Geog 115 Final
The National Weather Service issues a tornado watch when __________and tornado warning when __________. (a) conditions are favorable for tornado formation; a tornado is believed to be present in a warning area (b) a tornado is believed to be present in a warning area; conditions are favorable for tornado formation (c) emergency management personnel should warn the public to take cover immediately; emer gency management personnel should abandon the warning effort and take cover themselves. (d) debris from a tornado is expected to impact an area; the debris is actually observed and is an obstruction to traffic
(a) conditions are favorable for tornado formation; a tornado is believed to be present in a warning area
Developing low-pressure areas generally have __________air near the surface and __________air aloft. (a) converging, diverging (b) diverging, converging (c) converging, converging (d) diverging, diverging
(a) converging, diverging
What type(s) of thunderstorms commonly form along the tail of a comma cloud associated with an extratropical cyclone? (a) frontal squall line thunderstorms (b) airmass thunderstorms (c) supercell thunderstorms (d) mesoscale convective system thunderstorms (e) all thunderstorm types
(a) frontal squall line thunderstorms
An intense electrical storm has just formed overhead. In which of the following locations are you least prone to getting injured or killed by lightning? (a) in your car (b) on a tree-less golf course (c) sailing in the middle of a large lake (d) standing under the tallest tree you can find in order to get out of the rain (e) in your house, discussing the storm with your friend on a corded telephone
(a) in your car
What is the term used to describe a region of exceptionally strong winds found within the jetstream? (a) jetstreak (b) low-level jet (c) polar jetstream (d) minor jetstream
(a) jetstreak
Which statement about tornado safety is false? (a) During a tornado you should seek shelter in the lowest floor in the building in the most interior room. (b) If caught outdoors in your car, you should park under a highway overpass and seek shelter near the girders of the bridge. (c) If no shelter is available and you are in your car, abandon your car and find a low-lying area and lay flat. (d) Put as many walls between you and the tornado as possible. (e) Abandon mobile homes and find stronger shelter or lie in a ditch.
(b) If caught outdoors in your car, you should park under a highway overpass and seek shelter near the girders of the bridge.
The National Weather Service has just issued a tornado warning that includes your city. You are the manager of a movie theater, and there is a show with 500 people attending. What should you do? (a) Let the show go on as planned but pay attention to weather reports for additional information. (b) Interrupt the show and take the crowd to the basement of the building or an interior room in an orderly manner. (c) Stop the show and send everybody home. (d) Grab your camcorder, go outside and film the impending tornado for the theater. (e) Scream and call your mother for advice.
(b) Interrupt the show and take the crowd to the basement of the building or an interior room in an orderly manner.
Which of the following was not a problem with the original Fujita scale? (a) Scale ranking was always based on damage only. (b) Rankings overestimated the wind speeds in more violent tornadoes. (c) The original damage assessment guidelines were not detailed and specific. (d) Damage assessment did not take into account structural integrity of buildings.
(b) Rankings overestimated the wind speeds in more violent tornadoes.
