Deck 4: Physical Geography: Weather and Climate

Question 1

A temperature inversion occurs when

A)there is a sudden drop in temperature.
B)the normal diurnal cycle of cool mornings and warm afternoons is reversed.
C)air at lower altitudes is cooler than air aloft.
D)smog increases to dangerous levels.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Energy from the sun is transformed into heat

A)primarily at the earth's surface and secondarily in the atmosphere.
B)by way of solar radiation,or insolation.
C)through the collection of solar energy.
D)by means of the circumpolar vortex.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Under average circumstances at sea level,the weight of a column of air 1 inch by 1 inch by about 6 miles into the atmosphere weighs about

A)29.92 ounces.
B)14.7 pounds.
C)3.5 degrees.
D)23.5 kilograms.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

If sea level temperature is 100 ^$\circ$ F (10 ^$\circ$ C),what is the temperature at an altitude of 10,000 feet (610m)? (Use the lapse rate.)

A)90 ^$\circ$ F (32.2 ^$\circ$ C)
B)65 ^$\circ$ F (18.3 ^$\circ$ C)
C)50 ^$\circ$ F (10.0 ^$\circ$ C)
D)0 ^$\circ$ F (-17.8 ^$\circ$ C)

Question 5

The layer of the earth's atmosphere that contains virtually all air,clouds,and precipitation is called the

A)asthenosphere.
B)troposphere.
C)solstice.
D)equinox.

Question 6

Which statement is most accurate regarding temperatures at a given latitude in marine environments versus continental environments?

A)Compared to marine environments,continental environments are warmer in both winter and summer.
B)Compared to continental environments,marine environments are warmer in both winter and summer.
C)Compared to marine environments,continental environments are colder in winter and warmer in summer.
D)Compared to marine environments,continental environments are warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Question 7

If distances between high-and low-pressure zones are short,__________ are steep and __________ are great.

A)slopes,wind velocities
B)pressure gradients,wind velocities
C)lapse rates,convectional flows
D)slopes,mountain and valley breezes

Question 8

Which of the following move(s)in the Northern Hemisphere in a west-to-east direction around the earth in an undulating pattern?

A)the westerlies
B)the Coriolis effect
C)El Ni-o
D)the jet stream

Question 9

Which statement about El Ni-o is NOT true?

A)It involves the buildup of warm water along the east coast of South America.
B)The word itself is Spanish for "little child" and refers to the infant Jesus because it typically occurs near Christmastime.
C)It is associated with dramatic changes to rainfall patterns in the United States.
D)It is a 3-4 year cycle of change in the water temperature in the Pacific.

Question 10

When neither the Northern nor the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun,the noon sun's vertical rays are felt at

A)23.5 ^$\circ$ north and south latitude.
B)the equator.
C)67.5 ^$\circ$ north and south latitude.
D)the summer solstice.

Question 11

Proceeding from the equator toward the North Pole in the Northern Hemisphere summer,the

A)hours of darkness increase.
B)days become longer.
C)hours of daylight become fewer.
D)hours of daylight become greater.

Question 12

The three most important elements that make up weather are

A)temperature,precipitation,and vegetation.
B)precipitation,wind,and temperature.
C)temperature,wind,and solar energy.
D)climate,moisture,and solar energy.

Question 13

The Coriolis effect means that wind appears to deflect toward the

A)right in the Southern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Northern Hemisphere.
B)right in both Southern and Northern Hemispheres.
C)left in the Southern Hemisphere and toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere.
D)left in the Southern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 14

The particles around which condensation nuclei are formed are

A)dust,water crystals,and salt crystals.
B)dust,pollen,and smoke.
C)water crystals,salt crystals,and ozone.
D)ozone,oxygen,and radon.

Question 15

The amount of incoming solar radiation available at various places on the earth depends mainly on

A)longitude.
B)the angle at which the sun's rays strike the earth and the number of daylight hours.
C)the earth's rotation.
D)the absorbance of the earth surface material.

Question 16

The earth's axis is tilted about __________ away from the perpendicular.

A)67.5 ^$\circ$
B)45 ^$\circ$
C)7.5 ^$\circ$
D)23.5 ^$\circ$

Question 17

The world's major ocean currents are set into motion by

A)condensation nuclei.
B)differences in water density.
C)major wind patterns.
D)hurricanes.

Question 18

Warm air rises and tends to move away from the

A)equatorial low-pressure belt.
B)subtropical high-pressure belt.
C)northeast trades.
D)westerlies.

Question 19

Which statement is NOT true of the world's hot deserts?

