Deck 7: Water and Atmospheric Moisture

Question 1

Surface tension and capillarity are the result of

A) hydrogen bonding.
B) gravitational attraction.
C) magnetic bonding.
D) molecular hold.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

As water cools from room temperature to 4°C (39°F), it ________ and its density ________.

A) contracts; increases
B) contracts; decreases
C) expands; increases
D) expands; decreases

Answer 2

A

Question 3

When water freezes, its volume

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains the same as in the liquid state.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following phase changes of water is incorrectly matched?

A) Sublimation-energy absorbed
B) Deposition-energy released
C) Evaporation-energy released
D) Melting-energy absorbed

Question 5

The movement of water throughout the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere is known as the

A) biogeochemical cycle.
B) hydroflux.
C) capillary movement.
D) hydrologic cycle.

Question 6

Which of the following is true regarding the evaporation of water?

A) The phase change involves the latent heat of sublimation.
B) The phase change involves the latent heat of evaporation.
C) The phase change involves the latent heat of deposition.
D) The phase change involves the latent heat of condensation.

Question 7

Water molecules bind tightly to one another. This is a result of

A) hydrogen bonding.
B) covalent bonding.
C) atomic friction.
D) molecular hold.

Question 8

The latent heat of melting and the latent heat of freezing involve the absorption or release of ________ calories per gram of water changing state.

A) 80
B) 100
C) 540
D) 585

Question 9

The hydrogen bonding in water creates ________, a cohesive force that enables one to slightly overfill a glass with water or allows denser objects, such as a lengthwise steel needle, to float on water.

A) capillary action
B) surface tension
C) heat exchange
D) friction

Question 10

The term deposition refers to

A) water freezing to ice.
B) ice melting to water.
C) vapor condensing into liquid.
D) water vapor freezing to ice.

Question 11

Some insects can walk on water. This is possible

A) because of their specific heat.
B) because of their kinetic energy.
C) because of a water property known as surface tension.
D) because of a water property known as capillarity.

Question 12

The process of deposition in the atmosphere produces

A) rain.
B) water vapor.
C) frost.
D) ice.

Question 13

Water movement through the soil and water held in a cylindrical tube result from a common phenomenon. What is this phenomenon?

A) barometric pressure
B) surface tension
C) capillary action
D) vacuum suction

Question 14

The ability of water to "climb" in a cylinder tube is an example of

A) barometric pressure.
B) surface tension.
C) capillary action.
D) vacuum suction.

Question 15

In winter, freezing water can break pipes and even crack engine blocks.Why does this happen?

A) Water expands in volume as it freezes.
B) Ice is denser than water.
C) Water contracts as it cools and freezes.
D) It occurs because of the latent heat of fusion.

Question 16

What is the heat energy involved in the change of state, or phase, in water?

A) mechanical heat
B) sensible heat
C) fusion heat
D) latent heat

Question 17

Out of all the water present in the Earth systems, ________ is stored in the atmosphere.

A) less than 0.03%
B) approximately 2%
C) a variable amount, but averaging 50%
D) 15%

Question 18

Which of the following phase changes decreases the temperature of the air?

A) water to ice
B) ice to water
C) steam to water
D) steam to ice

Question 19

Which of the following phase changes of water is incorrectly matched?

A) Deposition: gas to solid
B) Vaporization: solid to gas
C) Melting: solid to liquid
D) Condensation: gas to liquid

Question 20

When water freezes, its density

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains the same as in the liquid state.

Question 21

Below a temperature of 4°C (39°F), water ________ and its density ________.

A) contracts; increases
B) contracts; decreases.
C) expands; increases
D) expands; decreases

Question 22

Water vapor in the atmosphere is called

A) water.
B) deposition.
C) sublimation.
D) humidity.

Question 23

________ occurs when the relative humidity is 100%.

A) Saturation
B) Evaporation
C) Sublimation
D) Deposition

Question 24

In which of the following months would the relative humidity likely be the highest (assuming a Northern Hemisphere station).