If you examine a surface map and discover that there is a region where cold air is retreating and warm air is advancing toward it, you would classify this as what meteorological feature? (a) an airmass (b) a cold front (c) a warm front (d) a stationary front (e) an extratropical cyclone
(c) a warm front
If you were to view a fully developed extratropical cyclone on a satellite image, what punctuation mark would it look like? (a) colon (b) period (c) comma (d) semi-colon (e) question mark
(c) comma
The effect of changing flow curvature in the jetstream is to create ________ downstream of the ridge axis and ________ downstream of the trough axis. (a) divergence; divergence (b) divergence; convergence (c) convergence; divergence (d) convergence; convergence
(c) convergence; divergence
An extratropical cyclone will intensify as long as __________at the surface is __________than __________at the jetstream level. (a) convergence; stronger; divergence (b) divergence; stronger; convergence (c) convergence; weaker; divergence (d) divergence; weaker; convergence
(c) convergence; weaker; divergence
Low pressure will develop at the surface below the region of strongest ________ . (a) jetstreak (b) curvature (c) divergence (d) convergence
(c) divergence
Most tornadoes in California are of this type. (a) gustnado (b) dust devil (c) landspout (d) waterspout (e) cold air funnel
(c) landspout
The divergent quadrants of a jetstreak are its ________ and ________ quadrants. (a) left entrance; left exit (b) left entrance; right exit (c) right entrance; left exit (d) right entrance; right exit (e) right entrance; left entrance
(c) right entrance; left exit
A dry line is a boundary between airmasses with similar _______ characteristics and differing ________ characteristics. (a) wind; temperature (b) temperature; wind (c) temperature; moisture (d) temperature; pressure (e) moisture; temperature
(c) temperature; moisture
When is a strong tornado most likely to occur? (a) 3:00 A.M., mid-May (b) 3:00 A.M., mid-October (c) 5:00 P.M., mid-October (d) 5:00 P.M., mid-May (e) 9:00 P.M., mid-June
(d) 5:00 P.M., mid-May
A thunderstorm is occurring. You note that your friend's hair is standing on end. Which of the following is the best advice to give her concerning lightning safety? (a) Wet your hair down immediately so that the charges are dissipated. (b) Call your other friend on a corded phone and report this amazing spectacle! The cord will carry the charge away from your body. (c) Move under a tree so that the lightning strikes the tree and not you. (d) Get down close to the ground. (e) Comb your hair.
(d) Get down close to the ground.
A warm front is defined as an airmass boundary where warm air is _________ and cold air is _________ . (a) retreating; retreating (b) retreating; advancing (c) advancing; advancing (d) advancing; retreating
(d) advancing; retreating
What are the National Weather Service criteria for a severe thunderstorm? (a) hail with diameter > 3⁄4 inch diameter; (b) wind damage or wind gusts > 58 mph (c) tornado ; (d) any of the above can be present for a thunderstorm to be considered severe. (e) All of the above (a, b and c) must be present for a thunderstorm to be severe.
(d) any of the above can be present for a thunderstorm to be considered severe.
Occluded fronts form as a _________ overtakes a(n) _________ . (a) cold front; dry line (b) dry line; warm front (c) cyclone; anticyclone (d) cold front; warm front (e) warm front; cold front
(d) cold front; warm front
When viewing an infrared satellite image, a large, semi-circular or oblong region of high clouds covering the entire state of Missouri on a July evening is most likely what type of thunderstorm system? (a) frontal squall line (b) airmass thunderstorm (c) supercell thunderstorms (d) mesoscale convective system
(d) mesoscale convective system
What type(s) of thunderstorms is (are) responsible for much of the summer rainfall on the Central Plains? (a) frontal squall line thunderstorms (b) airmass thunderstorms (c) supercell thunderstorms (d) mesoscale convective system thunderstorms (e) all thunderstorm types
(d) mesoscale convective system thunderstorms
Along a stationary front, air on the cold side of the front always moves in what direction? (a) upwards (b) to the west (c) to the south (d) parallel to the front (e) perpendicular to the front
(d) parallel to the front
An airmass is defined as a body of air with: (a) at least two frontal zones. (b) very low pressure everywhere. (c) very low humidity in its lower layers. (d) slowly varying values of surface temperature and moisture content.
(d) slowly varying values of surface temperature and moisture content.
For an extratropical cyclone to intensify, the upper-level trough axis should be located to the __________of the surface low. (a) north (b) south (c) east (d) west
(d) west
Which of the following is (are) necessary for the formation of all thunderstorms? (a) a source of moisture (b) a mechanism to trigger an updraft (c) a conditionally unstable atmosphere (d) (a) and (b) are both correct (e) (a), (b) and (c) are all correct.
(e) (a), (b) and (c) are all correct.
Meteorologists classify fronts based on: (a) thermal and moisture characteristics of the airmasses (b) the direction of movement of the airmasses (c) whether the airmasses are in contact with the ground or can only be found aloft (d) (a) and (b) only are correct. (e) (a), (b), and (c) are all correct.
(e) (a), (b), and (c) are all correct.
