Question 1

The relative humidity would be ________ percent if the actual water vapor in the air was 10 grams per cubic meter, the air's capacity to hold water vapor was 20 grams per cubic meter, and the dew point temperature was 20 degrees Celsius.

Accepted Answer

The relative humidity can be calculated using the equation: (actual water vapor content / maximum water vapor content at that temperature) x 100%. 
The maximum water vapor content at 20 degrees Celsius is 17.3 grams per cubic meter. 
Therefore, the relative humidity = (10/17.3) x 100% = 57.8%. Rounded to the nearest whole number, the answer is 58%, which is closest to choice C (50%).

Question 2

The rainiest portion of South America is the ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The rainiest portion of South America is...

Question 3

The release of latent heat along from water molecules on a wet surface is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Evaporative cooling is the release of latent heat from water molecules on a wet surface as they evaporate into the surrounding air. This process can result in cooling of the surrounding area. A is incorrect as vapor pressure refers to the pressure exerted by water vapor in the air. C refers to the amount of water vapor in the air and D refers to the process of water vapor turning into liquid on a surface.

Question 4

Which of the following promotes evaporation?

Accepted Answer

All of the above promote evaporation. Warm water, warm air, and moving air all contribute to the process of evaporation. When the temperature of water is increased, the molecules move faster and eventually, more of them will become gas and evaporate. Similarly, when air is warm, it has a higher capacity for holding water vapor, and when it moves, it creates a gradient of water vapor that encourages more evaporation.

Question 5

Clouds of vertical development include ________.

Accepted Answer

Cumulonimbus clouds are characterized by their large vertical development and can reach heights of up to 12 miles. Cirrus, stratocumulus, altocumulus, and fog are all types of clouds but they do not have the same level of vertical development as cumulonimbus clouds.

Question 6

Most of the wettest areas around the world are located in the ________.

Accepted Answer

The majority of the world's wettest areas are located in the tropics, where warm air rises and forms clouds that bring precipitation. These regions typically receive more than 100 inches of rainfall per year, with some areas receiving over 400 inches. Examples of wet tropical regions include the Amazon rainforest, Southeast Asia, and Central Africa.

Question 7

How warm or cold it feels to us is the ________ temperature.

Accepted Answer

The sensible temperature is the temperature that we feel, which is determined by a combination of actual air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and other factors. The dew point (A) is the temperature at which air becomes saturated with water vapor and dew or frost may form. The latent temperature (C) is the energy required to change the state of a substance, like from ice to water or water to water vapor. Common temperature (D) and adiabatic temperature (E) are not commonly used terms in meteorology.

Question 8

________ is the critical temperature at which saturation is reached.

Accepted Answer

The dew point is the critical temperature at which saturation is reached and condensation begins to form.

Question 9

Which part of the United States has the least annual variability of precipitation?

Accepted Answer

The eastern United States generally experiences less annual variability in precipitation due to its more consistent climate patterns influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.

Question 10

If air's capacity for holding water vapor is diminished then the relative humidity will ________.

Accepted Answer

When the air's capacity for holding water vapor decreases but the actual amount of water vapor remains constant, the relative humidity increases because relative humidity is the ratio of the current absolute humidity to the highest possible absolute humidity (which would decrease in this case).

Question 11

When air is heated enough so that it is warmer than the surrounding air, it is ________.

Accepted Answer

When air is heated enough to be warmer than the surrounding air, it becomes less dense and rises, creating vertical motion. This results in instability in the atmosphere, which can lead to the formation of thunderstorms and other convective weather.

Question 12

A precipitation type extremely characteristic of the lower latitudes is ________.

Accepted Answer

Convergent lifting is characteristic of lower latitudes, especially in the tropics, where air masses converge and are forced upward, leading to precipitation. This process is a key mechanism in the formation of tropical rainforests.

Question 13

In the United States, fog occurs LEAST often in the ________ states.

Accepted Answer

Fog occurs least often in the Southwestern states due to the region's arid climate and low humidity levels, which are not conducive to the formation of fog.

Question 14

Maximum absolute humidity is governed by ________.

Accepted Answer

The maximum absolute humidity is governed by temperature, as warmer air can hold more water vapor than cooler air.

Question 15

Liquid water that has cooled below the dew point becomes ________.

Accepted Answer

When liquid water cools below the dew point, it becomes supercooled. This means that it remains liquid despite being at a temperature below its freezing point.

Question 16

White frost is simply a cold weather form of ________.

Accepted Answer

White frost is formed when water vapor in the air condenses and freezes on the ground or other surfaces that have a temperature below freezing point. This process is known as deposition, which is similar to the process of dew formation, except that frost forms at a colder temperature. Therefore, the best choice is D) dew.

Question 17

A lack of atmospheric buoyancy is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Stability refers to a lack of atmospheric buoyancy, which can occur when air becomes more dense than its surroundings and is resistant to vertical motion. This can lead to stagnant air conditions and can impact weather patterns. The other choices are not related to the concept of atmospheric buoyancy.

Question 18

The rainiest region of the continental United States is the ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The rainiest region of the continental United...

Question 19

Buoyant air will rise until it ________.

Accepted Answer

Buoyant air rises until it reaches the temperature of the surrounding air because at that point it becomes neither denser nor lighter; therefore, it no longer has the tendency to rise or sink.

Question 20

The altitude at which rising air reaches the dew point temperature is the ________.

Accepted Answer

The altitude at which rising air reaches the dew point temperature is called the lifting condensation level (LCL). At this altitude, the water vapor in the rising air condenses into visible water droplets, forming clouds.

Quiz 6: Atmospheric Moisture