Question 1

When is rain most likely to fall during a thunderstorm?

Accepted Answer

A) during the development stage 
B) during the mature stage 
C) during the dissipation stage 
D) throughout the life of the storm 
A) during the development stage 
B) during the mature stage 
C) during the dissipation stage 
D) throughout the life of the storm

Question 2

A __________ consists of towering cumulonimbus clouds that produce lightning and thunder.

Accepted Answer

A) local weather system 
B) macroscale weather system 
C) thunderstorm 
D) mid-latitude cyclone 
A) local weather system 
B) macroscale weather system 
C) thunderstorm 
D) mid-latitude cyclone

Question 3

A parcel of air that has undergone initial lifting in a region that contains unstable air will most likely

Accepted Answer

A) continue to rise. 
B) sink back down. 
C) mix with the air around it. 
D) remain in its new location. 
A) continue to rise. 
B) sink back down. 
C) mix with the air around it. 
D) remain in its new location.

Question 4

The distribution of thunderstorms can best be described as

Accepted Answer

A) evenly distributed across all of the land areas of the world. 
B) most prevalent in coastal regions. 
C) concentrated in certain regions. 
D) more common during certain times of the year. 
A) evenly distributed across all of the land areas of the world. 
B) most prevalent in coastal regions. 
C) concentrated in certain regions. 
D) more common during certain times of the year.

Question 5

Contrast the windward and leeward sides of a mountain. What weather-related conditions and phenomena can one expect on each side? What is the orographic effect?

Accepted Answer

The windward sides of mountains tend to

Question 6

A tornado warning can best be described as

Accepted Answer

A) occurring when weather conditions favor tornado formation. 
B) occurring after a tornado has been visually spotted. 
C) occurring anytime there is a supercell thunderstorm. 
D) identifying regions prone to tornado formation. 
A) occurring when weather conditions favor tornado formation. 
B) occurring after a tornado has been visually spotted. 
C) occurring anytime there is a supercell thunderstorm. 
D) identifying regions prone to tornado formation.

Question 7

A(n) __________ thunderstorm forms along a distinct line that marks the edge of a front or gust front.

Accepted Answer

A) squall-line 
B) straight-line 
C) supercell 
D) ordinary 
A) squall-line 
B) straight-line 
C) supercell 
D) ordinary

Question 8

Because water has a high heat capacity, the water of a large lake may remain liquid in early winter even if the air above it is well below freezing. In this way, lakes can provide moisture and heat to the atmosphere. This phenomenon is most likely to result in

Accepted Answer

A) warmer, milder winter weather in regions near lakes. 
B) inversions. 
C) lake-effect storms. 
D) katabatic winds. 
A) warmer, milder winter weather in regions near lakes. 
B) inversions. 
C) lake-effect storms. 
D) katabatic winds.

Question 9

When wind reaches hills or mountains, it can no longer travel horizontally and must instead rise up the slopes. This is known as

Accepted Answer

A) warming from below. 
B) topographic lifting. 
C) orographic lifting. 
D) the rain shadow. 
A) warming from below. 
B) topographic lifting. 
C) orographic lifting. 
D) the rain shadow.

Question 10

Thunderstorms, lake-effect storms, and coastal sea breezes are examples of

Accepted Answer

A) local weather systems. 
B) macroscale weather systems. 
C) mid-latitude cyclones. 
D) updrafts. 
A) local weather systems. 
B) macroscale weather systems. 
C) mid-latitude cyclones. 
D) updrafts.

Question 11

Which of the following is the best place to be during a thunderstorm?

Accepted Answer

A) outside, in an open area 
B) outside, next to a tall tree 
C) outside, on open water 
D) indoors, in the middle of a room 
A) outside, in an open area 
B) outside, next to a tall tree 
C) outside, on open water 
D) indoors, in the middle of a room

Question 12

A layer in the atmosphere in which the temperature increases with altitude is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) inversion. 
B) mesocyclone. 
C) katabatic wind. 
D) squall line. 
A) inversion. 
B) mesocyclone. 
C) katabatic wind. 
D) squall line.

Question 13

A(n) __________ thunderstorm is an isolated thunderstorm that does not rotate.

Accepted Answer

A) squall-line 
B) straight-line 
C) supercell 
D) ordinary 
A) squall-line 
B) straight-line 
C) supercell 
D) ordinary

Question 14

Which of the following is necessary for thunderstorm formation?