A tornado rips through a college (luckily on a holiday when no one is on campus). The tornado destroys brick buildings and leaves no bricks or debris on the foundations. What is the EF-scale rating of this tornado? EF1; (b)EF2; (c) EF3; (d) EF4; (e) EF5
(e) EF5
A map of the distribution of tornadoes around the world would correspond to: (a) a map of the rural areas because urban areas do not have tornadoes. (b) a map of the world's mobile home parks since these attract tornadoes. (c) a map showing hurricane origin areas because hurricanes are essentially large tornadoes. (d) a map of the central United States because other areas of the world do not have tornadoes. (e) a map of the world's prime agricultural growing areas because thunderstorms provide the water necessary for growth of crops.
(e) a map of the world's prime agricultural growing areas because thunderstorms provide the water necessary for growth of crops.
The strongest winds in a hurricane heading westward toward Florida would most likely be found on the ____ side. a. Northern b. Southern c. Eastern d. Western
a. Northern
Occluded fronts may form as: a. a cold front overtakes a warm front. b. a warm front overtakes a cold front. c. a cold front overtakes a squall line. d. overrunning occurs along a warm front.
a. a cold front overtakes a warm front.
On a surface weather map that shows an open wave cyclone, the warm sector can be observed: a. ahead of an advancing cold front; b. behind an advancing cold front. c. ahead of an advancing cold-occluded front; d. behind an advancing cold-occluded front. e. ahead of an advancing warm front.
a. ahead of an advancing cold front;
Squall line thunderstorms generally form a. along or ahead of a cold front. b. with a strong wave cyclone. c. behind a cold front. d. ahead of a warm front. e. along an occluded front.
a. along or ahead of a cold front.
One would expect a cP air mass to be: a. cold and dry. b. cold and moist. c. warm and dry. d. warm and moist.
a. cold and dry.
What type of weather front would be responsible for the following weather forecast: "Increasing cloudiness and warm today with the possibility of showers by this evening. Turning much colder tonight. Winds southwesterly becoming gusty and shifting to northwesterly by tonight." a. cold front b. warm front c. cold-type occluded front d. stationary front
a. cold front
Cyclogenesis is the __________ of a mid-latitude cyclone. a. development or strengthening b. weakening or dissipation c. term for the exact midpoint d. none of the above
a. development or strengthening
If the flow of air into a surface low pressure area is greater than the divergence of air aloft, the surface pressure in the center of the low will: a. increase; b. decrease; c. remain the same; d. deepen.
a. increase;
The wind shear associated with several major airline crashes is believed to have been caused by a. microbursts. b. dry lines. c. the jet stream. d. mesocyclones. e. the jet streak.
a. microbursts.
The vertical structure of the hurricane shows an upper-level ____ of air, and a surface ____ of air. a. outflow; inflow b. outflow; outflow c. inflow; outflow d. inflow; inflow
a. outflow; inflow
Which of the following regions is not a preferred area for cyclone formation? a. over of the Great Lakes b. near the North Carolina coast c. east of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado d. over the Pacific Ocean in the Gulf of Alaska e. along the Texas-Louisiana coastline of the Gulf of Mexico
a. over of the Great Lakes
Like hurricanes, __________ have a clear area in their center. a. polar lows; b. cut-off lows; c. conveyer belts; d. wrap-around bands
a. polar lows;
If air descending a mountain is warmer than it was at the same elevation on the upslope side, then: a. precipitation has fallen out of the air. b. it is cloudy on the downslope side. c. the windspeed has increased. d. the windspeed has decreased.
a. precipitation has fallen out of the air.
At a warm front, the warm air: a. rises and cools. b. rises and warms. c. sinks and cools. d. sinks and warms.
a. rises and cools.
What is the maximum ranking of a tornado on the EF-scale? a. EF-3 b. EF-5 c. EF-7 d. EF-10
b. EF-5
Which of the following statements about extratropical cyclones is not true? a. They form along the jetstream. b. They form between approximately 5o and 60 oN. c. They often look like a comma on a satellite image. d. They attempt to balance temperature differences between the poles and the equator. e. They attempt to balance temperature differences between the upper and lower troposphere.
b. They form between approximately 5o and 60 oN.
