Meteorology 1010
AJ Allred, Adjunct
Fall, 2014
Quizzes #4 and #5
This document contains all of the quiz questions with comments or background information to help you answer
the questions in Canvas.
Keep in mind that for ALL exams in Meteorology 1010 : For a question to be true, all parts of the question
must be true. If any part of a question is not true, then the whole question can be marked false without further
thought.
For some of the questions below, I have added prefatory notes to help develop the question. For all questions in
quizzes #4 and #5 you should also use your class notes and your readings in the textbook.
Support for Question #1: See page 99 in the textbook. The hydrogen bonds that hold water as a liquid can be
broken if enough energy is absorbed, caused kinetic motion that moves liquid to vapor. Likewise, if enough
heat energy is lost, then molecular movement slows enough to allow hydrogen bonds to reform, leading from
vapor to liquid or even ice.
1. The hydrologic cycle is based on solar energy causing liquid and frozen water to heat enough to
evaporate and move by wind current. When vaporized water cools enough, clouds form as vapor
condenses to water and/or ice. The cycle repeats.
True ___
False ___
Support for Question #2: Radiation reaching the Earth is neither hot nor cold. When radiation is absorbed
molecules vibrate more vigorously. So, heat and/or pressure result after solar energy is absorbed.
Most of Earth’s water is liquid because it has absorbed a large amount of energy that can be measured as heat.
Surprisingly, even hard ice contains a vast amount of heat when compared to absolute zero at about -458°F
(below zero!).
When water absorbs enough heat to evaporate (vaporize), water molecules vibrate so much that hydrogen bonds
break allowing water to ‘vaporize’ into a type of atmospheric gas. Vaporized water contains vast energy as
water molecules push apart vigorously. Vaporized water contains a large amount of latent heat, or hidden heat.
The heat and water both become ‘invisible’ in the air when liquid goes to vapor.
Water vapor is a very effective way of moving energy from one place to another. Call it “air mail” because the
process of hiding heat in water (as vapor) stores a great deal of heat in air that can move easily as humid wind.
In the diagram below, notice that calorie energy is required for water to change from ice to liquid and to vapor.
Water is remarkable for being able to absorb vast energy before changing temperature. Hydrogen bonds break
and reform as water moves from vapor to liquid and/or ice even as temperature changes very little.
2. Evaporation is an effective way of absorbing or ‘hiding’ heat so that it can be carried away by
convection. Evaporation also makes it easy to move water from liquid to vapor, so it can be carried
away easily by wind. So, solar energy uses water to move energy (and water) by “air mail”.
True ___
False ___
Support for Question #3. Gases and vapor in the atmosphere are composed of atoms and molecules that have
mass or weight. The combined weight of atmospheric gases results in substantial pressure at sea level, about
14.7 pounds per square inch or about 1,013mb.
The partial pressure of gases and vapors combine for total pressure. For instance, about 78% of the atmosphere
is nitrogen, so the partial pressure of nitrogen is greater than for all other parts of the atmosphere. Nitrogen has
a molar weight of 14 and oxygen atoms weigh about 16. Because atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen exist as
pairs, the total weight of nitrogen is about 28 and oxygen about 32. Hydrogen has a weight of 1 and carbon
weighs 12.
So:
Methane (CH4) weighs: 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 16
Carbon dioxide (CO2) weighs: 12 + 16 + 16 = 44
Carbon monoxide (CO) weighs: 12 + 16 = 28
Water vapor (H2O) weighs: 1 + 1 + 16 = 18
Ozone (O3) weighs: 16 + 16 + 16 = 48
Notice that water as vapor is lighter than most atmospheric gases, so humid air tends to float or rise in the
atmosphere. Hot air rises. Wet air rises.
3. Energy that is absorbed by water can move easily by flowing vapor or liquid. One result is severe
storms in places far from the Equator. Precipitation that originated by evaporation in the tropics
helps prevent drought in places like Florida.
True ___
False ___
4. In the Earth’s atmosphere, what is the closest estimate of the average weight of all vapor and gases?
(Hint: about 99% of atmospheric gases are either nitrogen or oxygen)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
5.
29
44
48
52
76
Places near the ocean tend to have milder seasonal temperatures than inland because:
a. The sun’s electromagnetic energy penetrates bare dirt and rock better than dark oceans
b. Land surfaces are better than water bodies at absorbing heat during the day and releasing it at
night
c. Water has high capacity for absorbing heat and then radiating it back out later
d. Land areas far away from water tend to exhibit more stable air temperatures than do oceans and
lakes during daily and seasonal temperature swings
e. All of the above are true
Support for Question #5: The Earth is a sphere that rotates. So, objects in free flight tend to drift to the right in
the northern hemisphere and drift to the left in the southern hemisphere. Winds and ocean currents react to
Coriolis force this same way.
As shown on page 96 in the textbook, Coriolis force causes winds in the northern hemisphere to drift toward the
right and then flow westward along the Equator. Likewise, left-bound winds in the southern hemisphere also
end-up flowing westward after bending to the left. Together, these are the “trade winds” that induce ocean
currents to follow them west-bound near the Equator.
