Question 1

A densely-spaced, automated weather observation network such as Oklahoma's Mesonetwork can pick out a weather phenomenon such as a(n) ________ much better than observing networks with less densely-spaced surface observations.
A) tornado funnel cloud
B) Rossby wave
C) entire air mass
D) divergence in the upper air
E) dryline

Accepted Answer

A densely-spaced, automated weather observation network is particularly effective at detecting small-scale weather phenomena like a dryline, which is a sharp boundary separating moist and dry air masses. Such networks can provide detailed observations that reveal the fine-scale structures and movements of these phenomena, which are often missed by less dense observation networks.

Question 2

Which of the following is associated with an increase in pressure after its passage?
A) a cold front
B) a warm front
C) a stationary front
D) an extratropical cyclone
E) all of the above

Accepted Answer

A cold front, warm front, stationary front, and extratropical cyclone are all associated with an increase in pressure after their passage.

Question 3

In the last decade or so there has been
A) an increase in the number of hurricanes.
B) a relative lack of hurricanes.
C) lower sea surface temperatures impacting hurricanes.
D) a lack of intense hurricanes.
E) a lack of an Atlantic Multi-Decadal Signal.

Accepted Answer

There has been an observed increase in the number and intensity of hurricanes in the last decade, attributed to factors like warmer sea surface temperatures and changing atmospheric conditions, which are conducive to hurricane formation and strengthening.

Question 4

Tropical cyclones tend to cause the greatest loss of life on the
A) Gulf Coast of the United States.
B) Bay of Bengal.
C) islands of the Caribbean.
D) islands of the Philippines.
E) coast of Brazil.

Accepted Answer

The Bay of Bengal is the area where tropical cyclones have caused the highest number of fatalities in the world. According to the United Nations, about 40% of the world's tropical cyclones occur in the Bay of Bengal, and they have caused more than 1.5 million fatalities in the region since the 18th century. The region is densely populated and poverty-stricken, making it difficult to prepare or respond to disasters.

Question 5

The warmest air can be found in the ________ air mass.
A) cP
B) mP
C) mT
D) cT
E) E

Accepted Answer

The answer of The warmest air can be found in...

Question 6

Which of the following statements does NOT correctly describe the U.S. distribution of midlatitude cyclones?
A) More occur in the summer than in the winter.
B) They commonly form along the central Atlantic coast.
C) Most of them exit the country through the Northeast.
D) They commonly form downwind of the Rocky Mountains.
E) They form underneath areas of divergence.

Accepted Answer

Midlatitude cyclones are more common in the winter due to the stronger temperature contrasts between cold air masses to the north and warm air masses to the south.

Question 7

Which of the following is the most likely time to sight a tornado in the United States?
A) January
B) March
C) June
D) October
E) December

Accepted Answer

Tornado season in the United States typically runs from March through June, with the peak occurring in April and May. Therefore, June is the most likely time to sight a tornado in the United States.

Question 8

Which stage of a thunderstorm is associated with the coexistence of updrafts and downdrafts?
A) cumulus stage
B) mature stage
C) dissipating stage
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The mature stage of a thunderstorm is associated with the coexistence of updrafts and downdrafts. During this stage, the storm has reached its full potential, with strong updrafts carrying moisture and heat high into the atmosphere, while at the same time, downdrafts descend, carrying cool air and precipitation towards the ground.

Question 9

Which of the following would be a common diameter for a tornado funnel?
A) 5 meters
B) 50 meters
C) 500 meters
D) 5,000 meters
E) 500,000 meters

Accepted Answer

The diameter of a tornado funnel can vary greatly, but a common diameter is around 50 meters (164 feet). Option A is too small, while options C, D, and E are too large.

Question 10

Which of the following represents a typical count of confirmed tornadoes for a year in the United States?
A) 1
B) 10
C) 100
D) 1,000
E) 10,000

Accepted Answer

The United States typically experiences around 1,000 confirmed tornadoes annually, making it one of the countries with the highest number of tornado occurrences globally.

Question 11

The part of the hurricane characterized by scattered high clouds and light winds is known as the
A) spiral band.
B) eyewall.
C) eye.
D) warm sector.
E) warm front.

Accepted Answer

The "eye" of a hurricane is the center of the storm and is characterized by light winds and clear skies. Therefore, the part of the hurricane described in the question is the eye.

Question 12

In which frontal type is there no "aggressor" air mass?
A) cold
B) warm
C) stationary
D) occluded
E) low

Accepted Answer

In a stationary front, two air masses meet but neither one is strong enough to push the other out of the way, so there is no aggressor air mass.

