Chapter 16 & 17

Air may best be described as __________.
a. an element
b. a compound
c. a mixture
d. none of these

c. a mixture

Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?
a. oxygen
b. argon
c. carbon dioxide
d. nitrogen

d. nitrogen

With which of the following is dust in the atmosphere associated?
a. reflection of solar energy
b. optical phenomena such as a red sky at sunset
c. condensation and cloud formation
d. all of these

d. all of these

Which one of the gases listed below is more important meteorologically (that is, is more important in weather processes) than the others?
a. oxygen
b. argon
c. carbon dioxide
d. nitrogen

c. carbon dioxide

On the AVERAGE, for every 1 km increase in altitude in the troposphere, the air temperature _____.
a. drops about 6.5˚C
b. rises about 6.5˚C
c. remains constant
d. rises only during the day

a. drops about 6.5˚C

Fifty percent of the gases making up the atmosphere are found below __________.
a. 10 miles (16.2 km)
b. 6 ½ miles (10.4 km)
c. 3 ½ miles (5.6 km)
d. 8 miles (12.8 km)

c. 3 ½ miles (5.6 km)

The tropopause is the boundary between __________
a. the troposphere and stratosphere
b. tropical and polar air masses
c. the troposphere and mesosphere
d. two layers of high ozone concentration

a. the troposphere and stratosphere

Ozone filters out most of the __________ radiation in sunlight.
a. infrared
b. gamma
c. ultraviolet
d. microwave

c. ultraviolet

Ozone is concentrated in the __________.
a. troposphere
b. mesosphere
c. stratosphere
d. ionosphere

c. stratosphere

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ___________.
a. troposphere
b. mesosphere
c. stratosphere
d. ionosphere

a. troposphere

Practically all clouds and storms occur in this layer of the atmosphere.
a. troposphere
b. mesosphere
c. stratosphere
d. ionosphere

a. troposphere

The normal lapse rate in the troposphere is about __________ per kilometer.
a. 3.5˚C
b. 6.5˚C
c. 1.5˚C
d. 9.5˚C

b. 6.5˚C

The wavelengths of radiation emitted by Earth are __________.
a. longer than those emitted by the Sun
b. shorter than those emitted by the Sun
c. about the same as those emitted by the Sun
d. none of these

a. longer than those emitted by the Sun

The longest wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum are __________.
a. gamma
b. ultraviolet
c. radio
d. infrared

c. radio

At noon on February 21, the Sun is overhead __________.
a. at the equator
b. at some point between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator, heading southward
c. at some point between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator, heading northward
d. at some point between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator, heading northward

d. at some point between the Tropic of Capricorn and the equator, heading northward

The storage of heat in the lower layer of the atmosphere produced by certain heat absorbing gases is called the _________.
a. adiabatic effect
b. greenhouse effect
c. grey-body effect
d. photon effect

b. greenhouse effect

Which one of the following latitudes best represents the location where the Sun is directly overhead at noon on June 21?
a. 0˚
b. 8˚S
c. 8˚N
d. 23.5˚N

d. 23.5˚N

On the average, how much of the Sun’s energy that is intercepted by Earth is reflected back to space?
a. 10%
b. 20%
c. 30%
d. 40%

c. 30%

Which one of the following statements is true about the equinoxes?
a. occur in June and December
b. the Sun’s vertical rays are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn
c. days and nights are equal in length everywhere
d. the length of daylight at the Arctic and Antarctic Circles is 24 hours

c. days and nights are equal in length everywhere

On this date the length of daylight gets progressively longer going south from the equator.
a. June 21
b. March 21
c. September 21
d. December 21

d. December 21

The spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on __________.
a. June 21
b. March 21
c. September 21
d. December 21

b. March 21

The North Pole has a higher noon Sun angle than New York City on this date.
a. June 21
b. March 21
c. September 21
d. none of these

d. none of these

The 90˚ angle solar rays are striking the Tropic of Cancer on __________.
a. June 21
b. March 21
c. September 21
d. December 21

a. June 21

The 90˚ angle solar rays are striking the Tropic of Capricorn on __________.
a. June 21
b. March 21
c. September 21
d. December 21

d. December 21

New York City has its greatest length of daylight on __________.
a. June 21
b. March 21
c. September 21
d. December 21

a. June 21

The fall equinox in the Southern Hemisphere occurs on this date.
a. June 21
b. March 21
c. September 21
d. December 21

b. March 21

The summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on this date.
a. June 21
b. March 21
c. September 21
d. December 21

