Deck 9: Weather Patterns

Question 1

Which of these is common to both cold and warm fronts?

A)divergence of surface winds
B)light to calm winds
C)lifting of warm air over cold
D)decreasing precipitation rates
E)steady barometer readings

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Another common term for the wave cyclone is:

A)tropical cyclone.
B)polar-front cyclone.
C)intertropical convergence zone.
D)midlatitude cyclone.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The glaze that sometimes forms in association with warm fronts occurs when:

A)snow melts against a warm surface and later freezes.
B)rain freezes as it falls through the air.
C)rain strikes a very cold surface and freezes directly to it.
D)rain falls during the day and freezes at night.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following air masses is most likely to be the cold air in the diagram above?

A)mT
B)mP
C)cP
D)cT

Question 5

Refer to the diagram of a front shown above.If the warm air at the back is stable,what kind of cloud is most likely to form and produce precipitation in association with the front?

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

Question 6

On a weather map,________ fronts are shown with blue triangular points along a blue line.

A)cold
B)stationary
C)occluded
D)warm

Question 7

The type of front shown in the diagram above is:

A)a cold front.
B)a warm front.
C)a stationary front.
D)an occluded front.

Question 8

The lifting of air and the resulting formation of clouds and rain is more gentle (gradual)for a:

A)cold front.
B)occluded front.
C)warm front.
D)divergence zone.
E)mesocyclone.

Question 9

The more violent nature of weather produced by a cold front can be attributed to which two factors?

A)the gradual slope and fast forward motion of the front
B)the steep slope and fast forward motion of the front
C)the gradual slope and slow forward motion of the front
D)the steep slope and slow forward motion of the front

Question 10

If a warm front is approaching,you can expect:

A)falling temperatures.
B)rising temperatures.
C)clearing skies.
D)calm winds.

Question 11

The process best illustrated in the diagram of a front above is:

A)convection.
B)convergence.
C)overrunning.
D)occlusion.

Question 12

If you were 200 kilometers ahead of the surface position of a warm front,you would find the frontal surface at a height of ________ km overhead.

A)1
B)1)5
C)2)5
D)2
E)0)5

Question 13

The type of weather most frequently associated with the front shown on the diagram above is:

A)clear skies.
B)steady,gentle rainfall.
C)blizzards.
D)thunderstorms and other severe weather.

Question 14

In the United States,the air mass most commonly found at the back of a cold front is:

A)mT.
B)cT.
C)cP.
D)mP.

Question 15

As a warm front approaches,which progression of clouds are you most likely to see?

A)cirrus,cumulonimbus
B)altostratus,cirrostratus,stratus,cumulonimbus
C)cirrocumulus,cirrus,nimbostratus,stratus
D)cirrus,cirrostratus,altostratus,nimbostratus

Question 16

The general term applied to warm air moving up over a colder air mass is:

A)overrunning.
B)warm front.
C)cold front.
D)orographic lifting.

Question 17

The cloud type most frequently associated with a cold front is:

A)cirrus.
B)cumulonimbus.
C)altocumulus.
D)status.
E)cirrocumulus.

Question 18

On a weather map,a line with blue triangles on one side and red semicircles on the other represents:

A)a cold front.
B)a warm front.
C)a stationary front.
D)an occluded front.

Question 19

A warm front is said to exist when:

A)advancing warm air overrides retreating cold air.
B)moving cold air overrides warmer air.
C)warm air pushes underneath cold air.
D)warm and cold air meet.
E)invading cold air pushes underneath warmer air.

Question 20

The type of front shown on the diagram above is:

A)a cold front.
B)a warm front.
C)an occluded front.
D)a stationary front.

Question 21

Line A-D probably represents:

A)a cold front.
B)an occluded front.
C)a warm front.
D)a stationary front.

Question 22

Rain long foretold,long last;short notice,soon past.The FIRST FIVE words of this weather proverb:

A)refer to a warm front.
B)refer to an anticyclone.
C)refer to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds.
D)have no basis in fact.
E)refer to a cold front.

Question 23

The lowest pressure would be found at which one of the following points?

A)point E
B)point B
C)point J
D)point A
E)point D

Question 24

Which air mass type is generally found on the poleward side of a midlatitude cyclone?

A)mP
B)mA
C)cP
D)cT
E)mT

Question 25

The approximate lifetime of a wave cyclone is:

A)a month.
B)10 - 24 hours.
C)1 - 2 days.
D)10 - 14 days.
E)a few days to a week.

Question 26

The energy of a mid-latitude cyclone comes mainly from:

A)ocean water.
B)Earth's interior.
C)sinking cold air and rising warm air.
D)greenhouse effect.
E)clouds.