Accepted Answer

A) dry air 
B) a downdraft 
C) lightning 
D) atmospheric instability 
A) dry air 
B) a downdraft 
C) lightning 
D) atmospheric instability

Question 15

What conditions are necessary for thunderstorm formation?

Accepted Answer

Thunderstorms form when special conditio

Question 16

A(n) __________ is the leading edge of the cool, dense air that flows down and out of a thunderstorm once rain starts to fall.

Accepted Answer

A) downdraft 
B) updraft 
C) gust front 
D) cool pool 
A) downdraft 
B) updraft 
C) gust front 
D) cool pool

Question 17

The following image shows the rotating clouds of a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) tornado. 
B) supercell thunderstorm. 
C) ordinary thunderstorm. 
D) squall line thunderstorm. 
A) tornado. 
B) supercell thunderstorm. 
C) ordinary thunderstorm. 
D) squall line thunderstorm.

Question 18

Development of a thunderstorm begins when __________ air starts to __________.

Accepted Answer

A) dry; rise as an updraft 
B) dry; descend as a downdraft 
C) moist; rise as an updraft 
D) moist; descend as a downdraft 
A) dry; rise as an updraft 
B) dry; descend as a downdraft 
C) moist; rise as an updraft 
D) moist; descend as a downdraft

Question 19

The circulation of air illustrated in the image below is known as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) orographic lifting. 
B) sea breeze. 
C) water spout. 
D) mesocyclone. 
A) orographic lifting. 
B) sea breeze. 
C) water spout. 
D) mesocyclone.

Question 20

Which of the following is MOST likely to occur when a cold front intersects a package of warm air?

Accepted Answer

A) The two air masses mix, and a thunderstorm results. 
B) The two air masses mix, and the formation of a tornado is possible. 
C) The cold air is lifted on top of the warm air, and a thunderstorm results. 
D) The warm air is lifted on top of the cold air, and a thunderstorm results. 
A) The two air masses mix, and a thunderstorm results. 
B) The two air masses mix, and the formation of a tornado is possible. 
C) The cold air is lifted on top of the warm air, and a thunderstorm results. 
D) The warm air is lifted on top of the cold air, and a thunderstorm results.

Exam 19: Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Local Weather Systems

When is rain most likely to fall during a thunderstorm?

A __________ consists of towering cumulonimbus clouds that produce lightning and thunder.

A parcel of air that has undergone initial lifting in a region that contains unstable air will most likely

The distribution of thunderstorms can best be described as

Contrast the windward and leeward sides of a mountain. What weather-related conditions and phenomena can one expect on each side? What is the orographic effect?

A tornado warning can best be described as

A(n) __________ thunderstorm forms along a distinct line that marks the edge of a front or gust front.

Because water has a high heat capacity, the water of a large lake may remain liquid in early winter even if the air above it is well below freezing. In this way, lakes can provide moisture and heat to the atmosphere. This phenomenon is most likely to result in

When wind reaches hills or mountains, it can no longer travel horizontally and must instead rise up the slopes. This is known as

Thunderstorms, lake-effect storms, and coastal sea breezes are examples of

Which of the following is the best place to be during a thunderstorm?

A layer in the atmosphere in which the temperature increases with altitude is known as a(n)

A(n) __________ thunderstorm is an isolated thunderstorm that does not rotate.

Which of the following is necessary for thunderstorm formation?

What conditions are necessary for thunderstorm formation?

A(n) __________ is the leading edge of the cool, dense air that flows down and out of a thunderstorm once rain starts to fall.

The following image shows the rotating clouds of a(n)

Development of a thunderstorm begins when __________ air starts to __________.

The circulation of air illustrated in the image below is known as a(n)

Which of the following is MOST likely to occur when a cold front intersects a package of warm air?

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

A Process of Change: Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle

Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Shaping the Earths Surface: Landscapes, the Hydrologic Cycle, and Mass Wasting

Freshwater: Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater

Extreme Realms: Desert and Glacial Landscapes

Ocean Waters: the Blue of the Blue Marble

Marine Geology: the Study of Ocean Basins and Coasts

The Air We Breathe: Introducing Earths Atmosphere

Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Climate and Climate Change

Our Solar System and Beyond

Our Neighborhood in Space

The Sun, Stars, and Deep Space

Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

Filters

Development of a thunderstorm begins when air starts to .