Northeasters (or nor'easters) are midlatitude storms commonly found: a. along the Pacific coast of North America. b. along the Atlantic coast of North America. c. along the Gulf coast of North America. d. both a and b
b. along the Atlantic coast of North America.
Which air mass would show the most dramatic change in both temperature and moisture content as it moves over a large body of very warm water? a. cT in summer b. cP in winter c. mP in winter d. mT in summer
b. cP in winter
The low relative humidity of the air that has descended to the base of a mountain can: a. result in blowing snow. b. cause snow to sublimate. c. cause snow's density to increase. d. cause snow to fall from the clouds.
b. cause snow to sublimate.
Downdrafts tend to dominate during the ____ stage. a. cumulus b. dissipating c. precipitating d. developing e. growth
b. dissipating
Before the passage of a cold front the pressure normally __________, and after the passage of a cold front the pressure normally __________. a. drops, drops b. drops, rises c. rises, rises d. rises, drops
b. drops, rises
Most of the destruction caused by a hurricane is due to: a. high winds. b. flooding. c. tornadoes. d. hail.
b. flooding.
A good source region for an air mass would be: a. mountains with deep valleys and strong surface winds. b. generally flat areas of uniform composition with light surface winds. c. hilly with deep valleys and light winds. d. generally flat area of uniform composition with strong surface winds.
b. generally flat areas of uniform composition with light surface winds.
The "Tornado Alley" region of the United States is located a. in Florida. b. in the Central Plains. c. in the Ohio Valley. d. in the mid-Atlantic states. e. along the Gulf Coast.
b. in the Central Plains.
The strongest winds in a hurricane are found: a. at the center of the storm. b. in the eye wall. c. in the rain bands. d. at upper levels, above the center of the hurricane. e. near the periphery of the hurricane.
b. in the eye wall.
What type of air mass would be responsible for daily afternoon thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast? a. mP b. mT c. cP d. cT
b. mT
Which method below describes how scientists have tried to modify hurricanes? a. putting an oil slick over the ocean water and igniting it b. seeding the hurricanes with silver iodide c. igniting huge smoke bombs in the eye of the storm d. seeding the hurricanes with hair-thin pieces of aluminum called chaff.
b. seeding the hurricanes with silver iodide
Most tornadoes move from: a. northwest to southwest. b. southwest to northeast. c. south to north. d. southeast to northwest.
b. southwest to northeast.
In the United States, tornadoes are most frequent during the __________, and least frequent during the __________. a. summer, fall b. spring, winter c. spring, fall d. summer, winter e. winter, fall
b. spring, winter
Which of the following is the most accurate description of the principle of a lightning rod? a. the lightning rod acts to discharge the thunderstorm b. the lightning rod intercepts the lightning and safely carries the lightning current around the object it protects c. lightning rods have been used since the 1700s, but the principle of their operation is not known. d. positive charge induced in the lightning rod repels the negative charge in an approaching step leader
b. the lightning rod intercepts the lightning and safely carries the lightning current around the object it protects
Thunder is caused by a. the collision between two thunderstorms with opposite electrical charge. b. the rapid heating of air surrounding a lightning channel. c. the explosion that occurs when + and - charge collide and neutralize each other. d. turbulent wind motions inside the thunderstorm. e. microbursts within the atmosphere.
b. the rapid heating of air surrounding a lightning channel.
You a generally safe inside an automobile during a lighting storm because: a. the car's radio antenna will act as a lightning rod b. the rubber tires insulate you from the ground c. metal cars do not become electrically charged d. the metal car body will carry the lightning current around the passengers inside
b. the rubber tires insulate you from the ground
What type of weather front would be responsible for the following weather forecast: "Increasing high cloudiness and cold this morning. Clouds increasing and lowering this afternoon with a chance of snow or rain tonight. Precipitation ending tomorrow morning. Turning much warmer. Winds light easterly today becoming southeasterly tonight and southwesterly tomorrow." a. cold front b. warm front c. stationary front d. warm-type occluded front
b. warm front
Which region is not considered to be a region where cyclogenesis often occurs: a. eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains b. Atlantic Ocean near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina c. California d. the Great Basin of the United States e. Gulf of Mexico
c. California
Which of the following statements is most plausible? a. In winter, cP source regions have higher temperatures than mT source regions. b. In summer, mP source regions have higher temperatures than cT source regions. c. In winter, cA source regions have lower temperatures than cP source regions. d. In summer, mT source regions have lower temperatures than mP source regions. e. All the statements are equally plausible.
c. In winter, cA source regions have lower temperatures than cP source regions.
