Final Flashcards
High pressure systems are usually accompanied by _____ weather and low pressure systems are usually accompanied by ____weather.
a. fair . . . stormy
b. stormy . . . fair
a. fair . . . . stormy
The single most important source of atmospheric pollution in the United States is . . .
a. the internal combustion engine in motor vehicles
b. wind erosion of soil
c. coal-burning electric power plants
d. burning at garbage dumps
e. volcanic eruptions
a. the internal combustion engine in motor vehicles
Generally, as the temperature of a radiating surface decreases,
a. the rate of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the surface will increase
b. the wavelength at which radiation from the surface is most intense will lengthen
c. Both of the above are correct
d. None of the above are correct
b. the wavelength at which radiation from the surface is most intense will lengthen.
Solar radiation
a. is most intense at a shorter wavelength than terrestrial infrared radiation
b. does not interact with components of the atmosphere
c. heats the atmosphere which, in turn, heats Earth’s surface
d. that reaches the outer atmosphere consists of mostly microwaves
e. Non of the above is correct
a. is most intense at a shorter wavelength than terrestrial infrared radiation.
During summer in the NOrthern Hemisphere, the number of hours of daylight is _______ to the number of hours of darkness.
a. equal to
b. greater than
c. less than
b. greater than
An example of latent heating:
a. conduction and convection
b. radiational cooling
c. vaporization of ocean water followed by cloud formation
d. All of the above are correct
e. None of the above is correct.
c. vaporization of ocean water followed by cloud formation
Air mass advection occurs when winds blow____ regional isotherms.
a. parallel to
b. across
b. across
The temperature of rising parcels of unsaturated air____ because of ______.
a. rises . . . compressional warming
b. drops . . .expansional cooling
c. drops . . . radiational cooling
d. rises . . . latent heating
e. rises . . . compressional warming
b. drops . . .expansional cooling
A front is a narrow zone of transition between air masses that contrast in
a. temperature
b. vapor pressure
c. density
d. any of these is correct
e. none of these is correct
d. any of these is correct
When a warm and humid air mass replaces a cold and dry air mass at a particular locality, the air pressure at the Earth’s surface usually
a. rises
b. falls
c. does not change
b. falls
Suppose that the vapor pressure of the cold outside air is the same as the vapor pressure of the warm air indoors. If the door is opened and the cold air replaces some of the warm air, then the new relative humidity indoors would be
a. higher than before
b. the same as before
c. lower than before
a. higher than before
As saturated (cloudy) air flows up the windward slopes of a mountain range,
a. the relative humidity increases
b. the mixing ratio does not change
c. the saturation mixing ratio decreases
d. the air temperature rises
e. none of these is correct
c. the saturation mixing ratio decreases
The Coriolis Effect arises from the fact that
a. friction balances the horizontal pressure gradient force
b. Earth rotates
c. there are horizontal gradients in air density.
d. all of the above are correct
e. none of the above is correct
b. Earth rotates
The pressure gradient force causes air to flow from areas of relatively _____ pressure to areas of relatively ____ pressure.
a. low . . . high
b. high . . . low
b. high . . . low
With hydrostatic equilibrium, the vertical air pressure gradient in the atmosphere is balanced by _______.
a. friction
b. a centripetal force
c. gravity
d. the horizontal pressure gradient
e. the Coriolis Effect
c. gravity
The geostrophic wind is blowing directly from west to east. The highest air pressure is located to the
a. north
b. east
c. south
d. west
c. south
The global westerlies blow out of the ______ flank of the subtropical anticyclones.
a. poleward
b. equatorward
c. eastern
d. western
a. poleward
The deserts of the world are found at latitudes near 30 degrees latitude because
a. the intertropical convergence zone occurs there
b. of the doldrums
c. of the sinking air associated with the polar front
d. of the sinking air associated with the subtropical highs
d. of the sinking air associated with the subtropical highs
In the Midwest, drought is most likely with a ______ circulation pattern in the westerlies.
a. strong zonal
b. split-flow
c. weak meridional
d. blocking
d. blocking
In equal volumes, which one of the following air masses exerts the highest surface air pressure?
a. cP
b. cA
c. mP
d. cT
e. mT
b. cA
Warm and humid air:
a. cA
b. mP
c. mT
d. cP
e. cT
c. mT
As a warm front approaches, clouds appear in which one of the following sequences?
a. cirrus, altostratus, stratus
b. stratus, altostratus, cirrus
c. cumulus, cumulonimbus, cirrus
d. cumulonimbus, cumulus, nimbostratus
e. nimbostratus, cirrocumulus, cirrus
a. cirrus, altostratus, stratus
The cloud and precipitation shield associated with a cold front typically is _____ the cloud and precipitation shield associated with a warm front.
