exam 2

Question 1

What is Dew Point?

Answer 1

The temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and water vapor begins to condense into liquid (dew). At this point, relative humidity reaches 100%.

Question 2

What is Relative Humidity?

Answer 2

The ratio of the current amount of water vapor in the air to the maximum amount of water vapor that air can hold at a specific temperature, expressed as a percentage.

Question 3

What is Saturation Vapor Pressure?

Answer 3

The pressure exerted by the water vapor in the air when the air is fully saturated. It increases with temperature.

Question 4

What is Adiabatic Cooling?

Answer 4

The process of air cooling as it rises and expands in the atmosphere without gaining or losing heat from its surroundings.

Question 5

What is Environmental Lapse Rate?

Answer 5

The rate at which atmospheric temperature decreases with an increase in altitude in the troposphere. The average rate is about 6.5°C per kilometer.

Question 6

What are Cold Fronts?

Answer 6

Boundaries where a mass of cold air displaces a warmer air mass. It often brings sudden temperature drops and can cause thunderstorms.

Question 7

What are Warm Fronts?

Answer 7

Boundaries where warm air displaces a colder air mass. It generally leads to gradual temperature increases and steady precipitation.

Question 8

What is Orographic Precipitation?

Answer 8

Rainfall that occurs when moist air is forced to ascend over a mountain range, leading to cooling, condensation, and precipitation.

Question 9

What are Convective Storms?

Answer 9

Thunderstorms that form due to the rising of warm, moist air, which cools and condenses to form clouds.

Question 10

What are Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN)?

Answer 10

Small particles like dust, sea salt, or pollution on which water vapor condenses to form cloud droplets.

Question 11

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?

Answer 11

A region near the equator where the trade winds converge, leading to frequent thunderstorms and heavy rainfall.

Question 12

What is Precipitation Recycling?

Answer 12

The process where precipitation that falls on a region evaporates back into the atmosphere, contributing to future rainfall.

Question 13

What is Normal Distribution?

Answer 13

A bell-shaped probability distribution where most values cluster around a central mean, with symmetrical tails.

Question 14

What is Standard Deviation?

Answer 14

A measure of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values.

Question 15

What is Permafrost?

Answer 15

Permanently frozen ground that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years, often found in polar regions.

Question 16

What is the Active Layer?

Answer 16

The top layer of soil above permafrost that thaws during summer and refreezes in winter.

Question 17

What is Sea Ice Albedo Feedback?

Answer 17

A climate feedback mechanism where melting sea ice decreases the surface’s albedo (reflectivity), leading to increased solar absorption and further melting.

Question 18

What is Sea Ice Heat Flux Feedback?

Answer 18

The process by which the loss of sea ice increases the heat transfer from the ocean to the atmosphere, influencing temperature changes.

Question 19

What are the relationships between Temperature, Pressure, and Water Vapor?

Answer 19

As temperature increases, air can hold more water vapor (higher saturation vapor pressure). As air rises, pressure decreases, causing adiabatic cooling, which can lower temperature and lead to condensation if the dew point is reached. Cloud formation occurs when air reaches saturation; however, not all clouds produce precipitation, as droplet size and air dynamics affect whether rain falls.

Question 20

What is Adiabatic Cooling?

Answer 20

Involves temperature change without heat transfer. Rising air expands and cools, while descending air compresses and warms.

Question 21

What is El Niño?

Answer 21

A periodic warming of central and eastern Pacific Ocean waters that impacts global weather patterns.

Question 22

What are Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)?

Answer 22

Other climate variability patterns that influence weather over decadal timescales.

Question 23

How does Lake Effect Snow Formation occur?

Answer 23

Occurs when cold air passes over warmer lake waters, picking up moisture and heat, leading to heavy snowfall downwind of the lake.

Question 24

What drives the Indian Monsoon?

Answer 24

Driven by seasonal wind patterns, bringing heavy summer rains to the Indian subcontinent due to land-sea temperature contrasts.

Question 25

How is precipitation measured?

Answer 25

Gauges collect rainfall directly, radar estimates rainfall by detecting raindrop sizes, and satellites provide global coverage of precipitation patterns.

Question 26

What is the distribution pattern of daily and annual precipitation?

Answer 26

Precipitation data often follows a normal distribution pattern, with seasonal and geographic variations.

Question 27

How does soil formation occur?

Answer 27

Soil forms from the breakdown of rocks through physical (mechanical) and chemical processes. Climate, organisms, parent material, time, and topography influence soil properties.

Question 28

What is the difference between physical and chemical weathering?

Answer 28

Physical weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces without changing their composition, while chemical weathering alters the rock’s mineral structure.

Question 29

How do grain size, porosity, and permeability relate?

Answer 29

Grain size affects soil’s ability to retain water. Larger grains (gravel) have lower porosity and higher permeability compared to finer grains (clay).

Question 30

What are hurricanes?

Answer 30

Also known as cyclones or typhoons depending on the region. Composed of an eye, eyewall, and rainbands. They form over warm ocean waters, require low wind shear, and can be classified by wind speed (Saffir-Simpson scale). Damage arises from wind, rain, and storm surges.

Question 31

What is the albedo of water, ice, and snow?

Answer 31

Water has a low albedo (absorbs more sunlight), ice has a higher albedo, and fresh snow has the highest, reflecting most sunlight.

Question 32

How does groundwater contribute to streamflow?

Answer 32

Groundwater contributes to streamflow, especially during dry periods. Excessive groundwater withdrawal can lower water tables, reduce streamflow, and cause land subsidence.