Deck 26: Weather

Question 1

As the temperature rises, how does this affect relative humidity?

A)The temperature rise does not affect relative humidity.
B)Relative humidity decreases as temperature rises.
C)Relative humidity increases as temperature rises.
D)The temperature rise causes relative humidity to fluctuate.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Trade winds are an example of

A)local winds.
B)global winds.
C)the Coriolis Effect.
D)the jet stream.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What is the scientific name for the dark, tall, puffy clouds that indicate a thunderstorm is coming?

A)cirrus clouds
B)cumulonimbus clouds
C)stratus clouds
D)cumulus clouds

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The underlying cause of weather is that heat flows from

A)warm regions to cold regions.
B)cold regions to warm regions.
C)low pressure regions to high pressure regions.
D)from the atmosphere to troposphere.

Question 5

Suppose that the air has reached its dew point. The relative humidity is

A)0%.
B)20%.
C)65%.
D)100%.

Question 6

Which of the following is not produced by water in the atmosphere?

A)clouds
B)ocean currents
C)humidity
D)precipitation

Question 7

The gases that make up 99% of Earth's atmosphere are

A)nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
B)oxygen and carbon dioxide.
C)oxygen and nitrogen.
D)oxygen and hydrogen.

Question 8

The troposphere is warmed mostly by

A)short-wave radiation.
B)long-wave radiation.
C)solar radiation.
D)clouds.

Question 9

An air mass that contains warm, moist air is a

A)Maritime tropical air mass.
B)Continental polar air mass.
C)Maritime continental air mass.
D)Polar tropical air mass.

Question 10

The Dew Point in Houston on March 3 at 6:00 a.m. is 38°F. This means that when the air temperature there reaches 38° F, at that time

A)the air will be very humid.
B)dew will evaporate.
C)water vapor in the atmosphere will condense.
D)dew will freeze.

Question 11

Wind is due to

A)pressure differences in the atmosphere.
B)the greenhouse effect.
C)Earth's rotation.
D)storms that push air in front of them.

Question 12

Earth's surface receives more solar radiation near the equator than at the poles. This uneven heating of Earth's surface produces

A)day and night.
B)dry air at the equator.
C)clouds.
D)winds.

Question 13

The elements of weather include

A)latitude and humidity.
B)temperature and precipitation.
C)the seasons and clouds.
D)humidity and global warming.

Question 14

Air pressure is due to the

A)weight of water vapor in the air.
B)weight of overlying air.
C)force of the wind.
D)speed of the wind.

Question 15

Which of these factors are effective in moving heat from one location to another?

A)rain
B)clouds
C)ocean currents
D)all of these

Question 16

Suppose that you saw clouds that were high in the sky and that looked like wispy strands of tattered cloth. An hour later, it started to rain. The clouds you noticed were

A)cumulonimbus clouds.
B)alto stratus clouds.
C)cumulus clouds.
D)cirrus clouds.

Question 17

The ocean current called the Gulf Stream

A)carries heat from Hawaii to the Western coast of North America.
B)carries heat from the Gulf of Mexico to the North American coast and Northern Europe.
C)vertically mixes the Atlantic ocean near the Southern United States.
D)travels through all of the world's oceans.

Question 18

Why don't the global winds moving from the North Pole to the South Pole follow a straight path?

A)Objects moving in straight paths above Earth's surface appear to be turning to observers on the ground.
B)The Coriolis Effect comes into play.
C)Earth rotates under the wind.
D)all of the above

Question 19

How are weather and climate related?

A)Climate is the weather at a particular place and time.
B)Climate is the average weather over a period of many years.
C)Climate and weather are both produced by plate tectonics.
D)Weather is climate that can be measured.

Question 20

On what day of the year does the North Pole tilt most directly toward the Sun?

A)the spring equinox
B)the fall equinox
C)the winter solstice
D)the summer solstice

Question 21

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 22

A sea breeze is a local wind that blows at night from a region

A)over the ocean toward land.
B)of low pressure to high pressure.
C)of high elevation to low elevation.
D)none of the above

Question 23

The troposphere is the atmospheric layer where

A)ozone absorbs incoming ultraviolet radiation from space.
B)the Aurora Borealis occurs.
C)weather occurs.
D)temperature increases with altitude.

Question 24

The change of water vapor to a liquid is called

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

Question 25

If the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, Earth's average global temperature will

A)increase.
B)decrease.
C)stay the same.
D)fluctuate wildly.

Question 26

The Coriolis Effect turns

A)wind.
B)ocean surface currents.
C)wind and ocean surface currents.
D)merry-go-rounds.

