
after
Air molecules selectively scatter visible light because: air molecules are smaller than the wavelength of visible light. air molecules are much larger than the wavelength of visible light. air molecules are the same size as the wavelength of visible light. the electrons that orbit around the nucleus of atoms have a blue color.
air molecules are smaller than the wavelength of visible light
The temperature at which water boils depends mainly on: air temperature relative humidity air pressure air density the specific heat of air
air pressure
The earth's atmosphere is divided into layers based on the vertical profile of: air pressure. air temperature. air density. wind speed.
air temperature
In a temperature inversion: air temperature increases with increasing height. air temperature decreases with increasing height. air temperature remains constant with increasing height. it is warmer at night than during the day.
air temperature increases with increasing height
During an equinox, the days and nights are of equal length except at the poles at noon the sun is overhead at the equator the earth is not tilted toward nor away from the sun all of these
all of these
During the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, astronomical winter begins in the Northern Hemisphere. the noon sun is overhead at 23.5°S latitude. at middle latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, this marks the longest night of the year. all of these
all of these
Refraction of light by the atmosphere is responsible for: scintillation of starlight. mirages. causing the sun to appear to flatten-out on the horizon. increasing the length of daylight. all of these
all of these
Which of the following would be TRUE if the earth did not have an atmosphere? There would be fewer hours of daylight. The sky would always be black. The stars would be visible in the sky during the day. all of these
all of these
That term that defines the portion of the atmosphere in which the principle gases occur everywhere in the same proportion is the _______ troposphere stratosphere homosphere all the above are correct
all the above
The dry adiabatic lapse rate is ____ greater than the moist adiabatic lapse rate. never sometimes always
always
The temperature of a rising air parcel: always cools due to expansion. always warms due to expansion. always cools due to compression. always warms due to compression. remains constant
always cools due to expansion
A rising parcel of air that does not exchange heat with its surroundings is an example of: isothermal ascent. an adiabatic process. forced lifting. advection.
an adiabatic process
Which of the following conditions would be described as the most stable? Environmental lapse rate is 13°C per kilometer. Environmental lapse rate is 3°C per kilometer. isothermal conditions an inversion
an inversion
Water vapor is (an) invisible gas uniformly distributed within an atmosphere concentrated within the lower stratosphere visible as clouds
an invisible gas
The lowest temperature is usually observed: at the time of sunset. near midnight. several hours before sunrise. around sunrise. several hours after sunrise.
around sunrise
Nighttime temperatures rarely drop below the dew point temperature because: the dew will absorb all the heat. saturation vapor pressures always increase at night. at saturation, latent heat of condensation is released into the air. both the dew will absorb all the heat and latent heat of condensation is released into the air at saturation.
at saturation, latent heat of condensation is released into the air.
The main reason(s) for warm summers in middle latitudes is that: the earth is closer to the sun in summer. the sun is higher in the sky and we receive more direct solar radiation. the days are longer. all of these b and c only
b and c only
Two objects, A and B, have the same mass but the specific heat of A is larger than B. If both objects absorb equal amounts of energy, A will become warmer than B. B will become warmer than A. both A and B will warm at the same rate. A will get warmer, but B will get colder.
b will become warmer than a
A south wind: blows from the north. is any warm wind. blows from the south. is any moist wind.
blows from the south
Suppose you are outside in very cold temperatures, wearing a winter coat that is quite effective at keeping you warm. Which of the following is true? The coat is the source of the heat that keeps you warm. Your body generates the heat that keeps you warm. The coat prevents your body's heat from escaping to the surrounding air. Both a and c are true. Both b and c are true.
both b and c are true
The processes of condensation and freezing: both release sensible heat into the environment. both absorb sensible heat from the environment. do not affect the temperature of their surroundings. do not involve energy transport.
both release sensible heat into the environment
Sunlight passes through a thicker portion of the atmosphere at: sunrise. noon. sunset. night. both sunrise and sunset.
both sunrise and sunset
The greenhouse gas that has been increasing in concentration, at least partly due to deforestation, is: carbon dioxide (CO2). chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). water vapor (H2O). ozone (O3). all of these
carbon dioxide
Water is a polar molecule with the oxygen end being electrically neutral charged negatively charged positively charged either positively or negatively depending on its orientation
charged negatively
You would most likely see a halo or sundog with which of the following cloud types? altostratus cirrostratus nimbostratus cumulus
cirrostratus
At night, air temperatures tend to be lower when the sky is completely cloud covered partly cloudy clear mostly cloudy
clear
During the afternoon, the greatest temperature difference between the surface air and the air several meters above occurs on a: clear, calm afternoon clear, windy afternoon cloudy, calm afternoon cloudy, windy afternoon
clear calm afternoon
In clear weather, the air next to the ground is usually ____ than the air above during the night and ____ than the air above during the day. colder; warmer colder; colder warmer; colder warmer; warmer
colder, warmer
Sinking air warms by the process of: compression. expansion. condensation. friction.
