WX 201 Final

10 Dec 22

The most abundant gases in Earth's atmosphere by volume are:
a) Carbon dioxide and nitrogen
b) Oxygen and water vapor
c) Oxygen and helium
d) Nitrogen and oxygen
e) Oxygen and ozone

D

Which of the following is considered a variable gas in Earth's atmosphere?
a) Nitrogen
b) Water vapor
c) Oxygen
d) Argon
e) Helium

B

The only substance near Earth's surface that is found naturally in the current atmosphere as a solid, liquid, and a gas is:
a) Carbon dioxide
b) Molecular oxygen
c) Ozon
d) Carbon
e) Water

E

Which weather element ALWAYS decreases as we climb upward in the atmosphere?
a) Pressure
b) Wind
c) Temperature
d) Moisture
e) Dew point

A

Earth's atmosphere is divided into named layers based on the vertical profile of:
a) Air pressure
b) Air density
c) Air temperature
d) Wind speed

C

Almost all of Earth's weather occurs in the:
a) Exosphere
b) Stratosphere
c) Troposphere
d) Mesosphere
e) Thermosphere

C

The gas that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere is:
a) Water vapor
b) Ozone
c) Nitrous oxide
d) Carbon dioxide
e) Chlorofluorocarbons

B

In a temperature inversion, air temperature:
a) Decrease with increasing height
b) Remains constant with increasing height
c) Is warmer at night than during the day
d) Increases with increasing height
e) Is warmer during winter than during summer

D

The word "weather' is defined as:
a) The average of the weather elements
b) The climate of a region
c) The condition of the atmosphere at a particular time and place
d) The climate averaged over a year's time
e) Any type of falling precipitation

C

Wind direction is:
a) The direction to which the wind is blowing
b) The direction from which the wind is blowing
c) Always directed from high toward low pressure
d) Always directed from low toward high pressure
e) The vertical displacement of air

B

Which measurement indicates the average speed of air molecules?
a) Pressure
b) Density
c) Heat
d) Temperature
e) Gravity

D

The amount of heat energy required to bring about a change in temperature in a substance is called the:
a) Radiative equilibrium
b) Heat capacity
c) Dead heat
d) Conduction heat
e) Latent heat

B

A vertical exchange of heat is called:
a) Expansion
b) Evaporation
c) Convection
d) Compression
e) Condensation

C

The heat energy released when water vapor changes to a liquid is called:
a) Specific heat of evaporation
b) Latent heat of condensation
c) Latent heat of fusion
d) Latent heat of fission
e) Specific heat of condensation

B

What determines the type (wavelength) and amount of radiation an object emits?
a) Thermal conductivity
b) Density
c) Latent heat
d) Specific heat
e) Temperature

E

What type of energy has a wavelength shorter than that of violet light?
a) Ultraviolet radiation
b) Green visible radiation
c) Blue visible radiation
d) Infrared radiation
e) Red visible radiation

A

Earth emits radiation with greatest intensity at:
a) Radio wavelengths
b) Infrared wavelengths
c) Visible wavelengths
d) Ultraviolet wavelengths
e) X-ray wavelengths

B

The combined albedo of Earth and the atmosphere is approximately ___ percent.
a) 4
b) 10
c) 30
d) 50
e) 90

C

Without the atmospheric greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would be:
a) The same as it is now
b) Static
c) Higher than at present
d) Lower than at present
e) Radiative

D

If the amount of energy lost by Earth to space each year were not approximately equal to that received:
a) The Sun's output would change
b) The mass of the atmosphere would change
c) The atmosphere's average temperature would change
d) The length of the year would change
e) Nothing would change

C

Although the polar regions radiate away more heat energy than they receive by insolation in the course of a year, they are prevented from becoming progressively colder each year by the:
a) Conduction of heat through the interior of the Earth
b) The insulating properties of snow
c) The release of latent heat tot the atmosphere when the polar ice melts
d) Concentration of Earth's magnetic field lines at the poles
e) Circulation of heat by the atmosphere and oceans

E

Our seasons are caused by:
a) The amount of cloud cover during the different parts of the year
b) The proximity to the poles
c) The angle at which sunlight reaches the Earth
d) The constellation of Earth, Sun, and Moon
e) Differences in altitude

