Question 1

The figure below shows air ascending and then descending a mountain with an elevation of 4 km. If the air initially has a temperature of 25 degrees C and a dew point temperature of 15 degrees C at an elevation of 1 km on the windward side of the mountain, what will be the parcel’s temperature at an altitude of 0 km on the leeward side of the mountain? Assume that there is no more moisture in the air parcel anymore once it reaches the top of the mountain.

1. 25 degrees C
2. 35 degrees C
3. 33 degrees C
4. 27 degrees C

Question 2

The altitude at which a rising air parcel’s temperature equals the environmental temperature, and any further ascent will cause the air parcel to become warmer than its surrounding environment, is known as the ______________.

1. absolutely unstable level
2. level of free convection
3. lifting condensation level
4. equilibrium level

Question 3

A wetter climate is typically observed on the _________ side of a mountain, and drier conditions are typically observed on the __________ side of a mountain.

1. leeward; windward
2. eastward; westward
3. windward; leeward
4. southward; northward

Question 4

Use the figure of sea-level pressure (black contours) over North America provided below. Which force balance most accurately describes a wind in surface wind balance at the yellow dot (dot 5)?

1. C
2. A
3. B
4. D

Question 5

Choose All That Apply: Which factors will cause the atmosphere to become more unstable?

1. Temperatures a few kilometers above the surface cool rapidly as an upper-level trough moves overhead
2. Cloud cover prevents the surface from warming up during the day
3. A low-pressure system transports more moisture into the region
4. The sun breaks through the clouds during the afternoon, helping to warm temperatures at the surface

Question 6

A snow crystal falls from an altitude of 5 km down to the surface in a saturated environment. Along the snow crystal’s journey, the temperature of the surrounding environment warms above 0 degrees C over a deep layer before cooling to –1 degrees C immediately above the Earth’s surface. What type of precipitation is likely occurring at the surface?

1. Rain
2. Sleet
3. Freezing rain
4. Snow

Question 7

As an air parcel rises, the altitude at which the air parcel’s temperature becomes equal to its dew point temperature is known as the __________________.

1. lifting condensation level
2. level of free convection
3. local saturation level
4. level of free conduction

Question 8

The figure below shows air ascending and then descending a mountain with an elevation of 4 km. If the air initially has a temperature of 25 degrees C and a dew point temperature of 15 degrees C at an elevation of 1 km on the windward side of the mountain, what is the parcel’s lifting condensation level?

1. 0 km
2. 0 km
3. 0 km
4. 66 km

Question 9

Consider the hypothetical distribution of sea-level pressure (black contours) shown below. In which direction will the pressure gradient force act at the yellow dot?

1. North
2. East
3. South
4. West

Question 10

The height of a pressure surface will be at __________ altitude in a warmer atmospheric column compared to a colder atmospheric column. Assume the pressure observed at the surface is identical at the bottom of both atmospheric columns.

1. the same
2. a higher
3. a lower
4. there is not enough information to answer this question

Question 11

Consider an environment in which the environmental temperature cools from 20 degrees C at the surface (0 km) to 10 degrees C at an altitude of 2 km. Which phrase best describes the stability of this environment?

1. conditionally unstable
2. absolutely stable
3. absolutely unstable
4. neutrally stable

Question 12

Consider an air parcel within an environment in which the surface temperature is 35 degrees C and the dew point temperature is 15 degrees C. If the environmental lapse rate is 8 degrees C/km, at what altitude will an air parcel rising from the surface reach its level of free convection?

2. 5 km
3. 2 km
4. 0 km
5. 4 km

Question 13

Which type of heat transfer mechanism also facilitates upward vertical motion in the atmosphere?

1. advection
2. conduction
3. radiation
4. convection

Question 14

A wind barb describing the wind in Kansas City, MO is shown below. What is the wind speed and direction at Kansas City? Screenshot (259).png

1. 10 knots; northeasterly
2. 20 knots; northeasterly
3. 10 knots; southwesterly
4. 20 knots; southwesterly

Question 15

Choose All That Apply: Which of the following forces act on an air parcel only if it is in motion?