a. June 21

This process involves the movement of a mass or substance.
a. conduction
b. convection
c. radiation
d. all of these

b. convention

Earth receives energy from the Sun in this way.
a. conduction
b. convection
c. radiation
d. all of these

c. radiation

Which are mechanisms of heat transfer?
a. conduction
b. convection
c. radiation
d. all of these

d. all of these

The transfer of heat through matter by molecular activity is
a. conduction
b. convection
c. radiation
d. all of the

a. conduction

On the average, how much of the Sun’s energy that is intercepted by Earth is absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds?
a. 20%
b. 30%
c. 40%
d. 50%

a. 20%

The two most important heat absorbing gases in the lower atmosphere are __________.
a. oxygen and nitrogen
b. water vapor and carbon dioxide
c. argon and oxygen
d. ozone and chlorofluorocarbon

b. water vapor and carbon dioxide

A very important control of the DAILY range of temperature is ___________.
a. the amount of water vapor in the air
b. Earth’s elliptical orbit
c. parallelism and inclination of Earth’s axis
d. air pressure

a. the amount of water vapor in the air

If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26˚C and the minimum temperature is 14˚C, the daily mean would be __________.
a. 40˚C
b. 20˚C
c. 12˚C
d. 13˚C

b. 20˚C

If the maximum temperature for a particular day is 26˚C and the minimum temperature is 14˚C, the daily range would be ___________.
a. 40˚C
b. 20˚C
c. 12˚C
d. 13˚C

c. 12˚C

The annual range of temperature may be described as the difference between __________.
a. maximum and minimum temperatures over a period of one year
b. maximum and minimum temperatures during the period of one month
c. the average temperatures of the warmest and coldest months
d. both a. and c

a. maximum and minimum temperatures over a period of one year

A place located along a windward coast will probably have __________.
a. warmer summer temperatures than an inland location at the same latitude
b. cooler summer temperatures than an inland location at the same latitude
c. summer temperatures that are very similar to an inland location at the same latitude
d. none of these

b. cooler summer temperatures than an inland location at the same latitude

Two cities are located at the same latitude (40˚). City A is in the Southern Hemisphere and City B is in the Northern Hemisphere. Assume the two cities reflect the general characteristics of the hemispheres where they are located. Which city should have the warmest winter temperatures?
a. City A
b. City B
c. both cities should have nearly identical winter temperatures
d. more information is required to answer the question

a. City A

The annual temperature range at most latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere is much smaller than that in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason for this is that __________.
a. Earth is closest to the Sun during the Southern Hemisphere summer
b. rainfall and cloudiness are greater in the Southern Hemisphere
c. a greater proportion of the land surface is mountainous in the Southern Hemisphere
d. there is a greater percentage of water surface in the Southern Hemisphere

d.

The cloud form that is best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky is termed ____________.
a. cumulus
b. stratus
c. cirrus
d. alto

b. stratus

The cloud form that consists of globular cloud masses that take on a billowy or "cauliflower-like" structure is called __________.
a. cumulus
b. stratus
c. cirrus
d. alto

a. cumulus

This term is used to describe clouds found in the middle height range.
a. cumulus
b. stratus
c. cirrus d. alto

d. alto

High clouds that form delicate veil-like patches or extended wispy fibers are termed __________.
a. cumulus
b. stratus
c. cirrus
d. alto

c. cirrus

This term is used to describe clouds that produce precipitation.
a. cumulus
b. stratus
c. cirrus
d. nimbo

d. nimbo

These clouds are often called "fair weather" clouds.
a. cumulus
b. stratus
c. cirrus
d. nimbo

a. cumulus

This cloud sometimes produces "mare’s tails."
a. cirrostratus
b. cumulonimbus
c. altostratus
d. cirrus

d. cirrus

Thunder and lightning are associated with these clouds.
a. cirrostratus
b. cumulonimbus
c. altostratus
d. cirrus

b. cumulonimbus

This cloud type is confined to the middle height range.
a. cirrostratus
b. cumulonimbus
c. altostratus
d. cirrus

c. altostratus

A halo around the Sun or Moon indicates that this cloud type is present.
a. cirrostratus
b. cumulonimbus
c. altostratus
d. cirrus

a. cirrostratus

A dark gray cloud that blankets the sky and often generates precipitation is called __________.
a. cirrostratus
b. nimbostratus
c. altostratus
d. cirrus

b. nimbostratus

This cloud may develop an "anvil head."
a. cirrostratus
b. cumulonimbus
c. altostratus
d. cirrus

