Deck 8: Air Masses and Cyclonic Weather Systems

Question 1

The air mass that mostly influences the weather of the Pacific Northwest including Washington and Oregon is the

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

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The air mass that originates over northern Mexico,New Mexico,and Arizona is the

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

Answer 2

C

Question 3

On a weather map,a line with triangles indicates a(n)

A) storm surge.
B) warm front.
C) stationary front.
D) occluded front.
E) cold front.

Answer 3

E

Question 4

On a weather map,a line with alternating triangles and semicircles on the same side indicates a(n)

A) storm surge.
B) warm front.
C) stationary front.
D) occluded front.
E) cold front.

Question 5

The coldest air masses are the

A) cA and cAA.
B) mP and cP.
C) mE and cA.
D) mT and cT.
E) cP and cT.

Question 6

Select all of the following statements that are true about air masses.

A) Air masses are named by their height and appearance.
B) An air mass derives its characteristics from a source region.
C) An air mass is any large body of the lower atmosphere that has fairly uniform conditions of temperature and moisture.
D) An air mass that moves from the northern Pacific Ocean to northern Canada, where it stagnates for a couple of weeks in January, will tend to warm up because the land is still warm relative to the lower atmosphere.
E) Air masses are named by their temperature and humidity characteristics.

Question 7

Cold fronts are typically characterized by

A) a gentle slope ahead of the front.
B) a rise in temperature.
C) hurricanes.
D) lower and thicker clouds after its passage.
E) thunderstorms.

Question 8

The air mass that originates over the Gulf of Mexico is the

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

Question 9

Label each of the areas on the following diagram with their correct two-letter air-mass designation.

Question 10

In the United States,with the passage of a typical warm front

A) temperatures drop.
B) a day of slow but steady precipitation ends.
C) clouds begin to get lower and thicker.
D) the winds will flow from the north.
E) the air mass will always be a cP.

Question 11

On a weather map,a line with semicircles indicates a(n)

A) storm surge.
B) warm front.
C) stationary front.
D) occluded front.
E) cold front.

Question 12

If a city experiences prolonged cool temperatures and light precipitation for days,the weather is most likely influenced by a(n)

A) warm front.
B) occluded front.
C) cold front.
D) stationary front.
E) cA air mass.

Question 13

The air mass originating over land between 50° and 60° N will be the

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

Question 14

A boundary where contrasting air masses meet is a(n)

A) hurricane.
B) eye wall.
C) squall line.
D) storm surge.
E) front.

Question 15

The air masses that originate over Canada are the

A) cP and cA.
B) mP and cT.
C) cT and mT.
D) cP and mP.
E) cA and cAA.

Question 16

If while on a Midwest U.S.vacation you experience a day of clouds,a day of light rain,and a day of heavy rain with thunder while the temperature remains cool,the weather is most likely the result of a(n)

A) warm front.
B) occluded front.
C) stationary front.
D) cA air mass.
E) cold front.

Question 17

The air masses that most commonly impact the weather of the central United States are the

A) mT and cP.
B) mP and mT.
C) cP and cA.
D) cT and cP.
E) mT and cT.

Question 18

On a weather map,a line with alternating triangles and semicircles on different sides indicates a(n)

A) storm surge.
B) warm front.
C) stationary front.
D) occluded front.
E) cold front.

Question 19

An elongated area of elevated air pressure in the upper atmosphere that is typically associated with sunny skies and calm winds is a(n)

A) easterly wave.
B) high-pressure ridge.
C) low-pressure trough.
D) tropical cyclone.
E) midlatitude cyclone.

Question 20

The region of a midlatitude cyclone between the warm front and the cold front is called the

A) warm sector.
B) cold sector.
C) jet stream.
D) eye wall.
E) eye.

Question 21

The sequence of atmospheric events that develops along the polar jet stream that produces midlatitude cyclones is called

A) cyclogenesis.
B) rain shadow.
C) occlusion.
D) storm surge.
E) tropical depression.

Question 22

What are the four stages in the development of a thunderstorm?
_____________
_____________
_____________
_____________

Question 23

A brief but strong storm that contains strong winds,lightning,thunder,and sometimes hail is a(n)

A) hurricane.
B) nimbostratus cloud.
C) midlatitude cyclone.
D) thunderstorm.
E) storm surge.