C

On the summer solstice, the highest position of the noonday Sun is located:
a) In the mid-latitude of the Southern Hemisphere
b) Near the South Pole
c) Near the equator
d) Near the North Pole
e) In the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere

E

At any given time, ___ of Earth is illuminated by the Sun.
a) 1/2
b) 2/3
c) 1/3
d) 1/4
e) 3/4

A

In the Northern Hemisphere, which day has the fewest hours of daylight?
a) Summer solstice
b) Vernal equinox
c) Autumnal equinox
d) Spring solstice
e) Winter solstice

E

The lag in daily temperature refers to the time lag between the:
a) Time of minimum temperature and the time of maximum solar radiation
b) Time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature
c) Minimum and maximum temperature for a day
d) Minimum and maximum solar energy received at the surface for a given day
e) Sunrise and sunset

B

The daily minimum temperature is usually observed:
a) At the time of sunset
b) Near midnight
c) Several hours before sunrise
d) Around sunrise
e) Several hours after sunrise

D

The greatest variation in daily temperature usually occurs:
a) At the ground
b) About 5 ft above the ground
c) At the top of a high0rise apartment complex
d) At the level where thermals stop rising
e) On top of a mountain

A

Ideal conditions for a strong radiation inversion are a:
a) Cloudy, windy, moist, mummer night
b) Clear, windy, dry, summer night
c) Clear, calm, dry, summer night
d) Clear, calm, moist, summer night
e) Cloudy, clam, moist, winter night

C

The most important reason why summers in the Southern Hemisphere are not warmer than summers in the Northern Hemisphere is that:
a) Over 80 percent of the Southern Hemisphere is covered with water
b) Earth is closer to the Sun in January
c) Earth is farther from the Sun in July
d) The Sun's energy is less intense in the Southern Hemisphere
e) Ice from Antarctica prevents it from getting very hot

A

In the liquid state, water molecules are ___ in the gaseous state.
a) Further apart than
b) The same distance apart as
c) Closer together than
d) Double the distance apart as
e) Ice from Antarctica prevents it from getting very hot

C

The ratio of the mass of water vapor in a given volume (parcel) of air to the mass of the remaining dry air describes the:
a) Dew point
b) Water vapor content
c) Absolute humidity
d) Mixing ratio
e) Relative humidity

D

The partial pressure of water vapor is called the:
a) Actual vapor pressure
b) Real vapor pressure
c) True vapor pressure
d) Actual water pressure
e) True liquid pressure

A

As the air temperature increases, the saturation vapor pressure for that air parcel:
a) Decreases
b) Increases
c) Remains constant
d) Is unrelated to air temperature and can either increase or decrease
e) Drops by 50%

B

The temperature to which air must be cooled in order to become saturated is the:
a) Minimum temperature
b) Wet-bulb temperature
c) Freezing point
d) Maximum temperature
e) Dew-point temperature

E

The percentage of water vapor present in the air compared to that required for saturation is the:
a) Specific humidity
b) Mixing ratio
c) Absolute humidity
d) Dew point
e) Relative humidity

E

If the air temperature remains constant, evaporating water into the air will ___ the dew point and ___ the relative humidity.
a) Decrease, increase
b) Decrease, increase
c) Increase, increase
d) Increase, decrease
e) Not change, not change

C

At what time of the day is the relative humidity normally at a minimum?
a) Just before sunrise
b) About midnight
c) When the air temperature is highest
d) When the air temperature is lowest
e) At sunset

C

This instrument uses wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperature to obtain relative humidity:
a) Infrared hygrometer
b) Hair hygrometer
c) Electrical hygrometer
d) Sling psychrometer
e) Mechanical hygrometer

D

Which of the following will increase in a rising parcel of air?
a) Relative humidity
b) Saturation vapor pressure
c) Mixing ratio
d) Air temperature
e) Air pressure

A

Dew is most likely to form on:
a) Cloudy, calm nights
b) Clear, calm nights
c) Clear, windy nights
d) Cloudy, windy nights
e) Rainy nights

