Deck 4: Atmospheric Moisture and Precipitation

Question 1

Atmospheric moisture deposited at the Earth's surface as rain, hail sleet, snow etc.

A)precipitation
B)percolation;
C)evaporation;
D)evapotranspiration

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which one of the following makes up only about 1.7% of the world's water supply?

A)groundwater
B)glaciers
C)rivers
D)oceans

Answer 2

B

Question 3

After precipitation falls to the land surface, surface water can flow off the land, concentrating in streams and rivers. This flow is known as:

A)percolation;
B)runoff
C)groundwater flow
D)hydrological Cycle

Answer 3

B

Question 4

The transfer of water from land and ocean to the atmosphere and back again to land and oceans in a never ending cycle is:

A)water table
B)hydrologic balance concept
C)the hydrologic cycle
D)throughput by overland flow

Question 5

___________________ is when ice changes directly from the solid phase to the gaseous phase without a transitional liquid phase.

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

Question 6

Earth's hydrosphere is best described as the

A)the realm of life, connected to all other earth spheres
B)the realm of water in all its forms, including atmospheric water oceans, glaciers, lakes, and streams
C)the realm of solids, in all its forms, including the solid outer layer of Earth
D)the gaseous realm extending from the troposphere to the thermosphere

Question 7

The return of precipitation to the atmosphere as water vapor occurs through:

A)sinking of water into soil and rock through percolation
B)fluctuations in the water table
C)condensation
D)evaporation

Question 8

Water vapor that changes state to form a cloud is an example of:

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

Question 9

Subsurface water found under the surface in soil and rock:

A)underflow;
B)the Water Table;
C)runoff
D)groundwater

Question 10

Water changing to the gaseous phase is known as __________.

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

Question 11

Precipitation that flows on the land into streams and rivers and then eventually to lakes and oceans is known as:

A)runoff
B)the water table
C)groundwater flow
D)infiltration

Question 12

Water vapor changing directly to the liquid phase is known as __________.

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

Question 13

When water vapor is converted into water droplets due to cooling, the process is called:

A)percolation
B)evaporation
C)condensation
D)evapotranspiration

Question 14

___________________ is when water vapor changes directly from the gaseous phase to the solid phase without a transitional liquid phase.

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

Question 15

Consider the following terms that show, in sequence, a portion of the hydrologic cycle. What term best completes the sequence? Precipitation -------- ????--------- ocean--------evaporation-------clouds

A)Deposition
B)Condensation
C)Runoff
D)Evaporation

Question 16

Oceans, lakes, and rivers return water to the atmosphere through:

A)condensation
B)overland flow
C)precipitation
D)evaporation

Question 17

All of the following terms are associated with the global hydrologic cycle EXCEPT:

A)condensation
B)weathering
C)precipitation
D)evaporation

Question 18

The smallest portion of fresh water today is located in

A)atmosphere
B)groundwater resources
C)glaciers
D)rivers

Question 19

The largest portion of fresh water today is located in

A)clouds
B)groundwater resources
C)glaciers
D)the major rivers and lakes of the world

Question 20

The absorption of heat and the release of water vapor into the atmosphere in the hydrologic cycle through:

A)evaporation and transpiration
B)precipitation and runoff
C)infiltration and discharge
D)percolation and infiltration

Question 21

The temperature to which air must be cooled in order to reach saturation is the

A)minimum temperature.
B)dew point temperature.
C)specific humidity ratio
D)relative humidity ratio

Question 22

The wet adiabatic rate for a rising parcel of air is less than the dry rate because

A)wet air is less dense
B)wet air is more dense
C)release of latent heat
D)air isn't saturated

Question 23

The highly variable temperature rate at which still air changes with increasing altitude is referred to as the

A)moist adiabatic rate.
B)dry adiabatic rate.
C)environmental lapse rate.
D)Lifting Condesation Level

Question 24

The dry adiabatic rate is

A)10. 0°Celsius/1000 meters
B)0) 5°Celsius/meter
C)5) 0°Celsius/1000 meters
D)5) 0°Celsius/100 meters

Question 25

The amount of moisture in the atmosphere is called:

A)humidity
B)rain
C)precipitation
D)evaporation

Question 26

Blanket-like, layered clouds that cover large areas are called _________

A)cumulonimbus clouds
B)cirrus clouds
C)cumulus clouds
D)stratus clouds

Question 27

What is specific humidity?

A)the ratio of the density of water vapor to the weight of the air without water vapor
B)the ratio of the amount of air compared to the amount that could be held if the air were held to a constant density
C)the ratio of grams of water vapor per kilogram of air
D)the ratio of water vapor present compared to the maximum amount of water vapor that could be held at the present temperature

Question 28

When uplifted air continues to rise past the Lifting Condensation Layer

A)it would continue to cool, but at the wet adiabatic lapse rate
B)it would continue to cool at the dry adiabatic lapse rate.
C)it would begin to warm at the dry adiabatic lapse rate
D)it would continue to warm, but at the wet adiabatic lapse rate

Question 29

Dew-point is the temperature at which:

A)evaporation rates are most effective
B)temperature at which air holds the maximum amount of water vapor
C)condensation rates are minimized
D)clouds will produce snowfall

Question 30

If the air temperature remains constant, while evaporating water this will __________ the relative humidity and __________ the dew point.