a. wider than
b. narrower than
c. the same as
b. narrower than
Cold fronts typically travel _____ warm fronts.
a. faster than
b. slower than
c. at the same speed as
a. faster than
Surface air pressure drops when horizontal divergence aloft _____ horizontal convergence at the surface.
a. balances
b. is greater than
c. is less than
b. is greater than
In a mature extra-tropical cyclone, fog and drizzle are most likely to develop
a. to the northwest of the low center
b. in the warm air behind the warm front
c. in the cold air just ahead of the surface warm front
d. in the warm air just ahead of the surface cold front
d. none of the above is correct
c. in the cold air just ahead of the surface warm front
The warmest air associated with a mature extra-tropical cyclone is usually located
a. at the low center
b. southwest of the low center
c. northwest of the low center
d. southeast of the low center
e. none of the above is correct
d. southeast of the low center
The time of the year when a lake breeze is most likely to develop along the Lake Michigan shoreline is
a. February
b. June
c. late autumn
d. December
e. November
b. June
The mature stage of the life cycle of a thunderstorm cell is characterized by
a. updrafts only
b. both updrafts and downdrafts
c. cloud dissipation
d. downdrafts only
b. both updrafts and downdrafts
Appearance of a flat anvil top indicates that the developing thunderstorm cloud (cumulonimbus) has reached a(n) _____ portion of the atmosphere.
a. unstable
b. neutral
c. conditionally stable
d. extremely stable
d. extremely stable
The most important force operating in a tornado is the
a. pressure gradient force
b. Coriolis Effect
c. gravity
d. friction
e. none of these is correct
a. pressure gradient force
A characteristic of most tornadoes in the Northern Hemisphere is
a. counterclockwise rotation as viewed from above
b. a track toward the east or northeast
c. association with a severe thunderstorm cell
d. all of the above are correct
e. none of the above is correct
d. all of the above are correct
Tornadoes are most likely to occur in the _____ sector of an intense extra-tropical cyclone.
a. northeast
b. southeast
c. southwest
d. northwest
b. southeast
Condition needed for the development of a tornadic circulation within a thunderstorm:
a. strong updraft
b. strong vertical shear in the horizontal wind
c. development of a mesocyclone
d. all of the above are correct
e. none of the above are correct
d. all of the above are correct
In the United States, the months of peak tornado activity are
a. January, February, and March
b. March, April, and May
c. April, May, and June
d. May, June, and July
e. June, July, and August
c. April, May, and June
If you are indoors when a tornado approaches, the best precaution is to
a. lie down against an exposed outer wall
b. stand near a window to see where the tornado is going
c. go to the basement and get under a sturdy bench
d. go to bed and pull the covers over your head
e. make sure all the windows are open
c. go to the basement and get under a sturdy bench
Hurricanes do not typically form at latitudes north of 30 degrees N because
a. the surface ocean water is too cold
b. there is no Coriolis Effect
c. the air is too warm
d. all of the above are correct
e. none of the above is correct
a. the surface ocean water is too cold
The source of energy that sustains a hurricane circulation is
a. sensible heat
b. latent heat
c. infrared radiation
d. ultraviolet radiation
e. none of these is correct
b. latent heat
Force(s) operating within a hurricane:
a. Coriolis Effect
b. friction
c. pressure gradient force
d. centripetal force
e. all of the above are correct
d. all of the above are correct
Historically, the most destructive aspect of a hurricane striking a low-lying coastal area:
a. strong winds
b. heavy rains
c. hail
d. wind shear
e. storm surge
e. storm surge
Define a cold front.
A front that moves in a way that relatively cold (more dense) air advances and replaces relatively warm (less dense) air.
In narrative form, indicate the weather conditions just prior to the passage of the cold front, while the cold front is passing, and about an hour after the passage of the front. Indicate what changes occur in wind (speed and direction), temperature, dew point, barometric pressure, precipitation (if any), and sky conditions.
As a cold front approaches, winds blow from the south southwest. The temperature is warm, and the dew point is high. Air pressure will be steadily falling, cloud cover will be increasing, and there may be brief bouts of precipitation.
As the cold front is passing, winds become gusty and shift directions. There will be a sharp drop in both the temperature and the dew point. Air pressure will rise sharply, skies will be cloud-covered, and there will be heavy precipitation.
After the cold front has passed, winds will be blowing from the west northwest. The temperatures will be colder, and the dew point will be lower. Air pressure will steadily rise, and precipitation will diminish as skies clear.