A)They have desert shrub vegetation.
B)They are located along the subtropical high pressure belt.
C)They are located on the pole ward side of savannas.
D)They are dry primarily because of the rain shadow effect.

Question 20

The pattern of average July temperatures is influenced most strongly by

A)latitude alone.
B)patterns of cloud cover.
C)presence of water or land.
D)latitude and presence of water and land.

Question 21

Which statement is NOT true of a sea breeze?

A)It is caused by differences in the heating of land and water.
B)It blows from land towards the sea.
C)It is a convectional circulation.
D)It makes living by the seashore more comfortable in warm climates.

Question 22

The angle of the sun's rays at a given time and date is most influenced by a location's

A)latitude.
B)longitude.
C)distribution of land and water.
D)cloud cover.

Question 23

The type of climate found within the equatorial low pressure zone and characterized by warm temperatures and regular convective rainfall throughout the year is the

A)tropical rain forest.
B)savanna.
C)Mediterranean.
D)marine west coast.

Question 24

A pressure gradient force causes winds to flow from

A)low pressure areas to high pressure areas.
B)high pressure areas to low pressure areas.
C)areas having equal pressure.
D)areas lacking pressure differences.

Question 25

The type of precipitation that is associated with hills and mountains is called

A)convectional.
B)orographic.
C)frontal.
D)cyclonic.

Question 26

Monsoon circulations occur most noticeably in

A)the Mediterranean Sea lands of southern Europe and northwestern Africa.
B)Canada and Russia.
C)the Amazon Valley in South America and Congo Basin in Africa.
D)South and Southeast Asia.

Question 27

Orographic precipitation occurs

A)mostly in the tropical rainforest climate zone.
B)mostly in cumulonimbus clouds.
C)on the coastal,windward slopes of mountain ranges.
D)on the interior,leeward slopes of mountain ranges.

Question 28

Geographically,a hurricane is most likely to develop

A)along an air mass boundary.
B)in a hot,dry air mass.
C)in a cool,wet air mass.
D)over warm ocean waters.

Question 29

Characteristic features of the marine west coast climate are

A)cool year round temperatures,wet summers,and dry winters.
B)wet year round,warm summers,and cold winters.
C)wet year round,cool summers,and cool winters.
D)cool year round,dry summers,and wet winters.

Question 30

The boundary between two different air masses is called

A)the southern oscillation.
B)a front.
C)the windward side.
D)a pressure gradient.

Question 31

A temperature inversion is of concern in Los Angeles because

A)it causes a sudden drop in temperature.
B)the normal diurnal cycle of cool mornings and warm afternoons is reversed.
C)it leads to record breaking high temperatures and wildfires.
D)smog can increase to dangerous levels in the stagnant air.

Question 32

The earth's atmosphere is heated primarily by the process of

A)direct solar radiation.
B)reradiation from the earth.
C)absorption from the earth.
D)latent heat of condensation.

Question 33

In the Northern Hemisphere,the trade winds blow

A)from the southeast.
B)between the subtropical high and equatorial low.
C)from low to high pressure regions.
D)from a general westerly direction.

Question 34

The type of cloud from which heavy rain falls is a

A)cirrus.
B)cirrostratus.
C)stratus.
D)cumulonimbus.

Question 35

The name given to the nearly treeless zone to the north of the forested subarctic region of the Northern Hemisphere is

A)humid continental climate.
B)the tundra.
C)the savanna.
D)the steppe.

Question 36

Waves in the jet streams correspond to changes in the

A)vertical rays of the sun.
B)ocean tides in the mid-latitudes.
C)flow of warm and cold air masses into the mid-latitudes.
D)pull of gravity,causing earthquakes.

Question 37

The planetary wind and pressure belts

A)keep their same position throughout the year.
B)shift northward during our winter and southward during summer.
C)shift eastward during our winter and westward during summer.
D)shift southward during our winter and northward during summer.

Question 38

Characteristic vegetation of the steppe climate is

A)tundra.
B)deciduous forest.
C)coniferous forest.
D)grass and desert shrubs.

Question 39

The type of climate that is characterized by warm temperatures throughout the year,rainy summers and dry winters is the

A)tropical rain forest.
B)savanna.
C)Mediterranean.
D)marine west coast.

Question 40

The seasons are the result of the earth's

A)rotation on its axis and its revolution around the sun.
B)varying distance from the sun.
C)revolution around the sun and the inclination of its axis.
D)varying distance from the planets of the solar system.