compression
Which set of conditions, working together, will make the atmosphere the most stable? cool the surface and warm the air aloft cool the surface and cool the air aloft warm the surface and cool the air aloft warm the surface and warm the air aloft
cool the surface and warm the air aloft
Evaporation is a ____ process. cooling heating can't tell - it depends on the temperature cooling and heating
cooling
Which cloud type below would most likely form in an unstable atmosphere? cumulonimbus stratus cirrostratus nimbostratus cumulus humilis
cumulonimbus
As the air temperature increases, with no addition of water vapor to the air, the dew point will: remain the same. increase. decrease. increase and become equal to the air temperature.
decrease
As the difference between the air temperature and the dew point increases, the relative humidity: increases. decreases. remains constant at a value less than 100 percent. remains constant and equal to 100 percent.
decreases
The number or mass of air molecules in a given space or volume is called: density. pressure. temperature. weight.
density
The temperature to which air must be cooled in order to become saturated is the: minimum temperature. dew point temperature. wet-bulb temperature. freezing point.
dew point temperature
At sunset in the middle latitudes, look for a rainbow toward the: north. south. east. west.
east
The rate at which the actual air temperature changes with increasing height above the surface is referred to as the: environmental lapse rate. dry adiabatic rate. moist adiabatic rate. thermocline.
environmental lapse rate
When water changes from a liquid to a vapor, we call this process: freezing. condensation. sublimation. deposition. evaporation.
evaporation
As a radiosonde balloon ascends through the atmosphere, the balloon: contracts. expands. maintains a constant pressure. none of these
expands
Rising air cools by the process of ____. expansion evaporation compression condensation
expansion
Dry air is lighter than humid air. True False
false
The term "latent" means: late. hot. light. hidden. dense.
hidden
The earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5° with respect to the plane of its orbit around the sun. If the amount of tilt were increased to 40°, we would expect in middle latitudes: hotter summers and colder winters than at present. cooler summers and milder winters than at present. hotter summers and milder winters than at present. cooler summers and colder winters than at present. no appreciable change from present conditions.
hotter summers and colder winters
In the very earliest stage of the Earth's formation, the Earth's atmosphere was composed chiefly of the gasses: hydrogen and helium nitrogen and oxygen ozone and water vapor argon and methane
hydrogen and helium
In most areas, the warmest time of the day about 5 feet above the ground occurs: around noon. in the afternoon between 3 and 5 p.m. in the early evening after 6 p.m. just before the sun sets.
in the afternoon between 3 and 5 pm.
On the summer solstice, the altitude of the noonday sun is highest: near the North Pole in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere in the mid-latitudes of the Sorthern Hemisphere near the South Pole
in the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere
When the air temperature increases, the saturation vapor pressure will: increase. decrease. remain the same. vary over an increasingly broad range of values.
increase
If the air temperature remains constant, evaporating water into the air will ____ the dew point and ____ the relative humidity. increase; increase increase; decrease decrease; increase decrease; decrease
increase; increase
If the earth's average surface temperature were to increase, the amount of radiation emitted from the earth's surface would ____, and the wavelength of peak emission would shift toward ____ wavelengths. increase; shorter increase; longer decrease; shorter decrease; longer
increase; shorter
As the air temperature increases, the air's capacity for water vapor: increases decreases remains constant is unrelated to air temperature and could either increase or decrease
increases
According to Wein's displacement law, the wavelength at which maximum radiation occurs: is inversely proportional to the temperature. is proportional to the temperature. is inversely proportional to the pressure. is proportional to the pressure.
is inversely proportional to the temperature
During the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the length of day ____ the length of night. is equal to is longer than is shorter than
is longer than
The temperature of the tropopause: is close to the temperature at the earth's surface. is much colder than the temperature at the earth's surface. has never been measured. is much warmer than the temperature at the earth's surface. is nearly the same as the sun's temperature.
is much colder than the temperature at the earths surface
Lines connecting points of equal temperature are called: isobars. isotherms. thermals. thermographs.
isotherms
A knowledge of air stability is important because: it determines the direction of movement of storms. it determines the vertical motion of air. it determines the movement of high pressure areas. it determines seasonal weather patterns.
it determines the vertical motion of air
Which of the following is NOT a reason why water warms and cools much more slowly than land? Solar energy penetrates more deeply into water. Heat energy is mixed in a deeper layer of water. Water has a higher heat capacity. A portion of the solar energy that strikes water is used to evaporate it. It takes more heat to raise the temperature of a given amount of soil 1°C than it does to raise the temperature of water 1°C.
it takes more heat to raise the temperature of a given amount of soil 1C than it does to raise the temperature of water 1C.
