gy 101 test 3 smart book questions

Describe the adiabatic temperature changes of air that encounters a mountain by putting the sentences below in the correct order, with the first step in the process on top

1. air moves up the slope of a mountain and cools at the unsaturated adiabatic lapse rate (10 °C/km); 2. at the lifting condensation level, air becomes saturated and clouds form; 3. air continues rising and cooling at the unsaturated adiabatic lapse rate; 4. the air moves down the other side of the mountain and becomes unsaturated as it warms at 10 °C/km due to compression

Which of the following is a measure of specific humidity?

10 g/kg

Given the following relative humidities of different air masses, which has to cool the least in order to reach its dew point?

85%

Which of the following are settings in which fog is formed due to the cooling of near-surface air?

Air cools as it moves up the slope of a mountain, Warm air moves over a cold glacier, and a quickly cooling surface at night cools the air above it

Why does dew typically form in the evening?

Air cools in the evening, and cold air holds less moisture than warm air, causing the vapor to condense

Which of the global areas listed have a relatively high amount of annual precipitation?

Amazon basin and Indonesia

The ITCZ stands for the Intertropical _________ Zone, where air from the north and south comes together and is forced to rise

Convergence

Why does southeastern Asia experience such a dramatic change in seasonal humidity?

During the summer, the winds switch direction and bring warm, moist air from the ocean.

______ commonly forms in the autumn, when cool air rises and incorporates water vapor produced by an underlying warm water body, quickly reaching saturation

Evaporation fog

What are the problems with determining risk using the return period?

Extrapolation into the far future is dangerous and the calculation is a probability

True or false: Dew-point temperatures are highest in the winter in the United States.

False

Which of the following is the correct order of layers that are encountered by a water drop as it falls through the atmosphere and forms into sleet or freezing rain?

Freezing, above freezing, freezing

Match the air mass with the amount of cooling necessary in order to reach its dew-point temperature: Air mass 2—relative humidity 60%

Has to cool a moderate amount in order to reach its dew point

Match the air mass with the amount of cooling necessary in order to reach its dew-point temperature: Air mass 3—relative humidity 90%

Has to cool the least in order to reach its dew point

Match the air mass with the amount of cooling necessary in order to reach its dew-point temperature: Air mass 1—relative humidity 15%

Has to cool the most in order to reach its dew point

What is the primary reason that regional humidity changes seasonally?

Higher humidity comes with higher temperatures

Which of the following describe lapse rate?

Is the temperature change experienced by a moving parcel of air for a given change in elevation and is measured in °C / km

Why does the second air mass represented by the lower green arrow have a lower dew-point temperature than the first air mass represented by the upper pink arrow?

It has less water vapor in it initially and has to cool more in order to become saturated

Why does the first air mass represented by the upper pink arrow have a higher dew-point temperature than the second air mass represented by the lower green arrow?

It has more water vapor in it initially and has to cool less in order to become saturated

What is urbanization?

Natural land cover is replaced with concrete, asphalt, and buildings.

Which parts of the United States are the most foggy?

Pacific Northwest, New England, Great Lakes region, and Gulf Coast

What type of fog is formed when precipitation falls through lower, colder air and evaporates, increasing the humidity and causing the cold air to reach its dew point?

Precipitation fog

Why is the adiabatic lapse rate for saturated air less than the rate for unsaturated air?

Saturated air releases latent heat as condensation occurs, thereby lowering the lapse rate

Which of the three types of cloud forms listed is layered and comes from the Latin word for "to stretch"?

Stratiform

Which of the following describes relative humidity?

The ratio of the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere compared to the water-vapor capacity

Why are condensation nuclei necessary for the formation of water droplets in a cloud?

They provide very small particles on which water droplets can condense.

True or false: The primary factor controlling global patterns of specific humidity is latitude

True

True or false: Urbanization can either increase or decrease the albedo of an area.

True

What is the orographic effect?