Question 41

Rainfall is caused by

A)increasing air temperature.
B)cooling of saturated air.
C)decreasing relative humidity.
D)location along a rain shadow.

Question 42

Spring and autumn equinoxes occur on approximately ______________________ respectively.

A)April 31 and June 21
B)June 21 and December 21
C)March 21 and September 21
D)April 21 and June 21

Question 43

The rain shadow generally is located on the leeward side of mountain ranges.

Question 44

Which of the following statements about carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is NOT true?

A)It is the primary greenhouse gas.
B)It is not naturally occurring.
C)Its levels have increased due to burning coal,petroleum,and natural gas.
D)Its levels have increased due to deforestation.

Question 45

Which of the following climatic phenomena is responsible for keeping northern Europe and the northwest coast of Russia warmer than it would otherwise be?

A)North Atlantic Drift
B)El Nino
C)La Nina
D)monsoon

Question 46

The Fujita scale is used to measure the strength of

A)tornadoes.
B)hurricanes.
C)blizzards.
D)tsunami.

Question 47

Typical summer storms or showers in tropical and continental climates are a type of ___________ precipitation.

A)orographic
B)convectional
C)cyclonic
D)frontal

Question 48

What type of climate is characterized by hot summers,mild or moderate winters,and plentiful rainfall distributed throughout the year?

A)marine west coast
B)Mediterranean
C)humid subtropical
D)humid continental

Question 49

Valley breezes usually occur at night,and mountain breezes usually occur in the day.

Question 50

The dew point is the temperature at which precipitation begins to occur.

Question 51

Tropical climates (A)of the Köppen system do NOT include

A)Tropical rain forest
B)Monsoon
C)Savanna
D)Hot Deserts

Question 52

What type of precipitation is caused by air being heated at the surface of the earth?

A)convectional
B)conductional
C)orographic
D)cyclonic

Question 53

Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount required for condensation to begin at a given temperature.

Question 54

Hurricanes are classified into categories based on all of the following EXCEPT

A)barometric pressure.
B)wind speed.
C)lifespan.
D)potential damage.

Question 55

Land breezes usually occur at night,and sea breezes usually occur in the day.

Question 56

Which of the following are NOT air mass source regions?

A)Continental polar and continental tropic
B)Maritime polar and marine west coast
C)Continental tropical and maritime tropical
D)Maritime polar and maritime tropical

Question 57

Air masses tend to form along frontal boundaries.

Question 58

The circulation of winds in the Northern Hemisphere is

A)clockwise around lows and highs.
B)counterclockwise around lows and highs.
C)clockwise around lows,counterclockwise around highs.
D)counterclockwise around lows,clockwise around highs.

Question 59

In order to balance the pressure differences that develop,air from heavier high-pressure areas flows to low-pressure zones.

Question 60

Which is NOT a likely consequence of global warming?

A)rising sea levels
B)melting glaciers
C)shorter growing seasons
D)changes in precipitation patterns

Question 61

When air aloft has lower temperature than surface air,conditions are optimal for a temperature inversion.

Question 62

The equinoxes occur about June 21 and December 21.

Question 63

Winter temperatures are generally lower in Marine West Coast climates than in Mediterranean climates.

Question 64

Subarctic climates are home to vast deciduous forests.

Question 65

What is the layer of the atmosphere adjacent to the earth's surface called?

Question 66

The coastal areas of the U.S.most vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by global warming are found mostly on the West Coast.

Question 67

A typhoon and a hurricane are essentially the same phenomenon.

Question 68

What is the collective name referring to rain,snow,sleet,and hail?

Question 69

A typical tornado is less than 10 feet (3.1m)in diameter.

Question 70

Temperature inversions have no effect on air pollution.

Question 71

Precipitation is generally more variable in dry regions than in areas with higher average annual precipitation.

Question 72

The amount of available incoming solar radiation depends on cloud cover,day of year,time of day,and longitude.

Question 73

When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere,it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 74

Humid subtropical climates have drier summers than Mediterranean climates.

Question 75

The 20^th Century was the warmest century in the past 600 years and the 1990s were the warmest decade in the 20^th Century.

Question 76

What is the name applied to the type of climate and vegetation of high latitude areas of shrubs,mosses,and grasses?

Question 77

Savannas are characterized by dry winters.

Question 78

At the June solstice,the North Pole receives 24 hours of daylight.

Question 79

If the earth was not tilted from the perpendicular,then solar energy received at a given latitude would not vary during the course of the year.

Question 80

Compare the temperature of ocean currents on the East Coast and West Coast of the U.S.