Download Introduction to Meteorology – Exam 1 (KEY) (For 10th grade

Introduction to Meteorology – Exam 1 (KEY)
(For 10th grade – elective science course)
The test has 3 sections: short answer, multiple-choice, and matching vocabulary.
You have 45 minutes to complete exam.
Points: Point value in parenthesis next to each question.
Partial credit: There is a possibility of earning partial credit with the short answer
and multiple-choice questions. With short answer questions, if you answer some of
the question but not all of it you may receive partial credit. Multiple-choice tests will
be more challenging to earn partial credit. If you come to a multiple-choice question
and are deciding between two and pick your answer but do not think that is the
correct answer you can write out your reasoning next to the question. This may
receive partial credit. I reserve the right award partial credit or not.
Short Answer Questions:
Meteorology is the study of? (1):
scientific study of the atmosphere.
What is the difference between la Niña and el Niño (1)? What are their different
effects (2)?
El Niño usually occurs in warm water in the Pacific Ocean. La Niña also
occurs in the Pacific Ocean but usually in cold water. Effects of El Niño: severe
rain and drought. Effects of la Niña: severe winters and hurricanes.
Give the 3 formulas used in converting temperature (3):
K = C + 273
C = (F – 32)/1.8
F = (C x 9/5) + 32
What is the source of energy responsible for atmospheric and oceanic motion (1)?
The sun
What is Albedo (1)?
The fraction of energy reflected by a surface compared to the amount incident on the
surface.
Multiple Choice Questions:
All Questions in this section are worth 1 point.
1. The most abundant gas in the atmosphere by volume is _________. This gas
comprises 78% of the Earth atmosphere by volume.
a. Oxygen c. Carbon Dioxide
b. Argon d. Nitrogen
2. An isobar is a line of constant ________________.
a. Pressure c. Temperature
b. Density d. Dewpoint
3. The seasons of Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall are a direct result of which
phenomenon?
a. The sun's energy output and the Earth's proximity to the sun
b. Shifting of ocean currents
c. The 23.5 ° tilt of the Earth from vertical
d. The jet stream
4. ________________ refers to the horizontal transport of air while _______________ is the
vertical transport of air.
a. Advection, convection
b. Convection, advection
5. Which of the following has the highest albedo and thus more reflected solar
radiation?
a. Fresh snow c. Water
b. Grass d. Blacktop
6. Water has a ___________ heat capacity. This means a large amount of energy is
needed to raise the temperature of water relative to other substances.
a. Low
b. High
7. A one degree temperature change on the Fahrenheit scale is equal a _______________
degree change on the Celsius scale.
a. 0.56 c. 1.8
b. 0.90 d. 3.6
8. Which of the following reasons explains why the stratosphere is absolutely stable.
a. Air temperatures are too cold
b. Air pressure is too low
c. The absorption of radiant energy by ozone
d. The wind speed is too strong
9. The two weather disasters that result in the greatest loss of life are:
a. Floods and Lightning c. Floods and Hurricanes
b. Hurricanes and Tornadoes d. Lightning and Droughts
10. Minimum tropical storm force wind is ________________ miles per hour while the
minimum hurricane force wind is _______________ miles per hour.
a. 50; 100 c. 39; 74
b. 25; 50 d. 44; 69
11. In MOST cloud to ground lightning strikes, the ground tends to be _______________
charged.
a. Positively
b. Negatively
12. Thunder travels at the speed of sound which is nearest to:
a. 10 miles per hour
b. 5 miles per second
c. 1 mile every 5 seconds
d. 3 * 10^8 meter per second
13. The primary moisture source for severe thunderstorms in the Great Plains
originates from the:
a. Jet stream
b. Mexican plateau and Rocky Mountains
c. Pacific Ocean
d. Gulf of Mexico
14. Which of the following is a diabatic process as compared to an adiabatic
process?