B

Frost typically form on the inside of a windowpane (rather than the outside) because:
a) There is less water vapor touching the inside of the pane
b) The temperature is higher on the inside
c) There is more radiational cooling on the inside
d) The inside of the pane is colder than the outside
e) There is more water vapor touching the inside of the pane

E

Particles that serve as surfaces on which water vapor may condense is called:
a) Condensation nuclei
b) Hydrophobic nuclei
c) Nacreous nuclei
d) Scud
e) Molecules

A

Advection is often observed along the Pacific coast during the summer, as westerly winds carry moist air toward the shore. The fog forms because the surface water near the coast is ___ the surface water farther offshore.
a) Richer in nutrients than
b) Richer in wildlife than
c) Much colder than
d) Much warmer than
e) The same temperature as

C

If fog forms in Denver, Colorado (located on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains), and the wind is blowing from the east, then the fog is most likely:
a) Advection fog
b) Radiation fog
c) Frontal fog
d) Upslope fog
e) Downslope fog

D

Radiation fog best forms on a:
a) Cloudy summer night with a slight breeze
b) Clear winter night with a slight breeze
c) Cloudy winter night with a strong breeze
d) Clear summer night with a strong breeze
e) Cloudy winter night with a slight breeze

B

Clouds are classified by their:
a) Altitude and appearance
b) Appearance
c) Altitude
d) Method of formation
e) Temperature

A

Cirrus clouds are composed primarily of:
a) Water vapor
b) Water droplets
c) Salt aerosols
d) Dust particles
e) Ice particles

E

The cloud with the greatest vertical growth is:
a) Cumulus congestus
b) Cumulonimbus
c) Cirrocumulus
d) Cumulus humilis
e) Altocumulus

B

Which two clouds can produce precipitation?
a) Nimbostratus and altostratus
b) Nimbostratus and cirrus
c) Cumulonimbus and altostratus
d) Cumulonimbus and nimbostratus
e) Cirrus and stratocumulus

D

The rate at which the actual air temperature decreases with increasing height above the surface is referred to as the ___ rate.
a) Dry adiabatic
b) Moist adiabatic
c) Thermoclinic
d) Absolute stability
e) Environmental lapse

E

At Earth's surface, a rising saturated air parcel cools at the:
a) saturation rate
b) Developmental rate
c) Moist adiabatic rate
d) Dry adiabatic rate
e) Condensation rate

C

The difference between "moist" and "dry" adiabatic rates is due to the fact that:
a) Moist air weighs more than dry air
b) Latent heat is released by a rising parcel of saturated air
c) Saturated air is always unstable
d) An unsaturated parcel expands more rapidly than a saturated air parcel
e) Moist air weighs less than dry air

B

If rising air cools to its dew-point temperature, the relative humidity becomes:
a) 40%
b) 60%
c) 20%
d) 80%
e) 100%

E

The elevation where clouds form is called the ___ level.
a) Precipitation
b) Condensation
c) Saturation
d) Cloud formation
e) Adiabatic

B

Air which resists vertical displacement is considered to be:
a) Stable
b) Unstable
c) Supersaturated
d) Entrained
e) Neutral

A

Absolute instability results when the environmental lapse rate is ___ the ___ adiabatic rate.
a) The same as, dry
b) Greater than, dry
c) Less than, dry
d) Greater than, moist
e) Less than, moist

B

Inversions that form as air slowly sinks over a large area are called ___ inversions.
a) Ground-cover
b) Ground
c) Surface
d) Superficial
e) Subsidence

E

Which cloud type below would most likely form in an unstable atmosphere?
a) Cumulonimbus
b) Stratus
c) Nimbostratus
d) Cumulus humilis
e) Cirrostratus

A

Which condition below is necessary for a layer of altostratus clouds to change into altocumulus?
a) The cloud layer becomes more stable
b) The cloud layer becomes more clear
c) The nuclei types within the cloud have to change
d) The top part of the cloud deck cools while the bottom part warms
e) Temperature increases with increasing altitude in the layer

D

A typical raindrop is about ___ than a typical cloud droplet.
a) Ten times larger
b) One hundred times smaller
c) One hundred times larger
d) One thousand times smaller
e) One thousand times larger

