Question 1

The geostrophic wind is blowing directly from west to east. The highest air pressure is located to the

Select one:

 a. north.

 b. east.

 c. south.

 d. west.

 

Question 2

__________ is defined as the state of the atmosphere at some place and time.

Select one:

 a. Climate

 b. Weather

 

Question 3

Carbon dioxide was an abundant gas in the atmosphere in Earth’s past. Its subsequent decline was caused primarily by

Select one:

 a. chemical conversion to nitrogen.

 b. cycling into the ocean, sediments, and bedrock.

 c. removal by photosynthesis.

 d. None of the above is correct.

 

Question 4

Between the tropopause and stratopause, the air pressure ______ with increasing altitude

Select one:

 a. increases

 b. decreases

 c. does not change

 

Question 5

Temperature is defined as

Select one:

 a. the equivalent of heat.

 b. a measure of the average kinetic energy of the individual atoms or molecules composing a substance.

 c. how hot or cold it is.

 d. the total kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules composing a substance.

 

Question 6

The freezing point of pure water at sea level is ______ °F or ______ °C

Select one:

a. 0, 32

b. 212, 100

c. 32, 0

 

Question 7

Often the day’s highest air temperature and lowest relative humidity occur

Select one:

a. around midnight

b. near Sunrise

c. during the early to mid-afternoon.

d. None of the above is correct.

 

Question 8

Of the following cloud types, which one is coldest?

Select one:

a. cirrus

b. stratus

c. cumulus

d. altocumulus

e. fog

 

Question 9

In a synoptic-scale cyclone, vertical wind speeds are usually ___________ horizontal wind speeds.

 

Select one:

a. stronger than

b. weaker than

c. the same magnitude as the

 

Question 10

The climate of some locality governs

Select one:

a. the type of crops that can be cultivated

b. the fresh water supply

c. the average heating and cooling requirements for homes

d. All of the above are correct.

 

Question 11

All of the following types of electromagnetic radiation have wavelengths longer than that of visible light with the exception of

 

Select one:

a. infared radiation.

b. radio waves.

c. ultraviolet radiation.

d. None of these is correct.

 

Question 12

If the temperature of the Sun were to ______, the wavelength at which solar radiation is most intense would decrease.

 

Select one:

a. increase.

b. decrease.

 

Question 13

______, annual precipitation is greater than annual evapotranspiration.

Select one:

a. On the ocean

b. On the continents

 

Question 14

Distinguish between atmospheric conditions responsible for development of radiation fog versus conditions that favor dew formation. Please type response below.

 

 

Question 15

______ air tends to suppress convection.

 

Select one:

a. Unstable

b. Stable

 

Question 16

 

Clouds are ______ to develop if a radiosonde sounding indicates unstable air.

Select one:

a. less likely

b. more likely

 

Question 17

A relatively thin envelope of gases and particles that encircles the planet is known as

Select one:

a. the jet stream.

b. the atmosphere.

c. pollution.

 

Question 18

The aurora borealis (northern lights) is most likely to be visible

Select one:

a. near the equator.

b. during daylight hours.

c. at high latitudes.

d. in the Southwest U.S.

e. in Louisiana.

 

 

Question 19

The ______temperature scale is most commonly used in weather reports and forecasts in the United States.

 

Select one:

a. Fahrenheit

b. Celsius

c. Kelvin

 

Question 20

The relative humidity within a cloud is ______ 100 percent.

Select one:

a. much less than

b. about

c. much greater than

 

Question 21

Choose the best description of high pressure.

Select one:

a. Air pressure decreases outward from the center of a High.

b. Air pressure increases outward from the center of a High.

c. All Highs must have central pressures with values greater than 1013.25mb.

d. There must be one and only one High for each Low on the same weather map.

 

Question 22

Which one of the following cloud types would most likely be responsible for producing heavy rain?

 

Select one:

a. cirrostratus

b. cumuliform

c. altocumulus

d. altostratus

e. cirrus

 

Question 23

Climate is defined as weather conditions at some locality averaged over a standard period of _____ years.

