Multiple Choice Section -- 2 points each
Fill in the table below by lifting a parcel of air from the ground surface (1000 m above sea level) to 6000 m above sea level, then answer questions 1-4.
|
Elevation, above sea level |
Environmental Temperature |
Parcel Temperature |
Parcel Dew Point
Temperature |
|
6000 m |
-7° C |
|
|
|
5000 m |
1° C |
|
|
|
4000 m |
9° C |
|
|
|
3000 m |
17° C |
|
|
|
2000 m |
25° C |
|
|
|
1000 m |
34° C |
34° C |
14° C |
1.
What
is the parcel temperature at 6000 m?
(a) -16° C (b) -4° C (c) 0° C (d) 4° C
2.
At
what altitude will a cloud begin to form in the parcel?
(a) As the parcel moves above 2000 m (c) As the parcel moves above 4000 m
(b) As the parcel moves above 3000 m (d) As the parcel moves above 5000 m
3.
The
height of the 500 mb pressure surface is 5800 m above sea level. What can you say about the lifted index and
the stability of the atmosphere?
(Remember the lifted index is defined as the environmental air
temperature at 500 mb minus the temperature of an air parcel raised from ground
level up to 500 mb)
(a)
Lifted
Index is negative and the atmosphere is stable
(b)
Lifted
Index is negative and the atmosphere is unstable
(c)
Lifted
Index is positive and the atmosphere is unstable
(d)
Lifted
Index is positive and the atmosphere is stable
4.
If
the amount of water vapor at the surface were higher, which of the following is
true?
(a)
A
cloud would begin to form in the parcel at a higher altitude AND the parcel
temperature at 500 mb would be higher
(b)
A
cloud would begin to form in the parcel at a higher altitude AND the parcel
temperature at 500 mb would be lower
(c)
A
cloud would begin to form in the parcel at a lower altitude AND the parcel
temperature at 500 mb would be lower
(d)
A
cloud would begin to form in the parcel at a lower altitude AND the parcel
temperature at 500 mb would be higher
5.
As
an unsaturated parcel of air moves upward in the atmosphere, which of the
following is INCORRECT?
(a)
The
size (volume) of the air parcel increases
(b)
The
relative humidity of the air in the parcel decreases
(c)
The
temperature of the air in the parcel decreases
(d)
The
air pressure inside the parcel decreases
6.
In
the Begeron process of precipitation formation, _________ shrink, while
________ grow large enough to fall toward the ground.
(a)
liquid
cloud droplets ; ice crystals (b)
ice crystals ; liquid cloud droplets
7.
_________
occurs when supercooled drops of liquid water fall on the ground.
(a)
Sleet (b) Freezing rain (c) Hail (d) Fog
8.
Which
general cloud type is mostly likely to form when the atmosphere is unstable?
(a)
Cumuliform
type (b) Stratiform type
9.
The
greatest number of thunderstorms per year occurs over which area of the Earth?
(a)
Tropical
oceans (c) Mount Everest
(b)
Tropical
land areas (d) Tornado alley in
the United States
10.
Compared
with most of the rest of the United Stated, the west coast ___________ .
(a)
experiences
few thunderstorms because there is not enough vertical wind shear
(b)
experiences
few thunderstorms mainly due to the influence of the relatively cold waters of
the surrounding Pacific Ocean
(c)
experiences
many thunderstorms mainly due to the influence of the relatively cold waters of
the surrounding Pacific Ocean
(d)
experiences
many thunderstorms because there is often strong vertical wind shear
11.
If
golf ball sized hailstones are falling which of the following must be
true?
(a)
The
thunderstorm cloud is abnormally cold.
(b)
A
tornado is nearby.
(c)
The
thunderstorm contains strong updrafts.
(d)
There
must be very strong vertical wind shear.
12.
Severe
thunderstorms are more likely to form where there is ______________ because
this ___________________ .
(a)
strong
vertical wind shear ; keeps updrafts and downdrafts separated
(b)
strong
vertical wind shear ; forces updrafts and downdrafts to mix
(c)
no
vertical wind shear ; keeps updrafts and downdrafts separated
(d)
no
vertical wind shear ; forces updrafts and downdrafts to mix
13. Which of the following states averages the most tornadoes per year per square mile?
(a)
Oklahoma (b) Arizona (c) Texas (d)
Florida
14.
