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ATMS 1002 STUDY GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION
Which of the following atmospheric gases is the most plentiful in the atmosphere, by percent by volume? - ANSWER Nitrogen [N2]
Most of the mass of Earth's atmosphere is located between the surface and approximately _________. - ANSWER 12 km (7.5 miles)
Relative humidity describes the actual amount of moisture in the air. - ANSWER False
Which of the following is a typical surface pressure at sea level? - ANSWER 1000 millibars
Which of the following statements about exams is FALSE? - ANSWER The lowest exam grade will be dropped.
________ is a measure of the weight of air above a unit area. - ANSWER Pressure
Which of the follow days is NOT an exam date? - ANSWER April 11
What term describes the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere compared to the atmosphere's capacity for moisture at a given temperature? - ANSWER Relative Humidity
A device used by meteorologists to measure atmospheric pressure is called a squashometer. - ANSWER False
__________ is the energy either absorbed or released during a phase change
(e.g., liquid to vapor). - ANSWER Latent heat
When a cloud dissipates, _________ is taking place. - ANSWER Evaporation
During the process of condensation latent heat is ________ the atmosphere, resulting in _________ air temperature. - ANSWER Released into; Warmer
When dew forms on Earth's surface, it results in __________ of the air temperature. - ANSWER an Increase
Pressure decreases with altitude in the troposphere but increases with altitude in the stratosphere. - ANSWER False
What term describes the pressure at which the air contains the maximum amount of water vapor possible for the observed temperature and pressure?
- ANSWER Saturation Vapor Pressure
The _________ the value of dewpoint temperature, the higher the vapor pressure. - ANSWER higher
At night, as the air temperature falls, what typically happens to the relative humidity? - ANSWER It will Increase
What is the average value of sea level pressure? - ANSWER 1013.25 mb
Gradient wind balance is achieved in the ________ when air flows parallel to ________ isobars. - ANSWER upper atmosphere; curved
Which of the following is not a force that controls the wind? - ANSWER electrostatic force
The force of friction always acts to the right of air motion in the Northern Hemisphere. - ANSWER False
Albert Einstein first stated the physical laws governing motion, including air
If an air column is heated more than the surrounding air, what will happen to the surface pressure at the base of the column? - ANSWER It will decrease.
If the earth did not rotate, the Coriolis force would be: - ANSWER zero everywhere on earth.
Which state does not border Louisiana?Note: Make sure you know how to identify the U.S. States on a map because you will have to do this on your first exam. - ANSWER Oklahoma
Where is the pressure gradient force directed from higher pressure toward lower pressure? - ANSWER at all places on earth
__________ spaced isobars on a weather map are indicative of a strong pressure gradient force and fast winds. - ANSWER Closely
If an air column is cooled through radiational cooling, what will happen to the surface pressure? - ANSWER It will Increase
____________ strongly influence the formation and evolution of extratropical cyclones. - ANSWER Jetstreaks
Surface ___________ systems are typically associated with ascending air, clouds and precipitation. - ANSWER low-pressure
Which statement(s) is(are) false? - ANSWER Latent heat can be directly measured with a thermometer.
Latent heat can be observed visually in a developing thunderstorm.
__________ is the energy either absorbed or released during a phase change (e.g., liquid to vapor). - ANSWER Latent heat
Which statement about latent heat is correct? - ANSWER Latent heat warms
the atmosphere during condensation.
Latent heat is the energy required to convert liquid water to vapor.
An airmass is defined as a body of air with: - ANSWER slowly varying values of surface temperature and moisture content.
The boundary between two different airmasses is called a ______. - ANSWER Front
A jetstream is typically located close to a front, but never directly over it. - ANSWER False
Which of the following would typically be the coldest airmass? - ANSWER continental polar (cP)
A device used by meteorologists to measure atmospheric pressure is called a squashometer. - ANSWER False
________ removes mass from a column of air while convergence adds mass to a column of air. - ANSWER Divergence
__________ develop as a direct result of accelerations created by imbalances between the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force, primarily at the jetstream level. - ANSWER Extratropical cyclones
It is May on the Great Plains. A cold front is advancing toward you. What type of weather conditions would you expect to find if the cold front is advancing into warm, moist, conditionally unstable air? - ANSWER Thunderstorms
weather develops. - ANSWER Extratropical cyclones
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 a warm front
Which of the following statements about extratropical cyclones is not true? - ANSWER They form between approximately 5 ° and 60 ° N.
When a dry line passes, winds typically shift from westerly before the dryline passes to easterly after the dryline passes. - ANSWER false
_________ can be a significant hazard associated with stationary fronts. - ANSWER flooding
A primary role of extratropical cyclones is to: - ANSWER transport heat from the equator to the poles.
Increasing high cloudiness and cold this morning. Clouds increasing and lowering this afternoon, with a chance of snow or rain tonight. Turning much warmer tomorrow morning with precipitation ending. Light easterly winds today, becoming southerly tonight and tomorrow. - ANSWER warm front
Light rain and cold today, with temperatures just above freezing. Southeasterly winds shifting to westerly tonight. Turning colder with rain becoming heavy and possibly changing to snow. - ANSWER cold type occluded front
Increasing cloudiness and warm today, with the possibility of intense thunderstorms along a squall line by evening. Turning much colder tonight. Winds from the south, becoming gusty from the northwest by tonight. - ANSWER cold front
Warm and humid today with scattered thunderstorms. Tomorrow expect high temperatures but with drier conditions and clearing skies. Overnight winds will shift from southeasterly to southwesterly. - ANSWER dryline
If you were to view a fully developed extratropical cyclone on a satellite image, what punctuation mark would it look like? - ANSWER comma
"Hot and humid today with southeasterly winds. Thundershowers expected this afternoon. Tomorrow will remain hot but the air will be much drier. Winds will be southwesterly." - ANSWER dryline
Comma clouds associated with extratropical cyclones are most easily seen on