When surface air encounters a mountain and flows upward

Urban heat islands result from urbanization that includes ______.

a lot of dark-colored surfaces

Match the location with the type of fog likely to form there: A

advection fog

What is the correct relationship between levels of water vapor in air in a cloud that is next to either ice or liquid water?

air in contact with ice can hold less water vapor

Match the way in which air rises due to interaction with the land surface with the correct words that complete the description: warm up

air on different sides of a mountain may ______ during the day, causing it to rise and converge at the summit

Globally, precipitation is highest ______ and lowest ______.

along the equator; at the poles

Clouds are classified based on their _______ and ________ and whether or not they are associated with precipitation

altitude; form

All cumulus clouds are puffy in appearance and indicate unstable air conditions: _________ clouds are found at mid-level in the troposphere, __________ clouds are higher and are both puffy and wispy, and _________ clouds are lower and occur in discrete layers

altocumulus; cirrocumulus; stratocumulus

What is a drought?

an extended period of dry conditions in a region

Which of the following phrases correctly describe cirrus clouds?

are wispy in appearance and occur high in the troposphere

The hydrogen atoms in a water molecule are arranged ______.

asymmetrically

water-vapor _________ is the maximum amount of water air can hold.

capacity

Which part of the United States has the highest amount of precipitation in the winter?

coastal Pacific Northwest

Dew forms when air becomes __________ and can no longer hold the same amount of water vapor as it did previously

colder

saturated air ________ as it rises in the atmosphere. Some of the water vapor changes state, condenses or freezes and releases energy in the form of ________ to the surrounding environment

cools; heat

Extrapolating into the future and using an average are two of the ______ of employing return periods to determine risk.

dangers

Water vapor begins to condense at a temperature called the ________ point when a given volume of air becomes saturated

dew

A rising parcel of air that exchanges energy with its surroundings is ______, whereas a parcel of air that does not exchange energy with its surroundings is ______

diabatic; adiabatic

The Palmer Drought Index shown in this map quantifies the severity of ________ using soil moisture and climate data

drought

Which of the following factors affect measurements of specific humidity?

evaporation and precipitation

Match the location with the type of fog likely to form there: D

evaporation fog

True or false: Sleet and freezing rain are two different names for the same phenomenon.

false

Match the cloud forms to their appropriate descriptions: Cirriform

feathery; wispy

Ground-level clouds are called _______

fog

Match the setting to the description of how fog is formed there from the cooling of near-surface air: radiation

fog forms as a quick drop in surface temperatures causes near-surface air temperatures to drop to the dew point and become saturated

Match the setting to the description of how fog is formed there from the cooling of near-surface air: upslope

fog forms as air is forced uphill due to wind forming a cloud along the surface

Match the setting to the description of how fog is formed there from the cooling of near-surface air: advection

fog forms from the lateral movement of warm air over a cold surface; the warm air cools to the dew point

Free convection results from air rising due to unstable conditions, whereas __________ convection is air rising due to external factors

forced

Unstable air rises due to ______ convection whereas air forced to move because of external factors does so due to forced convection

free

Moving air masses may encounter surface irregularities, causing the front of the mass to slow down due to ; the back of the mass starts to pile up, resulting in the air rising

friction

The environmental lapse rate is ________ over cold ocean currents, resulting in adiabatically rising air that becomes colder than the surrounding air

gentle

Absolute humidity is a measure of how much water vapor is in a given volume of air and is measured in _______ per cubic meter

grams

Saturated air next to a snowflake will cause the snowflake to _______ in size, as water-vapor molecules come out of the air and are deposited

grow

Ice cover and cold temperatures in _________ latitudes result in low specific humidities at the poles

high

the ________ pressure and very cold air above Siberia creates conditions that do not create a lot of snow

high

What was the primary cause of the 2012 Great Plains drought?

high pressure

What contributes to the non-snowy conditions in Siberia?

high pressure zone and very cold air

Water molecules in the air tend to have ______ energy levels compared to liquid water molecules.

higher

Water has a relatively high specific heat capacity, which means that it ______.

holds heat well

Cirrus clouds are composed of ________ as they are located very high in the troposphere. They are also easily blown about by strong winds at these levels, so they have a wispy appearance

ice

What is the primary result of a decrease in energy, such as cooling, on the molecules moving between the liquid and vapor states?

increase in condensation

What is the primary result of an increase in energy, such as heating, on the molecules moving between the liquid and vapor states?

increase in evaporation

A parcel of air that does not gain or lose energy to its surroundings will ________ in volume and _________ in temperature as it rises in the atmosphere

increase; decrease

Which of the following correctly describe vapor pressure?

increases with increasing number of water molecules, is represented in millibars, and is symbolized by e

What happens to a rising parcel of air?

