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intro to meterology
final exam questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| what is the most important process in the mesosphere? | low O3, cold temperature |
| the lowest temperature is usually observed? | around sunrise |
| the temperature of the tropopause? | much colder than the temp at the earth's surface |
| main reason for warm summers in the middle latitudes is that? | the sun is higher and the days are longer |
| at what time during a 24-hour day would a radiation temp inversion best be developed? | at sunrise |
| the most abundant gases in the earth's atmosphere by volume are? | nitrogen and oxygen |
| radiational cooling typically occurs? | at night (once the sun sets and the amount of outgoing energy is greater than incoming energy) |
| the lag in daily temperatures refers to the time lag between? | the time of maximum solar radiation and the time of maximum temperature |
| what atmospheric layers are characterized by increasing temperature with increasing height? | stratosphere |
| what is the most important process in the stratosphere? | absorption of the UV by the ozone layer, low O3 cold temperatures |
| if the average temperature of the sun increased, the wavelength of peak solar emissions would? | shift to shorter wavelengths |
| the maximum in daytime surface temperature typically occurs _ the earth recieves it most intense solar radiation? | after |
| without the atmospheric greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would be? | lower than at the present |
| what is the compound with the strongest contribution to the natural greenhouse effect? | water vapor (h20) |
| the atmosphere near the earth's surface is "heated from below" which of the following is not responsible for the heating? | heat energy from the earth's interior |
| if the earth's average surface temperature were to increase, the amount of radiation emitted from the earth's surface would_ and the wavelength of peak emission would shift toward _ wavelength? | increase, shorter |
| which of the following weather elements always decreases as we climb upward in the atmosphere? | pressure |
| which of the following processes acts to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? | photosynthesis |
| based on the Stefan-Boltzmann law, the radiative energy emitted by an object depend on: | the radiative energy emitted by one square meter of an object is equal to a constant x by its temperature raised to the 4th power |
| the transfer of heat by molecule-to-molecule contact: | conduction |
| at 500 mb level the amount of oxygen inhaled in a single breath is __ of that inhaled at sea-level | about one half |
| assuming that the night will remain clear and calm, the predicted lowest temperature is 32F suddenly the wind speed increases and remains gusty throughout the night the lowest temperature will is most likely be? | higher than predicted due to mixing |
| suppose last night was clear and calm, tonight low cloud will be present, from this you would conclude that tonight's mimimum temperature will be? | higher than last night's minimum temperature |
| the gas that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere? | ozone |
| what statement is not correct? | red sunsets are intensive when it is warm |
| which of the following helps to explain why even through northern latitude experience 24 hours of sunlight on June 22, they are not warmer than latitudes further south? | 1:solar energy is spread over a larger area in northern latitudes, and is used to melt frozen soil 2: some of the sun's energy is reflected by snow and ice in the northern latitudes 3: increased cloud cover reflects solar energy in the northern latitudes |
| a heat transfer process in the atmosphere that depends upon the movement of air is? | convection |
| the heat energy release when water vapor changes to liquid is called? | latent heat of condensation |
| which of the following determine the kind (wavelength) and amount of radiation that an object melts? | temperature |
| the earth's atmosphere is divided into layers based on the vertical profile of? | air temperature |
| if the amount of energy lost by the earth to space each year were not approximately equal to that received? | the atmosphere average temperature would change |
| typically, water vapor occupies about what percentage of the air's volume near the earth's surface? | less than 4% |
| the atmospheric greenhouse effect is produced mainly by the? | absorption and re-emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere |
| the sun emits a maximum amount of radiation at wavelengths near _ while the earth emits maximum radiation near wavelengths of _. | .5 micrometers, 10 micrometers |
| an inversion represents an extremely stable atmosphere because air that rises into the inversion will eventually become _ and _ dense than the surrounding air? | colder, more |
| the dry adiabatic rate is the rate at which? | temperature change in a rising of descending parcel of unsaturated air |
