Question Set 17 Flashcards
Hazards associated with a thunderstorm can include
a) lightning.
b) strong, gusty surface winds.
c) hail.
d) All of the above.
d) All of the above.
Vertical motions in thunderstorms are on the order of
a) meters per second (m/s).
b) centimeters per second (cm/s).
c) millimeters per second (mm/s).
d) None of the above.
a) meters per second (m/s).
Downdrafts, and the downbursts that result from downdrafts, form as the result of
a) positively buoyant air.
b) the evaporation of rain.
c) wind shear.
d) All of the above.
b) the evaporation of rain.
A rapidly rotation column of air descending from a thunderstorm that is in contact with the ground would be called a/an
a) downburst.
b) microburst.
c) tornado
d) None of the above.
c) tornado
A downburst that is less than 4 km across would be called a
a) microburst.
b) mesoburst.
c) macroburst.
d) None of the above.
a) microburst.
The leading edge of a downburst can be called the
a) microburst.
b) gust front.
c) step leader.
d) None of the above.
b) gust front.
Thunderstorm formation requires
a) only a conditionally unstable atmosphere.
b) only a lifting mechanism.
c) both a conditionally unstable atmosphere and a lifting mechanism.
d) neither a conditionally unstable atmosphere or a lifting mechanism.
c) both a conditionally unstable atmosphere and a lifting mechanism.
Lifting mechanisms that can lead to the development of thunderstorms include
a) daytime heating.
b) fronts.
c) low level convergence.
d) All of the above.
d) All of the above.
For the atmosphere to be conditionally unstable, the environmental lapse rate must be
a) less that the moist adiabatic lapse rate.
b) greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate.
c) between the moist adiabatic and the dry adiabatic lapse rates.
d) equal to the moist adiabatic lapse rate.
c) between the moist adiabatic and the dry adiabatic lapse rates.
An isolated thunderstorm cell occurring in a maritime tropical air mass would likely be considered a/an
a) severe thunderstorm.
b) tornadic thunderstorm.
c) air mass thunderstorm.
d) None of the above.
c) air mass thunderstorm.
The stage of air mass thunderstorm development that is dominated by updrafts is called the
a) developing stage.
b) cumulus stage.
c) mature stage.
d) dissipating stage.
b) cumulus stage.
The key to the structure and relatively long lifetimes of severe thunderstorms is the significant ________ associated with the environment within which these storms form.
a) amount of water vapor
b) rainfall
c) wind shear
d) number of condensation nuclei
c) wind shear
Conditions that can lead to the development of a severe thunderstorm include
a) contrasting air masses (i.e., a strong front).
b) a low level jet.
c) an upstream upper-level trough.
d) All of the above.
d) All of the above.
The greatest number of days with thunderstorm activity within the continental United States occurs within the state of
a) New Mexico.
b) Florida.
c) Oklahoma.
d) California.
b) Florida.
During which step in the lightning formation process does illumination of the lightning channel occur (i.e., the lightning flash is seen)?
a) charge separation
b) step leader
c) return stroke
d) dart leader
c) return stroke
