Deck 7: Weather

Question 1

Climate is

A)the weather of a region at a given time.
B)the short-term condition of the atmosphere.
C)the long-term average atmospheric condition,including extremes that may occur.
D)a reference to temperature patterns only.
E)a classification to describe the precipitation patterns of a region over a period of weeks to months.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following characteristics is not associated with a well-developed newly formed cP air mass?

A)cold temperatures
B)clear skies
C)high pressure
D)formation in the Southern Hemisphere
E)anticyclonic wind flow

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Weather is

A)the climate of a region.
B)the short-term condition of the atmosphere.
C)the long-term atmospheric condition,including extremes that may occur.
D)a reference to temperature patterns only.
E)a classification to describe the average temperature and precipitation of an area.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Air flowing from different directions to an area of low pressure,coming together,and being displaced upward is an example of lifting.

A)convergent
B)convectional
C)orographic
D)frontal
E)radiative

Question 5

A mT air mass is likely to be than a cT air mass because the mT air mass .

A)wetter;is warmer than the cT air mass
B)wetter;forms over the ocean
C)drier;is a cold air mass
D)drier;forms under the equatorial low
E)hotter;forms over the ocean

Question 6

Which of the following is false regarding air masses?

A)An air mass initially reflects the characteristics of its source region.
B)They are homogenous in terms of temperature and humidity.
C)They may dominate half the depth of the troposphere.
D)Air masses interact to create weather patterns.
E)Air masses maintain their original characteristics as they migrate from their source regions.

Question 7

The dry leeward side of a mountain is often termed a(n)

A)rain shadow.
B)chinook.
C)front.
D)orogeny.
E)straight line.

Question 8

Which of the following would not result in the modification of the air mass?

A)A mT air mass moving across Texas
B)A cP air mass moving across the Great Lakes
C)A cT air mass moving across the Gulf of Mexico
D)A cA air mass moving across the Gulf of Alaska
E)A cP air mass remaining stationary over central Canada

Question 9

A(n)is a homogenous volume of air defined based on its temperature,and moisture characteristics.

A)cyclone
B)air mass
C)front
D)parcel
E)cloud

Question 10

Air rising as a result of being stimulated by local surface heating is an example of lifting.

A)convergent
B)convectional
C)orographic
D)frontal
E)upslope

Question 11

The term "orographic" refers to

A)convection stimulated principally by local heating.
B)lifting along the edges of conflicting air masses.
C)air mass modification and the formation of secondary air masses.
D)forced uplift due to the presence of a physical barrier.
E)vertical lifting due to converging air masses.

Question 12

Which of the following pressure systems reside within the source region for mP air masses?

A)Bermuda high and Pacific high
B)Aleutian low and Icelandic low
C)Bermuda high and Icelandic low
D)Aleutian low and Pacific high
E)Icelandic low and Bermuda high

Question 13

The maritime tropical Pacific (mT)and maritime tropical Gulf and Atlantic (mT)air masses are

A)different from one another because the Pacific air mass usually has lower specific humidity than the Gulf/Atlantic air mass.
B)both usually extremely unstable.
C)very different because the Pacific air mass is very unstable and the Gulf/Atlantic air mass is usually stable.
D)both less active during summer months.
E)similar in that neither occur during the Northern Hemisphere winter.

Question 14

Air rising forcibly lifted upslope when it meets a topographic barrier such as a mountain is an example of lifting.

A)convergent
B)convectional
C)orographic
D)frontal
E)advective

Question 15

When a cold cP air mass passes over the warmer Great Lakes,it absorbs heat energy and moisture and becomes humidified.This is known as the

A)continental effect.
B)maritime effect.
C)humidity effect.
D)lake effect.
E)Michigan effect.

Question 16

Which is incorrectly matched?

A)cP-cold,dense air
B)mP-warm,moist,stable conditions
C)mT-warm,humid,variable stability depending on source region
D)cA-very cold,very dry,stable
E)AA-antarctic.