A radiation inversion is most commonly observed: when it is raining at sunset just above the ground in the upper atmosphere
just above the ground
It is most humid In the late afternoon Just after sunset Just before sunrise About 4 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon
just before sunrise
The rate at which temperature decreases with increasing altitude is known as the: temperature slope. lapse rate. sounding. thermocline.
lapse rate
The cold feeling that you experience after leaving a swimming pool on a hot, dry, summer day represents heat transport by: conduction. convection. radiation. latent heat.
latent heat
The heat energy released when water vapor changes to a liquid is called: latent heat of evaporation. latent heat of fusion. latent heat of fission. latent heat of condensation.
latent heat of condensation
Typically, water vapor occupies about what percentage of the air's volume near the earth's surface? about 78 percent about 21 percent close to 10 percent less than 4 percent none of these
less than 4 percent
The saturation vapor pressure is greater over ice liquid water they are the same
liquid water
Convection takes place in solids only solids, liquids or gases liquids only liquids or gases
liquids or gases
Without the atmospheric greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would be: higher than at present. lower than at present. the same as it is now. much more variable than it is now.
lower than at present
If the setting sun appears red, you may conclude that: the sun's surface temperature has cooled somewhat at the end of the day. only the longest waves of visible light are striking your eye. the next day's weather will be stormy. you will not be able to see the moon that night.
only the longest waves of visible light are striking your eye
The gas that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere is: water vapor. nitrous oxide. carbon dioxide. ozone. chlorofluorocarbons.
ozone
The primary source of oxygen for the earth's atmosphere during the past half billion years or so appears to be: volcanic eruptions. photosynthesis. photodissociation. exhalations of animal life. transpiration.
photosynthesis
Which of the following processes remove CO2 from the atmosphere? volcanic activity deforestation soil decay photosynthesis
photosynthesis
The amount of force exerted over an area of surface is called: density. weight. temperature. pressure.
pressure
Heat transferred upward from the surface of the moon can take place by convection conduction radiation all the above
radiation
Often before sunrise on a clear, calm, cold morning, ice (frost) can be seen on the tops of parked cars, even when the air temperature is above freezing. This condition happens because the tops of the cars are cooling by ____. conduction convection latent heat radiation
radiation
On a clear, calm night, the ground and air above cool mainly by which process? evaporation reflection convection conduction radiation
radiation
Which of the following energy transfer processes can take place in a vacuum? conduction convection radiation category 5 hurricane
radiation
The instrument that measures temperature, pressure, and humidity at various altitudes in the atmosphere is the: barograph. radiosonde. aneroid barometer. altimeter.
radiosonde
Which of the following can only be seen when the sun is to your back and it is raining in front of you? sundog halo rainbow sun pillar corona
rainbow
What color would the sky be if air molecules selectively scattered only the longest wavelengths of visible light? white blue red black
red
Sunlight that bounces off a surface is said to be ____ from the surface. radiated absorbed emitted reflected
reflected
Halos are caused by: refraction of light passing through raindrops. scattering of light by ice crystals. refraction of light passing through ice crystals. diffraction of light by cloud droplets. reflection of light by ice crystals.
refraction of light passing through ice crystals
The percentage of water vapor present in the air compared to that required for saturation is the: mixing ratio. absolute humidity. dew point. relative humidity. specific humidity.
relative humidity
Which of the following will increase in a rising parcel of air? saturation vapor pressure relative humidity mixing ratio air temperature
relative humidity
What kind of instrument are most weather satellites? remote and insitu remote and active remote and passive active and passive insitu and remote
remote and passive
The most latent heat would be released in a ____ parcel of ____ saturated air. rising; warm rising; cold sinking; warm sinking; cold
rising; warm
Another name for diffuse light is: scattered light. refracted light. dispersion of light. transmitted light.