A)decrease; increase
B)increase; decrease
C)increase; not change
D)increase; increase

Question 31

The temperature of a rising parcel of air __________ as it ascends.

A)increases
B)decreases
C)increases then decreases
D)decreases then increases

Question 32

Examples of high level clouds would be _________________ and _____________

A)altocumulus and altostratus
B)cirrostratus and cirrus
C)cumulus and cumulonimbus
D)stratocumulus and cumulus

Question 33

The Lifting Condensation Level is the altitude at which

A)evaporational cooling is most effective
B)height at which an air parcel is cooler than its surroundings
C)clouds can no longer rise because the air parcel is at equilibrium
D)condensation occurs and clouds begin to form

Question 34

Locations in the southern U. S. generally have higher specific humidity relative to more northerly locations because

A)higher air temperatures in the Gulf States
B)lower air temperature in Southern California.
C)lower water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico.
D)low humidity of the air over the deserts of Arizona.

Question 35

The ________expresses the mass of water vapor existing in a given mass (g/kg)of air.

A)absolute humidity
B)wet-bulb depression
C)relative humidity
D)specific humidity

Question 36

Study the following temperature-relative humidity combinations. Which would have the greatest amount of atmospheric water vapor?

A)20°C/100%
B)20°C/50%
C)10°C/50%
D)0°C/100%

Question 37

A rising parcel of air that does not exchange heat with its surroundings and is solely a function of pressure changes is an example of

A)frontal lifting
B)convection
C)forced lifting.
D)adiabatic process

Question 38

Air temperatures usually will decrease with height most rapidly during _______ and will usually decrease least rapidly (or even increase during inversions)during ________.

A)the night, the day
B)the day, the night
C)thunderstorms, snowstorms
D)late winter, late summer

Question 39

Identify the sequence that best exemplifies how water moves from the ocean to the land and then back to the ocean?

A)Evaporation, Precipitation, Runoff, Condensation
B)Runoff, Precipitation, Evaporation, Condensation
C)Precipitation, Evaporation, Condensation, Runoff
D)Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff

Question 40

Evaporative cooler containers, which keep food or liquid cooled, are designed to work for days that are:

A)hot and dry
B)hot and humid
C)cold and humid.
D)cold and dry.

Question 41

Which statement favors cloud formation?

A)air temperature reaches the dewpoint
B)evaporation has warmed the surrounding air
C)relative humidity is 0%
D)condensation nuclei have been removed from the air

Question 42

All of the following are mechanisms that causes air to rise EXCEPT

A)convergence
B)orographic precipitation
C)convective precipitation
D)radiative lifting

Question 43

While the exact figure is highly variable, a general ratio of __________ inches of snow to 1 inch of water can be used to calculate the water equivalent of a given volume of snow.

A)10
B)2
C)5
D)1

Question 44

If a parcel of air at sea level with a temperature of 30°C and a dew point of 12°C begins to rise up a mountain slope, at what elevation will clouds first begin to form?

A)180 meters
B)1200 meters
C)1800 meters
D)4800 meters

Question 45

Thin, high wispy clouds composed almost entirely of ice crystals are called

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

Question 46

When an ice storm takes place, it is likely that _________.

A)there are strong convectional updrafts
B)the ground layer is below freezing
C)there is an air layer near the ground well above 10°C
D)a blizzard will follow

Question 47

_________ forms when relatively warm, moist air moves over a cold surface.

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

Question 48

________ develops at night when the temperature of the air layer at the ground level falls below the dew point.

A)frozen dew
B)advection fog
C)radiation fog
D)sea fog

Question 49

When a through flowing current of moist air is forced to move upward over a mountain barrier, the process is referred to as ___

A)orographic uplifting
B)convective uplifting
C)frontal uplifting
D)free convection

Question 50

All of the following can lift air EXCEPT

A)divergent lifting
B)convergent lifting
C)convective lifting
D)frontal lifting

Question 51

Examples of low level clouds would be _________________ and _____________

A)altocumulus and altostratus
B)cirrostratus and cirrus
C)stratocumulus and cumulus
D)cumulus and cumulonimbus

Question 52

Rain shadows are found

A)with adiabatic warming on the rainy windward slope
B)with adiabatic cooling on the rainy leeward slope
C)with adiabatic warming on the leeward slope
D)with adiabatic cooling on the leeward slope

Question 53

One of the reasons why it is dry on the lee (leeward)side of the Sierra Nevadas of California is that?