its temperature decreases and its volume increases

Measured in units of degrees per vertical distance, the _________ rate is the measure of how much a rising parcel of air cools for a given rise in elevation

lapse

The rate at which the air surrounding an adiabatically moving air parcel changes temperature with height is called the environmental ________ rate

lapse

Global patterns of specific humidity vary primarily due to ______.

latitude

The gentle environmental lapse rate, which appears as a "steep" line in the graph, cools the ______ with height (e.g., 1 C°/km) of the four rates shown.

least

Deforestation exposes more soil to incoming solar radiation, which results in more heating of the ground, less transpiration, and __________ energy stored as latent heat in the local atmosphere

less

How does urbanization affect local atmospheric stability?

light-colored materials increase albedo and dark-colored materials decrease albedo

Distinguish the different types of cumulus clouds: Stratocumulus

low clouds in discrete layers composed of tiny liquid water drops

Match the way in which air rises due to interaction with the land surface with the correct words that complete the description: pile up

low-level winds may encounter a mountain, causing them to slow down, ______, and rise

The general trend of dew-point temperatures in the United States during the winter is ______ dew points in the north that get ______ to the south.

low; higher

Saturated air releases latent heat as it ascends adiabatically when condensation occurs, which ______ the lapse rate.

lowers

Distinguish the different types of cumulus clouds: Cirrocumulus

lumpy, wispy clouds high in the atmosphere composed almost entirely of ice

Distinguish the different types of cumulus clouds: Altocumulus

mid-level clouds that contain both liquid water and ice particles

Which one of the U.S. regions listed has the highest frequency of freezing rain?

midwest

The saturation level of air in a cloud next to a ice crystal can be reached ______ if the air were next to a drop of liquid water.

more easily than

_________ ranges such as the Rockies and Appalachians experience sleet and freezing rain, as these features act as cold air dams by blocking the flow of cold air and creating the necessary temperature inversion

mountain

Lower summer temperatures in the western United States result in low dew-point temperatures that may become lower still due to the influence of Blank______ that change precipitation patterns

mountains

The U.S. Midwest and _________ have relatively frequent freezing rain events, both resulting from the same mid-latitude cyclone storm systems

northeast

condensation _______ are tiny particles that are necessary for the formation of water droplets in a cloud

nuclei

Match the cloud forms to their appropriate descriptions: Stratiform

one or more layers

The phenomenon that occurs when low-level air encounters a mountain and rises is called the _______ effect

orographic

Match the type of fog to the general location where it is commonly formed: evaporation fog

over the open ocean

Match the type of fog to the general location where it is commonly formed: radiation fog

over the polar ice caps

What is the name for the process by which water, ice, or some combination of water and ice falls from the sky?

precipitation

What type of fog is formed in the situation shown here?

precipitation

Match the location with the type of fog likely to form there: B

radiation fog

Cold air trapped against a mountain can create a temperature inversion by forcing warm air upward; this produces ______ at the lowest elevations, ______ at the highest elevations, and ______ in-between.

rain; snow; sleet and freezing rain

_________ humidity is usually represented by a percentage and is the ratio of how much water vapor is in the air relative to the maximum amount of water vapor that air can hold

relative

The frequency of extreme precipitation events can be described with the term _________ period, which is also known as the recurrence interval

return

Characterize the different air stability conditions: stable air

rising air is cooler than the surrounding environment and has a tendency to sink

Characterize the different air stability conditions: conditionally unstable air

rising air will either continue to rise if it is saturated or cease rising if it is unsaturated

Characterize the different air stability conditions: unstable air

rising air, whether saturated or unsaturated, is warmer than the surrounding air and continues to rise.

Fire damage to homes, decreased tourism, and rolling blackouts were all ______ impacts of the 2012 Great Plains drought.

secondary

Which of the following describe the effects of deforestation on local atmospheric stability?

shading is reduced, and more insulation is used to heat the ground and less transpiration occurs, which results in less water (and heat) added to the atmosphere

Water exists in which forms in the atmosphere?

solid, liquid, and gas

The U.S. ______ receives the most summer precipitation.

southeast

Which area of the world shows a drastic change in seasonal humidity due to a significant change in wind direction that brings warm, moist air from the ocean, resulting in summer monsoon conditions?

southeastern Asia

The _________ Hemisphere has high humidity in January and low humidity in July, whereas the ___________ Hemisphere has low humidity in January and high humidity in July

southern; northern

Of the U.S. areas listed, which is the least foggy?

