Deck 17: Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Question 1

Please answer the following questions using the data below:
H₂O vapor content: 14 grams
H₂O vapor capacity: 20 grams at 25 degrees Celsius
14 grams at 20°C 10 grams at 15°C

-What would happen if the temperature were cooled to 15°C?

A) decrease in relative humidity and evaporation of 4 grams of water
B) decrease in relative humidity and condensation of 4 grams of water
C) increase in relative humidity and condensation of 4 grams of water
D) increase in relative humidity and evaporation of 4 grams of water

Answer 1

increase in relative humidity and condensation of 4 grams of water

Question 2

The process by which water vapor changes directly to a solid is referred to as_____ .

A) deposition
B) condensation
C) melting
D) evaporation

Answer 2

deposition

Question 3

Which of the following is the most useful measure of water vapor in the air?

A) relative humidity
B) air pressure
C) temperature
D) dew point
E) mixing ratio

Answer 3

dew point

Question 4

Please answer the following questions using the data below:
H₂O vapor content: 14 grams
H₂O vapor capacity: 20 grams at 25 degrees Celsius
14 grams at 20°C 10 grams at 15°C

-For the given conditions, what would happen to the relative humidity value if the temperature increased from 25°C?

A) It would increase.
B) It depends on the dew point temperature.
C) It would remain the same.
D) It would decrease.

Question 5

Please answer the following questions using the data below:
H₂O vapor content: 14 grams
H₂O vapor capacity: 20 grams at 25 degrees Celsius
14 grams at 20°C 10 grams at 15°C

-At 25°C it takes 20 grams of water vapor to saturate 1 kilogram of dry air. If there are 5 grams of water vapor in 1 km of air at that temperature, what is the relative humidity?

A) 100%
B) 10%
C) 25%
D) 75%
E) 50%

Question 6

What is the difference between a gas and a liquid?

A) A gas is composed of individual atoms that have no bonds, while a liquid is made up of molecules with bonds between atoms.
B) A liquid is "wet," meaning it will attach to things, while a gas does not do this.
C) A liquid is composed of individual atoms that have no bonds, while a gas is made up of molecules with bonds between atoms.
D) A liquid has a fixed volume but a gas does not.
E) A gas has a fixed volume but a liquid does not.

Question 7

When water vapor condenses to form clouds, _____ .

A) the air temperature stays the same
B) the air gets warmer
C) the air gets colder
D) the air temperature can change in either direction depending on other conditions

Question 8

If you heat a jar with water in it, the amount of water vapor that will go into the air in order to reach saturation will _____ .

A) increase in amount
B) decrease in amount
C) raise the temperature of the water
D) lower the temperature of the water
E) Everything will stay the same.

Question 9

The latent heat of vaporization has the effect of cooling a liquid because _ _.

A) a solid absorbs heat from the atmosphere when it becomes vapor
B) when something becomes a gas it releases heat, and the liquid gets cooler as a result
C) the liquid that forms the gas molecules absorbs and stores heat until all of the liquid becomes a gas
D) the gas molecules that form and leave the liquid are the higher temperature molecules in the liquid, so the temperature of the liquid is reduced
E) none of the above

Question 10

Which of the following would not be caused by humidity reaching 100%?

A) It hails.
B) It rains.
C) It gets warmer.
D) It snows.
E) Clouds form.

Question 11

Please answer the following questions using the data below:
H₂O vapor content: 14 grams
H₂O vapor capacity: 20 grams at 25 degrees Celsius
14 grams at 20°C 10 grams at 15°C

-What is the relative humidity for the above conditions at 25°C?

A) 15%
B) 100%
C) 70%
D) 30%

Question 12

The term_____ is used to describe the conversion of a solid directly to a gas, without passing through the liquid state.

A) condensation
B) melting
C) sublimation
D) evaporation

Question 13

The latent heat of melting is 80 calories for 1 gram of ice. If 1 gram of ice absorbs 120 calories, what is the result?

A) 1 gram of water at a temperature of 40°C
B) a mixture of water and steam at a temperature of 120°C
C) a mixture of ice and water at a temperature of 0°C
D) 1 gram of water at a temperature of 120°C
E) 1 gram of water at a temperature of 20°C

Question 14

The process of converting a liquid to vapor is termed _____ .

A) condensation
B) melting
C) evaporation
D) sublimation

Question 15

Relative humidity is a measure of _____ .

