Deck 5: Forms of Condensation and Precipitation

Question 1

Hygroscopic nuclei:

A)repel water and prevent condensation.
B)can allow cloud droplets to form even if the relative humidity is less than 100%.
C)are not generally found in nature.
D)are not the most ideal type of condensation nuclei for encouraging droplet growth.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which association is correct?

A)low cloud...stratus
B)middle cloud...cirrus
C)vertical cloud...nimbostratus
D)high cloud...altostratus
E)low cloud...cirrocumulus

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Clouds and precipitation form in the air primarily due to:

A)air being cooled as it rises.
B)moisture being added to the air.
C)excessive numbers of condensation nuclei.
D)absorption of infrared radiation.
E)release of latent heat.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The cloud droplets in a cloud are formed by water vapor molecules and:

A)protons.
B)ions.
C)molecules of air.
D)condensation nuclei.
E)other water vapor molecules.

Question 5

All of the following are necessary ingredients for cloud formation EXCEPT:

A)warm surface air temperatures.
B)rising,cooling air.
C)high moisture content.
D)condensation nuclei.

Question 6

The process by which a cloud droplet first forms is:

A)condensation.
B)supercooling.
C)collision and coalescence.
D)evaporation.
E)precipitation.

Question 7

Clouds which have extensive vertical dimensions are often classified as:

A)cirrus.
B)very thin.
C)nimbus.
D)lenticularis.
E)cumulus.

Question 8

The most important process for cloud formation in the atmosphere is:

A)cooling by loss of latent heat.
B)cooling by compression of the air.
C)radiational cooling.
D)cooling by contact with the cold ground.
E)cooling by expansion of the air.

Question 9

Clouds,dew and frost all form because air has become saturated.This condition of saturation is usually caused by:

A)a temperature increase.
B)lack of convective mixing.
C)adding water vapor.
D)the air being cooled.
E)an abundance of condensation nuclei.

Question 10

This cloud sometimes resembles mare's tails.

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

Question 11

The most common way for air to be cooled in order that a cloud may form is by:

A)sinking and contracting.
B)emitting radiation.
C)evaporating water.
D)rising and expanding.
E)reflecting radiation.

Question 12

Why are high altitude clouds always so thin?

A)Winds are faster at high levels.
B)Not enough particulates are present.
C)Very little water vapor is present.
D)Air layers are stable there.
E)Air layers are unstable there.

Question 13

Dew point is the temperature at which water vapor in the air begins to condense.The temperature inside a cloud would therefore be:

A)about equal to the dew point.
B)way above the dew point.
C)below freezing.
D)just above the dew point.

Question 14

Which of these clouds is least likely to produce precipitation that reaches the ground?

A)cirrostratus
B)cumulonimbus
C)nimbostratus
D)stratus

Question 15

Clouds are classified and named according to their altitude and:

A)temperature.
B)water content.
C)size of droplets in the cloud.
D)form or appearance.
E)amount of precipitation produced.

Question 16

Salt,dust particles,and smoke are all examples of:

A) anthropogenically-produced cloud nuclei.
B)freezing nuclei.
C) hydrophobic nuclei.
D)condensation nuclei.

Question 17

High clouds are those that form at altitudes of at least:

A)6500 ft (2000 m).
B)20,000 ft (6000 m).
C)32,800 ft (10,000 m).
D)65,617 ft (20,000 m).

Question 18

You observe a cloud at an altitude of 3000 m.This cloud name would have the prefix:

A)alto.
B)cirro.
C)strato.
D)medial.

Question 19

Who first created the cloud classification system on which our modern system is based?

A)Benjamin Franklin
B)Luke Howard
C)Tor Bergeron
D)Andrew Ellis

Question 20

Where is the dryest place on Earth?

A)Arica,Chile
B)Riyadh,Saudi Arabia
C)Cairo,Egypt
D)Canberra,Australia

Question 21

Of the following cloud types,which is most likely to produce the most rain?

A)stratus
B)cumulus
C)altocumulus
D)nimbostratus
E)stratocumulus

Question 22

Which of these is a mid-level cloud?

A)stratocumulus
B)altostratus
C)cumulus
D)cirrus
E)stratus

Question 23

You are flying in an airplane at 36,000 feet above sea level.You see lightning outside your plane window.The cloud that is close by is:

A)cirrus.
B)cumulus.
C)stratus.
D)cumulonimbus.
E)altocumulus.

Question 24

Which association is not correct?

A)fractus - clouds broken into smaller pieces
B)mammatus - rounded,udder-like bottoms
C)uncinus - hook-shaped
D)lenticular - associated with rainbows

Question 25

A(n)________ is a low layer of dark gray clouds that produces precipitation.