southwest

Which of the following two describe the movement of water molecules between a solid and a vapor?

sublimation and deposition

In which season are dew-point temperatures the highest in the United States?

summer

Warm temperatures during the _________ fuel evaporation, leading to higher humidity levels. Winter humidity levels generally are lower due to cooler temperatures and less evaporation

summer

Distinguish the different types of cumulus clouds: Cumulonimbus

tall clouds composed of liquid near their base and ice near their top

Match the cloud forms to their appropriate descriptions: Cumuliform

taller than wide; lumpy

Sleet and freezing rain form in front of a warm front because its approach creates the needed ______ inversion.

temperature

Which of the following are true in describing low-level air that encounters a mountain?

the air warms as it moves down the other (leeward) side of the mountain and as it moves up the mountain, it cools at 10 °C/km

Humidity is the term used to describe ______.

the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere

Which of the following describe the air over a cold ocean current?

the atmosphere is stable and vertical motion of air is restricted

What is meant when describing the return period of an extreme precipitation event?

the average length of time between events of equal magnitude

What is the dew point?

the temperature at which a volume of air becomes saturated with water vapor

Which of the following describe saturated air conditions?

the weather is likely cloudy and/or foggy and the air contains as much water vapor as its able to hold

The thermal qualities of water and land are often compared. Water has a higher specific heat capacity and more _________ inertia than land does, which means that it can hold more heat and its temperature is not readily changed by outside influences such as the Sun

thermal

How does a warm ocean surface current influence the overlying atmosphere?

these conditions create a steep environmental lapse rate and warm air created by the water will rise adiabatically if warmer than the surrounding air and cause an unstable atmosphere, forming clouds and rain

What are condensation nuclei?

tiny particles around which water droplets in clouds form

True or false: Absolute humidity changes as air expands or contracts in the atmosphere.

true

True or false: Fog is just a low-level cloud

true

the _______ adiabatic lapse rate is a constant 10 C°/km

unsaturated

Air next to a liquid drop of water in a cloud is ______, so water molecules will move from the drop to the surrounding air and ______ relative humidity

unsaturated; increase

________ air continues to rise due to its warmth, unconditionally unstable air may either rise or sink, depending on saturation level, and _________ rising air is likely to sink

unstable; stable

Match the location with the type of fog likely to form there: C

upslope fog

A(n) _______ is formed as dark materials in a city absorb insolation during the day and reradiate the energy as heat at night.

urban heat island

The amount of atmospheric pressure contributed by the weight of water vapor in the atmosphere is known as ______ pressure

vapor

Which of the following explain the high specific humidity of the atmosphere in the tropics?

warm air and high amount of evaporation

The conditions for the temperature inversion needed to form sleet and freezing rain occur ahead of a ______

warm front

The U.S. Gulf Coast is an exception to the arid conditions usually located at 30 latitude because of the influence of ______.

warm surface ocean currents

A warm ocean current that travels to higher latitudes will likely ______ the overlying air, causing it to ______ and create clouds and precipitation

warm; rise

When two air masses of different temperatures meet, the ______ mass is forced upward.

warmer and less dense

Specific humidity will only change if ________ _________ is added or subtracted through the processes of evaporation or condensation

water vapor

What happens to a parcel of saturated air as it rises in the atmosphere?

water vapor condenses / freezes / is deposited, it cools, and it releases heat

The maximum amount of water vapor that air can hold is called ______.

water-vapor capacity

Which of the following best describe unsaturated air conditions?

weather is likely fair and the air contains less water vapor than it's able to hold

The driest area of the United States in winter in terms of precipitation is(are) the ______, as the mountains there block the influence of oceanic moisture

western states

Match the type of fog to the general location where it is commonly formed: advection fog

where cold ocean currents extend into warm coastal areas

When two air masses collide, air is forced upward ______.

whether it's stable or unstable

What factors are used to classify clouds?

whether they are related to precipitation, what their form is, and what altitude they exist at

Match the way in which air rises due to interaction with the land surface with the correct words that complete the description: slow down

wind may ______ due to friction with the land surface, causing air behind it to pile up and rise

Factors that are important for the formation of fog in an area include not only the overall climate, temperature, and humidity conditions, but also the prevailing _______ direction and whether a location is close to a large body of ________

wind; water