C

A supercooled cloud droplet is:
a) A liquid droplet observed at temperatures below 0°C
b) An ice crystal surrounded by air warmer than 0°C
c) A liquid droplet that is cooler than the air around it
d) A water droplet that has ad all its latent heat removed
e) Another term for ice crystal

A

During the ice crystal process of rain formation:
a) The temperature in the cloud must be -40°C or below
b) Only ice crystals are present in a cloud
c) Ice crystals grow larger at the expense of the surrounding liquid cloud droplets
d) The cloud must be a cumuliform cloud
e) The surface temperature must be below freezing

C

The growth of a precipitation particle by the collision of an ice crystal (or snowflake) with a supercooled liquid droplet is called:
a) Accretion
b) Spontaneous nucleation
c) Collision
d) Condensation
e) Deposition

A

Which below best describes the solute effect?
a) Keep water droplets freezing at temperatures below 0°C
b) Removal of pollutants from the atmosphere by cloud droplets
c) Evaporation of cloud droplets and growing of ice crystals in a cold cloud
d) Condensation occurs at relative humidities of 100%
e) Water droplets dissolve hydroscopic nuclei and condensation can occur at relative humidities less than 100%

E

An amount of precipitation measured to be less than one-hundredth of an inch (0.25 mm) is called:
a) Drizzle
b) Light rain
c) A trace
d) Mist
e) Fog

C

The most common ice crystal shape is:
a) Virga
b) Graupel
c) Dendrite
d) Rime
e) A pentagon

C

In the winter you read in the newspaper that a large section of the midwest is without power due to downed power line. Which form of precipitation would most likely produce this situation?
a) Snow
b) Sleet
c) Rain
d) Hail
e) Freezing rain

E

Rain which falls from a cloud but evaporates before reaching the ground is referred to as:
a) Sleet
b) Graupel
c) Dry rain
d) Drizzle
e) Virga

E

Radar gathers information about precipitation in clouds by measuring the:
a) Amount of energy reflected back to a transmitter
b) Amount of sunlight scattered off the precipitation
c) Amount of solar energy passing through the cloud
d) Energy emitted by the precipitation particles
e) Absorption characteristics of falling precipitation

A

A station at an altitude of 900 m (about 3,000 ft) above sea level measures an air pressure of 930 mb. Under normal conditions, which of the values below do you think would be the most realistic sea level pressure for this station?
a) 840 mb
b) 930 mb
c) 1,020 mb
d) 1,340 mb
e) 1,830 mb

C

Lines connecting points of equal pressure are called:
a) Isotherms
b) A coordinate grid
c) Isobars
d) Contours
e) Millibars

C

Which of the following instruments measures pressure?
a) Thermometer
b) Densitometer
c) Hygrometer
d) Radiometer
e) Barometer

E

Isobaric surfaces are ___ in warm, less-dense air and ___ in cold, more-dense air.
a) Unstable, constant
b) Higher, lower
c) nonexistant, stable
d) Constant, unstable
e) Lower, higher

B

On an upper-level chart the winds tend to be:
a) Parallel to the isobars or contours
b) At constant speed
c) At an angle between 10 and 30 to the contours towards higher pressure
d) At an angle between 10 and 30 to the contours towards lower pressure
e) At right angles to the isobars or contour lines

A

Meridional wind-flow patterns go:
a) From east to west
b) From either east to west or west to east
c) From north to south
d) From south to north
e) From either north to south or south to north

E

The wind around a surface high pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere blows:
a) Clockwise and outward from the center
b) Counterclockwise and outward from the center
c) Clockwise and inward toward the center
d) Clockwise and parallel to the center
e) Counterclockwise and inward toward the center

A

Horizontal pressure variations cause air to move from areas of ___ pressure to areas of ___ pressure.
a) High, low
b) High, higher
c) High, high
d) Low, low
e) Low, high

A

The ___ force is an apparent force created by Earth's rotation.
a) Pressure gradient
b) Frictional
c) Centripetal
d) Gravitational
e) Coriolis

E

A geostrophic wind is a wind that results from a balance between the ___ force and the ___ force.
a) Pressure gradient, frictional
b) Coriolis, pressure gradient
c) Pressure gradient, gravitational
d) Coriolis, frictional
e) Coriolis, gravitational

B

A wind reported as 45° would be a wind blowing from the:
a) NE
b) E
c)
S
d) SW
e) NW

