Question 1

Which of the following is not a mechanism that will cause air to rise?

Accepted Answer

Conduction cooling is not a mechanism that will cause air to rise. Conduction is the transfer of heat between objects that are in direct contact with each other, so it does not involve the vertical movement of air. The other choices are all mechanisms that can cause air to rise: orographic lifting occurs when air is forced to rise over a mountain range, frontal wedging occurs when warmer air is forced to rise over cooler air at a front, convective cooling occurs when air is cooled from below and rises as a result, and convergence occurs when air converges into a low-pressure area and is forced to rise.

Question 2

Why does the Florida peninsula experience the greatest frequency of midafternoon thunderstorms of any place in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Florida peninsula is situated between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The winds from these two opposite directions collide over land, and as the warm air rises, it cools and condenses, forming thunderstorms. This process is known as the sea-breeze front, which is a common occurrence in Florida during the summer afternoons.

Question 3

Orographic lifting is related to mountain barriers, and it is often associated with _____ .

Accepted Answer

Orographic lifting occurs when moist air is forced to rise as it encounters a mountain barrier. As the air rises, it cools and condenses, leading to precipitation on the windward side of the mountains. As the air descends on the leeward side, it warms and dries, leading to desert conditions. Therefore, the correct choice is C, which states that orographic lifting is often associated with desert conditions on the leeward side of the mountains and excessive rainfall on the windward side.

Question 4

If air at sea level with a temperature of 27°C is forced up a mountain slope and the air's dew point at the condensation level is 14°C, at what elevation will condensation begin?

Accepted Answer

The dry adiabatic lapse rate is approximately 10°C per 1000 meters. The temperature difference between 27°C and the dew point of 14°C is 13°C. Therefore, condensation begins at 1300 meters.

Question 5

Clouds are classified on the basis of their_____  .

Accepted Answer

Clouds are classified based on their form and height, which helps in identifying different types of clouds and understanding their characteristics and the weather patterns they may indicate.

Question 6

The Great Basin is an example of a_____  .

Accepted Answer

The Great Basin is located in the rainshadow of the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountain ranges, which means that it is a desert that is created by the lack of precipitation caused by the mountains blocking moisture. Therefore, D) rainshadow desert is the correct answer.

Question 7

Condensation nuclei, tiny particles of matter in the air, are important because _____ .

Accepted Answer

Condensation nuclei provide a surface for water molecules to form on. This is how clouds, fog, and precipitation form. Without condensation nuclei, the water vapor in the air would not have a surface to attach to and would remain as vapor.

Question 8

Adiabatic temperature changes occur even though heat is not added or subtracted from the atmosphere because_____ .

Accepted Answer

Adiabatic temperature changes occur due to changes in pressure which cause molecules to either compress or expand. This change in molecular motion leads to a change in temperature without any exchange of heat with the surroundings.

Question 9

Given an environmental lapse rate of 5°C/1000 m and a dry adiabatic of 10°C, what would what would happen if unsaturated air that had a temperature of 25°C at the surface were forced to rise 2000 m in the air?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Given an environmental lapse rate of 5°C/1000...

Question 10

Which of the following cloud types is most commonly associated with precipitation?

Accepted Answer

Nimbostratus clouds are low, gray clouds that are thick enough to produce precipitation, such as rain or snow. The prefix "nimbo" refers to their ability to produce precipitation. The other cloud types listed are not typically associated with precipitation.

Question 11

When the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic rate,_____  .

Accepted Answer

When the environmental lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic rate, it means the temperature of the atmosphere decreases with altitude at a rate faster than the cooling rate of a rising air parcel. This condition is unstable and encourages rising air to continue to rise, as it will always be warmer and less dense than its surroundings.

Question 12

When a mass of cold air collides with a mass of warm air, what happens?

Accepted Answer

When a mass of cold air collides with a mass of warm air, the cold air is denser than the warm air, so it slides under the warm air, causing it to rise. This rising warm air can lead to the formation of clouds and precipitation. This process is known as a cold front.

Question 13

Which of the following would not be associated with stable atmospheric conditions?

Accepted Answer

Afternoon thunder showers are often associated with unstable atmospheric conditions, as the sun heats the air near the surface and causes it to rise, creating instability and the potential for thunderstorm development.

Question 14

Irregular heating of the air can produce thermals, which are _____ .

Accepted Answer

Irregular heating of the air can create pockets of warm air, which are less dense than the surrounding air and will rise. These pockets of warm air are known as thermals.

Question 15

The Dry Adiabatic rate of change for unsaturated air is 10°C/1000 m. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

The dry adiabatic lapse rate indicates that unsaturated air cools at a rate of 10°C per 1000 meters as it rises and warms at the same rate as it descends due to compression. This is because the pressure decreases with altitude, allowing the air to expand and cool, or increases as it descends, causing it to compress and warm.

Question 16

The classification of air as stable or unstable is based on _____ .

Accepted Answer

The classification of air as stable or unstable is primarily based on its likelihood to rise. Stable air tends not to rise and form clouds easily, while unstable air is more likely to rise, cool, condense, and form clouds and precipitation.

Question 17

A parcel of air has a temperature of 0°C as it crosses a mountain range at 3000 meters. If it descends, what will its temperature be when it reaches sea level?

Accepted Answer

As the parcel of air descends, it warms up due to adiabatic heating at a rate of approximately 10°C per 1000 meters. Since it descends 3000 meters, it would warm up by 30°C, making its temperature 30°C at sea level.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Stratus clouds are low-level clouds that form in layers or sheets and cover much or all of the sky. Cumulus clouds are puffy and have a distinct vertical development, cirrus clouds are high, thin, and wispy, and alto clouds are medium-level clouds that are typically composed of a mixture of water droplets and ice crystals.

Question 19

Stability prevails when the environmental lapse rate is _____ .

Accepted Answer

Stability prevails when the environmental lapse rate is less than the wet adiabatic rate. This means that the air is not rising quickly and is not able to reach its dew point, which can lead to condensation and cloud formation. This stable environment often results in clear weather conditions.

Question 20

Given an environmental lapse rate of 5°C/1000 m and a dry adiabatic of 10°C, what would be the temperature of unsaturated surface air after it rises to height of 2000 m if its surface temperature had been 25°C?

Accepted Answer

The dry adiabatic rate applies only to unsaturated air. The temperature of the unsaturated surface air after it rises to a height of 2000 m is found by subtracting two dry adiabatic rates (since it is unsaturated air) and one environmental lapse rate from the surface temperature: 
25°C - (2 x 10°C) - (1 x 5°C) = 0°C 
Therefore, the best choice is B, 5°C.

Quiz 17: Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Which of the following is not a mechanism that will cause air to rise?

Why does the Florida peninsula experience the greatest frequency of midafternoon thunderstorms of any place in the United States?

Orographic lifting is related to mountain barriers, and it is often associated with _____ .

If air at sea level with a temperature of 27°C is forced up a mountain slope and the air's dew point at the condensation level is 14°C, at what elevation will condensation begin?

Clouds are classified on the basis of their_____ .

The Great Basin is an example of a_____ .