 

Select one:

a. 10

b. 20

c. 30

d. 100

 

Question 24

In the Northern Hemisphere, Earth is closer to the Sun during the winter than during the summer and yet winter is colder than summer. Please explain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Question 25

The elevation of the 500-mb surface

Select one:

a. depends on the average temperatures of the air between Earth's surface and the 500-mb level.

b. varies with latitude and time.

c. can be determined by a radiosonde.

d. All of the above are correct.

e. None of the above is correct.

 

Question 26

Absolute zero is the temperature at which

Select one:

a. all molecular and sub-molecular activity ceases.

b. no electromagnetic radiation is emitted.

c. ice begins to vaporize.

d. snow begins to melt.

e. liquid water begins to vaporize.

 

Question 27

Earth is closest to the Sun during the

Select one:

a. Nothern Hemisphere winter.

b. Nothern Hemisphere summer.

c. Southern Hemisphere spring.

d. Southern Hemisphere fall.

e. Southern Hemisphere winter.

 

Question 28

At middle latitudes, the surface air pressure is higher in a(n)

 

Select one:

a. cyclone.

b. anticyclone.

 

Question 29

The single most important source of atmospheric pollution in the United States is (are)

Select one:

a. the internal combustion engine in motor vehicles.

b. wind erosion of soil.

c. coal-burning electric power plants.

d. burning at garbage dumps.

e. volcanic eruptions.

 

Question 30

The atmosphere is composed of

Select one:

a. a mixture of gasses called air.

b. mostly nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

c. a mixture of gases and tiny suspended partiles (aerosols).

d. nitrogen and oxygen exclusively.

e. mostly water vapor, oxygen, and ozone.

 

Question 31

The Coriolis Effect arises from the fact that

Select one:

a. friction balances the horizontal pressure gradient force.

b. Earth rotates.

c. there are horizontal gradients in air density.

d. All of the above are correct.

e. None of the above is correct.

 

Question 32

Cirrus clouds are typically composed of

Select one:

a. cumulus.

b. cumulonimbus.

c. cirrostratus.

d. cumulus congestus.

e. None of these is correct.

 

Question 33

Two weather stations (A and B) at sea level report the same surface air pressures. Warm air is above Station A while relatively cold air is above Station B. At an altitude of 25,000 feet, one would expect the pressure above Station A to be

Select one:

a. higher than that above Station B.

b. lower than that above Station B.

c. the same as that above Station B.

 

Question 34

At the equinoxes, the noon Sun has an altitude of 90 degrees at the

Select one:

a. north pole.

b. equator.

c. Tropic of Capricorn.

d. Arctic Circle.

e. Tropic of Cancer.

 

Question 35

Because of the usual seasonal change in average temperature, the troposphere is denser in __________ than in __________.

Select one:

a. Winter, Summer

b. Summer, Winter

 

Question 36

Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds blow ___________ about the center of a low pressure system.

 

Select one:

a. clockwise and outward

b. clockwise and inward

c. counterclockwise and outward

d. counterclockwise and inward

Question 37

Of the following cloud types, which one is warmest?

Select one:

a. cirrus

b. cirrostratus

c. cirrocumulus

d. altostratus

e. stratus

 

Question 38

The ______ causes air to flow from areas of relatively high pressure to areas of relatively low pressure.

 

Select one:

a. pressure gradient force

b. centripetal force

c. frictional force

 

Question 39

According to Wien's displacement law, which one of the following objects emits its most intense electromagnetic energy at the shortest wavelength?

 

Select one:

a. an ice cube.

b. your hand.

c. the atmosphere.

d. the Sun.

e. your desk.

 

Question 40

Evaporation is to condensation as deposition is to ______.

Select one:

a. evaporation

b. precipitation

c. evapotranspiration

d. sublimation

e. None of these is correct.

 

Question 41

On a clear and calm day, the relative humidity usually ______ between sunrise and early afternoon.

 

Select one:

a. rises

b. falls

c. does not change

 

Question 42

During winter in the ______ Hemisphere, the number of hours of daylight is less then the number of hours of darkness.

 

Select one:

a. Northern

b. Southern