1. Friction
2. Pressure gradient force
3. Coriolis force
4. Centrifugal force

Question 16

Consider an air parcel (blue box) in the Northern Hemisphere at 500 mb and in geostrophic balance. What is the direction of the geostrophic wind? The dashed red lines correspond to the geopotential height at 500 mb.

1. northerly
2. southerly
3. westerly
4. easterly

Question 17

Choose All That Apply: Which of the following factors are associated with an absolutely stable environment?

1. The presence of a temperature inversion
2. An environmental lapse rate of 11 degrees C/km
3. A rising air parcel will eventually become warmer than its surrounding environment
4. A rising air parcel will always be colder than its surrounding environment

Question 18

Boulder, CO, and Limon, CO, both observe the same surface pressure. If the average temperature in the troposphere above Limon is colder than that observed over Boulder, which statement best characterizes the direction of the pressure gradient force at a height of 5 km above the surface?

1. The pressures are equal at 5 km, so there will be no pressure gradient force
2. Gravity will counteract the pressure gradient force
3. The pressure gradient force will be directed from Limon towards Boulder
4. The pressure gradient force will be directed from Boulder towards Limon

Question 19

If the temperature of an air parcel at the surface (0 km) is 30 degrees C and its dew point temperature is 5 degrees C, at what altitude will a cloud begin to form if it rises from the surface?

1. 0 km
2. 5 km
3. 5 km
4. 4 km

Question 20

If the temperature of an air parcel is 18 degrees C and its dew point temperature is 10 degrees C, the air parcel is ___________ and will cool at the _______ adiabatic lapse rate as it rises.

1. unsaturated; dry
2. saturated; dry
3. saturated; moist
4. unsaturated; moist

Question 21

If the atmospheric flow pattern is in gradient wind balance, which of the following forces are in balance?

1. Pressure gradient force and friction
2. Pressure gradient force, Centrifugal force, and Coriolis force
3. Pressure gradient force and Coriolis force
4. Pressure gradient force, Coriolis force, and Friction

Question 22

Use the figure of sea-level pressure (black contours) over North America provided below. Which force balance most accurately describes a wind in surface wind balance at the yellow dot (dot 4)?

1. A
2. D
3. C
4. B

Question 23

In the Northern Hemisphere, air circulates __________ around a surface low pressure and _________ around a surface high pressure. In the Southern Hemisphere, air circulates ____________ around a surface low pressure and ___________ around a surface high pressure.

1. counterclockwise; clockwise; clockwise; counterclockwise
2. clockwise; clockwise; counterclockwise; counterclockwise
3. counterclockwise; counterclockwise; clockwise; clockwise
4. clockwise; counterclockwise; counterclockwise; clockwise

Question 24

Choose All That Apply: Which of the following forces act on stationary air parcels within the Earth’s atmosphere?

1. Friction
2. Coriolis Force
3. Centrifugal Force
4. Pressure Gradient Force

Question 25

As you look up, you observe a precipitating cloud that extends from 1 km to 4 km above the Earth’s surface. If the surface temperature is 10 degrees C and the environmental lapse rate is 9 degrees C/km, what type of process is allowing for cloud droplets to grow into precipitation particles within the cloud?

1. Absolutely unstable process
2. Collision and coalescence process
3. Adiabatic process
4. Ice crystal (Bergeron) process

Question 26

Choose All That Apply: Which of the following are characteristics of a surface low-pressure system

1. The air diverges near the center of a surface low pressure
2. Low-pressure systems feature downward motion and clear skies
3. Low-pressure systems feature upward motion and clouds/precipitation
4. The air converges near the center of a surface low pressure

Question 27

If an air parcel is __________ then its surrounding environment it will rise, and if an air parcel is __________ then its surrounding environment it will sink.

1. colder; warmer
2. warmer; colder
3. more saturated; less saturated
4. more dense; less dense

Question 28

Assume that the environmental lapse rate is 9 degrees C/km. If an air parcel at an altitude of 1.5 km features a temperature of 10 degrees C and a dew point temperature of –5 degrees C and rises to an altitude of 2.5 km, what will happen to the parcel? You can also assume the environmental temperature equals the parcel temperature at a height of 1.5 km.