A) January
B) March
C) July
D) September

Question 25

As temperature increases, the saturation vapor pressure

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains constant.

Question 26

The capacity of air for water vapor is primarily a function of the ________ of both the air and water vapor.

A) density
B) volume
C) pressure
D) temperature

Question 27

When water evaporates, it ________ heat energy and ________ the surrounding air.

A) absorbs; cools
B) absorbs heats
C) releases; cools
D) releases; heats

Question 28

When temperatures are below freezing, the temperature at which air becomes saturated leading to the formation of frost is the

A) dew point.
B) frost point.
C) absolute humidity.
D) relative humidity.

Question 29

Most of the precipitation and evaporation on Earth takes place over the

A) land masses.
B) oceans.
C) poles of the planet.
D) ice caps and glaciers combined.

Question 30

As temperature increases, the amount of energy available for evaporation

A) increases.
B) decreases.
C) remains constant.

Question 31

Hydrogen bonding results from the fact that

A) the hydrogen end of a water molecule is positively charged and the oxygen end is negatively charged.
B) the oxygen end of a water molecule is positively charged and the hydrogen end is negatively charged.
C) nuclear fusion occurs between the ends of water molecules.
D) water molecules experience a strong gravitational attraction to one another.
E) there is no electrical charge on a water molecule.

Question 32

A mass of air always becomes saturated when it reaches the

A) highest temperature of the day.
B) lowest temperature of the day.
C) specific humidity point.
D) dew-point temperature.

Question 33

The density of pure ice is

A) greater than that of water.
B) less than that of water.
C) the same as water.
D) highly variable.

Question 34

The phase changes water and other substances undergo are based on

A) gravitational energy stored within the electron orbitals of atoms.
B) the amount of motion of molecules and the strength of the bonds between them.
C) nuclear fusion processes between atoms of a substance.
D) nuclear fission processes between atoms of a substance.
E) diabatic forces acting on the molecules.

Question 35

The portion of air pressure exerted by water vapor is the

A) vapor pressure.
B) absolute humidity.
C) psychrometer.
D) dew point.

Question 36

When water condenses, it ________ heat energy and ________ the surrounding air.

A) absorbs; cools
B) absorbs heats
C) releases; cools
D) releases; heats

Question 37

At saturation, the further addition of water vapor or a decrease in temperature results in

A) condensation.
B) evaporation.
C) freezing.
D) sublimation.

Question 38

On a typical day, the point of highest relative humidity is associated with

A) the time of the highest temperature.
B) the time of the lowest temperature.
C) solar noon.
D) dusk.

Question 39

If the amount of water vapor in the air remained constant, but the air temperature increased throughout the day, the relative humidity would

A) increase.
B) decrease.
C) remain constant.

Question 40

Relative humidity is

A) the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the normal amount.
B) the amount of moisture in the air relative to your own sensible feelings.
C) the amount of water vapor in the air relative to the water vapor capacity of the air.
D) a basically unused concept when it comes to weather topics.

Question 41

Which of the following is used to measure relative humidity?

A) aneroid barometers
B) hair hygrometers
C) anemometer
D) weather vane

Question 42

Which of the following would be true of the humidity above the hot, dry, subtropical deserts of the world during the daytime?

A) The specific humidity would be very low.
B) The relative humidity would always be high.
C) The saturation vapor pressure would be low.

Question 43

Assuming the amount of water vapor remains constant, a temperature increase will ________ the specific humidity.

A) increase
B) decrease
C) have no effect on
D) increase until the dew point is met, then decrease

Question 44

Air that is not saturated will cool or heat at a rate of ________ as it rises or descends, respectively.

A) 10 C° per 1000 m (5.5 F° per 1000 ft.)
B) 6 C° per 1000 m (3.3 F° per 1000 ft.)
C) 6.4 C° per 1000 m (3.5 F° per 1000 ft.)