Question 24

Seen from above,the surface air circulation associated with a Northern Hemisphere midlatitude cyclone is

A) from north to south because they originate at the polar front.
B) clockwise because of its low pressure.
C) clockwise because of its high pressure.
D) counterclockwise because of its low pressure.
E) counterclockwise because of its high pressure.

Question 25

An elongated area of depressed air in the upper atmosphere that is typically associated with cloudy skies and rain is a(n)

A) high-pressure ridge.
B) low-pressure trough.
C) rain shadow effect.
D) storm surge.
E) squall line.

Question 26

Fronts are associated with clouds because

A) the warm air rises and cools adiabatically over the cooler air.
B) the warm air is stable and cooled by radiation escaping to space.
C) the cold air of the cold front can't hold as much moisture, so it becomes cloud banks.
D) when air moves it becomes opaque.
E) friction along the front heats the air and makes clouds.

Question 27

Midlatitude cyclones in the United States generally

A) move from east to west.
B) move from west to east.
C) move from north to south.
D) move from south to north.
E) remain stationary.

Question 28

The stage when the warm air is completely pinched off in the midlatitude cyclones is called the

A) anvil stage.
B) mature stage.
C) open stage.
D) dissolving stage.
E) occluded stage.

Question 29

Which of the following are true about cold fronts?

A) Cold fronts are typically associated with intense rain for a short period of time.
B) Cumulonimbus clouds are typically associated with cold fronts.
C) Cold fronts are typically associated with prolonged periods of hot and dry weather.
D) A line of intense thunderstorms that develop along or ahead of a cold front is best called a squall line.
E) Cirrocumulus clouds are typically associated with cold fronts.

Question 30

If you are observing the clouds and you see cirrus followed by cirrostratus,altostratus,stratus,and nimbostratus,you can expect

A) that the temperature will soon drop.
B) that the temperature will soon rise.
C) thunderstorms.
D) a hurricane.
E) a tornado.

Question 31

Arrange the following stages of thunderstorm development in the correct order:

A) dissipation stage
B) development stage
C) cumulus stage
D) mature stage

Question 32

The collision of two fronts that trap and lift warm air from the surface creates a(n)

A) tropical cyclone.
B) stationary front.
C) cold front.
D) warm front.
E) occluded front.

Question 33

The air masses that play routine roles in the weather of the continental United States and Canada are:

A) mE.
B) cA.
C) mT.
D) mP.
E) cT.

Question 34

During the open stage of a midlatitude cyclone,

A) occlusion is occurring.
B) the warm and cold fronts are fully separated.
C) the warm front is moving faster than the cold front.
D) clouds are absent along the warm front.
E) precipitation is unlikely.

Question 35

The 500-mb pressure surface is important because it

A) creates deadly storm surges.
B) moves air over the United States generally from east to west.
C) is an inversion that prevents the mixing of air.
D) shows the top of the atmosphere.
E) helps predict the paths of midlatitude cyclones.

Question 36

The following diagram represents which stage of thunderstorm development?

A) mature
B) cumulus
C) dissipating
D) stationary
E) occlusion

Question 37

Which of the following are true about midlatitude cyclones?

A) Prior to the development of a midlatitude cyclone, the polar front is a stationary front.
B) Their formation is typically independent of the jet stream.
C) Their formation is called cyclogenesis.
D) The mT air mass is most likely to be associated with the precipitation.
E) They are formed by two air masses interacting only in the upper atmosphere.

Question 38

If you time 15 seconds between seeing lightning and hearing the thunder,the distance between you and the lightning strike was approximately

A) half a mile.
B) one mile.
C) two miles.
D) three miles.
E) five miles.

Question 39

Select all of the following statements that are characteristics of tornadoes.

A) The average duration of a tornado is about 15 minutes.
B) Tornadoes are classified on a scale from 0 to 6.
C) Tornadoes can be on the ground for hundreds of kilometers and last for several hours.
D) Tornadoes are measured on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
E) When the tornado becomes clogged with the air it takes in, the funnel strengthens.

Question 40

Large thunderstorms that contain winds moving in opposite directions and are associated with strong winds,lightning,thunder,and sometimes hail and tornadoes are BEST called

A) hurricanes.
B) mesocyclones.
C) easterly waves.
D) supercells.
E) eyes.

Question 41

The repeated pull of ice crystals back into the upper part of a thunderstorm until they become too large to be supported produces

A) hail.
B) NEXRAD.
C) streamers.
D) a willy nilly.
E) a gale.