6. Because of Coriolis force and the “Trade Winds”, a hurricane that develops in the Atlantic Ocean will
tend to move westward toward the United States and Mexico. A hurricane in the Pacific Ocean will
tend to move westward also, which moves it away from Los Angeles and northern Mexico.
True ___
False ___
7. Radiation is the only way that energy can leave the Earth. Other means of energy transfer, such as
conduction and convection require energy stored in substances, or mass. Direct contact with
something (touch) allows energy as kinetic motion to be transferred from a warmer (more kinetic
vibration) to something colder (less kinetic motion).
True ___
False ___
8. About how many degrees of temperature (as thermal energy or heat) still remain in ice that has a
temperature of minus 25ºF (-25 ºF)?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
About 430º
About 305º
Exactly 278º
About 50º
None of the above is a good estimate
9. For solar energy that reaches the Earth:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The most intense or most energetic rays or waves are visible by human eyes
Most waves are short wave length and easily penetrate the atmosphere
About 1/3 of all solar energy is not absorbed by Earth or its atmosphere
Portions of the violet and red parts of the spectrum are visible by human eyes
All of the above are true
10. Of the following means of energy transfer, which one prevents the Earth from over-heating?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Radiation
Reflection
Absorption
Conduction
Convection
11. If the overall albedo of Earth were to rise, which of the following patterns are probably occurring?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Ice is melting and the Earth is warming
Ice is accumulating and the Earth is cooling
More solar energy is being reflected back into space
Answers ‘a’ and ‘c’ above are both true
Answers ‘b’ and ‘c’ above are both true
12. Arizona is not close to the Equator, which explains why equatorial regions are so much hotter in
summer than Arizona.
True ___
False ___
13. Which of the following statements are true of air quality in Salt Lake valley?
a. Ground-level ozone rises in the winter to protect us from harmful Uv rays
b. Atmospheric ozone becomes a serious air pollution problem during cold, dark winters
c. Ground-level ozone is produced in conjunction with sunshine and causes air quality alerts during
summer
d. Valley breezes become very strong in winter, causing warm air to leave the area
e. All of the above are true of air quality conditions in Salt Lake valley
For Question #13 below  As explained in class discussion, humid, warm air is lighter in weight than more
dense dry air. Rising air is associated with instability and storminess. Descending air is associated with
stability, dryness and even stale air pollution.
14. On Earth, unstable atmospheric conditions are normal. Stable conditions are not normal. Normal
daily valley breezes tend to help freshen the air and clear out air pollution. If valley breezes are
absent, then mountain breezes can help trap pollution. In fact, a weather ‘inversion’ means that air is
generally stable or sinking. Cold air could be accumulating in valleys. Surface air pollution may
accumulate as sinking air keeps valley conditions stable, calm and stale.
True ___
False ___
For Question #14 below, look at the Earth’s “budget” for solar energy shown on page 89 of the textbook.
The simplified version of the solar budget that we used in class indicates the following:
-
For every 100 units of energy that reach the Earth, 100 units must leave in order for Earth
temperature to stay stable
About 45% of all solar energy that is absorbed by the Earth goes into either dry land or ocean water
About 31% is not absorbed at all, but is reflected back into outer space immediately
The remaining 24% is absorbed by different parts of the atmosphere.
15. If half of Earth were someday covered by water, and half covered by land, then about how much of
the daily solar energy budget (100 units or 100%) would be absorbed by oceans?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
55%
22.5%
45%
69%
31%
For Question #15 see page 130 in the textbook. We also illustrated this process in class.
16. Let’s compare daily weather in Salt Lake with daily weather at the beach in Los Angeles. Which of
the following statements is NOT true?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
In Salt Lake, a valley breeze is comparable to an on-shore breeze in Los Angeles
A mountain breeze in Salt Lake valley is comparable to an off-shore breeze at the ocean
Valley breezes and on-shore breezes both tend to occur in the morning
Off-shore breezes and mountain breezes tend to occur in the evening or at night
A valley breeze and an on-shore breeze both occur at night when Earth is cooling
Support for Question #16: The “adiabatic” concept means that a rising parcel of air will tend to expand as it
goes up, because air pressure decreases with altitude. A sinking parcel of air will tend to compress, so that
energy in the parcel is concentrated as the air sinks. Measured temperature in a rising parcel of air will tend to
decrease, while the temperature of sinking air will increase. The process can repeat endlessly as heat is
concentrated or diluted based on changes in air pressure. Adiabatic temperature changes are not about energy
being destroyed, just concentrated and de-concentrated depending on air pressure.
17. The ‘adiabatic’ concept means that energy is lost or destroyed when rising air cools by
decompression. Adiabatic cooling is a major means of dispersing energy back into outer space,
preventing the Earth from over-heating.
True ___
False ___
Support for Question #17: Water “takes the heat” for us. Liquid water easily absorbs solar energy. Clouds
reflect short-wave solar energy back into outer space. Clouds also absorb long-wave radiation and send it back
toward the Earth. So, cloudy weather tends to be milder than weather that with clear skies day and night. That
is why the tropics tend to be milder than Arizona even though more solar energy reaches the Earth at the tropics
than at higher latitudes such as Arizona. Arizona has very little water to absorb heat and form clouds for
reflecting energy back into space.