Question 13

The most intense Atlantic hurricane of record was
A) Katrina.
B) Daniel.
C) Amanda.
D) Janet.
E) Wilma.

Accepted Answer

Wilma was the most intense Atlantic hurricane of record, with a minimum pressure of 882 millibars. Hurricane Katrina had a lower pressure of 902 millibars, but Wilma had stronger sustained winds. Daniel, Amanda, and Janet were not as intense as Wilma or Katrina.

Question 14

Which of the following can be said to be the "death" of a midlatitude cyclone?
A) the presence of strong temperature gradients across fronts
B) cyclogenesis
C) occlusion
D) expansion of the size of the warm sector
E) occurrence of intense precipitation

Accepted Answer

Occlusion, which occurs when the cold front catches up to and overtakes the warm front, is known as the "death" of a midlatitude cyclone. This process cuts off the source of warm air fueling the cyclone, causing it to weaken and dissipate. The other choices are not directly related to the demise of a midlatitude cyclone.

Question 15

Which type of front typically produces the fastest rise of air?
A) cold
B) warm
C) stationary
D) occluded
E) They all produce approximately the same rise of air.

Accepted Answer

Cold fronts typically produce the fastest rise of air because the cold air mass is denser and pushes under the warmer air mass, forcing it to rise rapidly.

Question 16

In a midlatitude anticyclone, where are the strongest winds usually found?
A) near the center
B) near the eastern edge
C) near the western edge
D) associated with the least pressure gradient
E) in none of the above locations

Accepted Answer

In a midlatitude anticyclone, the strongest winds are usually found near the eastern edge due to the interaction between the anticyclone's outward flow and the prevailing westerlies, which enhances the wind speed in this area.

Question 17

An upward-looking Doppler radar unit which sends energy directly aloft to sense wind speed and direction is known as ________.
A) a wind profiler
B) NEXRAD
C) the Mesonetwork
D) an anemometer
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of a wind profiler, which uses Doppler radar to measure wind profiles in the atmosphere. NEXRAD is a type of Doppler radar used for weather surveillance, the Mesonetwork is a network of weather observing stations, and an anemometer is a device used to measure wind speed at a specific location.

Question 18

Which type of cloud is associated with a thunderstorm?
A) cumulonimbus
B) stratocumulus
C) cirrus
D) cirrocumulus
E) altocumulus

Accepted Answer

Cumulonimbus clouds are tall, dense and vertically developed clouds that are often associated with thunderstorms, heavy rain, lightning, hail, and even tornadoes.

Question 19

Tornadoes contain extreme pressure gradients. They are thought to be on the order of ________ millibars from the outside to the inside of the storm.
A) 10
B) 100
C) 1,000
D) 10,000
E) 100,000

Accepted Answer

Tornadoes exhibit extreme pressure gradients, with differences on the order of 100 millibars from their outer edges to their centers. This significant pressure difference is what contributes to their intense winds and destructive potential.

Question 20

Which of the following occurs most frequently?
A) A hurricane
B) A tropical storm
C) A tropical depression
D) An easterly wave
E) They all occur with approximately the same frequency.

Accepted Answer

Easterly waves occur more frequently than hurricanes, tropical storms, and tropical depressions. They are disturbances in the tropical easterly winds that can lead to the formation of more severe weather events but are themselves more common.

Quiz 7: Atmospheric Disturbances

A densely-spaced, automated weather observation network such as Oklahoma's Mesonetwork can pick out a weather phenomenon such as a(n) ________ much better than observing networks with less densely-spaced surface observations.

Which of the following is associated with an increase in pressure after its passage?

In the last decade or so there has been

Tropical cyclones tend to cause the greatest loss of life on the

The warmest air can be found in the ________ air mass.

Which of the following statements does NOT correctly describe the U.S. distribution of midlatitude cyclones?

Which of the following is the most likely time to sight a tornado in the United States?

Which stage of a thunderstorm is associated with the coexistence of updrafts and downdrafts?

Which of the following would be a common diameter for a tornado funnel?

Which of the following represents a typical count of confirmed tornadoes for a year in the United States?

The part of the hurricane characterized by scattered high clouds and light winds is known as the

In which frontal type is there no "aggressor" air mass?

The most intense Atlantic hurricane of record was

Which of the following can be said to be the "death" of a midlatitude cyclone?

Which type of front typically produces the fastest rise of air?

In a midlatitude anticyclone, where are the strongest winds usually found?

An upward-looking Doppler radar unit which sends energy directly aloft to sense wind speed and direction is known as ________.

Which type of cloud is associated with a thunderstorm?

Tornadoes contain extreme pressure gradients. They are thought to be on the order of ________ millibars from the outside to the inside of the storm.

Which of the following occurs most frequently?