Question 42

The strong updrafts that are rotating within a supercell thunderstorm are called

A) mesocyclones.
B) leaders.
C) streamers.
D) gust fronts.
E) eyes.

Question 43

The following before and after images document damage most likely caused by which type of storm?

A) willy nilly
B) hurricane
C) typhoon
D) tornado
E) thunderstorm

Question 44

A rapidly moving current of cool air that flows downward in a thunderstorm is called a(n)

A) streamer.
B) leader.
C) mesocyclone.
D) downdraft.
E) eye.

Question 45

Thunderstorms,midlatitude cyclones,and hurricanes are fed by

A) dense, heavy air.
B) latent heat of condensation.
C) the Coriolis effect.
D) the rain shadow effect.
E) atmospheric stability.

Question 46

The area of rapidly flowing air moving upward within a thunderstorm is called a(n)

A) NEXRAD.
B) gust front.
C) leader.
D) streamer.
E) updraft.

Question 47

Which of the following statements are true about tropical cyclones?

A) To be a tropical depression, a low-pressure system must have central sustained winds between 20 and 34 knots (23 to 39 mph).
B) A tropical low-pressure system with maximum sustained winds between 35 and 63 knots (39 to 73 mph) is called a tropical storm.
C) A tropical storm can strengthen into a tropical depression.
D) A tropical low-pressure system with maximum sustained winds between 35 and 63 knots (39 to 73 mph) is called a tropical depression.
E) A tropical depression can strengthen into a tropical storm.

Question 48

The cloud type of a thunderstorm is

A) nimbostratus.
B) altocumulus.
C) cirrus.
D) cumulonimbus.
E) cirrostratus.

Question 49

What is the name given to the windblown top of the thunderstorm in the following picture?

A) squall line
B) gust front
C) anvil
D) occluded front
E) eye

Question 50

What type of cloud is in the following picture of a thunderstorm?

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

Question 51

The term that does NOT refer to a circulatory system that originates near the equator and has maximum sustained winds greater than 63 knots or 73 mph is

A) typhoon.
B) cyclone.
C) tropical cyclone.
D) midlatitude cyclone.
E) hurricane.

Question 52

Which of the following are characteristics of a thunderstorm?

A) Severe thunderstorms are typically accompanied by abundant lightning.
B) Most thunderstorms are very intense events.
C) Thunderstorm strength is measured on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
D) The most intense thunderstorms may contain tornadoes that have incredibly strong winds that can cause great damage.
E) Most thunderstorms are short-lived events.

Question 53

The number and severity of tornadoes in the United States are predominantly a function of the:

A) large number of mobile homes.
B) ready interaction of the mT and CP air masses.
C) influence of the Gulf Stream.
D) rain shadow effect from the Rocky Mountains.
E) the urban heat islands.

Question 54

Which of the following statements are true about tornado detection and warnings?

A) Traditionally, when the very first tornado from a storm system develops, the condition in effect from the National Weather Service is a tornado watch.
B) A tornado warning is only issued once an actual funnel or tornado has been identified.
C) A hook echo is the diagnostic feature in radar that indicates strong rotation within a thunderstorm and possible tornado development.
D) NEXRAD is a network of anemometers that allow the National Weather Service to track tornado wind speeds.
E) Doppler radar technology allows tornado warnings to be issued faster and with greater accuracy.

Question 55

The center of Tornado Alley is

A) Mississippi and Alabama.
B) Kentucky and Tennessee.
C) Oklahoma and Kansas.
D) Kentucky and West Virginia.
E) California and Nevada.

Question 56

In a thunderstorm,the air is rising and condensing without precipitation in the stage called

A) mature.
B) dissipating.
C) cumulus.
D) stationary.
E) occlusion.

Question 57

As the center of a hurricane passes from the south to the north of a location in the Northern Hemisphere,the winds will usually shift from the

A) south to still to north.
B) southeast to southwest to northwest.
C) east to still to west.
D) northwest to south to northeast.
E) west to still to southeast.

Question 58

The quadrant of a hurricane where the storm surge is usually highest is the

A) right front.
B) left front.
C) center.
D) right rear.
E) left rear.

Question 59

The interaction of mT and cP air along the polar front frequently occurs during a

A) midlatitude cyclone.
B) warm front.
C) cold front.
D) cold air inversion.
E) occlusion front.

