69 practice sets · Page 1 of 4
Why is the number and intensity of wave cyclones greatest during the late fall, winter and spring months?
air is drier then
density of the air is greatest
temperature contrasts are greater
temperatures are below freezing
Why is strong heating of the ground by the sun associated with thunderstorms?
leads to greater instability
reduces the relative humidity
reduces the dew point
increases the pressure gradient
Why do surface wind speeds increase toward the center of a hurricane?
reduced friction
stronger Coriolis effect
warmer water
conservation of angular momentum
Why do most tornadoes in the central U.S. occur during the spring months?
upper-air temperatures are warmest
air-mass contrasts are greatest
divergence of air aloft is greatest
surface air is most humid
Why do hurricanes initially form only in the tropics?
stronger pressure gradients are found there
warm water temperatures are found there
subsiding air currents are found there
Coriolis is weaker there
Why do clouds represent a source of heat for the atmosphere?
they increase the absorption of solar radiation
they conduct heat from the earths surface
cloud formation releases latent heat to the air
melting ice crystals in the cloud absorb heat
Why are maritime air masses from the north Atlantic of only limited concern for weather in the U.S.?
they never cause severe storms
prevailing winds move them away from the U.S.
temperatures are usually mild over this region
polar fronts block these air masses from the U.S.
Which of these is common to both cold and warm fronts?
light to calm winds
lifting of warm air over cold
decreasing precipitation rates
divergence of surface winds
Which of the following would not be associated with stable atmospheric conditions?
widespread fog
temperature inversion
afternoon thundershowers
buildup of pollutants
Which of the following should have the steepest pressure gradient?
tornado
middle-latitude cyclone
hurricane
a, b and c should have equally steep pressure gradients
What type of clouds is most common in a hurricane?
cirrus
stratus
nimbostratus
cumulonimbus
What general circulation wind belt is the place of origin for hurricanes?
westerlies
doldrums
trade winds
horse latitudes
What determines when a tropical depression or storm is given hurricane status?
wind speed
central pressure
diameter
water temperature
What causes the winds of a hurricane to be so fast?
stronger Coriolis force
weaker Coriolis force
very strong pressure gradient force
coupling with the jet stream
What causes the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm?
spreading downdraft cuts off air inflow
release of latent heat within the cloud
converging surface winds
converging winds aloft
Tornadoes most often move toward what direction?
west
southeast
northeast
northwest
Thunderstorm tops most likely occur
in the lower troposphere
in the mesosphere
near the tropopause
in the middle stratosphere
This method of frost prevention relies heavily on the release of latent heat of fusion:
orchard heaters
sprinklers
smudge pots
wind machines
The vertical motions that occur when the air is unstable are termed
convergence
subsidence
convection
geostrophic
The terms leader, flash, and stroke are used when describing:
a tornado
the stages of a thunderstorm
the passage of a hurricane
none of these