scattered light
On a foggy night, it is often difficult to see the road when the high beam lights are on because of ____ of light by the fog. absorption scattering transmission refraction diffraction
scattering
Red sunsets, blue moons, and milky-white skies are mainly the result of: refraction. dispersion. reflection. scattering. diffraction.
scattering
Sunsets are red due to absorption reflection scattering the speed of light
scattering
The sky is blue because of absorption reflection scattering the speed of light
scattering
The blue color of distant mountains is due primarily to: diffraction of light. scattering of light. refraction of light. emission of light. absorption of light.
scattering of light
A red shirt: selectively absorbs red wavelengths of visible light and scatters the rest. selectively scatters red wavelengths of visible light and absorbs the rest.
selectively scatters red wavelengths of visible light and absorbs the rest
If the average temperature of the sun increased, the wavelength of maximum solar emission would shift to a shorter wavelength shift to a longer wavelength remain the same impossible to tell from the given information
shift to a shorter wavelength
Which of the following instruments use wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperature to obtain relative humidity? infrared hygrometer sling psychrometer hair hygrometer electrical hygrometer
sling psychrometer
Air which resists vertical displacements is considered to be: stable. unstable. neutral.
stable
Most thunderstorms do not extend very far into the stratosphere because the air in the stratosphere is: unstable. stable. too cold. too thin. too dry.
stable
A conditionally unstable atmosphere is ____ with respect to unsaturated air and ____ with respect to saturated air. unstable; stable unstable; unstable stable; unstable stable; stable
stable; unstable
The layer of the atmosphere which is characterized by an inversion everywhere: troposphere stratosphere mesosphere all of the above
stratosphere
Frozen clothes hanging on a line in subfreezing weather 'dry' by a process called: evaporation sublimation condensation deposition
sublimation
The change of state of ice into water vapor is known as: deposition. sublimation. melting. condensation. crystallization.
sublimation
The dry adiabatic rate is the rate at which: an air parcel rises. temperature changes in a rising or descending parcel of unsaturated air. volume changes when a parcel expands or is compressed. latent heat energy is released in a rising air parcel.
temperatures changes in a rising or descending parcel of unsaturated air.
Low clouds retard surface cooling at night better than clear skies because The clouds absorb and radiate infrared energy back to the earth the clouds state convection currents between them the clouds are better conductors of heat than is the clear night air clear skies always contain less water vapor than cloudy skies
the absorb and radiate infrared energy back to the earth
Relative humidity can be defined as: How muggy it feels in the summer and how clammy it feels in the winter The actual vapor pressure divided by the saturation vapor pressure time 100% The actual vapor pressure in the air The mass of water divided by the mass of air
the actual vapor pressure divided by the saturation vapor pressure times 100%
Meteorology is the study of: landforms. the oceans. the atmosphere. outer space. extraterrestrial meteoroids that enter the atmosphere.
the atmosphere
In the thermosphere, the temperature can exceed 1800 degrees F, yet a person's exposed hand might not 'feel' hot, primarily because: the molecules are not moving rapidly at that elevation there is no energy associated with the molecules in the upper atmosphere the density of the atmosphere is low, so fewer molecules would collide with a person's hand. you lose all sense of feeling at those elevations
the density of the atmosphere is low, so fewer molecules would collide with a person's hand.
The wind direction is: the direction from which the wind is blowing. the direction to which the wind is blowing. always directly from high toward low pressure. always directly from low toward high pressure.
the direction from which the wind is blowing
The difference between the "moist" and "dry" adiabatic rates is due to: the fact that saturated air is always unstable. the fact that an unsaturated air parcel expands more rapidly than a saturated air parcel. the fact that moist air weighs less than dry air. the fact that latent heat is released by a rising parcel of saturated air.
the fact that the latent heat is released by a rising parcel of saturated air.
Stars are not visible during the day because: the scattered light coming from the sky is too bright to be able to see the weaker light from stars. the earth is pointed away from the center of the galaxy. the light from the stars is absorbed and scattered by the atmosphere and does not reach the ground. all of these
the scattered light coming from the sky is too bright to be able to see the weaker light from the stars
The blueness of the sky is mainly due to: the scattering of sunlight by air molecules. the presence of water vapor. absorption of blue light by the air. emission of blue light by the atmosphere.
the scattering of sunlight by air molecules
According to Wien's displacement law, which one of the following objects emits the shortest electromagnetic waves? an ice cube your hand the atmosphere the sun
the sun
The main reason why vegetables take longer to cook in boiling water at high altitudes is because: water boils at a higher temperature with higher altitude. the temperature of the boiling water decreases with increasing altitude. there is less oxygen in the air at high altitude. saturation vapor pressure decreases with increasing altitude.