Question 17

Capital letters in air mass names reflect the characteristics of the air mass

A)moisture
B)relative humidity
C)temperature
D)wind
E)cloud

Question 18

Given a cP air mass and cT air mass with the same relative humidity,which air mass would have higher specific humidity?

A)The cP air mass would have the higher specific humidity.
B)The cT air mass would have the higher specific humidity.
C)The specific humidity of both would be the same because their relative humidities are the same.
D)It is impossible to say what would usually be true of their specific humidities.
E)Specific humidity is not a relevant measure of air masses.

Question 19

Air masses which develop over Canada are examples of air masses.

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

Question 20

The scientific study of the short-term condition of the atmosphere is

A)weather.
B)climate.
C)meteorology.
D)geography.
E)climatology.

Question 21

The term "rain shadow" refers to

A)periods of time during which there is a lack of rainfall.
B)dry regions on the leeward side of mountain ranges.
C)windward slopes of mountains.
D)wet areas on the downwind sides of mountains.
E)high cloud cover areas due to convectional rainstorms.

Question 22

All of the following except are typically used in weather forecasting and weather map preparation.

A)barometric pressure
B)surface air temperature
C)precipitation
D)wind speed and direction
E)natural vegetation

Question 23

After a cold front passes,the temperature and the pressure (relative to the conditions that existed prior to the passage of the front).

A)increases;increases
B)increases;decreases
C)decreases;increases
D)decreases;decreases
E)remains unchanged;decreases

Question 24

The severity of storm activity along a cold front is that along most warm fronts because the rate of uplift is along a cold front.

A)less than;slower
B)less than;faster
C)greater than;slower
D)greater than;faster
E)equal to;equal

Question 25

The severity of storm activity along a warm front is that along most cold fronts because the rate of uplift is along a warm front.

A)less than;slower
B)less than;faster
C)greater than;slower
D)greater than;faster
E)equal to;equal

Question 26

is an example of an environmental satellite used in weather forecasting and analysis.

A)Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)
B)Landsat 8
C)Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
D)SPOT Gen 3
E)Quickbird

Question 27

Which of the following is false regarding wave-cyclone development,intensification,and strengthening?

A)The process can occur along the polar front.
B)Cyclogenesis is the name for this process.
C)A midlatitude cyclone,from birth to maturity to dissolution,takes an average of a month.
D)A midlatitude cyclone involves two fronts and three air masses.
E)They can be 1,600 km (1,000 mi. )wide.

Question 28

When a cold front approaches,air pressure will initially due to the displacement and uplift of air.

A)increase;cold
B)increase;warm
C)decrease;cold
D)decrease;warm
E)decrease;both warm and cold

Question 29

Orographic patterns in Washington State.Four stations in Washington provide examples of orographic effects: windward precipitation and leeward rain shadows.Isohyets (isolines of equal precipitation amounts)on the map indicate rainfall (in inches).Note each station on the landscape profile at bottom. In the state of Washington,the western portion of the state receives far more rainfall than the eastern portion of the state.What accounts for this stark contrast?

A)The western portion of the state sees a great deal of frontal lifting,while the eastern portion is under a high pressure cell.
B)The western portion of the state experiences orographic precipitation,while the eastern portion is in the rain shadow.
C)The western portion of the state has much more moderate temperatures due to the maritime effect and,therefore,experiences convectional uplift,while the eastern portion is governed by continentality.
D)The western portion of the state is under the ITCZ during the summer and experiences convergent uplift,while the eastern portion is under the Azores High and experiences subsiding air.
E)The western portion of the state experiences year-round convective rainstorms,whereas the eastern portion does not.

Question 30

The wetter,intercepting slope of a mountain is termed the slope,whereas the drier,downwind slope is termed the slope.

A)left side;right side
B)west side;east side
C)windward;leeward
D)leeward;windward
E)wet front;dry front

Question 31

Cyclonic storm tracks across the United States and Canada generally

A)shift to the south in winter,and toward the north in summer.
B)move east to west.
C)move south to north.
D)exist in spring and fall only.
E)have very little influence on severe weather.