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

Question 26

A halo around the Sun or the Moon indicates the cloud ________ is present.

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

Question 27

Which association is not correct?

A)high cloud...stratus
B)middle cloud...altostratus
C)low cloud...stratocumulus
D)high cloud...cirrus
E)vertical cloud...cumulus

Question 28

A cumulus cloud is recognized mainly by its:

A)obvious vertical dimension.
B)darkness or color.
C)association with high winds.
D)layered structure.
E)precipitation.

Question 29

Contrails formed by aircrafts most closely mimic which type of cloud?

A)cirrus
B)stratus
C)fair-weather cumulus
D)cirrocumulus

Question 30

Cirrus uncinus clouds are often precursors of:

A)clear skies.
B)bad weather.
C)calm conditions.
D)lenticular clouds.

Question 31

Thunder and lightning are associated with the ________ cloud.

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

Question 32

The ________ cloud is confined to the middle height range.

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

Question 33

The ________ cloud may have an "anvil head."

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

Question 34

Which type of fog occurs during nights when skies are clear and relative humidity is high?

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

Question 35

Where are lenticular clouds most likely to form?

A)over oceans
B)along coastlines
C)to the lee of mountains
D)in desert regions

Question 36

The cloud form that is best described as sheets or layers that cover much or all of the sky is termed:

A)cirrus.
B)mackerel sky.
C)alto.
D)cumulus.
E)stratus.

Question 37

How are jet contrails thought to influence the surface temperatures of cities near major airports?

A)Decrease the daily temperature range.
B)Definitely make the daily mean temperature warmer.
C)Definitely make the daily mean temperature cooler.
D)They have no measurable influence on surface temperature.

Question 38

The conditions that persist along the West Coast of the U.S.that are conducive to fog formation are:

A)inversions and a warm land surface.
B)moist air moving over a cold surface.
C)inversions and a warm water surface.
D)steep lapse rate and cold surface.
E)steep lapse rate and a warm surface.

Question 39

A radiation fog requires which of the following in order to form?

A)a warm body of water and a cold breeze
B)cold air moving up a slope
C)high relative humidity and clear nighttime skies
D)warm air moving over a cold surface

Question 40

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

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

Question 41

Under which of the following conditions would a heavy snowfall warning be issued?

A)snowfall of ten inches in 24 hours
B)snowfall of four inches in one hour
C)snowfall of four inches in 12 hours
D)all of the above

Question 42

Under what conditions does light and fluffy snow form?

A)warm air and low humidity
B)warm air and high humidity
C)cold air and low humidity
D)cold air and no humidity

Question 43

The weather forecast is calling for blizzard conditions.What kind of conditions can you expect at a minimum?

A)visibility of 1/2 mile or better
B)heavy snowfall of at least 3 inches per hour,but with calm winds
C)winds of at least 50 mph for a minimum of 3 hours
D)winds of at least 35 mph for a minimum of 3 hours

Question 44

The Bergeron process causes cloud droplets to grow because:

A)water freezes instantly when its temperature reaches 0°C.
B)freezing nuclei are much more common in the atmosphere than other condensation nuclei.
C)larger drops fall and collect smaller droplets in the cloud.
D)the saturation vapor pressure is lower near ice crystals than it is near supercooled droplets.

Question 45

A cloud that forms liquid droplets has a relative humidity of 100 percent with respect to the liquid droplets.If temperature is <0°C and ice crystals form in this cloud,the relative humidity will be ________ with respect to the ice crystals.

A)100 percent
B)less that 100 percent
C)more than 100 percent
D)0 percent

Question 46

The growth of a cloud droplet into a rain drop large enough to fall to Earth in a warm cloud is accomplished primarily through:

A)hygroscopic action.
B)condensation of water vapor.
C)supercooling of water.
D)evaporation of water in the cloud.
E)collision and coalescence.

Question 47

Rain that evaporates before it hits the ground,forming characteristic streaks below clouds,is known as:

A)virga.
B)graupel.
C)uncinus.
D)fractus.

Question 48

Graupel is:

A)hail stones that have been shattered into pieces.
B)"soft hail" produced by rime.
C)rain that evaporates before it hits the ground.
D)a special instrument used to measure snow water equivalent.

Question 49

The water content or volume of a raindrop is approximately ________ times that of a typical cloud droplet.

A)1 million
B)1000
C)100
D)10
E)1 billion

Question 50

Hail is most commonly associated with:

A)cumulonimbus clouds.
B)cirrus clouds.
C)nimbostratus clouds.
D)altostratus clouds.
E)cirrocumulus clouds.