b. cumulonimbus

Tornadoes can be associated with this cloud type.
a. cirrostratus
b. cumulonimbus
c. altostratus
d. cirrus

b. cumulonimbus

Hail is most commonly associated with __________.
a. cirrostratus
b. cumulonimbus
c. altostratus
d. cirrus

b. cumulonimbus

A wintertime form of precipitation that consists of small ice particles is called __________.
a. rime
b. glaze
c. hail
d. sleet

d. sleet

This fog forms in valleys at night.
a. advection fog
b. radiation fog
c. steam fog
d. precipitation fog

b. radiation fog

When warm moist air moves over a cold surface, _______ fog may result.
a. advection
b. radiation
c. steam
d. upslope

a. advection

This fog results from adiabatic cooling.
a. advection
b. radiation
c. steam
d. upslope

d. upslope

Which one of the fogs listed below may be categorized as an evaporation fog?
a. advection
b. radiation
c. steam
d. upslope

c. steam

When supercooled raindrops freeze on contact with solid objects, _______ forms.
a. rime
b. glaze
c. hail
d. sleet

b. glaze

The amount of water vapor in the air (by volume) usually does not exceed __________.
a. 50%
b. 28%
c. 14%
d. 4%

d. 4%

We are likely to have our highest relative humidity __________.
a. during mid-afternoon
b. around midnight
c. about sunrise
d. at noon

c. about sunrise

When using a psychrometer and the two temperatures read nearly the same, you can conclude that __________.
a. your instrument reading is accurate
b. a change in temperature is likely
c. the dew point temperature is very low
d. the air has a high relative humidity

d. the air has a high relative humidity

Under what circumstances could the relative humidity exceed 100% without producing condensation in the air?
a. the dew point is higher than the air temperature
b. the air is perfectly dry
c. the water vapor is composed of "heavy" water
d. there are no condensation nuclei

d. there are no condensation nuclei

The dew point is the temperature at which __________.
a. water in the liquid state changes to vapor
b. hailstones are formed
c. water vapor condenses to a liquid
d. cumulus clouds change to cumulonimbus clouds

c. water vapor condenses to a liquid

The most important process of cloud formation in the atmosphere is __________.
a. cooling by compression of air
b. cooling by release of latent heat of vaporization
c. cooling by expansion of air
d. radiation cooling

c. cooling by expansion of air

If air at sea level with a temperature of 27˚C is forced up a mountain slope and the air’s dew point at the condensation level is 14˚C, at what elevation will condensation begin?
a. 2600 meters
b. 1400 meters
c. 2700 meters
d. 1300 meters

d. 1300 meters

Stability prevails when the environmental lapse rate is __________.
a. less than the wet adiabatic rate
b. greater than the wet adiabatic rate and less than the dry adiabatic rate
c. greater than the dry adiabatic rate
d. greater than both the wet and dry adiabatic rates

a. less than the wet adiabatic rate

When air is unstable, the environmental lapse rate is __________.
a. less than the wet adiabatic rate
b. zero
c. greater than the dry adiabatic rate
d. greater than both the wet and dry adiabatic rates

c. greater than the dry adiabatic rate

Which of the following will NOT cause air to become more unstable?
a. intense solar heating which warms the air from below
b. forceful lifting of air
c. subsidence of an air column
d. upward movement caused by general convergence

c. subsidence of an air column

Which of the following would NOT be associated with stable atmospheric conditions?
a. widespread fog
b. temperature inversion
c. dreary overcast with light drizzle
d. afternoon thunder showers

d. afternoon thunder showers

A parcel of air has a temperature of 0˚C as it crosses a mountain range at 3000 meters. If it descends, what will its temperature be when it reaches sea level?
a. 15˚C
b. 30˚C
c. 0˚C
d. 40˚C

b. 30˚C

The change of state from a gas to a liquid is called __________.
a. evaporation
b. sublimation
c. condensation
d. melting

c. condensation

The term __________ is used to describe the conversion of a solid directly to a gas, without passing through the liquid state.
a. evaporation
b. sublimation
c. condensation
d. melting

b. sublimation

The process by which water vapor changes directly to a solid is called __________.
a. evaporation
b. deposition
c. condensation
d. melting

b. depostion

This process results in the release of about 600 calories of latent heat per gram of water.
a. evaporation
b. deposition
c. condensation
d. melting

c. condensation

The process of converting a liquid to vapor is termed __________.
a. evaporation
b. sublimation
c. condensation
d. melting

a. evaporation