Deck 25: Driving Forces of Weather

Question 1

The evaporation of raindrops in the atmosphere

A)cleans the air.
B)warms the air.
C)cools the air.
D)occurs only above tropical waters.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

When water changes from solid ice to a liquid, it

A)loses energy.
B)gives off energy.
C)gains energy.
D)radiates energy.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Whenever water evaporates,

A)heat is absorbed.
B)heat is released.
C)temperature rises.
D)clouds form.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The changing of a vapor into a liquid is called

A)condensation.
B)evaporation.
C)dew point.
D)saturation point.

Question 5

Temperature in the air is decreased by the process of

A)moisture condensation.
B)moisture evaporation.
C)contact with warm surfaces.
D)solar radiation.

Question 6

We are warmed by condensation because water molecules in the air that strike our bodies

A)transfer some of their kinetic energy to us.
B)gain kinetic energy as they change state.
C)form an insulating layer on our bodies.
D)none of these

Question 7

The temperature to which air must be cooled for saturation to occur is called

A)relative humidity.
B)its dew point.
C)precipitation.
D)its condensation point.

Question 8

Saturation and condensation are more likely to occur in

A)warm air than in cool air.
B)air with a low relative humidity
C)cool air than in warm air.
D)an adiabatic air mass.

Question 9

We feel uncomfortably warm on a muggy day because water molecules are

A)evaporating from moist bodies.
B)condensing on our bodies.
C)preventing the evaporation from our moist bodies.
D)jostling about.

Question 10

When liquid water freezes, it

A)loses energy.
B)gives off energy.
C)gains energy.
D)radiates energy.

Question 11

Evaporation of raindrops in the atmosphere

A)warms the air.
B)cools the air.
C)does not happen, raindrops always reach Earth's surface.
D)is greatest above polar ice caps.

Question 12

When water changes from a vapor phase to a liquid phase, it

A)loses energy.
B)gives off energy.
C)gains energy.
D)radiates energy.

Question 13

The amount of water vapor the air can hold depends on air temperature. At higher temperatures the air

A)holds less water vapor.
B)can hold more water vapor.
C)is saturated.
D)holds water vapor at its dew point.

Question 14

As rising air cools, its ability to hold water vapor decreases so the

A)relative humidity of the rising air decreases.
B)adiabatic rate stabilizes.
C)air becomes more wet.
D)relative humidity of the rising air increases.

Question 15

The changing of a substance from a liquid into a vapor or gas is called

A)condensation.
B)evaporation.
C)dew point.
D)saturation point.

Question 16

Temperature in the air is increased by the process of

A)moisture condensation.
B)contact with cold surfaces.
C)moisture evaporation.
D)all of the above

Question 17

Whenever water condenses,

A)heat is absorbed.
B)heat is released.
C)frost forms.
D)temperature drops.

Question 18

When water changes from a liquid to a vapor, it

A)loses energy.
B)gives off energy.
C)gains energy.
D)radiates energy.

Question 19

The limit at which the air contains as much moisture as it can hold for a given temperature is called

A)the dew point.
B)saturation.
C)the evaporation point.
D)sublimation point.

Question 20

As air temperature decreases, relative humidity

A)drops.
B)stays the same.
C)decreases.
D)increases.

Question 21

If the relative humidity is 50%, what happens when the temperature drops and the mass of water in the air stays the same?

A)Relative humidity drops.
B)Relative humidity rises.
C)Relative humidity stays the same.
D)Outcome depends on the temperature of the air.

Question 22

Air becomes saturated when its temperature

A)falls to a point where water vapor molecules evaporate.
B)rises to a point where water vapor molecules condense.
C)rises to a point where water vapor molecules evaporate.
D)falls to a point where water vapor molecules condense.

Question 23

Water vapor in the air can condense when the air

A)cools above its dew point temperature.
B)temperature increases.
C)temperature drops below its dew point temperature.
D)none of the above.

Question 24

Why does dew form on the ground during clear, calm summer nights?

Question 25

As air temperature decreases, relative humidity

A)increases.
B)decreases.
C)stays the same.
D)becomes colder.

Question 26

Which of the following is not an example of condensation at Earth's surface?