Question 27

When water changes from a liquid to a vapor, it

A)gives heat to the environment.
B)absorbs heat from the environment.
C)does not exchange energy with the environment.
D)condenses.

Question 28

The angle at which the Sun's rays strike the Earth has a great effect on

A)Earth's seasons.
B)the way climate varies with latitude.
C)the intensity of solar energy received at Earth's surface.
D)all of the above

Question 29

As an air parcel rises, it

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

Question 30

Cyclones are areas of low pressure. They are associated with

A)calm weather.
B)rough weather.
C)stationary fronts.
D)cirrus clouds.

Question 31

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 the polar ice caps.

Question 32

Going in order from the most significant to the least, greenhouse gases include

A)carbon dioxide, water, and oxygen.
B)water vapor and carbon dioxide.
C)nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.
D)oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 33

Daylight and nighttime hours are equal

A)during the summer and winter solstices.
B)during the equinoxes.
C)in mid-January and mid-June.
D)They are never equal.

Question 34

The seasons are primarily due to

A)the distance of Earth from the Sun.
B)the wavelength of solar radiation.
C)the tilt of Earth's axis.
D)variations in greenhouse gas levels.

Question 35

Almost all energy on Earth comes directly or indirectly from

A)Earth's interior.
B)radioactivity.
C)the Sun
D)carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Question 36

What slows the escape of long-wave radiation form Earth's surface?

A)rain
B)trees
C)nitrogen gas.
D)greenhouse gases.

Question 37

Warmer temperatures can be expected

A)behind a stationary front.
B)behind an advancing warm front.
C)ahead of an advancing cold front.
D)behind an advancing cold front.

Question 38

A parcel of air will rise as long as it is

A)denser than surrounding air.
B)less dense than surrounding air.
C)cooler than surrounding air.
D)more humid than surrounding air.

Question 39

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

A)evaporating from moist skin.
B)condensing on your skin.
C)preventing condensation on moist skin.
D)condensing in the air.

Question 40

Most ocean surface currents are due to

A)melting polar glaciers.
B)river flow into the ocean.
C)global winds.
D)local winds.

Question 41

The dew point is usually ________ on a humid day compared to a dry day.

A)lower
B)higher
C)the same
D)more changeable

Question 42

In August, 2012 the average temperature at Location X was 90°F. Describe the climate in Location X.

A)Location X has a hot climate.
B)Location X has a warm climate.
C)Location X has a climate featuring wide seasonal variation.
D)There is not enough information given to answer this question.

Question 43

How is the atmosphere like a florist's greenhouse?

A)Both trap long-wave electromagnetic radiation.
B)Both trap short-wave electromagnetic radiation.
C)Both prevent convection of warmed air.
D)Both trap a broad range of electromagnetic wavelengths.

Question 44

Earth's interacting subsystems or "spheres" are the

A)lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
B)lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
C)biosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere.
D)lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and ecosphere.

Question 45

What is ozone?

A)a gas consisting of molecules containing three oxygen atoms
B)a gas that resides in the stratosphere
C)a gas that blocks ultraviolet radiation from reaching Earth
D)all of the above

Question 46

Clouds continually are pulled to the ground by gravity. Why do they stay aloft?

A)Clouds weigh so little that they fall too slowly to be noticed.
B)Water evaporating from Earth's surface presents an opposing force to the falling cloud droplets.
C)New cloud droplets continually replace those that fall to Earth's surface.
D)Updrafts of air oppose the gravitational force.

Question 47

If there were no natural greenhouse effect, Earth's average global temperature would be about

A)18°C.
B)-18°C.
C)100°C.
D)0°C.

Question 48

Why does a jacket keep you warm on a windy day?

A)Wind is the flow of cold air so the jacket prevents cold air from reaching the body.
B)The jacket prevents water vapor from getting near your body and absorbing body heat.
C)The jacket acts like a florist's greenhouse, trapping long-wavelength radiation near your body.
D)The jacket prevents the wind from blowing away the layer of air that has been warmed by your body.

Question 49

Air warmed near equatorial regions rises and then normally sinks at

A)polar regions.
B)tropical regions.
C)the midlatitudes.
D)low latitudes.

Question 50

Why is water vapor not implicated in climate change as methane and carbon dioxide are?

A)Water vapor is not a greenhouse gas.
B)Carbon dioxide and methane are not just greenhouse gases, they are also toxic to most organisms.
C)The concentration of water vapor in the atmosphere has remained relatively constant despite changes in human activities.
D)Water vapor is a liquid, not a gas, so it precipitates out of the atmosphere frequently.

Question 51

Which of the following changes in the wind makes you feel colder?