A) the ratio of the water vapor in the air to the amount of water vapor that it would take to saturate the air
B) the amount of water vapor in the air compared to some standard amount of water vapor
C) how much water vapor is in the air
D) the ratio of water vapor in air to the amount of air
E) none of the above

Question 16

Water is unique because _____ .

A) it forms from a wide range of chemical processes
B) it is light enough to escape Earth's gravity but it has not done so
C) it contracts when it becomes a gas
D) its molecules are in motion even when it is solid
E) it exists in three different states at normal conditions in the earth's atmosphere

Question 17

Please answer the following questions using the data below:
H₂O vapor content: 14 grams
H₂O vapor capacity: 20 grams at 25 degrees Celsius
14 grams at 20°C 10 grams at 15°C

-What is the dew point for the conditions listed above?

A) 15°C
B) 25°C
C) 20°C
D) colder than 15°C

Question 18

If 2 grams of water absorbs 20 calories of heat assume not during a state change., the resulting water temperature change is _____ .

A) +10°C
B) - 20°C
C) - 10°C
D) 0°C
E) +20°C

Question 19

The dew point is the temperature at which _____ .

A) water vapor condenses to a liquid
B) cumulus clouds change to cumulonimbus clouds
C) water in the liquid state changes to vapor
D) hailstones are formed

Question 20

The latent heat of melting is 80 calories for 1 gram of ice. If 1 gram of ice absorbs 60 calories what do I get?

A) a mixture of ice and water at a temperature of 0°C
B) 1 gram of ice
C) 1 gram of water at a temperature of - 20°C
D) 1 gram of water at a temperature of 20°C
E) a mixture of ice and water at a temperature of 20°C

Question 21

Which of the following is not a mechanism that will cause air to rise?

A) orographic lifting
B) conduction cooling
C) frontal wedging
D) convective cooling
E) convergence

Question 22

Why does the Florida peninsula experience the greatest frequency of midafternoon thunderstorms of any place in the United States?

A) It gets winds blowing from the oceans on both sides and they collide in the middle of Florida and rise to generate thunderstorms.
B) It gets the water vapor from the trade winds crossing the Atlantic Ocean that fuels the thunderstorms.
C) It is near the Bermuda Triangle.
D) It is further south and warmer than any other place in the United States.

Question 23

Orographic lifting is related to mountain barriers, and it is often associated with _____ .

A) desert conditions on the windward side of the mountains and excessive rainfall on the leeward side
B) desert conditions on both sides of the mountains
C) desert conditions on the leeward side of the mountains and excessive rainfall on the windward side
D) excessive rainfall on both sides of the mountains

Question 24

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) 1300 meters
C) 1400 meters
D) 2700 meters

Question 25

Clouds are classified on the basis of their_____ .

A) shape or form
B) form and height
C) thickness
D) thickness and height
E) height

Question 26

The Great Basin is an example of a_____ .

A) monsoon desert
B) subtropical desert
C) chinook desert
D) rainshadow desert

Question 27

Condensation nuclei, tiny particles of matter in the air, are important because _____ .

A) they will affect the environmental lapse rate
B) they provide a surface for water molecules to form on
C) they increase the density of air and thus its buoyancy
D) they provide point sources of heat in the air

Question 28

Adiabatic temperature changes occur even though heat is not added or subtracted from the atmosphere because_____ .

A) molecules are either compressed or expanded which changes their motion
B) the ground is heated or cooled and it radiates energy into the adjacent air
C) heat is added in some other form to change the temperature
D) the atmosphere moves into a different temperature strata

Question 29

Given an environmental lapse rate of 5°C/1000 m and a dry adiabatic of 10°C, what would what would happen if unsaturated air that had a temperature of 25°C at the surface were forced to rise 2000 m in the air?

A) It would keep rising because it would be less dense than the surrounding air.
B) It would be warmer than the air around it so it would keep rising.
C) It would be colder than the air around it so it would sink.
D) It would sink back to the surface because it was more dense than the surrounding air.
E) It would have the same temperature and density as the surrounding air so it would stay at that height.

Question 30

Which of the following cloud types is most commonly associated with precipitation?

A) nimbostratus
B) cirrostratus
C) altostratus
D) cirrocumulus

Question 31

When the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic rate,_____ .

A) surface air will rise and fall
B) surface air will rise, form clouds, and fall
C) surface air will rise and continue to rise
D) surface air cannot rise and will be trapped beneath colder air above
E) surface air will not rise because this is the normal condition

Question 32

When a mass of cold air collides with a mass of warm air, what happens?