A)Clouds
B)Dew
C)Frost
D)Fog

Question 27

As an air parcel moves up the side of a mountain, it

A)expands and cools.
B)expands and warms.
C)compresses and cools.
D)compresses and warms.

Question 28

Precipitation is produced by

A)a rising air mass.
B)a descending air mass.
C)water vapor in the air that condenses to make clouds then falls as liquid water or ice.
D)all of the above.

Question 29

What happens to the water vapor in saturated air as the air cools?

Question 30

An adiabatic process occurs when

A)no thermal energy enters or leaves the system.
B)thermal energy leaving a system is greater than thermal energy entering a system.
C)thermal energy leaving a system is less than thermal energy entering a system.
D)none of these

Question 31

Why does a July day in the Gulf of Mexico generally feel appreciably hotter than a July day in Arizona?

Question 32

When water vapor condenses to liquid water, is thermal energy absorbed or released?

Question 33

Warm air rises and cools as it expands. Warm air will continue to rise as long as it is

A)denser than the surrounding air.
B)warmer and less dense than the surrounding air.
C)warmer and less dense than the air above.
D)snowing.

Question 34

Saturation and condensation are more likely to occur on a

A)cold day.
B)warm day.
C)windy day.
D)balmy day.

Question 35

Warm, moist air blowing over cold water can result in

A)adiabatic cooling.
B)a dry adiabatic rate.
C)fog.
D)orographic lifting.

Question 36

If water vapor content is held constant as air temperature decreases, does relative humidity increase, decrease, or stay the same? Explain.

Question 37

What happens if nearly saturated air experiences a quick, significant temperature drop?

A)Relative humidity drops.
B)Relative humidity rises.
C)Condensation occurs.
D)Outcome depends on the temperature of the air.

Question 38

Is evaporation greater over warm ocean water or cold ocean water?

Question 39

During the summer months, the Gulf of Mexico is generally

A)cool along the coast.
B)very hot and very humid.
C)hot and dry.
D)none of the above.

Question 40

As air rises, it

A)compresses and warms.
B)compresses and cools.
C)expands and warms.
D)expands and cools.

Question 41

When warm air is above cooler air it is called

A)stable.
B)unstable.
C)a temperature inversion.
D)a Chinook.

Question 42

How are air convection cycles generated?

Question 43

Warm air rises and cool air sinks. So when an air parcel rises it becomes

A)cooler.
B)warmer.
C)more stable.
D)less stable.

Question 44

A rising parcel of air continues to rise as long as

A)the wind is blowing.
B)it is warmer and less dense than the surrounding air.
C)the temperature is inverted.
D)it is cooler and denser than the surrounding air.

Question 45

The wind blows in response to

A)pressure differences.
B)Earth's rotation.
C)temperature differences.
D)pressure and temperature differences and Earth's rotation.
E)all of these

Question 46

Any object that is warmer than its surroundings will

A)absorb heat.
B)emit radiation.
C)reflect heat.
D)become denser.

Question 47

As air flows up the side of a mountain, the air pressure

A)increases.
B)decreases.
C)gets warmer.
D)gets colder.

Question 48

What is a temperature inversion?

Question 49

When a volume of air is compressed, its temperature

A)increases.
B)decreases.
C)neither increases nor decreases.

Question 50

As an air parcel expands and cools, or compresses and warms, with no interchange of heat with its surroundings, the situation is called

A)temperature equilibrium.
B)an adiabatic process.
C)stable equilibrium.
D)lapse rate.

Question 51

Air is considered unstable when it

A)continues to rise because it is warmer than surrounding air.
B)behaves unpredictably.
C)warms as it descends.
D)cools as it rises.

Question 52

Heat can be added to air by solar radiation, moisture

A)condensation, or contact with warm ground.
B)evaporation, or contact with warm ground.
C)condensation, or contact with cool ground.
D)evaporation, or contact with warm ground.

Question 53

Clouds inhibit the outflow of terrestrial radiation. This acts to

A)insulate Earth's surface temperature.
B)warm Earth's surface temperature at night.
C)cool Earth's surface temperature during the day.
D)insulate Earth's surface temperature, keeping it warmer at night and cooler in the day.

Question 54

As air rises, it expands. It expands because it moves to

A)a region of higher air pressure.
B)a region of lower air pressure.
C)an area of greater humidity.
D)an area of cooler air temperature.