A)The direction the wind blows changes from East to West to North to South.
B)The speed of wind increases from 5 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour.
C)The wind speed decreases from 10 miles per hour to 5 miles per hour.
D)More wind blows in from the ocean to the land.

Question 52

Why is the density of air greatest near sea level?

A)The force of gravity on air is greatest at Earth's surface.
B)Air is compressible.
C)Air pressure is at a minimum near Earth's surface.
D)Air is warmest near sea level.

Question 53

Why is air pressure greatest at sea level?

A)Air pressure depends on the weight of overlying air molecules.
B)Air pressure depends on the force with which air molecules strike Earth's surface; molecules near Earth's surface strike Earth with more force.
C)Air pressure depends on the temperature of air and air near Earth's surface is warmest.
D)Air pressure is inversely proportional to the density of air.

Question 54

Temperatures in Earth's atmospheric layers vary in a zig-zag pattern with altitude principally because

A)the chemical composition of the atmosphere varies.
B)air is compressible.
C)the density of air varies with altitude.
D)pressure varies with altitude.

Question 55

When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, Earth is tilted

A)so that the North Pole tilts toward the Sun.
B)so that the North Pole tilts away from the Sun.
C)so that the South Pole tilts toward the Sun.
D)so that the North Pole and South Pole are equidistant from the Sun.

Question 56

Why are you more likely to get sunburned if you visit a low-latitude location compared to a high-latitude location?

A)Low-latitude locations are closer to the Sun than polar regions.
B)Low-latitude locations have a thin atmosphere and low levels of ozone.
C)Solar rays strike low-latitude locations most directly.
D)Solar rays strike low-latitude locations at an oblique angle.

Question 57

What is the Gulf Stream?

A)an ocean current that moves warm water from the Equator to the coast of Northern Europe
B)the source of warm winds that blow from the ocean over the lands of Great Britain and Norway
C)a surface current
D)all of the above

Question 58

Moist air blows across warm water to colder areas inland. What might this produce?

A)decreased inland temperatures
B)a cold air front
C)a temperature inversion
D)fog

Question 59

What factor(s)determine Earth's average global temperature?

A)solar radiation and greenhouse gas concentration
B)solar radiation
C)greenhouse gas composition
D)latitude

Question 60

The air temperature is 40°F. The wind is blowing 20 miles per hour. Which of the following temperatures might be the effective temperature to your body under these conditions (assuming your are not wearing clothes)?

A)-40°F
B)40°F
C)30°F
D)This question cannot be answered with the information given.

Question 61

Near a high-pressure weather system (also called an anticyclone), clouds are unlikely to form. Why is this?

A)Air flows downward and outward from a high.
B)Air flows upward and into the high.
C)Highs do not form in moist air.
D)The Coriolis force turns the air, dispersing condensed air so clouds cannot form.

Question 62

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

Question 63

Which of the following are typically shown on a weather map?

A)locations of air masses and fronts.
B)locations of weather systems and fronts.
C)locations of weather systems, cyclones, anticyclones, and air masses.
D)locations of weather systems, air masses, fronts, and greenhouse gas concentrations.

Question 64

Global winds blow a maritime tropical (mT)air mass inland. Over time, this air mass is likely to

A)become a maritime polar (cP)air mass.
B)become a continental tropical (cT)air mass.
C)remain a maritime tropical (mT)air mass.
D)become a maritime polar (mP)air mass.

Question 65

Explain why high elevations such as mountains are colder than sea-level locations.

Question 66

Why does the temperature change more rapidly over the land than over the ocean?

Question 67

A continental polar (cP)air mass moves into the territory occupied a continental tropical (cT)air mass. What is likely to happen?

A)The air masses mix creating an air mass of average temperature.
B)A cold front forms at the boundary between the two air masses.
C)A cold front extends from the boundary zone into the territory occupied by the continental tropical (cT)air mass.
D)A stationary front forms.

Question 68

Global winds between 40 and 60 degrees South latitude blow Westerly. What direction do surface currents move in this region?

A)northerly
B)easterly
C)westerly
D)They move in a clockwise circular pattern.

Question 69

Why do your ears pop when you ascend to high altitudes? Explain.

Question 70

In what direction do the Trade Winds blow? Is this direction constant? How do the Trade Winds affect the ocean's surface?

Question 71

The weather forecast says that a warm front is moving into town. While the front is in town, what kind of weather is likely?

A)warm
B)cloudy with possible precipitation
C)cool
D)clear

Question 72

Why does air flow into the center of a cyclone?

A)The center of a cyclone is a region of cold air.
B)The center of a cyclone is a region of high air pressure.
C)The center of a cyclone is a region of low air pressure.
D)The center of a cyclone is near Earth's surface.