Deck 17: Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Question 1

Hail is most commonly associated with ________.

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

Answer 1

B

Question 2

This cloud may develop an "anvil head."

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

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Thunder and lightning are associated with these clouds.

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

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Tornadoes can be associated with this cloud type.

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

Question 5

When supercooled raindrops freeze on contact with solid objects, ________ forms.

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

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

These clouds are often called "fair weather" clouds.

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

Question 8

This cloud sometimes produces "mare's tails."

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

Question 9

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

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

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

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

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

Question 12

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

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

Question 13

This fog results from adiabatic cooling.

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

Question 14

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

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

Question 15

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

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

Question 16

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 17

This cloud type is confined to the middle height range.

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

Question 18

This term is used to describe clouds that produce precipitation.

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

Question 19

This fog forms in valleys at night.

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

Question 20

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

Question 21

Deserts such as the Great Basin, Gobi, and Takla Makan are examples of ________.

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

Question 22

The process by which water vapor changes directly to a solid is called ________.

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

Question 23

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

Question 24

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

Question 25

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

Question 26

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

Question 27

The amount of water vapor in the air (by volume) usually does not exceed ________.

A) 50%
B) 28%
C) 14%
D) 4%

Question 28

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

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

Question 29

Which of the following will NOT cause air to become 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

Question 30

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

Question 31

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

Question 32

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

Question 33

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

Question 34

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

Question 35

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

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

Question 36

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

Question 37

We are likely to have our highest relative humidity ________.

A) during midafternoon
B) around midnight
C) about sunrise
D) at noon

Question 38

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

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

Question 39

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

Question 40

The change of state from a gas to a liquid is called ________.

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

Question 41

The capacity of air to "hold" water vapor is temperature dependent.

Question 42

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. adiabatic cooling B. orographic lifting C. frontal wedging D. convergence

Question 43

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. advection fog B. steam fog C. radiation fog D. upslope fog

Question 44

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

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

Question 45

Clouds form because rising air cools as it comes in contact with colder air aloft.

Question 46

Relative humidity is usually expressed as a percent.

Question 47

When air sinks, it compresses and warms.

Question 48

When air rises, it expands and cools adiabatically.

Question 49

What is the dew point for the conditions listed above?

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

Question 50

The highest relative humidity on a particular day usually occurs in the midafternoon.

Question 51

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. cirrus B. cumulus C. nimbostratus D. altocumulus

Question 52

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. melting B. condensation C. sublimation D. evaporation

Question 53

Generally the water vapor content of the air over a tropical desert exceeds that of the air over the polar ice caps.

Question 54

When air is cooled to its dew point, the relative humidity is 100%.

Question 55

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

Question 56

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

Question 57

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.
A. sleet B. snow C. hail D. freezing rain

Question 58

The highest relative humidity during a particular day usually occurs just before sunrise.

Question 59

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

Question 60

Because the mixing ratio is expressed in units of mass, it is affected by changes in pressure or temperature.

Question 61

Deserts, which are cut off from moisture by mountain ranges, are termed isolated deserts.

Question 62

What type of fog forms in valleys at night?

Question 63

Air that resists vertical motion is described as being stable.

Question 64

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

Question 65

Thunder and lightning are normally associated with ________ clouds.

Question 66

When stable air is forced to rise, any clouds that are produced are generally thin and flat lying.

Question 67

________ temperature changes are those that do not involve the addition or subtraction of heat.

Question 68

When unstable air is forced to rise, towering clouds and stormy conditions are expected.

Question 69

High clouds that form delicate veil-like patches or wispy fibers are called ________ clouds.

Question 70

The term used to indicate a cloud found in the middle height range is ________.

Question 71

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

Question 72

The change of state from a gas to a liquid is called ________.

Question 73

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

Question 74

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

Question 75

When supercooled raindrops freeze on contact with solid objects, ________ forms.

Question 76

The process by which water vapor changes directly to a solid is called ________.

Question 77

________ clouds that form sheets or layers that cover much of the sky.

Question 78

Small billowy clouds associated with fair weather are called ________ clouds.

Question 79

The term used to describe clouds that consist of globular masses that take on a billowy form is ________.

Question 80

The term ________ is incorporated into the name of clouds that generate precipitation.