Deck 4: Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation

Question 1

The temperature at which a parcel of air becomes saturated and condensation begins is called the _______.

A)point of vaporization
B)dew point
C)absolute humidity
D)latent heat of fusion
E)specific humidity

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is a Chinook wind?

A)A weak flow associated with convection
B)A strong,persistent flow associated with convection
C)A weak flow associated with descending warm air
D)A strong,persistent flow associated with descending air
E)A flow of cold,dense air flows under the force of gravity from high to low regions

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following situations would lead to advection fog?

A)At night the temperature of the air layer at the ground falls below the temperature at which condensation begins
B)During the day,the temperature of the air layer at the ground increases as a nearby air mass moves in
C)Radiation fog commonly develops at the coast and is the result of warm marine air moving into coastal regions
D)Radiation fog commonly develops at the coast and is the result of cold marine air moving into coastal regions
E)Radiation fog commonly develops when warm moist air moves over a cold surface

Answer 3

E

Question 4

The average environmental lapse rate is _______________ degrees Celsius per 100 metres

A)1
B)10
C)0)64
D)6)4
E)5

Question 5

During adiabatic cooling as air rises,what stage has the parcel of air reached at the lifting condensation level?

A)a)point of vaporization
B)dew point
C)absolute humidity
D)latent heat of fusion
E)specific humidity

Question 6

Which of the following situations would lead to radiation fog?

A)At night the temperature of the air layer at the ground falls below the temperature at which condensation begins
B)During the day,the temperature of the air layer at the ground increases as a nearby air mass moves in
C)Radiation fog commonly develops at the coast and is the result of warm marine air moving into coastal regions
D)Radiation fog commonly develops at the coast and is the result of cold marine air moving into coastal regions
E)Radiation fog commonly develops when warm moist air moves over a cold surface

Question 7

The dry adiabatic lapse rate is _______ degrees Celsius per kilometer.

A)2)5
B)10.0
C)0)10
D)6)4
E)0)64

Question 8

If the sky appears to be completely gray during the day,what type of clouds are present?

A)cumulus
B)cirrus
C)stratus
D)cumulonimbus
E)altocumulus

Question 9

Which of the following components of the hydrological comprises the greatest volume of water on Earth?

A)soil water
B)steam channels
C)freshwater lakes
D)saline lakes and inland seas
E)groundwater

Question 10

Which of the following statements concerning humidity is incorrect?

A)A sling psychrometer is an instrument comprised of two thermometers
B)If all other variables remain constant,a decrease in temperature leads to a decrease in humidity
C)Relative humidity compares the amount of water vapor present to the maximum amount that the air can hold at that temperature,expressed as a percentage.
D)Air at 20 degrees Celsius can hold three times as much water vapor as air at 0 degrees Celsius
E)If air is cooled it will eventually reach saturation

Question 11

Maps to show the distribution of precipitation use lines that connect locations with equal precipitation called:

A)isobars
B)isohyets
C)isotach
D)isohypse

Question 12

Thunderstorms are most associated with which of the following precipitation-producing mechanisms?

A)Orographic uplift
B)Advection
C)Conduction
D)Convection
E)Wave cyclone development

Question 13

If ice crystals fall from clouds through an underlying air layer that is below zero,which of the following forms of precipitation would result?

A)rain
B)sleet
C)hail
D)snow
E)drizzle

Question 14

Precipitation totals are normally greatest on the _____________ of mountain ranges

A)northern slopes
B)southern slopes
C)leeward slopes
D)windward slopes
E)slopes with gentle gradients

Question 15

During which of the following processes is latent heat released?

A)deposition
B)sublimation
C)melting
D)evaporation
E)precipitation

Question 16

Cumulus clouds forming from convection have flat bases that mark the:

A)location of the dew point temperature
B)mixing layer
C)tropopause
D)zone of unstable air
E)lifting condensation level

Question 17

Which of the following types of cloud is found at the highest altitudes?

A)stratus
B)cumulus
C)cirrus
D)nimbostratus
E)altocumulus

Question 18

The direct transition from solid ice to gaseous water vapor is known as:

A)evaporation
B)deposition
C)sublimation
D)condensation
E)melting

Question 19

Why is the wet adiabatic lapse less than the dry adiabatic lapse rate?

A)Water is colder at high altitudes
B)Dry air heats more quickly than wet air
C)Evaporation as air rises keeps air dry and therefore warmer
D)Condensation of water releases heat
E)Formation of water droplets absorbs latent heat

Question 20

Which of the following orderings of clouds is correct as one increases in altitude?

A)cirrus,cumulonimbus,stratocumulus
B)stratus,altocumulus,cirrus
C)cumulonimbus,cirrocumulus,cumulus
D)altocumulus,cumulonimbus,stratus
E)cirrus,stratus,altocumulus

Question 21

Which of the following is not characteristic of a thunderstorm?

A)strong updrafts
B)strong winds
C)rain and snow at intermediate altitudes of the cloud
D)small raindrops
E)potentially large hailstones

Question 22

The sound generated by thunder is the result of which phenomena?