After a tornado is spotted: a. a tornado watch is issued. b. its direction of movement is carefully monitored by aircraft. c. a tornado warning is issued. d. hail begins to fall from the cloud. e. attempts may be made to change its direction of movement.
c. a tornado warning is issued.
The transport of colder air into a region is called __________ a. cold front; b. cold occlusion; c. cold advection; d. cold air mass
c. cold advection;
When caught in a thunderstorm in an open field, the best thing to do is to a. run for cover under the nearest tree. b. lie down flat on the ground. c. crouch down as low as possible while minimizing contact with the ground. d. remove all metallic objects from your pockets. e. climb up onto a hill.
c. crouch down as low as possible while minimizing contact with the ground.
The development or strengthening of a middle latitude storm system is called: a. convergence b. divergence c. cyclogenesis d. frontolysis
c. cyclogenesis
Thunderstorms that produce tornadoes a. have very little cloud-to-ground lightning. b. have updraft velocities that exceed 100 miles per hour. c. have rotating updrafts. d. will not produce hail. e. do not exist.
c. have rotating updrafts.
Most waterspouts: a. form in severe thunderstorms. b. draw water up into their core. c. have rotating winds of less than 45 knots. d. form in an area where winds are descending from a cloud. e. actually form over land.
c. have rotating winds of less than 45 knots.
Which would you NOT expect to observe as the eye of a hurricane passes directly over your area? a. an increase in surface temperature b. a very low surface pressure reading c. high winds d. little or no precipitation
c. high winds
An ordinary thunderstorm a. does not produce lightning or thunder. b. has a tilted updraft and downdraft. c. is a scattered/isolated storm and normally not severe. d. does not produce hail. e. does not produce precipitation.
c. is a scattered/isolated storm and normally not severe.
Which of the following is not correct concerning a cold front? a. it marks the position of a trough of low pressure b. it marks a zone of shifting winds c. it is colored purple on a weather map d. it has cold air behind it
c. it is colored purple on a weather map
The greatest contrast in both temperature and moisture will occur along the boundary separating which air masses? a. cP and cT b. mP and mT c. mP and cT d. mT and cP e. cT and mT
c. mP and cT
Which below is NOT an atmospheric condition conducive to the formation of hurricanes? a. a region of converging surface winds at the surface b. warm water c. strong upper-level winds d. cold air aloft e. moist, humid surface air
c. strong upper-level winds
What region of the U.S. has the largest number of reported tornadoes? a. the Northeast b. the Great Lakes c. the Great Plains d. the Desert Southwest e. the central Atlantic Coast
c. the Great Plains
The first three stages of a developing hurricane are (from first stage to third stage): a. tropical disturbance, tropical storm, and typhoon. b. tropical depression, tropical disturbance, and tropical storm. c. tropical disturbance, tropical depression, and tropical storm. d. cyclone, typhoon, and tropical storm.
c. tropical disturbance, tropical depression, and tropical storm.
Just before a storm becomes a fully developed hurricane, it is in the ____ stage. a. tropical depression b. tropical disturbance c. tropical storm d. Cyclone e. Typhoon
c. tropical storm
The transport of warmer air into a region is called __________ a. warm front; b. warm occlusion; c. warm advection; d. warm air mass
c. warm advection;
The main source of energy for a hurricane is the: a. upper-level jet stream. b. rising of warm air and sinking of cold air in the vicinity of weather fronts. c. warm ocean water and release of latent heat of condensation. d. ocean currents and tides.
c. warm ocean water and release of latent heat of condensation.