the temperature of the boiling water decreases with increasing altitude
The term "Meteorology" actually dates back to About 1950 The early 1800s About 1700 1643 the time of Aristotle
the time of Aristotle
The sun emits its greatest intensity of radiation in: the visible portion of the spectrum. the infrared portion of the spectrum. the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. the x-ray portion of the spectrum.
the visible portion of the spectrum
How do red and blue light differ? Blue light has a higher speed of propagation. The wavelength of red light is longer. Red light has a higher intensity. Red and blue light have different directions of polarization.
the wavelength of red is longer
How does blue and red light differ? Red light is not part of the electromagnetic spectrum, while blue light is. In a perfect vacuume, blue light travels faster The wavelength if red light is longer Blue light is closer to the infrared region of the spectrum
the wavelength of red is longer
An important reason for the large daily temperature range over deserts is that: there is little water vapor in the air to absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation the light-colored sand radiates heat very rapidly at night dry air is a very poor heat conductor the ozone content of desert air is very low
there is little water vapor in the air to absorb and reradiate infrared radiation
The hottest atmospheric layer is the: stratosphere. mesosphere. thermosphere. troposphere.
thermosphere
The lag in daily temperature refers to the time lag between the: time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature. time of minimum temperature and the time of maximum solar radiation. minimum and maximum temperature for a day. minimum and maximum solar energy received at the surface for a given day. sunrise and sunset.
time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature
Almost all of the earth's weather occurs in the: exosphere. stratosphere. mesosphere. thermosphere. troposphere.
trophosphere
Most weather is confined to that subdivision of the atmosphere known as the stratosphere mesosphere troposphere thermosphere
troposphere
The atmospheric layer in which we live is called the: troposphere. stratosphere. thermosphere. ionosphere. exosphere.
troposphere
The order of the layers of the atmosphere from lowest to highest are: Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere Stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere Mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere, thermosphere Thermosphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, troposphere
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
The sun is directly overhead at Mexico City (latitude 19 degrees N) once a year twice a year never four times a year
twice a year
Secondary rainbows occur when: two internal reflections of light occur in raindrops. light refracts through ice crystals. a single internal reflection of light occurs in raindrops. light refracts through a cloud of large raindrops. the sun disappears behind a cloud and then reappears.
two internal reflections of light occur in raindrops
Which of the following has a wavelength shorter than that of violet light? green light blue light infrared radiation red light ultraviolet radiation
ultraviolet radiation
Solar radiation reaches the earth's surface as: visible radiation only. ultraviolet radiation only. infrared radiation only. visible and infrared radiation only. ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation.
ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation
The proper order from shortest to longest wavelength is: visible, infrared, ultraviolet. infrared, visible, ultraviolet. ultraviolet, visible, infrared. visible, ultraviolet, infrared. ultraviolet, infrared, visible.
ultraviolet, visible, infrared
Electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths between 0.4 and 0.7 micrometers is called: ultraviolet light. visible light. infrared light. microwaves.
visible light
In response to the same input of heat, which one of the following substances exhibits the smallest rise in temperature? water sand ice rock
water
The only substance near the earth's surface that is found naturally in the atmosphere as a solid, liquid, and a gas is: carbon dioxide. water. molecular oxygen. ozone. carbon.
water
An atmospheric gas whose concentration near the Earth's surface varies significantly from one location to another is: nitrogen oxygen water vapor all of the above are correct
water vapor
The lowest temperature that can be attained by evaporating water into the air is know as the: wind chill temperature minimum temperature heat index wet bulb temperature
wet bulb temperature
The time of day when the relative humidity reaches a maximum value is usually: at the time when the air temperature is highest in the middle of the afternoon at the time when the air temperature is lowest just before sunrise about midnight
when the air temperature is lowest
At what time of day is the relative humidity normally at a minimum? when the air temperature is highest just before sunrise about midnight when the air temperature is lowest
when the air temperature is the highest
In the Northern Hemisphere, which of the following days has the fewest hours of daylight? summer solstice winter solstice vernal equinox autumnal equinox
winter solstice
If you want to keep an object cool while exposed to direct sunlight, put it inside a brown paper bag. wrap it in black paper. wrap it in aluminum foil with the shiny side facing inward. wrap it in aluminum foil with the shiny side facing outward.
wrap it in aluminum foil with the shiny side facing outward
