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d. anemometer |
Which of these instruments is NOT used to measure air pressure? a. mercurial barometer b. aneroid barometer c. barograph d. anemometer |
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b. aneroid barometer |
An altimeter is an adaptation of the __________. a. mercurial barometer b. aneroid barometer c. barograph d. anemometer |
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d. pressure gradient force |
The force that generates wind is __________. a. Coriolis force b. gravity force c. centrifugal force d. pressure gradient force |
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d. both wind speed and latitude |
Which of these factors influence the magnitude of the Coriolis force? a. wind speed b. latitude c. wind direction d. both wind speed and latitude |
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b. isobars |
Lines on a weather map connecting places of equal air pressure are called __________. a. isovectors b. isobars c. isotherms d. isogrids |
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a. high winds |
Closely spaced isobars often indicate __________. a. high winds b. variable winds c. light winds d. cyclonic winds |
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b. produces strong winds |
A steep pressure gradient __________. a. would be depicted by widely spaced isobars b. produces strong winds c. is only possible in the tropics d. produces light winds |
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c. light winds |
Widely spaced isobars often indicate __________. a. high winds b. variable winds c. light winds d. cyclonic winds |
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b. only wind direction |
The Coriolis effect influences __________. a. only wind speed b. only wind direction c. both wind speed and wind direction d. neither wind speed nor wind direction |
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b. counterclockwise and toward the center |
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winds associated with a low pressure system (cyclone) blow __________. a. clockwise and toward the center b. counterclockwise and toward the center c. clockwise and outward from the center d. counterclockwise and outward from the center |
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c. clockwise and outward from the center |
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds associated with a high pressure system blow __________. a. clockwise and toward the center b. counterclockwise and toward the center c. clockwise and outward from the center d. counterclockwise and outward from the center |
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b. air would move directly from high to low pressure |
If Earth were not rotating __________. a. it would lose its atmosphere b. air would move directly from high to low pressure c. all air would move in one direction only d. friction would be eliminated |
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a. are generally faster than surface winds |
Upper air winds __________. a. are generally faster than surface winds b. are unaffected by the Coriolis force c. are greatly influenced by friction d. both a. and b |
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d. all of these |
High air pressure systems are usually associated with __________. a. diverging winds b. descending air c. clear weather d. all of these |
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c. precipitation |
Low air pressure systems are usually associated with __________. a. diverging winds b. descending air c. precipitation d. clear weather |
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a. clockwise and toward the center |
In the Southern Hemisphere, the winds associated with a low pressure system blow __________. a. clockwise and toward the center b. counterclockwise and toward the center c. clockwise and outward from the center d. counterclockwise and outward from the center |
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b. rising |
If "fair" weather is approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be __________. a. steady b. rising c. falling d. none of these |
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c. falling |
If stormy weather is approaching, the pressure tendency would probably be __________. a. steady b. rising c. falling d. none of these |
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c. westerlies |
Most of the United States is situated in which zone of prevailing winds? a. trade winds b. subpolar easterlies c. westerlies d. doldrums |
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c. a zone where the polar easterlies and the westerlies converge |
The subpolar low (polar front) is a. a zone where the trade winds meet b. the forward edge of the Antarctic ice cap c. a zone where the polar easterlies and the westerlies converge d. the boundary between frozen and liquid |
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d. very dry, warm wind flowing down a mountain slope |
A Santa Ana (or Chinook or Foehn) wind is a __________. a. wind associated with a blizzard b. cold, damp wind blowing off a snow field c. wind that is common to the world’s deserts d. very dry, warm wind flowing down a mountain slope |
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b. day and flows toward the land |
A sea breeze usually originates during the __________. a. evening and flows toward the land b. day and flows toward the land c. evening and flows toward the water d. day and flows toward the water |
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c. evening and flows toward the water |
A land breeze usually originates during the __________. a. evening and flows toward the land b. day and flows toward the land c. evening and flows toward the water d. day and flows toward the water |
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c. jet streams |
Fast moving currents of air found near the top of the troposphere are called __________. a. mesocyclones b. chinooks c. jet streams d. El Niño |
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b. anticyclone |
What is the technical name for a high pressure center? a. cyclone b. anticyclone c. front d. doldrums |
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c. air-mass weather |
When an area is experiencing several consecutive days of rather constant weather, it is probably __________. a. warm-front weather b. cold-front weather c. air-mass weather d. occluded front weather |
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d. mT |
An air mass from the Gulf of Mexico is labeled __________. a. cP b. mP c. cT d. mT |
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c. warm and dry |
A cT air mass is __________. a. cold and dry b. cold and humid c. warm and dry d. warm and humid |
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b. cold and humid |
An mP air mass is __________. a. cold and dry b. cold and humid c. warm and dry d. warm and humid |
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a. cP and mT |
The air masses that have the greatest influence on weather conditions in the central United States are __. a. cP and mT b. mP and cP c. cT and cP d. mP and mT |
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b. mP |
This air mass may produce an occasional "northeaster" in the winter. a. cP b. mP c. cT d. mT |
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a. cP |
This air mass often originates as a different air mass in Siberia and is subsequently altered. a. cP b. mP c. cT d. mT |
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d. mT |
This air mass is the source of much of the moisture for precipitation in the central and eastern United States. a. cP b. mP c. cT d. mT |
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b. 1.0 |
If you were 200 kilometers ahead of the surface position of a warm front, you would find the frontal surface at a height of about __________ km overhead. a. 0.5 b. 1.0 c. 1.5 d. 2.0 |
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b. cold |
On a weather map, _______ fronts are shown by a line with triangular points on one side. a. warm b. cold c. occluded d. stationary |
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a. barometric pressure to rise |