| which type of precipitation would most likely form when the surface air temperature is slightly below freezing and the air temperature increases as you move upward away from the ground? | freezing rain |
| if the enviromental lapse rate is less than the moist adiabatic rate, the atmosphere is? | absolutely stable |
| if the air temperature increased, with no addition or removal of water vapor, the actual vapor pressure would? | stay the same |
| which cloud would most likely produce drizzle? | stratus |
| the fog that forms along the Pacific coastline of North America is mainly this type? | advection fog |
| refer to the weather data in the table, which city has the highest relative humidity? | city B |
| a raindrop or partially melted snowflake that freezes into a pellet of ice in a deep subfreezing layer of air near the surface is called? | sleet |
| as the air temperature increases, the air's capacity for water vapor? | increases |
| if an air parcel is given a small push upward and it falls back to it original height, the atmosphere is said to be? | stable |
| the temp to which air must be cooled in order to become saturated is the? | dew point temperature |
| at 40f the atmosphere is saturated with water vapor. if the air temperature increases 60F, with no addition or removal of water vapor, one may conclude that the dew point about? | 40 degree F |
| during the ice crystal process of rain formation? | ice crystals grow larger at the expense of the surrounding liquid cloud droplets |
| the gulf coast states are more humid in the summer than the coastal areas of Southern California mainly because of the? | higher water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico |
| the size of the rain drops in warm cloud are affected by? | cloud liquid water content, more liquid water, range of cloud droplet sizes, large spread of droplet sizes, cloud thickness, updraft strengths, stronger updrafts, droplets electrical charges, opposite chargers , |
| the percentage of water vapor present in the air compared to that required for saturation is the? | relative humidity |
| which statement below is/are correct? | largest concentration of condensation nuclei are usually observed near the earth's surfacewet haze restricts visibility more than dry hazefog is actually a cloud resting on the groundwith the same water vapor content, fog that form in dirty air is thicker |
| what two set of condition, working together, will make the atmosphere the most unstable? | warm the surface and cool the air aloft |
| at what time of day is the relative humidity normally at a minimum? | when the air temperature is highest |
| dew is most likely to form on? | nights that are clear and calm |
| most thunderstorms do not extend very far into the stratosphere because the air in the stratosphere is? | stable |
| if very cold air is brought indoors and warmed with no change in its moisture content, the saturation vapor pressure of this air will __ and the relative humidity of this air will? | decrease, increase |
| the difference between the moist and dry adiabatic rates is due to? | relative humidity |
| refer to weather data shown in the table, which city has the least amount of water vapor in the air | city b |
| on a clear night, the minimum temp drops to 34F the following night, fog forms early in the evening, it is a good bet the min, temp will not be as low because | absorption if infrared energy by the water vapor and fog droplets and the release of latent heat during condensation |
| on a cold, calm, autumn morning the formation of fog above a relatively warm lake would most likely be? | steam fog |
| the merging of liquid cloud droplets by collision is called | coalescence |
| the wind around a surface high pressure center in the Northern hemisphere blows? | clockwise and outward from the center |
| in the general circulation of the atmosphere, one would find the region called the doldrums? | at the equator |
| a mountain breeze would develop its maximum strenghths | about an hour after sunset |
| we can generally expect the air to be __ above areas of surface low pressure and __ above areas of surface high pressure? | rising, sinking |
| what statement is not correct? during an el nino event? | there is low pressure over Indonesia |
| during the winter monsoon | a high pressure system over siberia leads to dry conditions over india |
| during a major el nino event? | extensive ocean warming occurs over the tropical pacific |
| which of the statements below is not correct concerning the pressure gradient force? | pressure gradient |
| on a weather map of the Northern hemisphere, the trade winds would be observed | south of the subtropic heights |
| on the cape verde islands located off the West african coast (lat 15-17) you would most likely experience winds blowing from the | NE |
| a station at an altitude of 900m 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? | 1020m |
| a wind rose indicates? | the percentage of time that wind blows from different directions |
| in the northern hemisphere, air found to the north of the polar front is _ while air further south is_ | cold, warm |
| valley breeze may lead to the formation of? | cumulus clouds |