Ordinary thunderstorms only last about one hour and begin to dissipate when a. lightning neutralizes all the electrical charge in the cloud. b. when all the precipitation particles in the cloud turn to ice. c. when the downdraft spreads throughout the cloud and cuts off the updraft. d. when solar heating at the ground begins to decrease. e. when clouds scatter due to the microbursts within the storm system.
c. when the downdraft spreads throughout the cloud and cuts off the updraft.
The main difference between a hurricane and a tropical storm is that a. hurricanes are larger. b. tropical storms are more than 500 miles from the U.S. mainland. c. winds speeds are greater in a hurricane. d. hurricanes have a clearly defined eye on satellite photographs.
c. winds speeds are greater in a hurricane.
A cold front that moves into New England from the east or northeast is called: a. a cold occluded front. b. an oceanic front. c. a nor'easter. d. a "back door" cold front.
d. a "back door" cold front.
In a hurricane, the eye wall represents: a. the exact center of the storm. b. the area of broken cloudiness at the center. c. a region of light winds and low pressure. d. a zone of intense thunderstorms around the center. e. a layer of cirrus cloud in the center of the storm.
d. a zone of intense thunderstorms around the center.
The most frequent time of day for tornadoes to form is in the: a. early morning just after sunrise. b. late morning just before noon. c. evening just after sunset. d. afternoon. e. middle of the night.
d. afternoon.
Damage to structures inflicted by tornadoes can be caused by: a. flying debris. b. the tornadoes high winds. c. the drop in air pressure as a tornado moves overhead. d. all of the above e. none of the above
d. all of the above
Hurricanes dissipate when: a. they move over colder water. b. they move over land. c. surface inflow of air exceeds upper-level outflow of air. d. all of these
d. all of these
Which below is not a name given to a large cyclonic storm system that forms in the middle latitudes? a. middle latitude cyclone b. extratropical cyclone c. wave cyclone d. anticyclone
d. anticyclone
The lake effect when ____ air mass moves over a ____ body of water. a. an mT; cold b. an mT; warm c. a cP; cold d. cP; warm
d. cP; warm
Which of the following factors is most important in determining the strength of a tornado? a. diameter b. air temperature c. duration d. central pressure
d. central pressure
The downdraft in an ordinary thunderstorm is created mainly by a. the melting of snow in the anvil. b. electrical attraction between the cloud and ground. c. the release of latent heat as water in the cloud freezes. d. evaporating raindrops that make the air cold and heavy. e. upper level wind motions.
d. evaporating raindrops that make the air cold and heavy.
Strong storms that develop over water, poleward of the polar front, are called: a. nor'easters.; b. upslope lows; c. lee-side lows; d. polar lows; e. none of the above
d. polar lows;
The upper part of a thunderstorm cloud is normally ____ charged, and the middle and lower parts are ____. a. negatively; neutral b. negatively; positive c. positively; positive d. positively; negative e. positively; neutral
d. positively; negative
At home, when confronted with an approaching tornado, you should: a. open the windows right away. b. grab a video camera and start filming. c. listen to see whether the tornado has an audible roar. d. seek shelter immediately.
d. seek shelter immediately.
During the winter as you travel toward a warm front, the most likely sequence of weather you would experience is: a. snow, freezing rain, hail, sleet. b. rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain. c. freezing rain, snow, sleet, rain. d. snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain.
d. snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain.
An air mass is characterized by similar properties of __________ and __________ in any horizontal direction a. temperature, pressure b. pressure, moisture c. winds, moisture d. temperature, moisture
d. temperature, moisture
The highest frequency of thunderstorms in the United States occurs in a. California. b. Kansas. c. Colorado. d. Maine. e. Florida.
e. Florida.
Which U.S. state has the most tornadoes per 10,000 square mile area? a. Texas b. Florida c. Illinois d. Nebraska e. Oklahoma
e. Oklahoma
Supercell thunderstorms differ from ordinary cell (air mass) thunderstorms because a. the updraft in a supercell thunderstorm is shorter-lasting and is stationary.. b. ordinary thunderstorms do not produce hail. c. supercell thunderstorms produce precipitation. d. the supercell thunderstorm is greater in size. e. the updraft in a supercell thunderstorm is longer-lasting and rotates.
e. the updraft in a supercell thunderstorm is longer-lasting and rotates.