Question 51

The type of fog produced when cold air moves over a warm,moist surface is called:

A)advection fog.
B)radiation fog.
C)steam fog.
D)frontal fog.

Question 52

Most of the precipitation that falls in the middle latitudes is formed by:

A)the Bergeron process.
B)collision-coalescence.
C)spontaneous freezing of water droplets in the absence of condensation nuclei.
D)condensation of water vapor.

Question 53

The formation of raindrops by collision and coalescence of smaller cloud droplets is strongly influenced by:

A)solar radiation.
B)dew point temperature of the cloud.
C)electrical charges on the droplets.
D)presence of dust.
E)number of droplets in the cloud.

Question 54

How does drizzle differ from rain?

A)It is warmer.
B)It has a smaller diameter.
C)It is evaporating before it hits the ground.
D)It forms at higher altitudes.

Question 55

Freezing rain (ice storm)or sleet occurs when:

A)upper air is warm and surface air is cold.
B)both surface and upper air are cold.
C)both surface and upper air are warm.
D)upper air is cold and surface air is warm.

Question 56

Supercooled water is water which is:

A)part liquid and part solid.
B)a special form of ice.
C)still liquid at temperatures below 0°C.
D)of a slightly different chemical nature than ordinary.
E)produced from dry ice.

Question 57

The necessary conditions for hail formation include strong upward vertical motion and:

A)raindrops larger than 5 mm.
B)warm temperatures at high levels in the cloud.
C)large numbers of supercooled droplets.
D)large numbers of particulates.

Question 58

The important difference between liquid droplets and ice crystals in a supercooled cloud is that ice crystals:

A)are more pure.
B)are colder.
C)grow much more rapidly.
D)are smaller.
E)increase the water vapor content of the cloud.

Question 59

The growth of a hailstone usually involves everything EXCEPT:

A)spontaneous freezing of large water droplets.
B)being carried several times into the frozen region of the cloud by updrafts.
C)ice pellets encountering supercooled water droplets.
D)the development of alternating layers of clear and cloudy ice.

Question 60

What is the basic reason why condensation is not very important in causing a cloud droplet to grow to raindrop size?

A)Not enough particulates are present.
B)Condensation is too slow.
C)Electrical effects limit condensation.
D)The question is incorrect;condensation is very important.
E)Latent heat limits condensation.

Question 61

The primary motivation for hail suppression experiments is:

A)to generate more rain and less hail in order to supplement the water supply.
B)to protect endangered species living in hail-prone areas.
C)to reduce loss of human life in severe hail storms.
D)to prevent or lessen damage to crops and property.

Question 62

Advection fogs form best when there is no wind.

Question 63

Lenticular clouds form most frequently on the windward sides of mountains.

Question 64

Cumulus clouds can develop as a consequence of local convection.

Question 65

All fogs form over cold surfaces.

Question 66

Fog is simply a cloud with a base at or near the ground.

Question 67

Radiation fog can actually be deeper and more widespread with a light breeze than under calm conditions.

Question 68

Snowfall depths can be difficult to measure because:

A)snow usually melts too quickly once it reaches the surface.
B)there is no automated instrument capable of measuring snowfall.
C)wind causes snow to vary in depth across the surface.
D)it is difficult to locate instruments far enough away from buildings.

Question 69

Tornadoes are only associated with cumulonimbus clouds.

Question 70

The process of releasing silver iodide into the atmosphere to stimulate rainfall is called:

A)artificial droplet supplementation.
B)precipitation harvesting.
C)rain enhancement.
D)cloud seeding.

Question 71

Nimbostratus clouds can produce long,steady periods of precipitation.

Question 72

Water condensation can occur even if the air is not saturated.

Question 73

The process of cloud seeding is based on the theory that:

A)silver iodide crystals act as freezing nuclei and enhance the Bergeron process.
B)silver iodide crystals make droplets heavier than usual so that they fall to the ground.
C)warm clouds will produce more rain if droplets are encouraged to freeze inside the cloud.
D)it is impossible to add too many freezing nuclei;the more you add,the more rain will fall.

Question 74

The type of fog that frequently exists along the California coast is an advection fog.

Question 75

Clouds are named by their height and water content.

Question 76

When supercooled droplets freeze directly to very cold surfaces and create fine,needle-like ice crystals,the result is:

A)rime.
B)graupel.
C)virga.
D)uncinus.

Question 77

Contrails can last long periods of time if they form in air that is near saturation.

Question 78

A halo around the Sun is associated with an altocumulus cloud.

Question 79

Radiation fog evaporates from the bottom up.

Question 80

Nimbostratus clouds can form in air that is stable.