7.10: Stability of Air Masses

Question 1

What is a characteristic of stable air?

A. Stratiform clouds.
B. Unlimited visibility.
C. Cumulus clouds.

Answer 1

Stratiform clouds.

Question 2

When warm, moist, stable air flows upslope, it

A. produces stratus type clouds.
B. causes showers and thunderstorms.
C. develops convective turbulence.

Answer 2

produces stratus type clouds.

Question 3

If an unstable air mass is forced upward, what type clouds can be expected?

A. Stratus clouds with little vertical development.
B. Stratus clouds with considerable associated turbulence.
C. Clouds with considerable vertical development and associated turbulence.

Answer 3

Clouds with considerable vertical development and associated turbulence.

Question 4

What are characteristics of unstable air?

A. Turbulence and good surface visibility.
B. Turbulence and poor surface visibility.
C. Nimbostratus clouds and good surface visibility.

Answer 4

Turbulence and good surface visibility.

Question 5

A stable air mass is most likely to have which characteristic?

A. Showery precipitation.
B. Turbulent air.
C. Poor surface visibility.

Answer 5

Poor surface visibility.

Question 6

Steady precipitation preceding a front is an indication of

A. stratiform clouds with moderate turbulence.
B. cumuliform clouds with little or no turbulence.
C. stratiform clouds with little or no turbulence.

Answer 6

stratiform clouds with little or no turbulence.

Question 7

What are characteristics of a moist, unstable air mass?

A. Cumuliform clouds and showery precipitation.
B. Poor visibility and smooth air.
C. Stratiform clouds and showery precipitation.

Answer 7

Cumuliform clouds and showery precipitation.

Question 8

What measurement can be used to determine the stability of the atmosphere?

A. Atmospheric pressure.
B. Actual lapse rate.
C. Surface temperature.

Answer 8

Actual lapse rate.

Question 9

What would decrease the stability of an air mass?

A. Warming from below.
B. Cooling from below.
C. Decrease in water vapor.

Answer 9

Warming from below.

Question 10

What are the characteristics of an unstable atmosphere?

A. A cool, dry air mass.
B. A warm, humid air mass.
C. Descending air in the northern hemisphere.

Answer 10

A warm, humid air mass.

Question 11

Clouds with extensive vertical development over mountainous terrain are a sign of

A. a dry adiabatic lapse rate.
B. a stable air mass.
C. an unstable air mass.

Answer 11

an unstable air mass.

Question 12

The stability of an air mass can usually be determined by

A. the height of the tropopause.
B. measuring the dry adiabatic lapse rate.
C. cloud types and the type of precipitation.

Answer 12

cloud types and the type of precipitation.