A)The impact of lightning hitting the ground
B)The rapid expansion of air heated by lightning
C)The sound of the electrical current associated with lightning
D)The sound of updrafts
E)The sound of downdrafts

Question 23

The rainshadow is located on the:

A)leeward side of a mountain range
B)windward side of a mountain range
C)peak of a mountain range
D)edge of desert regions
E)edge of coastal regions

Question 24

If a cloud forms close to the ground it is called:

A)dew
B)low lying stratus clouds
C)fog
D)ground induced precipitation
E)a cloudbank

Question 25

The greatest amount of freshwater on Earth is found:

A)in the oceans
B)in rivers
C)in the atmosphere
D)in groundwater
E)in ice sheets and glaciers

Question 26

What type of precipitation mechanism is in effect when air is forced up an over mountains and precipitation is produced?

A)convection
B)condensation
C)frontal
D)orographic
E)Santa Ana wind

Question 27

Air continues to cool above the lifting condensation level.

Question 28

If rains falls through a layer of freezing cold air before hitting the surface,which type of precipitation is formed?

A)hail
B)snow
C)drizzle
D)sleet
E)freezing rain

Question 29

Which of the following atmospheric conditions can lead to the accumulation of smog?

A)Prolonged,heavy rain
B)High wind speeds
C)Temperature inversion
D)Interior location
E)Mountain location

Question 30

Unstable air is typical of cool,winter air masses.

Question 31

The reverse process of sublimations is called:

A)composition
B)deposition
C)evaporation
D)perspiration
E)condensation

Question 32

Which of the following conditions would lead to unstable air?

A)When air is dry and cool
B)When air is dry,cool and descending
C)When the environmental lapse rate exceeds the adiabatic lapse rate
D)When the adiabatic lapse rate exceeds the environmental lapse rate
E)When the environmental lapse rate equals the adiabatic lapse rate

Question 33

As a volume of air rises,__________.

A)it expands and becomes cooler
B)it expands and becomes warmer
C)it contracts and becomes cooler
D)it contracts and becomes warmer
E)it expands but its temperature does not change

Question 34

Rounded or globular masses of cloud are referred to as:

A)mackerel sky
B)stratiform
C)stratus
D)cumuliform
E)cirrus

Question 35

As air descends in orographic rain,it warms initially at the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

Question 36

Which cloud type is made up of ice crystals at very high altitudes?

A)cirrus clouds
B)cumulus clouds
C)altocumulus clouds
D)altostratus clouds
E)cumulonimbus clouds

Question 37

Given that an air mass holds 10 grams of water per kilogram of air with relative humidity of 50% at 75 degrees F.If the air temperature drops to 60 degrees F.what will happen to the relative humidity?

A)It will increase
B)It will decrease
C)It will only change if during the daylight hours
D)it will only change if during the night time hours
E)it will remain constant

Question 38

The so-called anvil top of a thunder cloud is the result of which of the following phenomena?

A)The anvil indicates the position of the tropopause which acts as a lid
B)Fast-moving,high altitude winds
C)Diversion of the cloud top by a nearby front
D)Asymmetrical condensation
E)High level clouds take up more space than lower level clouds

Question 39

The actual quantity of water vapor held by a parcel of air is its relative humidity.

Question 40

Which of the following statements is correct?

A)The wet adiabatic lapse rate is variable
B)The wet adiabatic lapse rate is constant
C)The dry adiabatic lapse rate is variable
D)The altitude of the lifting condensation level is constant
E)The adiabatic lapse rate is constant

Question 41

Compare and contrast the formation and characteristics of different types of fog.

Question 42

Compare and contrast the principles of dry and wet adiabatic lapse rates.

Question 43

Is air pollution an issue for your location? Describe the sources of that pollution and the prevailing atmospheric phenomena that accentuate local pollution.

Question 44

Hailstones are formed by the accumulation of ice layers on ice pellets.

Question 45

Describe the volumes of each of the reservoirs of the hydrological cycle.

Question 46

Cooling occurs at a lesser rate at the wet adiabatic lapse rate compared to the dry adiabatic lapse rate.

Question 47

When rain mixes with smog,fallout will occur.

Question 48

By drawing an annotated diagram,describe the phenomena associated with a thunder cloud.

Question 49

Describe and explain the different conditions responsible for different types of precipitation.

Question 50

The largest cause of air pollution is transportation.

Question 51

Large atmospheric pollution particles are removed by the force of gravity in a process called fallout.

Question 52

Describe the changes in the characteristics of water is it is transferred through the cycle linking the three states of water.

Question 53

The density of air depends on its temperature - warm air is less dense than cooler air.

Question 54

The altitude at which air is cooled to its dew point temperature and condensation begins is referred to as the lifting condensation level.

Question 55

Describe today's weather at your location with reference to air stability and humidity.

Question 56

Dry air has a higher dew point temperature than moist air.

Question 57

Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air.

Question 58

Describe the passage of air,including changes in lapse rates,across a mountain to demonstrate the formation of orographic rain.

Question 59

Describe clouds at low,medium and high altitude referring to specific cloud types.