Question 55

Which of the following is an example of adiabatic warming?

A)Cyclone.
B)Chinook.
C)Drought.
D)Tornado.

Question 56

As rising air cools,

A)its capacity for containing water vapor decreases.
B)the relative humidity of the rising air increases.
C)none of these occurs.
D)relative humidity increases as the air becomes saturated.

Question 57

Which air mass has greater air pressure?

A)Warm air.
B)Cold air.
C)Adiabatic air.
D)Expanding air.

Question 58

As air rises, it

A)compresses and warms.
B)compresses and cools.
C)expands and warms.
D)expands and cools.

Question 59

If a volume of air is warmed, it expands. If a volume of air expands, it

A)warms.
B)cools.
C)neither warms nor cools.

Question 60

Air moves from

A)a region of low pressure to a region of high pressure.
B)a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure.
C)a region of stability to a region of instability.
D)a cold front to a warm front.

Question 61

Clouds that begin to develop 6000 meters above the ground are generally

A)stratus and stratocumulus type clouds.
B)cumulus and stratus type clouds.
C)cirrus and cirrostratus type clouds.
D)cumulonimbus and altocumulus type clouds.

Question 62

In order to produce precipitation, an air mass must rise because rising air

A)allows water droplets more time in the cloud where they can grow in size.
B)produces downdrafts which increases the evaporation of droplets from the cloud.
C)supports the downfall of raindrops.
D)all of the above.

Question 63

Clouds that develop about 1000 meters above the ground are generally

A)cirrus and cirrocumulus type clouds.
B)cumulus and stratus type clouds.
C)cumulus and cirrocumulus type clouds.
D)cirrocumulus and altocumulus type clouds.

Question 64

Cumulus clouds generally occur in an atmospheric state of

A)stability.
B)instability.
C)cool, dry adiabatics.
D)warm, moist adiabatics.

Question 65

What happens to the air pressure of an air parcel as it flows up the side of a mountain?

Question 66

What generally causes clouds to form?

A)Falling relative humidity.
B)Sinking of saturated air.
C)Lifting of air.
D)Addition of water vapor.

Question 67

At the same level and temperature in the atmosphere, is moist air lighter or heavier than dry air?

Question 68

Why does a drop in air pressure indicate the coming of cloudy weather and a rise in air pressure indicate clear weather?

Question 69

Why are there usually large spaces of blue sky between cumulus clouds?

Question 70

Is it possible for the temperature of an air mass to change if no thermal energy is added or subtracted? Defend your answer.

Question 71

Cloud types associated with stable air include

A)cumulus and cumulonimbus.
B)cirrostratus, altostratus, and stratus.
C)cirrostratus, altocumulus, and altostratus.
D)stratocumulus, stratus, and cirrostratus.

Question 72

Clouds denoted by the prefix "alto" form

A)4000 to 6000 meters above the ground.
B)2000 to 6000 meters above the ground.
C)1000 to 4000 meters above the ground.
D)6000 meters above the ground.

Question 73

As cumulus clouds grow they shade the ground from the Sun. This acts to

A)slow down the heating of the ground surface.
B)dissipate cumulus cloud formation.
C)slow down convectional lifting.
D)slowly cool the ground surface, slowing convectional lifting, and dissipating cloud formation.

Question 74

The Chinook wind is a warm, dry wind that descends the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. What makes these winds so warm and dry?

Question 75

An example of a convective cloud is the

A)nimbostratus.
B)cumulus.
C)cirrocumulus.
D)altostratus.

Question 76

Clouds occur when moist air is cooled by

A)expansion when it rises.
B)compression when it rises.
C)expansion when it falls.
D)compression when it falls.

Question 77

Which type of cloud is also called a thunderhead?

A)Nimbus.
B)Cirrus.
C)Stratocumulus.
D)Cumulonimbus.

Question 78

High clouds have the prefix:

A)Nimbo-.
B)Alto-.
C)Strato-.
D)Cirro-.

Question 79

What is an adiabatic process?

Question 80

For rain to precipitate requires

A)condensation nuclei, updrafts, and thick clouds.
B)sufficient vertical cloud development.
C)wind.
D)droplet bombardment.