Question 45

The general term that refers to the tendency of a parcel of air to either remain in place or change its initial position is

A) adiabatic.
B) stability.
C) conditional instability.
D) stasis.

Question 46

If a kilogram of air at 20°C (68°F) has a specific humidity of 7.5 g/kg, the relative humidity is

A) 25%.
B) 50%.
C) 75%.
D) 100%.

Question 47

A parcel of air, with less than 100% relative humidity, that is rising because of heat energy derived from the surface is

A) stable.
B) unstable.
C) conditionally unstable.

Question 48

When the environmental lapse rate is between the dry and moist adiabatic lapse rates conditions are described as

A) adiabatic.
B) stability.
C) conditionally unstable.
D) unstable.

Question 49

When stable air is forced to lift as it passes over a mountain range, the air may become saturated and condensation may occur. In this case, the air is

A) stable.
B) unstable.
C) conditionally unstable.

Question 50

Which of the following would cause the evaporation rate to decrease?

A) increased water availability
B) increased relative humidity
C) increased temperature
D) increased wind speed

Question 51

The point where saturation begins in a rising air parcel is

A) the dry adiabatic rate.
B) the moist adiabatic rate.
C) the lifting condensation level.
D) cloud condensation nuclei.

Question 52

The smaller the difference in temperature between the wet bulb and dry bulb on a sling psychrometer, the ________ the air is and the ________.

A) drier; further the air temperature is from dew point
B) drier; closer the air temperature is to dew point
C) wetter; further the air temperature is from dew point
D) wetter; closer the air temperature is to dew point

Question 53

If the saturation vapor pressure increases while the amount of water vapor in the air remains constant, this would indicate

A) that the temperature had increased.
B) that the temperature had decreased as a result of the loss of heat energy.
C) that the air was cooling by expansion.
D) none of the above

Question 54

A large difference in temperature between a wet bulb and a dry bulb on a sling psychrometer indicates

A) that the air is cooling by adiabatic expansion.
B) that the relative humidity is high.
C) that substantial evaporation is occurring from the wet bulb.

Question 55

A humidity measure that remains constant as temperature and pressure change, and which is expressed as a mass of water vapor per mass (g/kg) of air, is

A) specific humidity.
B) vapor pressure.
C) relative humidity.
D) the dew-point.

Question 56

The two opposing forces determining the vertical position of a parcel of air are

A) buoyant force and gravitational force.
B) centrifugal force and coriolis force.
C) coriolis force and buoyant force.
D) gravitational force and pressure gradient force.

Question 57

The dry adiabatic rate (DAR) is

A) 6 C° per 1000 m (3.3 F° per 1000 ft).
B) the rate used for a saturated parcel of air.
C) a term that refers to the temperature decrease in the still, calm air that surrounds a moving air parcel.
D) 10 C° per 1000 m (5.5 F° per 1000 ft.).

Question 58

An air parcel is considered unstable when it

A) either remains as it is, or changes its initial position.
B) continues to rise until it reaches an altitude at which the surrounding air has a similar temperature.
C) it resists displacement upward.
D) it ceases to ascend.

Question 59

Which of the following normally would be true of the humidity above the hot, moist, tropical rain forests of the world?

A) The specific humidity would be low.
B) The relative humidity would be high.
C) The saturation vapor pressure would be low.

Question 60

The greater the difference in temperature between the wet bulb and dry bulb on a sling psychrometer, the ________ the air is and the ________ the relative humidity.

A) drier; higher
B) drier; lower
C) wetter; higher
D) wetter; lower

Question 61

Which of the following is correctly matched.

A) Normal lapse rate-3.5°C/1,000 m
B) Environmental lapse rate-6.4 C°/1000 m
C) Dry adiabatic rate-10 C°/1000 m
D) Moist adiabatic lape late-15 C°/1000 m

Question 62

The wet adiabatic rate is ________ than the dry adiabatic rate because ________.