After the center of a mature wave cyclone passes, you should expect __________. a. barometric pressure to rise b. warmer temperatures c. barometric pressure to fall d. barometric pressure to remain steady |
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b. refer to a warm front |
"Rain long foretold, long last; short notice, soon past." The first five words of this weather proverb ______. a. refer to a cold front b. refer to a warm front c. refer to an anticyclone d. have no basis in fact |
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a. warm |
On a weather map, _______ fronts are shown by a line with semicircles extending from one side. a. warm b. cold c. occluded d. stationary |
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c. both warm front and cold front |
Which of the following is considered to be a boundary between two different air masses? a. warm front b. cold front c. both warm front and cold front d. none of these |
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a. warm |
Usually _________ fronts produce several hours of moderate-to-gentle precipitation over a large region. a. warm b. cold c. warm and cold d. none of these |
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c. an occluded front forms |
When an active cold front overtakes a warm front __________. a. the fronts cancel one another out b. cloud formation ceases c. an occluded front forms d. a stationary front is created |
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d. both b and c |
Cold fronts and warm fronts in the middle latitudes are often associated with a __________. a. hurricane b. middle-latitude cyclone c. low pressure d. both b and c |
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a. tornado |
Which of the following should have the steepest pressure gradient? a. tornado b. middle-latitude cyclone c. hurricane d. all of should have equally steep pressure gradients |
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b. usually occur along the warm front of a mid-latitude cyclone |
Which one of the following statements is NOT true of tornadoes? a. occur most frequently in the spring of the year b. usually occur along the warm front of a mid-latitude cyclone c. most common in the Midwest and Great Plains d. associated with cumulonimbus clouds |
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b. April-June period |
In the Northern Hemisphere, tornadoes are most frequent during the __________. a. January-March period b. April-June period c. October-December period d. month of September |
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c. northeast |
Tornadoes most often move TOWARDS what direction? a. west b. southeast c. northeast d. northwest |
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b. hurricane |
Typhoon is another name for a __________. a. wave cyclone b. hurricane c. tornado d. squall line |
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d. both a and b |
When a hurricane moves onto land, it rapidly loses its punch; that is, the storm declines in intensity. Which of the factors listed below contribute to this loss of punch? a. friction b. lack of warm, moist air c. heating from below by the land surface d. both a and b |
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b. warmer than the rest of the storm |
The eye of a hurricane is __________. a. the portion with the highest wind speeds b. warmer than the rest of the storm c. along the leading edge of the storm d. the area of most intense rainfall |
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d. all of these |
Hurricanes generally are __________. a. larger than tornadoes b. larger than mid-latitude cyclones c. areas of heavy rainfall and strong winds d. all of these |
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a. considerably ahead of |
The precipitation associated with a warm front typically arrives ___________ the actual frontal boundary ____. a. considerably ahead of b. considerably behind c. at about the same time as d. none of these |
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air pressure |
the force exerted by the weight of a column of air above a given point |
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anticyclone |
a high-pressure center characterized by a clockwise flow of air in the northern hemisphere |
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chinook |
a wind blowing down the leeward side of a mountain and warming by compression |
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convergence |
the condition that exists when the distribution of winds within a given area results in a net horizontal inflow of air into a given area. Because convergence at lower levels is associated with an upward movement of air, areas of convergent winds are regions favorable to cloud formation and precipitation |
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coriolis effect |
the deflective force of Earth’s rotation on all free-moving objects, including the atmosphere and oceans.Deflection is to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. |
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cyclone |
A low-pressure center characterized by a counterclockwise flow of air in the Northern Hemisphere |
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divergence |
the condition that exists when the distribution of winds within a given area results in a net horizontal outflow of air from the region. In divergence at lower levels the resulting deficit is compensated for by a downward movement of air from aloft; hence, areas of divergent winds are unfavorable to cloud formation and precipitation |
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El Nino |
The name given to the periodic warming of the ocean that occurs in the central and eastern pacific. A major El Nino episode can cause extreme weather in many parts of the world. |
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equatorial low |
A belt of low pressure lying near the equator and between the subtropical highs |
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isobar |
A line drawn on a map connecting points of equal atmospheric pressure, usually corrected to sea level. |
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La Nina |
An episode of strong trade winds and unusually low sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific |
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polar easterlies |
winds that blow from the polar high toward the subpolar low. |
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trade winds |
Two belts of wind that blow almost constantly from easterly directions |
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westerlies |
the dominant east to west motion of the atmosphere that charecterizes the regions on the poleward side of the subtropical highs |
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air mass |
A large body of air that is characterized by a sameness of temperature and humidity |
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arctic (A) air mass |
A bitterly cold air mass that forms over the frozen Arctic Ocean |
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cold front |
A front along which a cold air mass thrusts beneath a warmer air mass |
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continental (c) air mass |
An air mass that forms over land; relatively dry |
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front |
Boundary between two adjoining air masses having contrasting characteristics |
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hurricane |
A tropical cyclonic storm having winds in excess of 119 kilometers per hour |
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maritime (m) air mass |
An air mass that originates over the ocean; relatively humid |
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occluded front |
A front formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front. |
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polar (p) air mass |
The stormy frontal zone separating air masses of polar origin from air masses of tropical origin |
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warm front |
A front along which a warm air mass overrrides a retreating mass of cold air |
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