A

A wind rose indicated:
a) observed wind speed and direction on a surface map
b) Spinning wind patterns caused by buildings or other obstructions
c) The wind speed at a location at a particular time
d) The percentage of time that the wind blows from different directions
e) A rose fossilized by wind

D

What is an example of a mesoscale action?
a) Winds on a 500 mb chart
b) Winds blowing through a city
c) Winds on a surface weather map of North America
d) Winds blowing past a chimney
e) Average wind patterns around the world

B

The wind's speed generally increases with height above Earth's surface because:
a) Only the lower layer of air rotates with Earth
b) Friction with Earth's surface slows the air near the ground
c) Air parcels expand and become less dense as they rise above the surface
d) Air temperature normally decreases with height
e) Wind instruments are not accurate at Earth's surface

B

Thermally-generated eddies typically peak:
a) At sunrise
b) At sunset
c) At noon
d) In the afternoon
e) Around midnight

D

What is a serious hazard aircraft?
a) Laminar flow
b) Clear-air turbulence
c) Molecular viscosity
d) Longwave in the westerlies
e) Thermal lows

B

The land/sea breeze, lake breeze, and mountain/valley breeze are example of:
a) Thermal circulations
b) Thermal turbulences
c) Frictional process
d) Mechanical circulations
e) Atmospheric longwave circulations

A

Chinook winds are:
a) Cold, dry, downslope winds
b) Cold, moist downslope winds
c) Warm, dry upslope winds
d) Warm, dry downslope winds
e) Warm, moist downslope winds

D

When a sea breeze moving east meets a sea breeze moving west, they form a:
a) Land breeze
b) Sea breeze convergence zone
c) Katabatic wind
d) Thermal low
e) Valley breeze

B

Clouds and precipitation are frequently found on the downwind side of a large lake. This would indicate the air on the downwind side is:
a) Converging and sinking
b) Converging and rising
c) Stable and rising
d) Diverging and rising
e) Diverging and sinking

B

On a weather map of the Northern Hemisphere, the trade winds would be observed:
a) North of the polar front
b) South of the subtropical highs
c) Between the subpolar lows and the subtropical highs
d) Between the polar front and the subtropical highs
e) Between the subpolar lows and the tropical highs

B

The world's deserts are found at 30° latitude because:
a) The intertropical convergence zone is located there
b) Of the sinking air of the subtropical highs
c) Of the doldrum
d) Of the sinking air in the polar front
e) Of the convergence of the prevailing westerlies and the Northeast trades

B

The majority of the United States lies within the:
a) Westerlies
b) Southerlies
c) Easterlies
d) Northerlies
e) Trades

A

The large thermally driven convection cell that is driven by convective "hot" towers along the equator is the:
a) El Nino cell
b) Doldrum cell
c) Hadley cell
d) Ekman cell
e) Ferrel cell

C

Due to Hadley cell formation and the Coriolis force in both hemispheres, winds aloft flow:
a) Easterly
b) Westerly
c) Randomly
d) Northerly
e) Southerly

B

According to the three-cell general circulation model, at the equator we would not expect to find:
a) The ITCZ
b) A ridge of high pressure
c) Light winds
d) Heavy showers
e) Thunderstorms

B

In the three-cell model, the wind belt observed on the poleward side of the polar front is called the:
a) Polar easterlies
b) Northeast trades
c) Doldrums
d) Prevailing westerlies
e) Polar westerlies

A

In the three-cell model of the atmosphere, upper level winds are incorrectly predicted to flow from:
a) All directions
b) The north
c) The east
d) The south
e) The west

C

In the northern hemisphere, air found to the north of the polar front is ___, while air further south is ___.
a) Cold, warm
b) Cold, cold
c) Of moderate temperature, warm
d) Of moderate temperature cold
e) Warm, warm

A

In the Northern Hemisphere, the polar jet stream is longest is strongest when:
a) Air temperatures on opposite sides of the polar front are about equal
b) Air north of the polar front in much colder than air south of the polar front
c) Air north of the polar is much warmer than air south of the polar front
d) It forms during the summer months
e) Air temperatures on the East Coast of the US are much colder than on the West Coast of the U.S.

B