The
most likely place in the world for a violent tornado to form is the southern
great plains of the United States (northeast Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas).
(a)
True (b) False
15.
What
type of thunderstorm can often be identified by the presence of a dome cloud?
(a)
An
ordinary single-cell thunderstorm (c)
A squall line thunderstorm
(b)
A
multi-cell cluster storm (d)
A supercell thunderstorm
16.
If
you see a lightning stroke, then 30 seconds later you hear the thunder, the
lightning was about ______ miles away.
(a)
3 (b) 6 (c) 10 (d)
15
17.
You
are driving across Nebraska on Interstate 80 and you spot a tornado heading in
your direction. Which is the safest
course of action?
(a)
Try
to outrun the tornado by driving your car away from the tornado
(b)
Stop
driving and wait out the storm inside of the car
(c)
Get
out of the car and lie flat in a ditch that runs parallel to the highway
(d)
Try
to find an overpass and take shelter by climbing up to the support rafters for
the bridge
18.
You
are generally safe inside a car during a lightning storm because __________ .
(a)
the
car’s antenna acts like a lightning rod
(b)
the
rubber tires insulate you from the ground
(c)
metal
car bodies do not become electrically charged
(d)
the
metal body of the car will carry the lightning current around the passengers
inside
19.
Thunder
will not occur ___________ .
(a)
without
lightning
(b)
in
winter-time storms when it is relatively cold
(c)
over
the oceans or large lakes
(d)
until
rain begins to fall from the clouds
20.
Most
major hurricanes that hit the United States begin as tropical easterly waves
that move off the continent of ________.
(a) Europe (b)
Asia (c) Africa (d) South America
21.
In
general, the _______ the surface air pressure at the center of a hurricane, the
greater the wind speed.
(a)
lower (b) higher
22.
The
peak in the Atlantic hurricane season is centered around ____________ .
(a)
July
10 (b) August 10 (c) September 10
23.
On
average, which ocean basin produces the most hurricanes per year?
(a)
Western
North Pacific (near southeast Asia) where they are called typhoons
(b)
Eastern
North Pacific (off west coast of Mexico)
(c)
North
Atlantic Ocean
(d)
Western
South Pacific (near Australia) where they are called severe tropical cyclones
24.
What
is the most important influence on hurricane movement?
(a)
The
strength and direction of winds at the ocean surface
(b)
The
strength and direction of winds in the middle of the troposphere
(c)
The
strength and direction of jet stream winds near the top of the troposphere
(d)
The
pattern of sea surface temperatures
25.
The
strongest winds and heaviest rain are associated with which part of a
hurricane?
(a)
The
eye (b) The eyewall (c) The spiral rain bands (d) The outflow
26.
Which
has the strongest winds?
(a)
A
category 5 hurricane (c)
A category 1 hurricane
(b)
An
F5 tornado (d)
An F1 tornado
27.
No
one foresaw the possibility that so many U.S. citizens could be killed by a
single hurricane in today’s world, as happened with Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
(a)
True (b)
False
28.
On
average in the U.S., the number of people who are killed by extreme weather
events each year is about the same as the number of people what are killed in
vehicle accidents.
(a)
True (b) False
29.
On
average, which type of severe weather causes the most property damage in the
U.S. each year?
(a)
Severe
thunderstorms, including lightning and tornadoes
(b)
Hurricanes
(c)
Flash
Flooding
(d)
Winter
weather (snow and ice storms)
30.
The
NY Times article “Most Deadly of Natural Disasters: the Heat Wave” reports a
death toll of _______ people from the
1995 Chicago heat wave. In comparison,
this is ________ people than died in
the infamous Chicago Fire of 1871.
(a) 7000 - 8000 ; more (c) 700 - 800 ; more
(b) 7000 - 8000 ; less (d) 700 - 800 ; less
31.
Which
is the correct order for the radiation energy carried by different types of
photons from least energy to most energy?
(a)
ultraviolet,
infrared, visible (c) infrared,
visible, ultraviolet
(b)
ultraviolet,
visible, infrared (d) infrared,
ultraviolet, visible
32.
