Download ATMS 1002 Final Exam with Complete Solutions: Atmospheric Science and more Exams Advanced Education in PDF only on Docsity!
ATMS 100 2 Final Exam With
Complete Solution
Temperature increases with height in the troposphere and decreases with height in the stratosphere. - ANSWER false
Except very near the Earth's surface, the force of friction acts primarily through the mixing of air moving at different speeds. - ANSWER True
What term is used to describe the net-inward directed force found in symmetrically curved flow in the upper atmosphere? - ANSWER centripetal acceleration
All air on the Earth has angular momentum. - ANSWER False
Which term is defined by the rate at which pressure changes with distance - ANSWER pressure gradient
Jet streams are located at one latitude in the upper atmosphere and do not influence storm systems at the surface. - ANSWER false
How does the average speed of air molecules influence the atmosphere? - ANSWER It determines the air temperature.
What type of surface pressure systems are typically associated with fair weather? - ANSWER high pressure
Which statement about air motions is not correct? - ANSWER Low- Pressure centers are associated with strong convergence aloft.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the force of friction, along with the pressure
gradient and Coriolis forces, causes surface winds to blow: - ANSWER counterclockwise and in towards the center of surface low-pressure systems.
What is the term used to describe the net inflow of air molecules into a region of the atmosphere with the result of increasing the surface pressure? - ANSWER convergence
Friction - ANSWER decreases surface wind speeds, ultimately leading to air flowing toward surface low-pressure centers.
Pressure varies in the vertical from 1013.25 mb at Earth's surface (on average) to what value near the tropopause? - ANSWER ~300 mb
What is the weight of the air above a unit area? - ANSWER Pressure
In clear skies at cruise altitudes, what type of turbulence most likely results in commercial aircrafts flights becoming "bumpy" and the pilot illuminating the "fasten seat belt" sign? - ANSWER shear-induced turbulence
What is the term used to describe a narrow band of strong winds encircling the Earth in middle-latitudes? - ANSWER Jetstream
The Coriolis force is an apparent force due to the rotation of the Earth. - ANSWER True
Convergence into an air column ________ mass to the column resulting in ________ surface pressure. - ANSWER adds; increased
The _________ is an apparent force associated with the rotation of the earth. - ANSWER Coriolis force
What is the term used to describe a region of exceptionally strong winds found within the jetstream? - ANSWER jetstreak
If the earth did not rotate, the Coriolis force would be: - ANSWER zero everywhere on earth.
The depth of the boundary layer will depend on the surface roughness, heating, atmospheric stability and wind speed. - ANSWER true
When the Coriolis force balances the _________ the air is in geostrophic balance. - ANSWER horizontal pressure gradient force.
Which statement about the pressure gradient force is true? - ANSWER It is directed at a 90- degree angle to isobars
The pressure gradient force is directed from lower pressure toward higher pressure everywhere on earth. - ANSWER False
The CF is only important within the boundary layer - ANSWER False
Which of Newton's laws relates the force exerted on an object to its acceleration? - ANSWER second law of motion
Jetstreams in the upper troposphere are found above ________ in the lower troposphere. - ANSWER fronts
What force counteracts the vertical pressure gradient? - ANSWER gravitational force
The _________ is directed toward the center of the earth. - ANSWER gravitational force
Hydrostatic balance is achieved when which two forces are balanced? - ANSWER Vertical pressure gradient force and gravity.
Geostrophic balance exists when the horizontal pressure gradient force is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the Coriolis force. - ANSWER true
The winds in a hurricane are controlled by forces governing air flow. - ANSWER true
Air through a trough flows _____________. - ANSWER cyclonically
An airmass is defined as a body of air with: - ANSWER slowly varying values of surface temperature and moisture content
Water can exist in a liquid state at temperatures between -30 ° C and 0 ° C. - ANSWER true
The surface air around a strengthening low pressure area normally __________, while the air normally __________ at upper-levels above the low pressure system. - ANSWER converges, diverges Correct
When a dry line passes, winds typically shift from westerly before the dryline passes to easterly after the dryline passes. - ANSWER false
Clouds that develop along warm fronts typically are layered in nature and any precipitation tends to be more widespread and steady. - ANSWER true
What are the National Weather Service criteria for an ice storm? - ANSWER structural damage must occur/ice accumulations must be at least 0.25 in.
