Question 1

During the summer, a ______ air mass brings warm, humid weather to the eastern U.S.&#10;A) continental tropical&#10;B) maritime tropical&#10;C) continental polar&#10;D) maritime polar

Accepted Answer

A maritime tropical air mass comes from over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, bringing warm and moist air to the eastern United States during the summer.

Question 2

In winter, most rain and snow storms that reach the west coast of the U.S. are from ____ air masses.&#10;A) continental tropical&#10;B) maritime tropical&#10;C) continental polar&#10;D) maritime polar

Accepted Answer

Maritime polar air masses originate from the cold waters of the North Pacific and bring moist and cool conditions to the west coast, which can lead to precipitation in the form of rain or snow. Continental tropical air masses are dry and warm, and do not typically contribute to winter precipitation on the west coast. Maritime tropical air masses can bring heavy rain in some seasons, but are more common in the summer and fall rather than winter. Continental polar air masses can bring cold temperatures and snow to the west coast, but are less common than maritime polar air masses in the winter months.

Question 3

When two different air masses converge, they may produce _______ precipitation.&#10;A) convective&#10;B) convergence&#10;C) frontal&#10;D) orographic&#10;E) air mass

Accepted Answer

When two different air masses converge, they create a frontal boundary. As the air masses are forced to rise along the frontal boundary, they may produce frontal precipitation, which can be in the form of rain or snow depending on the temperature of the air masses.

Question 4

Which of the following is not considered a main type of uplift for precipitation?&#10;A) advective&#10;B) convective&#10;C) convergent&#10;D) frontal&#10;E) orographic

Accepted Answer

Advective uplift is not a main type of uplift for precipitation. The main types of uplift for precipitation are convective, convergent, frontal, and orographic uplift. Advective uplift refers to the horizontal movement of air, and does not necessarily result in uplift.

Question 5

A line of moving thunderstorms is called a ______.&#10;A) squall&#10;B) sasquach&#10;C) mesoscale convective complex&#10;D) multicell thunderstorm

Accepted Answer

A line of moving thunderstorms is called a squall line.

Question 6

The highest frequency of thunderstorm days in the U.S occurs in:&#10;A) Arizona&#10;B) California&#10;C) Florida&#10;D) Oklahoma&#10;E) Minnesota

Accepted Answer

Florida has the highest frequency of thunderstorm days in the U.S due to its humid subtropical climate and frequent afternoon sea breeze convergence.

Question 7

Hail occurs in the ______ stage of a thunderstorm development and can grow as large as ____.&#10;A) dissipating; baseballs&#10;B) mature; softballs&#10;C) dissipating; watermelons&#10;D) cumulus; golfballs

Accepted Answer

Hail occurs during the mature stage of a thunderstorm development when there are strong updrafts and downdrafts. Hailstones can grow as large as softballs during these conditions.

Question 8

Tornado Alley is located in ______ of the United States.&#10;A) the southeast&#10;B) the Dakotas&#10;C) along the Gulf of Mexico&#10;D) the south central states

Accepted Answer

Tornado Alley is located in the south central states of the United States. This includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Colorado.

Question 9

The rainshadow areas generally occur:&#10;A) upwind of mountain ranges&#10;B) downwind of mountain ranges&#10;C) along mountain ranges&#10;D) opposite the sun

Accepted Answer

Rainshadow areas are typically found downwind of mountain ranges. As moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range, it cools and its water vapor condenses, causing precipitation on the windward side. By the time the air reaches the leeward side of the mountain range, it has lost most of its moisture and is relatively dry. This creates a rainshadow area where little precipitation falls.

Question 10

Along a cold front, warm air:&#10;A) rises and cools&#10;B) lifts cooler air&#10;C) sinks and cools&#10;D) slides down a cold air mass

Accepted Answer

Along a cold front, the denser cold air pushes under the warmer, less dense air. This forces the warm air to rise and cool, leading to potential precipitation and thunderstorm activity.

Question 11

On average, the U.S. records about_____ tornadoes a year.&#10;A) 50&#10;B) 120&#10;C) 500&#10;D) over 1000

Accepted Answer

The answer of On average, the U.S. records about_____ tornadoes...

Question 12

Lightning in thunderstorms is caused by:&#10;A) two clouds colliding&#10;B) a separation of positive and negative charges by turbulent vertical winds within the cloud&#10;C) friction created by strong jet stream winds above the thunderstorm&#10;D) the buildup of electrical energy due to sudden heating

Accepted Answer

The answer of Lightning in thunderstorms is caused by:&#10;A) two...

Question 13

Air mass thunderstorms can develop when:&#10;A) there is warm, moist, unstable air&#10;B) there is orographic lifting&#10;C) there is strong surface heating and cooling aloft&#10;D) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Air mass thunderstorms can develop when:&#10;A) there...

Question 14

In the ____ stage of thunderstorm development, updrafts predominate and the cloud grows tens of thousands of feet.&#10;A) mature&#10;B) cumulus&#10;C) dissipating&#10;D) growth

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the ____ stage of thunderstorm development,...

Question 15

The most important force operating within a tornado is:&#10;A) the horizontal pressure gradient force&#10;B) the Coriolis force&#10;C) friction&#10;D) gravity

Accepted Answer

The answer of The most important force operating within a...

Question 16

Thunder only happens when it rains.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Thunder only happens when it rains....

Question 17

The United States has the most tornadoes of any country in the world.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The United States has the most tornadoes...

Question 18

If an air parcel rises dry adiabatically and then saturated adiabatically up a mountain range and descends to the same elevation on the leeward side, its temperature will become warmer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If an air parcel rises dry adiabatically...

Question 19

An air mass thunderstorm dissipates when ________.&#10;A) it has no more water vapor&#10;B) it stops raining&#10;C) downdrafts dominate&#10;D) lightning decreases

Accepted Answer

The answer of An air mass thunderstorm dissipates when ________.&#10;A)...

Question 20

Thunderstorms are most prevalent ______.&#10;A) in the equatorial latitudes&#10;B) in the mid-latitudes&#10;C) in polar latitudes&#10;D) in the U.S.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Thunderstorms are most prevalent ______.&#10;A) in the...

Deck 12: Precipitation, Air Masses, and Fronts