Question 1

Which sequence best describe thunder formation?

Accepted Answer

Thunder is formed due to the rapid heating and expansion of air around a lightning bolt. This sudden expansion creates a shock wave that travels through the air and produces the sound of thunder. Therefore, the correct sequence for thunder formation is heating, expansion, and air filling the vacuum.

Question 2

Microbursts

Accepted Answer

Microbursts are small, intense downdrafts that spread out radially when they hit the ground, creating a "starburst" damage pattern.

Question 3

The weather system most likely to produce the strongest tornadoes is generally associated with

Accepted Answer

Cold fronts are typically associated with the most powerful type of tornadoes due to the large temperature and pressure contrasts they create, leading to strong wind shear and instability in the atmosphere. Warm fronts can also produce tornadoes, but they are often weaker and more isolated compared to those produced by cold fronts. Hurricanes and single-cell thunderstorms can produce tornadoes as well, but they are typically not as intense or widespread as those associated with cold fronts.

Question 4

Which of the following represents the correct charge sequence to create lightning?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following represents the correct...

Question 5

The most likely time for a tornado during the day is at

Accepted Answer

The most likely time for a tornado during the day is in the late afternoon or early evening, around 6 p.m. This is when the sun is beginning to set and surface heating is still high, creating instability in the atmosphere. Tornadoes can also occur in the late morning or early afternoon when heating is at its peak, but the highest probability is during the early evening.

Question 6

During the summer,which of the following regions would experience the greatest number of tornadoes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the summer,which of the following regions...

Question 7

All of the following are conducive to the formation of tornadoes except

Accepted Answer

Mountains and other topographic barriers generally inhibit the formation of tornadoes as they disrupt the necessary horizontal wind flow required for their formation.

Question 8

Which of the following regions has the lowest annual frequency of tornadoes?

Accepted Answer

The Northeast coast has the lowest annual frequency of tornadoes compared to the other regions listed. Tornadoes are more common in the Great Plains region, known as Tornado Alley, which includes North Texas to the Dakotas. The Gulf Coast and Florida are also regions where tornadoes occur more frequently due to the warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico.

Question 9

The frequency of reported tornadoes would be favored by all the conditions except

Accepted Answer

North-south mountain chains do not favor the frequency of reported tornadoes because they can disrupt the flow of warm moist air needed for tornado formation. The other conditions listed (proximity to warm moist air, upper level wind shear, and sophisticated detection ability) all contribute to the likelihood of tornado reporting.

Question 10

Haboobs

Accepted Answer

Haboobs are associated with dust storms, which typically occur during the dying phase of a thunderstorm. The other options provided do not accurately describe haboobs.

Question 11

The origin of dust devils would be most similar to

Accepted Answer

Dust devils and tornadoes both originate from the ground up, due to intense surface heating that causes air to rise rapidly, potentially creating a spinning motion if conditions are right.

Question 12

Each of the following is a wise strategy when lightning is sited except

Accepted Answer

Lying down outdoors in an open field or area increases the risk of being struck by lightning. It is best to seek shelter indoors or in a vehicle with a hard top and closed windows.

Question 13

Which state would be the safest if you wanted to avoid death by lightning?

Accepted Answer

Washington has the lowest number of lightning strike fatalities in the United States, making it the safest option among the choices given.

Question 14

Fair-weather waterspouts generally

Accepted Answer

Fair-weather waterspouts form from normal cumulus clouds, not from thunderclouds or tornadoes. They are generally weaker than other types of waterspouts.

Question 15

Derechos are

Accepted Answer

Derechos are strong, widespread windstorms that are associated with a band of showers or thunderstorms. They often produce strong downdrafts which can create ominous looking shelf clouds.

Question 16

One of the ways to stay safe from the danger of lightning is to know how far away the approaching storm is.If you see a flash of lightning and then hear thunder approximately 15 seconds later,the lightning is

Accepted Answer

The rule of thumb is that for every 5 seconds between the lightning flash and the sound of thunder, the storm is approximately one mile away. Therefore, if you see a flash of lightning and hear thunder 15 seconds later, the storm is approximately 3 miles away.

Question 17

Strong updrafts and internal rotation are necessary to spawn tornadoes.Which location is most likely to have a tornado?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Strong updrafts and internal rotation are necessary...

Question 18

The most likely area for the development of tornadoes from this hurricane once it makes landfall is

Accepted Answer

The most likely area for the development of tornadoes from hurricanes is typically in the right-front quadrant of the storm relative to its track, which is often on the eastern side. In this case, Option B is on the eastern side of the projected track, making it the most likely area for tornado development.

Question 19

One of the reasons why tornado frequency is lower in Europe than in North America is

Accepted Answer

While the Gulf Stream does bring warm air to Europe, the presence of east-west trending mountains such as the Alps and Pyrenees inhibit the clash of warm and cold air necessary for tornado formation. Lower population densities and storm reporting capabilities may contribute to underreporting of tornadoes in Europe but are not significant factors in explaining the lower frequency. Higher than normal temperatures due to the Gulf Stream may contribute to severe weather in Europe but do not necessarily lead to an increase in tornadoes.

Question 20

A tornado blows walls from homes.The likely EF categorization of the tornado producing this damage is

Accepted Answer

EF3 tornadoes can cause severe damage to homes, including blowing out walls.

Quiz 5: Weather Systems and Severe Weather