The Coriolis force: - ANSWER is zero at the equator
Which state does not border Louisiana? - ANSWER Oklahoma
Supercooled droplets: - ANSWER have temperatures below 0 ° C but are still liquid
If you examine a surface map and discover that there is a region where cold air is retreating and warm air is advancing toward it, you would classify this as what meteorological feature? - ANSWER warm front
Which of the following would typically be the coldest airmass? - ANSWER continental polar (cP)
Freezing precipitation events have occurred everywhere in the continental United States. - ANSWER False
In the atmosphere, where does pressure decrease most rapidly with altitude?
- ANSWER in the lower part of the atmosphere
Along a stationary front, air on the cold side of the front always moves in what direction? - ANSWER parallel to the front
Choose which frontal passage below best corresponds to the following forecast: "Cold temperatures are expected today with winds from the east. Skies will be overcast with snow developing during the day. Snow is expected to change to freezing rain and then rain later today. Tomorrow temperatures
effects of icing? - ANSWER It increases the weight of the aircraft.
It changes the airflow characteristics over the wings. It accumulates on windshields reducing pilot visibility.
While freezing precipitation events cause inconvenience for people trying to move about the country, they generally do not have a large economic impact.
Which of the following factors does not account for the difference in intensity between East/Gulf Coast cyclones and Rocky Mountain cyclones? - ANSWER Snow cover over the land surfaces contributes to a weakening of the jet streaks aloft creating upper level convergence in the Rocky Mountain storms but not the East/Gulf Coast storms because there is no snow cover on the ocean surface.
Gulf Coast cyclones are more likely to develop during winters in which: - ANSWER the subtropical jetstream is a persistent feature over Mexico and the southern United States
Gulf Coast cyclones that follow the Mississippi-Ohio River storm track, on average, have _______ compared to Gulf Coast cyclones that track along the Gulf Coast and eastern seaboard. - ANSWER less intense low-pressure centers and weaker winds
Extratropical cyclones last on the order of one week and can be on the order of one thousand miles across - ANSWER True
An extratropical cyclone will intensify as long as __________at the surface is __________than __________at the jetstream level. - ANSWER convergence; weaker; divergence
Extratropical cyclones form most rapidly when the winds aloft are weak. - ANSWER False
As the poles continually cool and the tropics continually heat, extratropical cyclones act to rebalance the atmosphere by transporting warm air northward and upward and cold air southward and downward. - ANSWER True
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the most mass in the atmosphere and is where most of Earth's weather occurs? - ANSWER troposphere
Which of the following statements about warm fronts and cold fronts is FALSE? - ANSWER Cold fronts typically move slower than warm fronts.
The Coriolis force - ANSWER is zero at the equator.
Anticyclones are typically associated with:
Select one: - ANSWER clear skies and calm conditions.
Tornadoes - ANSWER are typically located near mesocyclones in supercells.
The surface air around a strengthening low pressure area normally _____________, while the air normally ________________ at upper-levels above the low pressure system. - ANSWER converges, diverges
What type of thunderstorm is typically about 10-50 kilometers in horizontal dimension, occurs in moderate shear situations, and lasts over one hour despite not having a mesocyclone (or rotating updraft). - ANSWER multicell thunderstorm
Both _________________ and __________________ always decrease exponentially with height - ANSWER pressure and density
What causes winds at the surface to blow across isobars at an angle? - ANSWER friction
A sinking parcel of air _______________ and ________________, whereas a rising parcel of air _______________ and ________________.
Select one: - ANSWER compresses and warms; expands and cools
Jet streams are narrow bands of - ANSWER strong winds at upper-levels just below the tropopause.
The heaviest precipitation in a thunderstorm occurs: - ANSWER strong downdraft