a. Convection
b. Orographic lifting
c. Radiational heating or cooling
d. Rising air due to PBL convergence
15. Climate is a function of:
a. Latitude
b. Altitude
c. Continentality
d. Ocean currents
e. All of the above
16. Which of the following is NOT a high latitude climate?
a. Polar c. Tundra
b. Tropical wet and dry d. Taiga
17. The word MONSOON as it applies to climatology refers to:
a. Very heavy rain
b. The intensification of the polar jet
c. A seasonal reversal in wind direction and pressure distribution
d. A cyclone or typhoon with winds over 100 miles per hour
18. When comparing the moisture content in the air between two locations it is best
to use?
a. The dewpoint c. The wet bulb temperature
b. Relative humidity d. The dry bulb temperature
19. Why are thunderstorms less common in California than Florida?
a. The directional shear is smaller throughout the year in California
b. Fronts do not move through California except in the Summer. Florida has fronts
year round.
c. Florida has warmer ocean waters surrounding it. This results in higher dewpoints,
instability and thus more thunderstorms.
d. The jet stream is stronger over Florida
20. What is vorticity?
a. It is the theoretical value of upward vertical velocity
b. It is the temperature gradient across a trough axis
c. It is the air pressure at 700 millibars
d. It is cyclonic or anticyclonic rotation which can be used to assess upper level
divergence
21. When there is a balance between the upward pressure gradient force and the
downward force of gravity, the atmosphere is said to be in ______________ balance.
a. Geostrophic c. Baroclinic
b. Hydrostatic d. Hypsometric
22. As an object emits sound or light and moves TOWARD you, the frequency of the
sound or radiation will be _______________ relative to you than the moving object. This
is the Doppler effect.
a. Higher
b. Lower
23. Why does snow tend to have a smaller overall reflectivity as compared to rain?
a. The snow is more dense and smaller
b. The snow falls at a lower velocity and has a high albedo
c. The snow has a lower moisture content and ice generally has a lower reflectivity
d. Snow is colder and does not fall straight down
24. Cloud texture such as shadows and lumpiness are best seen on ____________
imagery.
a. Water vapor c. Ultaviolet
b. Infrared d. Visible
25. Define V-notch:
a. A fanning of clouds downstream from the burst point of convective thunderstorms
b. A region of low reflectivity created by an intense updraft
c. The coldest cloud tops associated with an MCC
d. The cloud intersection between a warm front and cold front
26. The smallest element on a satellite image is called a(n):
a. Range gate c. Square
b. Atom d. Pixel
27. Which imagery uses enhancements to display important temperature details of
thunderstorms and hurricanes?
a. Visible imagery c. Water vapor imagery
b. Infrared imagery d. Y2K imagery
28. A(n) ___________ surface such as rock does not allow light to penetrate while a
__________ surface does allow some light to transmit.
a. Opaque, transluscent
b. Transluscent, Opaque
29. The term "elevated convection" refers to:
a. Slanted convection such as in association with supercell thunderstorms
b. It is another term for an overshooting top
c. It is convection that has an origin above the planetary boundary layer
d. Orographically induced precipitation on windward mountain slopes
30. The dewpoint is greater than the temperature:
a. When the relative humidity is 100%
b. When clouds form
c. When it is raining
d. Never
31. Define parallax:
a. A thin line of convective clouds that forms along the leading edge of a weakening
cold front
b. The apparent displacement of a cloud due to the viewing angle of the satellite sensor
c. The point where the sun's most direct rays strike the Earth
d. The maximum upward displacement of a wave
Matching section:
_____
Global warming (j)
a. Falling of acids into the atmosphere
_____
Fossil fuels (f)
b. The lower part of Earth’s atmosphere
where weather takes place.
_____
Stratosphere (d)
c. Pollution from industries
_____
Greenhouse effect (g)
d. Where atmospheric warming takes
place with increases in altitude.
_____
Consumption (i)
e. In charge of protecting the ozone layer
_____
Troposphere (b)
f. Formed from the remains of organisms
that lived millions of years ago
_____
Ozone (h)
g. The process of gages being trapped
inside the Earth’s atmosphere (causing
Earth to become warmer than it would be
naturally).
_____
Clear Air Acts (e)
h. Protects Earth from UV rays
_____
Industrial Smog (c)
i. The amount of resources we use
_____
Acid Deposition (a)
j. Gradual increase of Earth’s atmosphere