Met Gen 1

Question 1

That part of the earths atmosphere where most of the clouds and precipitation are found is:

A) The insolation zone.
B) The mesosphere.
C) The Troposphere.
D) The terrestrial radiation zone.

Answer 1

C) The Troposphere.

Question 2

Pick a false statement with respect to the tropopause.

A) The tropopause is lower over the poles.
B) The tropopause is higher over the equator.
C) The temperature at the tropopause is colder over the poles.
D) The temperature at the tropopause is colder over the equator.

Answer 2

C) The temperature at the tropopause is colder over the poles.

Question 3

Is the height of the troposphere higher over the poles or equator?

A) Poles - The density of air in this region is greater and therefore higher.
B) Equator - The density of the air in this region is greater and therefore higher.
C) Poles - The density of air in this region is less and therefore higher.
D) Equator - The density of air in this region is less and therefore higher.

Answer 3

D) Equator - The density of air in this region is less and therefore higher.

Question 4

The height of the tropopause will tend to be higher in:

A) In a warm air mass.
B) When the MSL pressure is high.
C) At a lower level in a warmer air mass.
D) Both (A) and (B) are correct.

Answer 4

D) Both (A) and (B) are correct.

Question 5

That region of the atmosphere between the stratopause and the mesopause is known as:

A) The exosphere.
B) The thermosphere.
C) The ionosphere.
D) The mesosphere

Answer 5

D) The mesosphere

Question 6

The sun emits large amounts of ultraviolet radiation and is largely absorbed by a colorless gas that is found at varying amounts throughout the atmosphere. This gas is known as:

A) Carbon monoxide.
B) Nitrogen pentoxide.
C) Ozone.
D) Methane.

Answer 6

C) Ozone.

Question 7

The earths surface is heated by:

A) Short wave solar (Ultraviolet) radiation.
B) Kinetic activity in the lower tropopause.
C) Long Wave solar (infrared) radiation.
D) Conduction.

Answer 7

A) Short wave solar (Ultraviolet) radiation.

Question 8

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone?

A) It is the area on the earth where solar radiation is at its weakest.
B) It is the area on the earth where solar radiation is at its strongest.
C) It is where two highs converge together.
D) It is where two lows converge together.

Answer 8

B) It is the area on the earth where solar radiation is at its strongest.

Question 9

Why does the ITCZ move south during the winter months?

A) The relationship between the earth, the sun and the moon slightly shift earths orbit causing the maximum solar radiation to shift south.
B) Where the cold air and warm air meet shifts the ITCZ southwards during the winter months.
C) The Northern hemisphere tilts towards the sun during winter forcing the cold air southwards along with the ITCZ.
D) The Northern hemisphere becomes tilted away from the sun during winter meaning the point of maximum solar radiation striking the earth moves southward.

Answer 9

D) The Northern hemisphere becomes tilted away from the sun during winter meaning the point of maximum solar radiation striking the earth moves southward.

Question 10

The lower atmosphere is heated by:

A) Short wave solar (Ultraviolet) radiation.
B) Conduction.
C) Long wave solar (Infrared) radiation.
D) Both (B) and (C) are correct.

Answer 10

D) Both (B) and (C) are correct.

Question 11

Temperatures in the lower stratosphere approximate those:

A) That exist at the 300hPa pressure surface.
B) Of the stratopause.
C) That are observed at the midpoint of the earths laminar boundary layer.
D) Of the tropopause.

Answer 11

D) Of the tropopause.

Question 12

In the International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) the temperature at Sea Level is 15 degrees C and the pressure at that level is 1013.2hPa. What would be the ISA temperature for FL300?

A) -75
B) -45
C) -60
D) -56.5

Answer 12

B) -45

Question 13

The actual temperature at FL280 is -48 degrees C. How would this temperature be expressed in terms of an ISA deviation?

A) ISA - 10
B) ISA + 7
C) ISA - 7
D) ISA + 8

Answer 13

C) ISA - 7

Question 14

If you are flying at 34,000’ with a SAT of -50 degrees C and the tropopause was actually at 30,000’ where SAT was -51 degrees C, what is the deviation from ISA?

A) ISA - 3
B) ISA + 3
C) ISA + 1
D) ISA - 1

Answer 14

B) ISA + 3

Question 15

If you are flying at 38,000’ with a SAT of -50 degrees C and the tropopause was actually at 44,000’ where the SAT was - 65 degrees C, what is the deviation from ISA?