A) The boundary between the two air masses keeps them separate, and they do not interact in any way.
B) The cold air is warmed and the warm air is cooled by their mixing.
C) The cold air rises above the warm air.
D) The warm air rises above the cold air.

Question 33

Which of the following would not be associated with stable atmospheric conditions?

A) afternoon thunder showers
B) widespread fog
C) temperature inversion
D) dreary overcast with light drizzle

Question 34

Irregular heating of the air can produce thermals, which are _____ .

A) pockets of warm air that sink
B) pockets of cold air that rise
C) pockets of warm air that rise
D) pockets of cold air that sink

Question 35

The Dry Adiabatic rate of change for unsaturated air is 10°C/1000 m. What does this mean?

A) Unsaturated air will get warmer or colder as it travels in any direction.
B) Unsaturated air will get warmer as it sinks and colder as it rises.
C) Saturated air will not change.
D) Unsaturated air will get warmer as it rises and colder as it sinks.
E) Unsaturated air will get warmer or colder as it travels north or south.

Question 36

The classification of air as stable or unstable is based on _____ .

A) humidity
B) temperature
C) likelihood to rise
D) state

Question 37

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) 40°C
B) 30°C
C) 15°C
D) 0°C

Question 38

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

Question 39

Stability prevails when the environmental lapse rate is _____ .

A) greater than the wet adiabatic rate and less than the dry adiabatic rate
B) less than the wet adiabatic rate
C) greater than the dry adiabatic rate
D) greater than both the wet and dry adiabatic rates

Question 40

Given an environmental lapse rate of 5°C/1000 m and a dry adiabatic of 10°C, what would be the temperature of unsaturated surface air after it rises to height of 2000 m if its surface temperature had been 25°C?

A) 20°C
B) 5°C
C) 10°C
D) 25°C
E) 15°C

Question 41

When warm moist air moves over a cold surface, _____ fog may result.

A) advection
B) radiation
C) steam
D) upslope

Question 42

The Coalescence- Collision Process applies to_____ .

A) cold clouds
B) warm clouds
C) super cooled water vapor in a cloud
D) coexisting ice and water droplets in a cloud

Question 43

Advective fogs form when warm, moist air moves over a cool surface so this type of fog is likely to be common in _____ .

A) the eastern coast of the U.S. where the ocean water is usually warmer than the air
B) desert areas near water where air is heated during the day and then the ground cools quickly
C) the western coast of the U.S. where the ocean water is usually cooler than the air
D) cities where moisture is added to the air by watering systems

Question 44

Cloud water droplets remain a liquid to temperatures as low as_____ .

A) 0°C
B) - 40°C
C) - 25°C
D) 0°F
E) - 10°C

Question 45

This cloud type is confined to the middle height range.

A) cirrostratus
B) cumulonimbus
C) altostratus
D) cirrus

Question 46

This term is used to describe clouds found in the middle height range.

A) cumulus
B) stratus
C) cirrus
D) alto

Question 47

Why are raindrops larger than 5 millimeters rare?

A) Because they start as snowflakes, they must grow much larger than 5 millimeters while falling from a cloud without sublimating.
B) The frictional drag from falling is greater than the surface tension that holds the drops together when they get larger than 5 millimeters.
C) If they form larger than 5 millimeters then they will reach the ground as snow or hail instead of rain because they cannot melt completely.
D) There is no process to form large raindrops in clouds.

Question 48

This term is used to describe clouds that produce precipitation.

A) stratus
B) cumulus
C) nimbo
D) cirrus

Question 49

A halo around the Sun or Moon indicates that this cloud type is present.

A) cirrostratus
B) cumulonimbus
C) altostratus
D) cirrus

Question 50

Under what circumstances could the relative humidity exceed 100% without producing condensation in the air?

A) when the water vapor is composed of "heavy" water
B) when there are no condensation nuclei
C) when the air is perfectly dry
D) when the dew point is higher than the air temperature

Question 51

A super cooled liquid needs to_____ to turn into a solid.

A) collide with an object
B) increase volume
C) sublimate
D) lose volume
E) coalesce with other liquids

Question 52

This fog results from adiabatic cooling.

A) advection
B) radiation
C) steam
D) upslope

Question 53

Which one of the fogs listed below may be categorized as an evaporation- caused fog?