A)no water vapor is left in the air.
B)condensation has a drying effect on the air.
C)air is forced to rise and is warmed by the adiabatic process, forming clouds
D)as air descends, adiabatic warming causes clouds to evaporate.

Question 54

Normally, a parcel of air __________ if it is warmer than the surrounding air; conversely, the air parcel will __________ if it is cooler than the surrounding air.

A)remains stationary, sinks
B)rises, remains stationary
C)sinks, rise
D)rises, sink

Question 55

The term cumuliform indicates

A)altitude.
B)appearance
C)temperature.
D)composition.

Question 56

A gray cloud layer in contact or near the ground is called

A)stratocumulus
B)altocumulus
C)cumulus
D)fog

Question 57

Snow is formed within cool clouds which are a mixture of ___________ and ___________

A)ice crystals and supercooled water droplets
B)drizzle and hail
C)graupel and drizzle
D)supercooled ice crystals and drizzle

Question 58

A/An ______ cloud is often associated with fair weather.

A)altostratus
B)stratus
C)cumulus
D)cumulonimbus

Question 59

Microscopic particles, such as dust particles and sea salt crystals, are known as __________ that serve as "landing pads" on which water vapor can condense.

A)ice cyrstals
B)condensation nuclei
C)supercooled water droplets
D)water droplets

Question 60

Radiation fog formation is favored when

A)air pressure at the ground drops suddenly accompanied by an increase in wind speed.
B)there is a decrease in condensation nuclei in air at the ground.
C)water vapor decreases next to the ground.
D)air next to the ground is cooled to its dew point

Question 61

The specific humidity of a parcel of air at 25 degrees C is roughly ________ greater than the specific humidity of a parcel of air at 13 degrees C.

A)ten times
B)five times
C)two times
D)the same as

Question 62

Freezing involves the ______________ of latent heat and a change is state from the ______________ phase to the solid phase.

A)absorption, liquid
B)absorption, gaseous
C)release, solid
D)release, liquid

Question 63

Assuming a parcel of air is unsaturated, which of the following environmental lapse rates could produce the most unstable conditions?

A)1°C per 1,000 m
B)3)5°C per 1,000 m
C)6°C per 1,000 m
D)11°C per 1,000 m

Question 64

Sublimation involves the ______________ of latent heat and a change of state from the ______________ phase to the gaseous phase.

A)absorption, liquid
B)absorption, solid
C)release, solid
D)release, liquid

Question 65

The chief ingredients of acid deposition are

A)ozone and particulates
B)carbon monoxide and greenhouse gases
C)ozone and greenhouse gases
D)nitrogen and sulphur oxides

Question 66

In a thunderstorm, the release of latent heat _______ the temperature of a parcel of air and causes the parcel of air to _______ if it is warmer than the surrounding air.

A)increases, rise
B)increases, sink
C)decreases, rise
D)decreases, sink

Question 67

Evaporation involves the ______________ of latent heat and a change of state from the ______________ phase to the gaseous phase

A)absorption, liquid
B)absorption, solid
C)release, liquid
D)release, solid

Question 68

The most violent of all storms are associated with __________ clouds.

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

Question 69

Which figure best represents the percentage of fresh water compared to total water on Earth

A)20-25%
B)10-15%
C)5-10%
D)1-5%

Question 70

Of all surface and atmospheric water on Earth, which sector has the least amount of water?

A)rivers
B)atmosphere
C)freshwater lakes
D)soil moisture

Question 71

If the environmental lapse rate is significantly less than the dry adiabatic rate, a parcel of air will be

A)saturated
B)reach the dew point quickly
C)unstable
D)stable

Question 72

Which cloud type is normally associated with hail, tornadoes, and microbursts?

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

Question 73

Using Figure 4.5, which best represents the specific humidity near the equator?

A)0 g/Kg
B)2 g/Kg
C)15 g/Kg
D)26 g/Kg

Question 74

Which cloud sometimes produces thunder and lightning?

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

Question 75

Condensation involves the ______________ of latent heat and a change of state from the ______________ phase to the liquid phase

A)absorption, solid
B)absorption, solid
C)release, solid
D)release, gaseous

Question 76

Deposition involves the ______________ of latent heat and a change of state from the ______________ phase to the solid phase

A)absorption, liquid
B)absorption, gaseous
C)release, gaseous
D)release, liquid

Question 77

The largest proportion of freshwater consists of

A)freshwater lakes
B)permafrost
C)glaciers
D)groundwater

Question 78

Using Figure 4.5, which is closest to the specific humidity near the poles?

A)-20 g/Kg
B)4 g/Kg
C)15 g/Kg
D)26 g/Kg

Question 79

A thin middle layer (3-6 km)cloud normally covering most of the sky is

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

Question 80

Melting involves the ______________ of latent heat and a change is state from the ______________ phase to the liquid phase.

A)absorption, solid
B)absorption, gaseous
C)release, solid
D)release, gaseous