A) ISA + 6
B) ISA - 6
C) ISA + 23
D) ISA + 15

Answer 15

A) ISA + 6

Question 16

As air moves horizontally over the earth in the N. Hemisphere, the air is deflected to the right. This is known as the Coriolis and is caused by the:

A) Rotation of the earth.
B) Vorticity in the lower atmosphere.
C) Mesoscale gravity waves.
D) Geostrophic acceleration

Answer 16

A) Rotation of the earth.

Question 17

Which of the following statements with respect to Coriolis is correct?

A) Coriolis is stronger closer to the equator.
B) Coriolis is weaker at the higher latitudes.
C) Coriolis is stronger nearer to the poles.
D) Coriolis does not change with a change in latitude.

Answer 17

C) Coriolis is stronger nearer to the poles.

Question 18

Vertical air currents are often created within the atmosphere by varying means. A process that will lead to rising air is known as:

A) Advection of warm over a cold surface.
B) Convection.
C) Dispersion.
D) Convergence.

Answer 18

B) Convection.

Question 19

Which of the following would experience the LEAST diurnal range in temperature?

A) Tropical rain forest.
B) Temperate zone oceans.
C) Desert.
D) Mountain valley’s.

Answer 19

B) Temperate zone oceans.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Deserts and open fields on the earths surface heat up and cool down relatively easy promoting rising air during the night time.
B) Lakes and oceans will promote convection and rising air.
C) Convection is more likely to occur over water-free surfaces.
D) (A) and (B) are false.

Answer 20

D) (A) and (B) are false.

Question 21

The lifting process responsible for the choppy type of turbulence often encountered during flight within the lower 3000 ft of the tropopause is:

A) Orographic Lift.
B) Convergence.
C) Mechanical Turbulence.
D) Advection cooling.

Answer 21

C) Mechanical Turbulence.

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a lifting agent?

A) Evaporation.
B) Convection.
C) Mechanical Turbulence.
D) Convergence.

Answer 22

A) Evaporation.

Question 23

Meteorologists use the term convergence to depict air that is:

A) Flowing along the earths surface from areas of higher pressure into and converging at an area of lower pressure.
B) Lifting orographically.
C) Spreading out from an area.
D) Becoming conditionally unstable.

Answer 23

A) Flowing along the earths surface from areas of higher pressure into and converging at an area of lower pressure.

Question 24

Which of the following processes can result in expansion cooling, subsequent condensation and formation of clouds?

A) Subsidence.
B) Divergence.
C) Frontolysis.
D) Overrunning.

Answer 24

D) Overrunning.

Question 25

Define “Overrunning”.

A) It refers to how fast the cold air rises vertically as it flows up along the frontal surface over the retreating warm air.
B) It is a term used to describe how fast the warm front is moving.
C) It is a term used to describe how fast the cold front is moving.
D) It refers to how fast warm air rises vertically as it flows up along the frontal surface over the retreating cold air.

Answer 25

D) It refers to how fast warm air rises vertically as it flows up along the frontal surface over the retreating cold air.

Question 26

The clouds and precipitation often associated with a cyclone are due to:

A) The presence of strong winds and associated mechanical turbulence.
B) The associated cold outflow leads to a steep lapse rate and instability.
C) Surface convergence and ascending air.
D) Advection heating of moist air that inflows across the surface isobars.

Answer 26

C) Surface convergence and ascending air.

Question 27

Which of the following would be used to describe the process whereby a rising, expanding parcel of air does not undergo any heat transfer in or out of the parcel as it ascends?

A) Osmotic.
B) Diabatic.
C) Isentropic.
D) Adiabatic.

Answer 27

D) Adiabatic.

Question 28

Subsiding air, even if it initially saturated, will:

A) Continue to warm at the saturated adiabatic lapse rate.
B) Warm at the dry adiabatic lapse rate.
C) Warm at the environmental lapse rate.
D) Increase in temperature at the ISA lapse rate,

Answer 28

B) Warm at the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

Question 29

With respect to air that is descending rapidly down the lee slopes of a mountain range, which of the following statements is true?

A) Considerable cloud will be found near the end of its descent.
B) This air will warm at the dry adiabatic lapse rate almost immediately after the start of its descent.
C) The relative humidity of this air increases rapidly during its descent.
D) Warming of this air will be at the saturated adiabatic lapse rate during most of its descent.

Answer 29

B) This air will warm at the dry adiabatic lapse rate almost immediately after the start of its descent.

Question 30

When air subsides, normally the:

A) Pressure gradient steepens.
B) Moisture content increases.
C) Temperature decreases.
D) Relative humidity decreases.

Answer 30

D) Relative humidity decreases.