1. Which of the following scales of atmospheric motion is most accurate?
a. Microscale—Hurricanes
b. Synoptic scale—Dust devils
c. Mesoscale—Tornadoes
d. Planetary scale—Lake breeze
e. Macroscale—Santa Ana
answer: c
2. Sea breezes _______.
a. Are local winds blowing from the sea during the afternoon in coastal areas
b. Require a surface region of high pressure inland
c. Occur when the temperature at the seashore is higher than that inland
d. Are usually less intense than land breezes
e. All of these are correct
answer: e
3. Isolated cumulus clouds that form above mountain peaks are often associated with ______.
a. Chinook winds
b. Mountain breezes
c. Fall winds
d. Sea breezes
e. Valley breezes
answer: e
4. A katabatic wind is a _______, _______ wind.
a. Cold, upslope
b. Warm and moist, upslope
c. Cold, downslope
d. Very dry warm, downslope
e. None of these are correct
answer: c
5. A warm, dry wind that moves downslope can be called a ______.
a. Chinook
b. Mistral
c. Fall wind
d. Haboob
e. Bora
answer: a
6. The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is characterized by: ________.
a. Convergence and uplift of warm surface air
b. Convergence and subsidence of cold surface air
c. Divergence and uplift of warm surface air
d. Divergence and subsidence of cold surface air
answer: a
7. A land breeze usually occurs:
a. During the afternoon when the land is warmer than the sea
b. During the night when land is cooler than the sea
c. During the morning when the land is warming up
d. During midday when the sun is directly overhead
answer: b
8. The polar jet stream is found in the _______.
a. Polar front region
b. Subtropical high region
c. Equatorial low region
d. Intertropical Convergence Zone
answer: a
9. A monsoon is characterized by _______.
a. Seasonal reversal of wind direction
b. Cold, dry conditions
c. Persistent westerly winds
d. Localized upslope winds
answer: a
10. The trade winds are part of which global circulation cell?
a. Polar cell
b. Ferrel cell
c. Hadley cell
d. Walker cell
answer: c
7. What causes the formation of an F-scale tornado?
a. Large-scale convergence of warm and cold air masses
b. Moisture and instability in the lower atmosphere
c. Strong vertical wind shear
d. A rotating updraft called a mesocyclone
e. All of these factors combined
answer: e
8. How does a lake breeze form?
a. During the day, the land heats up faster than the water, causing the air to rise over the land and creating a region of low pressure. This draws in cool air from the lake.
b. During the day, the water heats up faster than the land, causing the air to rise over the water and creating a region of low pressure. This draws in cool air from the land.
c. At night, the land cools faster than the water, causing the air to sink over the land and creating a region of high pressure. This draws in cool air from the lake.
d. At night, the water cools faster than the land, causing the air to sink over the water and creating a region of high pressure. This draws in cool air from the land.
answer: a
9. Why are Santa Ana winds warm and dry?
a. They originate in the desert areas of the southwestern United States, where the air becomes warm and dry before descending down the mountains.
b. They form when cold air from the Pacific Ocean pushes warm air over the coastal mountains, causing compression and heating.
c. They are caused by the interaction of high pressure over the Great Basin and low pressure along the California coast, which creates a strong offshore flow of warm, dry air.
d. They occur when the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico interact with cold air masses from the north, creating a strong southwesterly flow of warm, dry air.
answer: c
10. What weather conditions are typically associated with a mistral wind?
a. Cold and dry conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean region
b. Hot and humid conditions in the Caribbean Islands
c. Warm and moist conditions in the Southern United States
d. Windy and stormy conditions in the North Atlantic Ocean
answer: a
To determine the answers to these questions, you'll need a basic understanding of atmospheric motion and the different scales of atmospheric phenomena. Here's how you can approach each question:
1. The question asks for the most accurate scale of atmospheric motion. To determine the answer, you need to understand the characteristics of each scale and how they relate to specific weather phenomena. Start by reviewing each scale mentioned in the options: microscale, synoptic scale, mesoscale, planetary scale, and macroscale.
- Microscale refers to very small atmospheric phenomena, such as individual storms or hurricanes, and is represented by circulations less than a few kilometers in size.
- Synoptic scale refers to large-scale weather patterns that cover areas typically greater than 1000 kilometers and last several days, such as low-pressure systems and fronts. Dust devils are smaller-scale convective phenomena.
- Mesoscale refers to atmospheric motions with horizontal dimensions between microscale and synoptic scale, typically spanning tens to hundreds of kilometers. This includes phenomena like tornadoes, thunderstorm cells, and local wind circulations.
- Planetary scale represents the overall weather patterns observed on a global scale.
- Macroscale is a term often used to describe large-scale regional weather phenomena, such as Santa Ana winds.
Based on this information, evaluate which option best aligns with the accurate scale of atmospheric motion. In this case, the correct answer is c. Mesoscale—Tornadoes.
2. This question asks about sea breezes and their characteristics. Read each option and determine which statements about sea breezes are correct.
- Sea breezes are local winds blowing from the sea during the afternoon in coastal areas.
- Sea breezes require a surface region of high pressure inland.
- Sea breezes occur when the temperature at the seashore is higher than that inland.
- Sea breezes are usually less intense than land breezes.
Since all of these statements are correct, the answer is e. All of these are correct.
3. This question relates to isolated cumulus clouds above mountain peaks. Consider each option and identify which one is often associated with the formation of these clouds.
- Chinook winds
- Mountain breezes
- Fall winds
- Sea breezes
- Valley breezes
Based on your knowledge, valley breezes are often associated with the formation of clouds above mountain peaks. Therefore, the answer is e. Valley breezes.
4. For this question, you need to understand what a katabatic wind is and identify its characteristics. Evaluate each option and determine the correct description of katabatic wind.
- Cold, upslope
- Warm and moist, upslope
- Cold, downslope
- Very dry warm, downslope
A katabatic wind is a cold, downslope wind, so the correct answer is c. Cold, downslope.
5. This question asks about a specific type of warm, dry wind. Consider each option and identify the correct term for a warm, dry wind moving downslope.
- Chinook
- Mistral
- Fall wind
- Haboob
- Bora
The correct term for a warm, dry wind moving downslope is a Chinook wind, so the answer is a. Chinook.
6. This question refers to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and its characteristics. Review each option and determine the correct description of the ITCZ.
- Convergence and uplift of warm surface air
- Convergence and subsidence of cold surface air
- Divergence and uplift of warm surface air
- Divergence and subsidence of cold surface air
The ITCZ is characterized by convergence and uplift of warm surface air, so the correct answer is a. Convergence and uplift of warm surface air.