Question 27

The type of front represented in the diagram above is a:

A)warm-type occluded front
B)cold-type occluded front
C)warm front
D)stationary front

Question 28

The life cycle of a midlatitude cyclone generally has ________ stages.

A)one
B)two
C)four
D)six
E)ten

Question 29

Compared to other types of fronts,the weather associated with a cold front usually:

A)covers more area.
B)involves less precipitation.
C)does not involve thunderstorms.
D)is less violent but of longer duration.
E)is more violent but of shorter duration.

Question 30

Which of the stations listed below should have the highest temperature?

A)point E
B)point J
C)point H
D)point F
E)point A

Question 31

Which of the following best represents the wind direction at point H?

A)SE
B)NW
C)SW
D)E
E)NE

Question 32

The arrival of a cold front brings:

A)mild weather.
B)gentle rains.
C)higher temperatures.
D)cumulonimbus clouds.
E)stationary winds.

Question 33

A dryline causes uplift to occur because:

A)the intruding air mass is colder and more humid than the lifted air mass.
B)the lifted air mass is moister than the intruding air mass.
C)the lifted air mass is dryer than the intruding air mass.
D)the intruding air mass has the same low humidity as the lifted air mass.

Question 34

Line A-B represents:

A)a warm front.
B)an occlusion.
C)an isobar.
D)a cold front.
E)none of these

Question 35

Refer to the diagram of a mature wave cyclone.

Of the stations listed below,which one most likely has the least rain and cloud cover?

A)point A
B)point H
C)point B
D)point I
E)point G

Question 36

Thunderstorms can be generated when a cT air mass meets an mT air mass and creates a frontal boundary called a:

A)cold front.
B)warm front.
C)dryline.
D)humidity front.

Question 37

Refer to the diagram above.Which phase of the midlatitude cyclone's life cycle is associated with this type of front?

A)The birth and early development phase
B)The mature phase
C)The anticyclonic phase
D)The phase just prior to the dissipation of the storm

Question 38

A low-flying aircraft heading from point J to point H would most likely experience which of the following changes in wind direction?

A)NE to N to NW
B)E to W to NE
C)N to S to W
D)SW to SE to NE
E)SE to SW to NW

Question 39

Compared to warm fronts,cold fronts have:

A)the same gradient and a faster advance rate.
B)the same gradient and the same advance rate.
C)a shallower gradient and a slower advance rate.
D)a steeper gradient and a faster advance rate.
E)a shallower gradient and the same advance rate.

Question 40

The type of front represented in the diagram above is a:

A)warm-type occluded front.
B)cold-type occluded front.
C)cold front.
D)stationary front.

Question 41

A mature mid-latitude cyclone cloud pattern most closely resembles what when viewed from a satellite?

A)an octopus
B)a starfish
C)a comma
D)a circle

Question 42

A ridge aloft is generally associated with:

A)cyclonic flow at the surface.
B)anticyclonic flow at the surface.
C)divergence of the jet stream.
D)stormy weather.

Question 43

An area on the north side of the low-pressure center of a middle-latitude cyclone usually has this type of front for the longest period of time.

A)occluded
B)warm
C)cold
D)All three front types stay about the same amount of time.

Question 44

The wind direction in a low pressure system is:

A)from the east.
B)from the northwest.
C)from the north.
D)from the south.
E)dependent on your location relative to the storm center.

Question 45

Middle-latitude cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere:

A)have cold fronts but not warm fronts.
B)travel from east to west.
C)are large high-pressure systems.
D)rotate counterclockwise.

Question 46

Outside of the Great Lakes region,rising barometric pressure and a wind from the northwest generally mean that:

A)severe weather is approaching.
B)rain will occur within the next 3 hours.
C)skies will clear.
D)a blizzard is approaching.

Question 47

What is the cause-and-effect relationship between the pattern of upper-level winds and surface low- and high-pressure systems?

A)Surface systems depend primarily on wind speeds at upper levels.
B)Upper level wind patterns strongly control the origin and development of surface systems.
C)Surface lows decrease upper level wind speeds,surface highs increase them.
D)There is no strong or consistent relationship.
E)Surface systems control the upper level wind patterns.

Question 48

Why does occlusion lead to the demise of a mid-latitude cyclone?

A)The horizontal temperature gradient at the surface has been eliminated.
B)The cold front stops progressing during occlusion.
C)The cold cP air mass driving the cyclone has warmed intensely.
D)Occlusion stops all precipitation from occurring within the cyclone.

Question 49

Which of the following lists the stages of the mid-latitude cyclone life cycle in the proper order?

A)cyclogenesis,open-wave,occlusion,dissipation
B)open-wave,occlusion,cyclogenesis,dissipation
C)occlusion,dissipation,open-wave,cyclogenesis
D)cyclogenesis,open-wave,dissipation,occlusion

Question 50

The width or horizontal extent of a typical mid-latitude low pressure system would be:

A)50 - 100 km.
B)5 - 10 km.
C)1000 km.
D)10,000 km.
E)20,000 km.