Question 32

During the occluded stage of a midlatitude cyclone,

A)the cold front overruns the slower moving warm front.
B)air begins to be uplifted along the cold front.
C)the cold front and warm front are clearly and distinctly separated from one another.
D)cyclogenesis begins.
E)very little precipitation occurs due to lack of uplift mechanisms.

Question 33

The highest rainfall in the world occurs in an area whose rainfall is generated by

A)advectional cooling of air masses over cold ocean currents.
B)orographic uplift of warm,moist air.
C)convectional uplift of warm,moist air.
D)radiative cooling of cold,moist air.
E)warm fronts.

Question 34

Occlusion in a midlatitude wave cyclone can occur because

A)warm fronts travel more quickly than cold fronts.
B)cold fronts travel more quickly than warm fronts.
C)warm and cold fronts travel at the same speed.
D)warm air sinks in low pressure areas.
E)warmer air has no uplift mechanisms.

Question 35

Which of the following is incorrectly matched?

A)abruptly lifted warmer air - cold front
B)drizzly precipitation - warm front
C)cold front - clear cold air and high clouds as the front approaches
D)hard rain and possible lightning - cold front
E)squall line - turbulent,changing wind patterns slightly ahead of a cold front

Question 36

After a warm front passes,the temperature and the pressure (relative to the conditions that existed prior to the passage of the front).

A)increases;increases
B)increases;decreases
C)decreases;increases
D)decreases;decreases
E)remains unchanged;decreases

Question 37

Migrating centers of low pressure in the Northern Hemisphere

A)have winds that diverge from the pressure system and spiral outward in a clockwise fashion.
B)tend to move east to west along storm tracks.
C)have counterclockwise,converging,and ascending air.
D)are a minor weather pattern in the middle and higher latitudes.
E)are also called tropical cyclones.

Question 38

During the open stage of a midlatitude cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere,

A)a disturbance develops along the polar front with warm air converging and rising near the surface.
B)a faster moving cold front overtakes the slower warm front and wedges beneath it.
C)warm air moves northward along an advancing front,while cold air advances southward.
D)the lifting mechanism is completely cut off from the warm air mass.
E)occlusion occurs,resulting in precipitation.

Question 39

Air displacement at a zone of discontinuity between two air masses of different temperature,pressure,humidity,wind speed and direction,and cloud development is an example of lifting.

A)convergent
B)convectional
C)orographic
D)frontal
E)radiative

Question 40

The record precipitation received in a single year was

A)in the United States.
B)in the Amazon in Brazil.
C)in the Assam Hills in India,south of the Himalayas.
D)in Southeast Asia.
E)in the Atacama Region in South America.

Question 41

Tornadoes

A)are rarely associated with hurricanes.
B)are associated with mesocyclones.
C)do not occur anywhere else in the world outside of the United States.
D)are called funnel clouds after they come in contact with the ground.
E)only occur during the months of March through September in the United States.

Question 42

Which of the following is true of tornadoes in the United States?

A)They occur in every month except March and April.
B)The peak month is November.
C)The peak month is May.
D)They develop within cP air masses.
E)They are most common west of the Rocky Mountains.

Question 43

Variation of wind speed and direction with altitude is known as

A)supercells.
B)convection.
C)wind shear.
D)convergence.
E)derechos.

Question 44

An estimated lightning strikes occur each day on Earth.

A)800
B)8,000
C)80,000
D)800,000
E)8,000,000

Question 45

Ice storms occur when which of the following conditions prevail?

A)Rain drops circulate repeatedly above and below the freezing level in a cloud.
B)Moist,cool air is adiabatically cooled to the freezing point.
C)A cold front pushes warm,moist air to the freezing level in a cloud.
D)A layer of warm air is between two layers of cold air.
E)Extremely cold temperatures at high latitudes and altitudes.

Question 46

Isolated,short-lived thunderstorms fueled by the rapid upward movement of warm,moist air are known as thunderstorms.

A)single-cell
B)supercell
C)multi-cell clusters
D)squall line
E)derecho

Question 47

is an example of a ground-based tool used in weather forecasting and analysis.