A) greater; condensation heats the air
B) greater; condensation cools the air
C) less; condensation heats the air
D) less; condensation cools the air

Question 63

Areas between 25° to 35° latitude usually become ________ because this area is dominated by air that is sinking and being ________.

A) deserts; cooled by expansion
B) deserts; heated by compression
C) rain forests; cooled by expansion
D) rain forests; heated by compression

Question 64

Cooling of a surface overnight that chills the air layer directly above that surface may form

A) an advection fog.
B) an upslope fog.
C) an evaporation fog.
D) a radiation fog.

Question 65

Which of the following are correctly matched?

A) flat or layered clouds - cumulus
B) puffy or globular clouds - cirroform
C) puffy or globular clouds - cumuliform
D) wispy clouds - water droplets

Question 66

Clouds that have vertical development and produce thunderstorms are called

A) stratocumulus.
B) cumulonimbus.
C) nimbostratus.
D) cumulus.

Question 67

If you visited Mount Shasta City (elevation 900 m [3000 ft.]) and found the outside air temperature to be 27°C (81°F), what would be the air temperature at the summit of Mount Shasta (elevation 4200 m [14,000 ft.]) at that moment-assuming that the temperature conditions with altitude change at an average, or normal, lapse rate?

A) 2°C (35.6°F)
B) 48°C (118.4°F)
C) 5.9°C (42.5°F)
D) 10°C (39.2°F)

Question 68

Which cloud type can indicate an oncoming storm, especially if they thicken and lower in elevation?

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

Question 69

The prefix nimbo- and the suffix -nimbus means

A) that clouds are generally forming.
B) clouds that occur in the middle altitudes (2000-6000 m).
C) that clouds are generally dissipating.
D) that the clouds are producing precipitation.

Question 70

A thunderstorm is associated with ________ clouds.

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

Question 71

Which of the following is true regarding cirrostratus clouds?

A) They are uniform, featureless, and grey like high fog.
B) The Sun's outline is just visible through these clouds.
C) They form a veil of ice crystals that creates a halo around the Moon or Sun.
D) They are sharply outlined, and billowy.

Question 72

Vertically developed puffy and globular clouds are classed as

A) cumumliform.
B) cirroform.
C) stratiform.

Question 73

High altitude wispy clouds made of ice crystals are classed as

A) cumumliform.
B) cirroform.
C) stratiform.

Question 74

Which of the following best describes a cloud?

A) Suspended raindrops that have not yet fallen under the force of gravity.
B) Aggregated condensation nuclei.
C) A visible aggregation of tiny moisture droplets and ice crystals suspended in the air.
D) Uniform featureless smoke lighter than the force of gravity.

Question 75

The difference between the dry adiabatic rate and the moist adiabatic rate is on account of

A) the latent heat of condensation.
B) less atmospheric pressure.
C) altitudinal temperature differences.
D) the specific heat of water.

Question 76

Assume a warm air parcel, at sea level, has a temperature of 21°C (70°F) and begins to rise upward. Assume it becomes saturated at 1000 m (3300 ft) altitude, and continues to rise to 2000 m (6600 ft.) altitude. What would the approximate temperature of the parcel be at an elevation of 2000 m (6600 ft.)?

A) 1°C (44.6°F)
B) 5°C (46.4°F)
C) 8.2°C (48.2°F)
D) 9°C (41.°F)

Question 77

Condensation nuclei over the ocean consist primarily of

A) pieces of coral.
B) minute fragments of sea shells.
C) salt particles.
D) clay particles.

Question 78

Which of the following is true regarding condensation nuclei?

A) Maritime air masses generally possess more nuclei per cubic meter than continental air masses.
B) Condensation nuclei is rare in urban environments.
C) Continental air masses average about a billion nuclei per cubic meter.
D) Continental air masses contain more than 10 times the condensation nuclei of maritime air masses.

Question 79

Flat and puffy clouds with horizontal development are classed as

A) cumumliform.
B) cirroform.
C) stratiform.

Question 80

Which of the following is a middle-level cloud type?

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