Question 51

An approaching wave cyclone would be indicated by a ________ barometer reading.

A)slowly rising
B)very low
C)rapidly falling
D)high
E)variable,rising then falling

Question 52

A wind shift in a clockwise direction,as from south to west,is termed ________ wind shift.

A)backing
B)frontal
C)veering
D)anticyclonic

Question 53

A trough aloft is generally associated with:

A)cyclonic flow at the surface.
B)convergence of the jet steam.
C)clear skies.
D)anticyclonic flow at the surface.

Question 54

Why is the number and intensity of wave cyclones greatest during the late fall,winter and spring months?

A)Temperature contrasts are greater.
B)Temperatures are below freezing.
C)Density of the air is greatest.
D)Air is drier then.
E)Meteorologists do not know.

Question 55

When the center of a mature wave cyclone passes to the south,you should expect:

A)generally fair weather.
B)to experience a veering wind shift.
C)backing winds and foul weather.
D)absolutely nothing.

Question 56

After a cold front passes,which of these does NOT usually occur?

A)wind direction shift
B)marked temperature drop
C)drop in relative humidity
D)clearing skies
E)falling barometer

Question 57

In 1918,J.Bjerknes published what came to be known as the polar front theory.Which one of the following statements is correct regarding this theory?

A)It was shown to be applicable only to winter storms in the Southern Hemisphere.
B)The main features of the theory remain an important part of present-day meteorological thought.
C)Although it was useful at the time,it is no longer a useful model.
D)The polar front theory was largely incorrect from the very beginning.

Question 58

Middle-latitude anticyclones in the Northern Hemisphere:

A)rotate clockwise.
B)travel from east to west.
C)have cold fronts but not warm fronts.
D)are large low-pressure systems.

Question 59

The development of major winter storms in the midwest depends strongly on:

A)rainfall amounts during the previous fall.
B)wind speed aloft.
C)wind speed near the surface.
D)amount of snow already on the ground.
E)air mass contrasts.

Question 60

A wind shift in a counterclockwise direction,as from east to north,is termed ________ wind shift.

A)frontal
B)veering
C)cyclonic
D)backing

Question 61

Freezing rain and/or sleet occur most often with a cold front.

Question 62

The weather most typically associated with a blocking high is:

A)a "backlog" of storms behind the high that leads to intense flooding.
B)drought for the entire country.
C)snow.
D)severe thunderstorms and tornado outbreaks.

Question 63

Warm-type occluded fronts are the most common type of occluded front to form east of the Rockies.

Question 64

When speed divergence occurs in the upper atmosphere,what effect does it have on cyclogenesis?

A)It can either inhibit or enhance cyclogenesis,depending on the surface air temperature.
B)It inhibits cyclogenesis by preventing cyclonic flow.
C)It greatly enhances cyclogenesis by increasing convergence on the surface below.
D)It has no impact whatsoever on the formation of mid-latitude cyclones.

Question 65

When a warm front passes,temperature rises and the wind usually shifts.

Question 66

A blocking high is caused by:

A)an occluded front.
B)divergence in the upper atmosphere.
C)a cutoff low.
D)a persistent anticyclone.

Question 67

Middle-latitude cyclones typically develop along segments of the polar front.

Question 68

Middle-latitude cyclones quickly die out once all the warm air has been lifted aloft.

Question 69

The region between the warm front and cold front of a wave cyclone is the warm sector.

Question 70

The first sign of an approaching warm front is the appearance of altostratus clouds.

Question 71

Thunderstorms are most common along a cold front.

Question 72

Cold fronts generally travel faster than warm fronts.

Question 73

What kind of storm was the subject of the 1991 movie The Perfect Storm?

A)a Panhandle Hook
B)a Siberian Express
C)a Nor'easter
D)a hurricane

Question 74

Occluded fronts characterize the beginning stages of a middle latitude cyclone.

Question 75

Cold fronts are steeper than warm fronts.

Question 76

A midlatitude cyclone forms in western Canada,and very rapidly moves through the Dakotas and passes over the Great Lakes region,bringing very cold temperatures with it.This storm would probably be called a(an):

A)Alberta Clipper.
B)Panhandle Hook.
C)Nor'easter.
D)Siberian Express.

Question 77

Humid air is less dense than dry air.

Question 78

The term cyclogenesis refers to the decay of a cyclone.

Question 79

Frontal systems cause clouds by adding moisture to the air.

Question 80

Which of these best describes the reason most high pressure systems bring clear skies?

A)high temperatures aloft
B)sinking air aloft
C)rising air aloft
D)cold air near the surface
E)low temperatures aloft