A)Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)
B)Doppler radar
C)Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
D)SPOT Gen 3
E)Quickbird

Question 48

The first stage of a single-cell thunderstorm is the stage in which .

A)occluded;a cold front overruns the slower moving warm front
B)mature;downdrafts cause heavy precipitation and strong,gusty winds
C)dissipating;downdrafts pull cooler air into the cloud
D)open;warm air moves northward along an advancing front,while cold air advances southward
E)cumulus;unstable conditions prevail leading to cumulus cloud formation

Question 49

clouds are associated with tornado development.

A)Cumulus
B)Nimbostratus
C)Altocumulus
D)Cumulonimbus
E)Cirrus

Question 50

Tornadoes are ranked in terms of wind speed and related property damage using the scale.

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

Question 51

Which of the following "ingredients" is not associated with thunderstorm formation?

A)warm,moist air
B)unstable air
C)a lifting mechanism
D)a strong high pressure cell
E)strong updrafts of rising air

Question 52

In which of the following areas will thunderstorms not develop?

A)in areas of orographic uplift
B)in areas of surface convergence
C)along frontal boundaries
D)under areas of strong high pressure
E)in areas during unstable atmospheric conditions

Question 53

Derechos

A)are named after the Latin word for "hooked" or "curved."
B)are straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms.
C)are associated with gravity drainage.
D)are most common in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
E)occur primarily in winter due to cP air masses.

Question 54

are the strongest thunderstorms.

A)Supercells
B)Multicell clusters
C)Multicell lines
D)Single-cells
E)derechos.

Question 55

Surface weather information in the United States come mainly from which of the following?

A)Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS)
B)Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)
C)Doppler Radar
D)geographic information systems
E)weather satellites

Question 56

Which of the following is true?

A)Lightning results from the buildup of electrical-energy polarity within clouds.
B)Thunder is caused by rapid cooling of the air.
C)Thunder is caused by rapid contraction of the air.
D)Lightning is relatively uncommon on the Earth.
E)The majority of lightning strikes occur over the oceans because of high evaporation rates.

Question 57

Severe thunderstorms can produce strong downdrafts that cause exceptionally strong winds near the ground.This turbulence is known as

A)updrafts.
B)downbursts.
C)Chinook winds.
D)föhn
E)derechos.

Question 58

Which is not true of Derechos?

A)They are caused by the same conditions that cause thunderstorms and tornadoes.
B)They occur mainly from May to August in the U.S.Midwest.
C)They can pose a threat to human property and life.
D)The winds travel in a curved path.
E)They occur mainly in the Midwest and Southeast.

Question 59

Which of the following best describes tornado development?

A)A horizontally rotating body of air is tipped vertically by an updraft within a cumulonimbus cloud,forming a mesocyclone,which can generate tornado activity.
B)Strong downdrafts in a cumulonimbus cloud cause the formation of funnel clouds,which pulse from the bottom sometimes forming tornadoes.
C)Bands of rapidly moving thunderstorms create powerful,straight-line winds.
D)Evaporation over warm ocean waters leads to convective thunderstorms;as latent energy is released as the water vapor condenses,tornadic activity is spawned.
E)Orographic uplift near warm ocean currents forces warm,moist air to rise and cool to dew point.The latent heat associated with condensation leads to strong downdrafts and tornado formation.

Question 60

Scientists called the new phenomenon,witnessed in May 2009,of straight line,100 mph winds with an eyelike structure and a path of destruction 100 miles wide a

A)squall line.
B)supercell.
C)super derecho.
D)macroburst.
E)wind shear.

Question 61

Tropical cyclones

A)are produced by the conflict between air masses and frontal activity.
B)originate entirely within tropical air masses.
C)usually form poleward of 23.5° latitude in either hemisphere.
D)are called hurricanes worldwide.
E)are classified using the Enhanced Fujita scale.

Question 62

Tornado occurrence in the United States The highest frequency of tornadoes per 26,000 km₂ (10,000 mi²)in the United States occurs in

A)Nebraska.
B)South Dakota.
C)Florida.
D)Oklahoma.
E)California.

Question 63

Which of the following is predicted to occur in the 21st Century as a result of climate change?