1. The parcel will sink back to its original position at 1.5 km
2. The parcel will continue to rise on its own
3. The parcel will become stationary at 2.5 km
4. The parcel will sink to the surface

Question 29

Use the figure of 500mb geopotential height (black contours) over North America provided below. Which force balance most accurately describes the geostrophic wind at the yellow dot (dot 1)?

1. B
2. D
3. C
4. A

Question 30

Consider an air parcel that is moving from west to east in the Northern Hemisphere. The Coriolis force will deflect the motion of this air parcel towards the ________.

1. west
2. south
3. north
4. east

Question 31

Which of the following factors is the least favorable for cloud formation?

1. The relative humidity of an air parcel is 100%
2. The saturation vapor pressure of an air parcel equals its vapor pressure
3. The temperature of an air parcel equals its dew point temperature
4. The temperature of an air parcel is 10 degrees C warmer than its dew point temperature

Question 32

Which of the following statements is true?

1. If there is a net force acting on an air parcel, it will accelerate
2. If there is no net force acting on an air parcel, it cannot be in motion
3. Acceleration only corresponds to changes in the speed of an object
4. If there is a net force acting on an air parcel, it will remain stationary

Question 33

An absolutely unstable environment is often favorable for the development of what type of weather conditions?

1. Deep cumulonimbus clouds and heavy precipitation
2. Weak precipitation
3. Sunny skies
4. Calm winds

Question 34

Which type of aerosols most effectively serve as cloud condensation nuclei?

1. All aerosols are equally effective cloud condensation nuclei
2. Hydrophobic nuclei
3. Hygroscopic nuclei
4. Hydroponic nuclei

Question 35

Which of the following statements concerning an adiabatic process is true?

1. Heat is not exchanged between the environment and an air parcel
2. An air parcel cools as it sinks in the atmosphere
3. Heat is exchanged between the environment and an air parcel
4. An air parcel warms as it rises in the atmosphere

Question 36

The picture below shows small, puffy clouds located at an altitude of 7 km above ground level. Which cloud type is the best description for these clouds?

1. Stratocumulus
2. Altocumulus
3. Cirrocumulus
4. Cirrus

Question 37

True or False: In the Earth’s atmosphere, water vapor condenses frequently without cloud condensation nuclei.

1. True
2. False

Question 38

Use the figure of 500mb geopotential height (black contours) over North America provided below. Which force balance most accurately describes a wind in gradient wind balance at the yellow dot (dot 2)?

1. D
2. C
3. B
4. A

Question 39

Use the figure of 500mb geopotential height (black contours) over North America provided below. Which force balance most accurately describes a wind in gradient wind balance at the yellow dot (dot 3)?

1. C
2. A
3. B
4. D

Question 40

A snow crystal falls from an altitude of 5 km down to the surface in a saturated environment. Along the snow crystal’s journey, the temperature of the surrounding environment never warms above 0 degrees C. What type of precipitation is likely occurring at the surface?

1. Freezing rain
2. Rain
3. Sleet
4. Snow

Question 41

Consider the map of sea-level pressure (black contours) shown below. At which location is the pressure gradient force the weakest?

1. A
2. C
3. B
4. D

Question 42

Choose All That Apply: Which factors will cause the atmosphere to become more stable?

1. Air encounters higher topography and is forced to rise
2. Cold air moves over relatively warm lake waters
3. A high-pressure system transports drier air towards a location
4. Dew points rise during the afternoon due to the transpiration of water by crops

Question 43

Choose All That Apply: The wind is approximately in geostrophic balance if which of the following statements are true?

1. the wind is measured on a 300 mb surface
2. the geopotential height contours are curved
3. the wind is measured near the surface
4. the geopotential height contours are relatively straight

Question 44

The figure below shows air ascending and then descending a mountain with an elevation of 4 km. If the air initially has a temperature of 25 degrees C and a dew point temperature of 15 degrees C at an elevation of 1 km on the windward side of the mountain, what will be the parcel’s temperature if it is lifted to the top of the mountain (4 km)?

1. –5 degrees C
2. 3 degrees C
3. 7 degrees C
4. -3 degrees C

Question 45

Thin, disc-shaped clouds that often form near mountain ranges are known as what type of cloud?

1. Nimbostratus
2. Cumulonimbus
3. Mammatus
4. Lenticular

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