ATMO EXM 1

In the air near the earth's surface, ______ occupies 78% and ______ nearly 21%.

nitrogen, oxygen

Atmospheric pressure always ______ with increasing height, and its value near the surface is approximately ______ millibars.

decreases, 1000

In the vertical structure of the atmosphere, temperature changes how with height in the 4 primary layers starting from the lowest?

decreases, increases, decreases, increases

The earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5^o with respect to the plane of its orbit around the sun. If the amount of tilt were increased to 40^o, we would expect in middle latitudes:

hotter summers and colder winters than at present.

In the stratosphere, the air temperature normally:

increases with increasing height

If a glass of water was surrounded by saturated air,

the level of the water in the glass wouldn’t change

When water changes from a liquid to a gas, this process is called:

evaporation

Heat is energy in the process of being transferred from:

hot objects to cold objects

In College Station in June, the sun sets at around 8:15 pm local time, and does not rise until around 6:15 am the next morning. Why is the low temperature usually observed near 6:15 am, rather than at 8:15 pm or some other point during the night?

The amount of outgoing longwave radiation continues to exceed the amount of incoming solar radiation from sunset until sunrise the next morning.

The gas(es) in the atmosphere which is (are) most important in causing the greenhouse effect is (are):

water vapor and carbon dioxide

What part of the radiation balance is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect?

The downward longwave radiation that is emitted by the atmosphere

Where are the days and nights of equal length on the equinoxes?

pretty much everywhere

In the Northern Hemisphere, it is warmer in summer than in winter because:

the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun

Assuming that the night will remain clear, calm and unsaturated, the predicted minimum temperature is 32^o. Suddenly the wind speed increases and remains gusty throughout the night. The minimum temperature will most likely be:

much lower than predicted due to radiational cooling

Refer to the temperature and dew point data in the following cities:

City               Air Temperature (^oF)          Dew Point (^oF)

City A                       95                                      76

City B                       10                                      10

City C                       30                                      21

City D                       50                                      42

Which city has the highest relative humidity? _______

city B

Refer to the temperature and dew point data in the following cities:

City               Air Temperature (^oF)          Dew Point (^oF)

City A                       95                                      76

City B                       10                                      10

City C                       30                                      21

City D                       50                                      42

Which city has the least amount of water vapor in the air? ______

city B

Refer to the temperature and dew point data in the following cities:

City               Air Temperature (^oF)          Dew Point (^oF)

City A                       95                                      76

City B                       10                                      10

City C                       30                                      21

City D                       50                                      42

Which city has the greatest amount of water vapor in the air? _____

city A

The aurora is produced by:

fast-moving charged particles colliding with air molecules

Which of the following determines the wavelength and amount of radiation that an object emits?

temperature

On a clear Monday night, the minimum temperature drops to 38^oF. The following night (Tuesday), clouds form early in the evening. Assuming no major changes to the weather pattern, the low temperature on Tuesday night will most likely be:

Warmer than 38^oF, because the clouds prevent some of earth's radiation from escaping to space

A thunderstorm is a stratocumulus cloud.

False

Which cloud is least likely to produce precipitation that reaches the ground?

Cirrocumulus

On a cold, winter morning, the most likely place for radiation fog to form is:

In a valley

Which of the following clouds are almost always comprised of ice crystals?

cirrus, cirrostratus, cirrocumulus

The cloud feature labeled “a” is:

Anvil

The cloud feature labeled “b” is:

Mammatus

Fog that forms when warm moist air moves over a cool surface is _______ fog.

advection

Fog that forms when cold air overlies warm water is _______ fog.

evaporation (mixing)

Fog that forms on a clear night is usually _______ fog.

 

radiation

Assuming the air pressure in the environment is the same for both, a parcel of warm air will be more dense than a parcel of cold air.

False

The wavelength of maximum solar radiation is _______ that of terrestrial radiation.

less than

Warm, moist air is ______ dense than warm, dry air.

less

Consider a parcel of air. We heat up the parcel so that its temperature rises, but we do not change the amount of water vapor in it. The dew point of the air parcel will ______.

stay the same

Consider a parcel of air. We heat up the parcel so that its temperature rises, but we do not change the amount of water vapor in it. The relative humidity of that air parcel will _______.

go down

Condensation nuclei that have an affinity for water vapor are called:

hygroscopic

Condensation nuclei that have an affinity for water vapor are called:

False

The atmosphere is largely transparent to the visible wavelengths of sunlight.

True

The world's highest recorded surface temperature is over 150^oF.

False

Heat Index takes into account the humidity in the air to give an apparent temperature.

True

When freezing occurs, heat is taken from the environment.

False

Hypothermia can occur at temperatures above freezing.

True

The amount of energy radiated by a "Blackbody" is proportional to its temperature raised to the 3^rd power.

False

The planetary albedo is about 30%.

True

At the surface, ozone is a main factor of :

photochemical smog/air pollution

An electrified high atmospheric region of charged particles known as the __________ is responsible for extended radio propagation in the AM and shortwave (HF) bands.

Ionosphere

Name A-G

A- mesopause, B- stratopause, C- tropopause, D- Troposphere, E- Stratosphere, F- Mesosphere, G- Thermosphere

What two quantities can be used to directly calculate RH?  Select each pair that is correct. 

actual mixing ratio and saturation mixing ratio at the given temperature & actual water vapor pressure and saturation vapor pressure at the given temperature

Select the true statement:

There is an energy deficit near both poles because outgoing energy exceeds incoming energy.

The coldest temperature in the lower 48 (contiguous) states is:

-70 Deg. F; Rogers Pass, MT

Name at least 3 factors affecting a location's average annual temperature and annual temperature range.  Your answers should be in complete sentences.   

annual avg temp, elevation, proximity to large bodies of water

Describe why very cold temperatures are often referred to as "dry," even if the relative humidity is 100%. Your answers should be in complete sentences. 

absolute humidity

Convection is the process of heat transfer from molecule to molecule within a substance.

False