A)An increase in global snowfall due to an increase in atmospheric moisture.
B)Increased frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones due to increased ocean temperatures.
C)Less lake-effect snowfall due to warming waters.
D)Decrease in extreme snowfall events (blizzards).
E)A decrease in thunderstorm intensity and,as a result,fewer tornadoes.

Question 64

Easterly waves travel from in the belt.

A)east to west;trade wind
B)west to east;trade wind
C)east to west;westerly
D)west to east;westerly
E)north to south;North Atlantic Gyre.

Question 65

Hurricane was the most expensive hurricane in the United States history.

A)Mitch
B)Sandy
C)Andrew
D)Camille
E)Katrina

Question 66

Which of the following is incorrect?

A)The most severe weather in a hurricane occurs in the spiral bands.
B)By definition,hurricanes have sustained winds that exceed 65 knots (119 kmph or 74 mph).
C)Mature hurricanes develop a central eye of calm conditions.
D)Tropical cyclones range in diameter from 160 km to 1,000 km (100 mi.to 600 mi. ).
E)Vertically,a tropical cyclone dominates the full height of the troposphere.

Question 67

The Saffir-Simpson scale estimates potential property damage from

A)hurricanes.
B)tornadoes.
C)tropical depressions.
D)storm surges.
E)wave cyclones.

Question 68

Before a hurricane forms,upper-level divergence above an easterly wave

A)weakens vertical convective circulation.
B)pulls moisture into the system.
C)causes the system to dissipate.
D)moves west to east.
E)forms a mesocyclone.

Question 69

Describe the four types of atmospheric lifting and give typical geographic characteristics associated with each.

Question 70

The majority of hurricane damage and drowning is caused by the .

A)storm surge
B)eye
C)spiral rain bands
D)eyewall
E)associated tornadoes

Question 71

Which of the following was the deadliest Atlantic hurricane of the last 100 years?

A)Hurricane Mitch
B)Hurricane Bonnie
C)Hurricane Andrew
D)Hurricane Camille
E)Hurricane Katrina

Question 72

A tornado classified as an EF-5 would have

A)wind speeds greater than 322 kmph (200 mph)with incredible damage.
B)wind speeds less than 137 kmph (85 mph)with light damage.
C)wind speeds between 218-266 kmph (136-165 mph)with severe damage.
D)wind speeds between 178-217 kmph (111-135 mph)with considerable damage.
E)wind speeds between 138-177 kmph (86-110 mph)with moderate damage.

Question 73

Uplift and storm development occur on the side of an easterly wave.

A)northern
B)southern
C)eastern
D)western
E)bottom

Question 74

Prior to making landfall,Hurricane Sandy's characteristics changed and it was classified as a(n)

A)midlatitude anticyclone.
B)typhoon.
C)tropical depression.
D)post-tropical cyclone.
E)easterly wave.

Question 75

Hurricanes derive their energy from the latent heat of

A)vaporization.
B)fusion.
C)condensation.
D)sublimation.
E)deposition.

Question 76

Which of the following is not a regional name for the most powerful tropical cyclones?

A)hurricane
B)easterly wave
C)typhoon
D)cyclone

Question 77

Which part of a hurricane consists of dry,subsiding air?

A)eye
B)spiral bands
C)eye wall (collar clouds)
D)trade winds
E)easterly waves

Question 78

Tropical cyclone formation areas and storm tracks Cyclones in the southern Indian Ocean usually occur between

A)November and May.
B)April and December.
C)June and October.
D)August and December.
E)June and November.

Question 79

How do air masses form? What are their general characteristics? Describe the typical air masses that affect North America.

Question 80

Which is the correct order of tropical cyclone classification,from weakest to strongest?

A)tropical disturbance-tropical depression-tropical storm-hurricane
B)tropical depression-tropical disturbance-hurricane-tropical storm
C)tropical storm-tropical disturbance-tropical depression-hurricane
D)hurricane-tropical disturbance-tropical depression-tropical storm
E)tropical depression-tropical disturbance-super typhoon--hurricane