The
stratospheric “ozone hole” occurs _____________________ .
(a)
over
Antarctica during the Northern Hemisphere spring (April-June)
(b)
over
Antarctica during the Southern Hemisphere spring (Sept-Nov)
(c)
everywhere
on Earth during the Southern Hemisphere spring (Sept-Nov)
(d)
everywhere
on Earth during the Northern Hemisphere spring (April-June)
33. Skin cancer is on the rise in the United States largely because CFCs are destroying ozone.
(a) True (b) False
34.
Which
of the following is not one of the ways the human body protects itself
from developing skin cancer?
(a) Production of the pigment melanin
(b) Repair DNA damaged by ultraviolet radiation
(c) Protective outer layer of dead skin cells
(d) Production of sweat to block ultraviolet
absorption by the skin
35. Based on the dates and average high temperatures given below for Minneapolis, Minnesota, select the day that has the greatest potential ultraviolet exposure.
(a) June 15, average high 78° F
(b) July 15, average high 85° F
(c) August 15, average high 81° F
Short
Answer Questions (Select 6 of the 9 Questions) -- 6 Points Each
Write your answers on the
attached answer sheets. If you need
more space, please use the back of the multiple choice answer sheet. Your answers should be short and to the point. Make sure you answer all parts of each
question. Points will be deducted for incorrect or unnecessary statements in your
answer, even if the correct answer is found somewhere. Be sure to clearly indicate which 6
questions you would like graded.
1.
What
is a cloud? Describe how most clouds
form. If it helps, you may use the
concept of an air parcel to describe how clouds form.
2.
What
happens to the temperature of an air parcel as it is LOWERED in the
atmosphere? Explain why. How does the presence of a cloud in the
parcel affect the change in temperature as the parcel is lowered. Explain why.
3.
The
Hawaiian Islands are an isolated island chain located in the warm waters of the
tropical Pacific Ocean near 20° North latitude. At the surface almost constant trade winds
blow year round. Each island has mountains
near its center. This geography and
prevailing winds cause two distinct climate zones to be found on each
island: a rain forest-like climate on
one side each island and a desert-like climate on the opposite side. In terms of compass directions (e.g.,
east, northwest, etc.), which side of each island is the wet side and which
side is the dry side? Provide and
explanation with your answer.
4. A large thunderstorm develops about 20 miles south of Tucson. Although Tucson does not get any rain, strong 40 mph winds from the south move in about a half an hour after rain began to fall from the thunderstorm to the south. What is the cause of the strong winds in Tucson? Explain how the winds develop.
5.
The
very active 2004 and 2005 Atlantic hurricane seasons have caused many to wonder
if there is a connection to global warming.
What is the simple argument (or basis for believing) that global
warming will result in more and stronger hurricanes? Is global warming the best explanation for the active 2004 and 2005
Atlantic hurricane seasons? Explain you
answer.
6.
Why
should we worry about the amount of ozone in the stratosphere? Briefly discuss how human activity has
influenced the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. What is the future outlook for ozone levels in the
stratosphere? Explain your answers.
7. Give three reasons why residents of Tucson are exposed to relatively high levels of ultraviolet radiation (compared with the rest of the United States). Provide a brief explanation with each of your reasons.
8.
Most
citizens of the United States are not aware of just how deadly heat waves can
be. Give up to three reasons why. (More than three reasons were provided in
the NY Times article “Most Deadly of Natural Disasters: the Heat Wave”)
9.
The figure below indicates the current position of a category 2
hurricane and the hatched region shows the area covered by hurricane force
winds. The 24 hour forecast is for the
hurricane’s eye to make landfall at the Texas/Louisiana border as a category 2
hurricane. The hatched area on the
coast indicates the land areas where hurricane force winds are expected to
occur. The area on land between the two
W’s marks the coastal areas that are put under a hurricane warning by the National
Hurricane Center. Why is the
hurricane warning area much larger than the area forecasted to get hurricane
force winds? Assuming that the hurricane does make landfall exactly where
predicted, where to you expect the most severe damage will occur? Explain.
Based on the course material, is there a realistic possibility of the
storm becoming a category 5 hurricane before hitting the coast? Explain.