Question 1

Most weather activity occurs in the __________________.

Accepted Answer

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere and is where most weather activity occurs. This is because it is the layer where temperature and moisture changes most rapidly, leading to the formation of precipitation, storms, and other weather phenomena. The ionosphere and magnetosphere are higher layers of the atmosphere that are not directly involved in weather, while the stratosphere is a layer above the troposphere that has more stable temperatures and less weather activity.

Question 2

During a strong El Nino event which of the following is unlikely to occur?

Accepted Answer

During a strong El Niño event, the trade winds weaken rather than strengthen. This weakening of the trade winds is a characteristic feature of El Niño conditions, which leads to various global weather changes, including increased rainfall in some areas and droughts in others, such as Australia. However, it is also associated with fewer Atlantic hurricanes, making choices B and C incorrect in the context of being unlikely.

Question 3

A polar jet is a belt of winds about 1,000 km wide,flowing as fast as _________ in its central "core."

Accepted Answer

Polar jets can flow as fast as 600 km/h in their central "core", which is their fastest region.

Question 4

A strong El Nino is characterized by ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A strong El Nino is characterized by the arrival of warm ocean water to Peru and Ecuador near Christmastime, the trade winds weaken, and some surface currents are reversed. Therefore, all of the given options (A,B,C) are correct.

Question 5

Ascending air at the equator and descending air around 30°N and S latitudes create air circulation patterns known as _____________________.

Accepted Answer

The ascending air at the equator and descending air around 30°N and S latitudes create air circulation patterns known as Hadley cells. This is the process by which heat and moisture are transported from the tropics towards the polar regions.

Question 6

In the northern hemisphere,surface blow counter-clockwise when they are pulled into a low-pressure zone called ________.

Accepted Answer

Cyclones are low-pressure zones that develop in the atmosphere and are characterized by counterclockwise rotating winds in the Northern Hemisphere. Surface air is drawn into the low-pressure center, causing the rotation of the winds.

Question 7

Water has a _______ heat capacity than land and therefore land heats more _______ than water.

Accepted Answer

Water has a higher heat capacity than land, meaning it can absorb more heat before its temperature increases significantly. This is why land heats up and cools down more quickly than water.

Question 8

Adiabatic cooling of rising air results in a ______ per kilometre decrease in temperature.

Accepted Answer

Adiabatic cooling of rising air results in a 10°C per kilometre decrease in temperature, known as the adiabatic lapse rate. This occurs because as air rises, it expands and does work against the surrounding pressure, which causes it to cool. However, this cooling rate can vary depending on atmospheric conditions, such as humidity and pressure.

Question 9

The polar jet stream flows from west to east,under the influence of the Earth's rotation,in ______________________.

Accepted Answer

The polar jet stream flows from west to east in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, influenced by the Earth's rotation.

Question 10

The Intertropical Convergence Zone is part of the ____________.

Accepted Answer

The Intertropical Convergence Zone is located near the equator and is an area of low pressure where the Hadley cell circulation converges, making option E the correct answer. The Ferrell and Polar cells are located in higher latitudes, the polar jet system is a high-altitude wind pattern, and the middle latitudes circulation is a general term for the atmospheric circulation in temperate regions.

Question 11

During a La Nina event which of the following is most likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

The answer of During a La Nina event which of...

Question 12

Which of the following lists the correct sequence from the equator to the poles?

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence from the equator to the poles in terms of atmospheric circulation cells is Hadley Cell, Ferrel Cell, and Polar Cell. The Hadley Cell is found from the equator up to about 30 degrees latitude, the Ferrel Cell from about 30 degrees to 60 degrees latitude, and the Polar Cell from about 60 degrees latitude to the poles.

Question 13

When cool air from aloft sinks into altitudes of greater pressure the air _________ and _________ adiabatically.

Accepted Answer

When cool air sinks into altitudes of greater pressure, it experiences an increase in pressure. As a result, the air compresses which causes an increase in temperature by adiabatic heating. Therefore, compresses and cools are the correct options.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is false regarding the jet streams?

Accepted Answer

The jet streams flow from west to east, not from east to west.

Question 15

There are two main jet streams ___________.

Accepted Answer

The two main jet streams are the polar jet stream and the subtropical jet stream. The polar jet stream is located closer to the poles and is stronger, while the subtropical jet stream is located closer to the equator and is weaker.

Question 16

The cost of weather-related disasters has ____________ since the 1950s.

Accepted Answer

According to a report by the United Nations, the cost of weather-related disasters has increased since the 1950s. This is due in part to factors such as population growth and increased economic development in vulnerable areas.

Question 17

One of the greatest weather disasters in North American history occurred during the ________,when several years of drought turned grain-growing areas in the Great Plains into the "Dust Bowl."

Accepted Answer

The Dust Bowl occurred during the 1930s.

Question 18

A sloping surface separating air masses that differ in temperature and moisture content is called ____________________.

Accepted Answer

A front is a boundary or transition zone between two air masses that are different in temperature, humidity, and pressure. It is usually identified as a sloping surface. Therefore, A is the correct answer. B, C, and D describe other atmospheric phenomena that are not related to the definition given in the question.

Question 19

Summer Monsoon occurs because __________.

Accepted Answer

During the summer monsoon, the ocean is colder than the landmass, creating a pressure difference that drives moist ocean air onto the land, where it rises, cools, and precipitates.

Question 20

In the northern hemisphere,descending air forms a high-pressure zone called _________ and surface winds blow in a ________ direction.

Accepted Answer

Descending air forms an area of high pressure known as an anti-cyclone in the northern hemisphere. The surface winds blow clockwise around an anti-cyclone in the northern hemisphere. Therefore, option D is the correct answer as it correctly identifies the high-pressure zone and the direction of surface winds in the northern hemisphere. Option A is incorrect because cyclones are areas of low pressure and their surface winds blow counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere. Option B is correct in identifying the high-pressure zone, but surface winds around an anti-cyclone blow clockwise. Option C is incorrect as the Ferrel cell is a mid- latitude atmospheric circulation cell and is not related to high or low-pressure zones.

Quiz 9: Severe Weather