A) advection
B) radiation
C) steam
D) upslope

Question 54

Glaze is not a common weather term in the U.S., but it is probably associated with weather forecasts of _____ .

A) hail storms
B) thunderstorms
C) ice storms
D) snowstorms
E) blizzards

Question 55

High clouds that form delicate veil- like patches or extended wispy fibers are termed_____ .

A) cumulus
B) stratus
C) cirrus
D) alto

Question 56

Thunder and lightning are associated with these clouds.

A) cirrostratus
B) cumulonimbus
C) altostratus
D) cirrus

Question 57

A dark gray cloud that blankets the sky and often generates precipitation is called_____ .

A) cirrostratus
B) nimbostratus
C) altostratus
D) cirrus

Question 58

The Bergeron Process suggests that the coexistence of ice crystals and supercooled water droplets in a cloud is ideal for producing rain because_____ .

A) the ice crystals provide nuclei needed to form more water droplets
B) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for water vapor than does liquid water
C) the ice crystals provide the nuclei for snowflakes to form as precipitation
D) the liquid water has a stronger affinity for water vapor than do ice crystals
E) the ice crystals have a stronger affinity for liquid water than does water vapor

Question 59

This fog forms in valleys at night.

A) advection fog
B) steam fog
C) radiation fog
D) precipitation fog

Question 60

The cloud form that consists of globular cloud masses that take on a billowy or "cauliflowerlike" structure is called_____ .

A) cumulus
B) stratus
C) cirrus
D) alto

Question 61

Which of these generally has the lowest humidity?

A) deserts
B) coastal zones
C) polar ice caps
D) tropical rainforests

Question 62

The capacity of air to "hold" water vapor is_____ dependent.

A) humidity
B) pressure
C) wind
D) temperature

Question 63

_____ point is the temperature at which the air is saturated.

A) Dew
B) Pressure gradient
C) Humidity
D) Saturation

Question 64

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) radiation fog
B) upslope fog
C) advection fog
D) steam fog

Question 65

A wintertime form of precipitation that consists of small ice particles is called_____ .

A) sleet
B) hail
C) glaze
D) rime

Question 66

Why does a rain gauge have a wide opening that funnels into a narrow tube?

A) The narrow tube minimizes evaporation and magnifies the amount of rain captured by the wide opening.
B) The narrow tube takes less space.
C) The wide opening allows evaporation so it is a more accurate representation of what actually happens on the surface.
D) Rain drops are too far apart to measure with a narrow opening.

Question 67

_____ indicates amount of water vapor in the air.

A) Relative humidity
B) Saturation ratio
C) Actual water- vapor content
D) Mixing ration

Question 68

When stable air is forced to rise, any clouds that are produced are generally _____ .

A) sheetlike and thick
B) towering and stormy
C) thin and flat
D) puffy and moderate height

Question 69

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) condensation
B) sublimation
C) melting
D) evaporation

Question 70

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) cirrus
B) altocumulus
C) cumulus
D) nimbostratus

Question 71

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) convergence
B) orographic lifting
C) frontal wedging
D) adiabatic cooling

Question 72

How does snow vary with temperature?

A) Warm snow is powdery and light, while cold snow is moist.
B) Snow has a uniform moisture content, but warm snow consists of larger crystals.
C) Cold snow is powdery and light, while warm snow is moist.
D) Warm snow is often called sleet because it is mixed with rain, but cold snow is more like hail with very large solid ice crystals.
E) Snow has a uniform moisture content, but cold snow consists of larger crystals.

Question 73

When air is cooled to its dew point, the relative humidity is_____ %

A) 0
B) 75
C) 50
D) 100

Question 74

Relative humidity is usually expressed as an_____ .

A) temperature
B) rate
C) percent
D) weight

Question 75

If the temperature rises and the amount of moisture in the air remains unchanged, the relative humidity will_____ .

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

Question 76

Air that resists vertical motion is described as being _____ .

A) non- convective
B) unstable
C) stable
D) convective

Question 77

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) sleet
B) snow
C) freezing rain
D) hail

Question 78

When very unstable air is forced to rise, _____ clouds and _____ conditions are expected.

A) flat; calm
B) towering; stormy
C) towering; calm
D) flat; stormy

Question 79

_____ lifting occurs where sloping terrains, such as mountains, act as barriers to the flow of air.

A) Orographic
B) Frontal
C) Advective
D) Convective

Question 80

If the temperature drops and the amount of moisture in the air remains unchanged, the relative humidity will _____ .

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