| if the N hemisphere the upper level winds above you are blowing from the south, then it is a good bet that a trough of low pressure is to the _ of you? | west |
| which of the following forces can not act to change the speed of the wind? | Coriolis force |
| the majority of europe lies within this wind belt? | westerlies |
| which below is usually not true concerning a sea breeze circulation? | they mainly occur at night |
| a wind blowing at a constant speed parallel to straight line isobars with the pressure gradient and coriolis force in balance is called a ? | geostrophic wind |
| if the earth stopped rotating which of the following would not be true? | there would still be a coriolis froce |
| chinook winds are? | warm, dry, downslope winds |
| during sea breeze | cloud form over land during daytime |
| which of the following can influence wind direction? | all of the above |
| an example of mesoscale motion is? | wind blowing through a city |
| suppose a west wind of 20 knots blows over a coastal region which is densely covered w/ trees. if this same wind moves out over the middle of a large, calm lake , the speed and wind direction would be? | greater then 20 knots and more northwesterly |
| on a weather chart, the spacing of the isobars indicates the magnitude of the pressure gradient force? | true |
| a major el nino event is characterized by? | strong rains in the coastal peruvian desert zone |
| along coastal areas | the sea breeze occurs during daytime and is associated with onshore winds |
| the winter monsoon in eastern and southern asia is characterized by? | dry weather and winds blowing from land and sea |
| which statement below is not correct concerning the coriolis force? | it is strongest at the equator |
| what is typical for hurricanes? | rain bands |
| what changes in pressure can be observed on a surface when a cold front passes? | pressure decreases before the front and increases after the passage of the front |
| which of the following air masses classifications does not refer to surface properties? | tropical |
| what type of precipitation occurs along a warm front? | light to moderate rain |
| when hurricanes make landfall they will become weaker, why? | their supply of latent heat is cut off. |
| what is a warm front? | when warm air replaces cold air on the surface. precipitation that can cover thousands of square kilometers |
| how do winds blow around cyclones? | counter-clockwise in the N hemisphere |
| what are occluded fronts? | front where the cold front has caught up with the warm front and has pushed aloft all the warm air of the warm sector. Difficult to locate and define on a surface weather map, may have characteristics of both cold and warm fronts |
| what is the difference between marine and a continential climate? | continential is inside of continents while marine climates are near oceans. Daily temperature cycles are very weak in marine climates, but continential tend to be more developed rising and falling to diff. temps more rapidly |
| when does a thunderstorm not occur? | in a stable enviroment |
| what is a baroclinic atmosphere associated with? | advection of warm air masses on front of an upper level trough |
| when does usually rain fall occur along warm fronts? | before the surface warm front |
| what changes in wind patterns can be observed on the surface when a cold front passes? | south and southwest winds will turn to west and northwest and become gusty |
| when does cyclogenesis occur? | when isobars and isotherms cross each other in the 500mb level (baroclinic atmosphere) |
| what causes the formation of very severe thunderstorms? | vertical wind shear |
| sometime continential tropical air masses have an impact on the weather patterns in some parts of the U.S. Where does this air mass come from? | because only occasionally do cT air masses affect the weather outside their source region |
| why is it more likely that lighting will hit a single tall tree than a tall tree in a forest? | electrical charge are denser the narrower object are |
| when continential polar air reaches the Gulf of Mexico cloud formation may occur why? | cold air destablizes the atmosphere and warm air from ocean surface can easily rise. |
| new thunderstorms can not be create by? | warm fronts |
| what clouds are associated with thunderstorms? | cumulonimbus |
| what is the prerequisite for the formation of a tornado? | warm humid air is overlain by cooler drier air |
| when can surface low pressure system intensify ? | diverging air aloft has to be greater than the converging air at the surface |
| what is the minimum ocean surface temperature which is necessary for hurricane? | 27C (81F) |
| what is the bad side of a tornado or hurricane, i.e. where will you find the highest wind speeds? | the side right to the moving direction |
| where do tropical cyclones occur? | between 5-20 northern and southern latitude |
| what are the prerequisites for a mature thunderstorm? | warm, moist, air in continuous supply and high surface temperatures |
| the majority of the united states lies within this wind belt? | westerly |
Created by:
ravenicole