Question 60

The most intense storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean was

A) Katrina.
B) Sandy.
C) Rita.
D) Ike.
E) Wilma.

Question 61

The following diagram is showing the _______ of hurricanes in August in the Atlantic Ocean.

A) orbit
B) thalweg
C) leader
D) track
E) streamer

Question 62

The storm in the following diagram would be measured using which scale?

A) Enhanced Fujita
B) Saffir-Simpson
C) Richter
D) Mercalli
E) Mohs

Question 63

The rise in sea level associated with the low pressure of the hurricane on the water and the winds pushing water onshore is called the

A) gust front.
B) streamer.
C) leader.
D) eye wall.
E) storm surge.

Question 64

The storm surge of Hurricane Katrina was up to

A) 1 m (3 ft)
B) 3 m (10 ft)
C) 5 m (16 ft)
D) 7 m (23 ft)
E) 9 m (30 ft)

Question 65

The sinking air in the center of a hurricane is the

A) mesocyclone.
B) streamer.
C) leader.
D) storm surge.
E) eye.

Question 66

Select all of the following statements that are true about hurricanes.

A) The projected path of a hurricane is called the thalweg.
B) A storm surge is the rise in sea level associated with the low pressure of the hurricane on the water and the winds pushing water onshore.
C) Another name for the path of a hurricane is its track.
D) The sinking air in the center of a hurricane is the eye.
E) The storm surge is typically the highest in the front right quadrant of the hurricane.

Question 67

Which of the following are true about Hurricane Sandy?

A) It caused 0.6 m (2 ft) of snow to fall in some inland areas because it combined with an early winter storm.
B) It was the costliest storm in U.S. history.
C) It struck the East Coast at precisely the highest tide of the month, which led to a 4-m-high (13-ft-high) storm surge in parts of northern New Jersey and New York City.
D) The hurricane was drawn to the west by a strong midlatitude surface low, causing it to form a superstorm that extended over 1000 km (600 mi) in width.
E) When the levees near New Orleans failed, some parts of the city were flooded with several meters of water.

Question 68

As the center of a cyclone passes from the north to the south of a location in the Southern Hemisphere,the winds will usually shift from

A) south to still to north.
B) northeast to north to northwest.
C) east to still to west.
D) west to northwest to northeast.
E) west to still to east.

Question 69

The most deadly storm to hit the United States was

A) the Galveston Hurricane in 1900.
B) Wilma.
C) the Labor Day Hurricane of 1850.
D) Ike.
E) Katrina.

Question 70

The path of a hurricane is called its

A) track.
B) orbit.
C) thalweg.
D) storm surge.
E) eye.

Question 71

Which of the following statements are true about the Saffir-Simpson scale?

A) It ranges from 0 (weak) to 5 (devastating).
B) It is used to describe hurricane intensity.
C) It is based on the wind speed intensity.
D) It is inversely related to the central pressure of the storm.
E) It is based on the amount of damage caused.

Question 72

Supercell thunderstorms can produce tornadoes due to large rotating updrafts called

A) mesocyclones.
B) Doppler shift.
C) microcyclones.
D) macrocyclones.

Question 73

Cold fronts that produce squall line thunderstorms in the U.S.Midwest are associated with which two air masses?

A) mA and mC
B) cT and cP
C) mE and cA
D) mT and cP

Question 74

Hurricane season in the northern half of the Atlantic Ocean is from

A) January to March.
B) April to June.
C) June to July.
D) August to October.
E) November to December.

Question 75

From largest diameter to smallest diameter,the storms are

A) tornado, hurricane, midlatitude cyclone.
B) midlatitude cyclone, tornado, hurricane.
C) midlatitude cyclone, hurricane, tornado.
D) hurricane, midlatitude cyclone, tornado.
E) hurricane, tornado, midlatitude cyclone.

Question 76

If a midlatitude cyclone is centered in Kansas on Tuesday,by Wednesday it will most likely be centered in

A) North Dakota.
B) Utah.
C) Texas.
D) Indiana.
E) Florida.

Question 77

The air mass that is the main source of precipitation in the eastern United States is the

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

Question 78

The most common cold air mass to affect the United States is the cA.

Question 79

The fastest moving front is a cold front.

Question 80

Just behind a cold front,the air gets warmer.