18. Cloudy weather will differ from clear skies in which ways:
a. During cloudy weather, temperatures will be colder at night and warmer during the day than without
clouds
b. During clear days and nights, temperatures will be warmer at night and warmer during the day than
with clouds
c. During cloudy weather, day time temperatures will be higher than during sunny weather
d. During cloudy weather, night-time temperatures will be the same as during the day
e. During cloudy weather, night temperatures will be warmer than without clouds.
19. A solar ray (or wave) that enters the atmosphere at sunset must pass through a thicker cross-section
of atmosphere than a ray or wave that strikes the Earth at a more vertical angle at noon. So, places
like Alaska may have long summer days but solar energy must still pass through so much atmosphere
that a substantial portion never reaches the Earth’s surface.
True ___
False ___
20. A climograph for Salt Lake City compares to a climograph for Los Angeles in the following ways:
a. Salt Lake will have a steeper annual temperature curve than Los Angeles
b. Salt Lake will have a flatter or more shallow temperature curve than Los Angeles
c. Both cities will have a very similar temperature curve because both cities are located in the dry,
sunny western United States
d. All of the above are true
e. None of the above are true
21. World-wise atmospheric carbon dioxide levels:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Increase during winter in the northern hemisphere
Increase during the growing season in the northern hemisphere
Decrease from September through March
Decrease during summers because automobile traffic volumes are much lower
Increase during summer because when living plants and auto traffic are both more active
Support for Question #21: Descending air can be cold or warm. However, colder, denser air can descend more
easily because it is heavier. Cooler air tends to be heavier than warm air, because warm air molecules are
vibrating more vigorously and pushing apart, leaving more empty space in between.
So, in the northern hemisphere, a high-pressure system is about descending air that is sinking and turning
clockwise because of Coriolis force or effect. Sinking air can be either cold or warm and high-pressure systems
can occur any time of year.
In contrast, low-pressure systems are about rising air. Low-pressure systems tend to involve warm, humid air
that rises easily.
In the northern hemisphere, low-pressure rising air tends to turn counter-clockwise as it rises. South of the
Equator, low-pressure, rising air tends to turn clockwise.
Rising air tends to involve storminess, as rising air is usually warm and contains latent heat in water vapor.
In contrast, dry, sinking air tends to not be stormy. In fact, inversion conditions are mostly about sinking air
that may turn stale and hazy from pollution that concentrates as air sinks down to the surface.
22. Air that contains water vapor tends to rise because it is lighter weight than dry air. Warm, humid air
is a great combination for a storm, including hurricanes, cyclones and even tornadoes. Warm wet air
contains vast amounts of energy that contribute to high winds, lightning, hail, and heavy
precipitation. Even a winter blizzard can be windy because vast amounts of energy are stored in
frozen snow and ice.
True ___
False ___
Support for Question #22 below. It is possible that Question #23 is the hardest question in the entire semester
for Geography 1000. That is because people cannot usually feel air pressure.
We cannot see wind. But air pressure causes wind and wind causes - - - stormy weather.
So, as you work toward question #23 below, be sure to read pages 112-116 in the textbook. That material is
challenging! Let’s see if my version helps a little bit.
Wind tends to move from high pressure to low pressure, crossing isobars at right angles, in other words, straight
“downhill”. However, because of Coriolis force, in the northern hemisphere, pressure gradient winds moving
down the gradient will start to deflect to the right.
So, a low-pressure storm cell will collect in-coming air that is moving toward the center and then “up the
chimney”. The opposite is true of high-pressure descending air that is moving out and away from center.
Now, here’s where things get harder to understand. If Coriolis force deflects wind to the right
in the northern hemisphere, then how can rising air turn counter-clockwise – to the left?
The book explains this, but also look at the graphic to the right:
Step 1: In-coming air heads ‘down gradient’ toward the center
Step 2: Coriolis deflects gradient air to the right
Step 3: More in-bound air pushes wind back toward the center (to the left)
Step 4: The cycle continues as Coriolis and pressure gradient balance counteract each other.
Incoming air gets pushed around the center as Coriolis goes right against gradient
Step 5: The ‘balance’ between right-turning Coriolis and in-bound gradient wind is - - going around in circles to
the left.
23. Wind moves from high pressure to low pressure. Rising air creates low pressure that draws in more
air from higher pressure nearby. Coriolis force deflects wind to the right, but pressure gradient plus
Coriolis result in low-pressure air turning to the left – counter-clockwise.
True ____
False ___
Support for Question #23. Read pages 115-116 in the textbook and consider the following. We have already
covered the idea that rising air flows creates low pressure at the surface. Coriolis force will make low-pressure
rising air turn counter-clockwise. We call low-pressure rising air cyclonic.
In contrast, high-pressure air tends to be descending and flowing outward or away from a center. It tends to
turn clockwise as it sinks. Clockwise sinking air is called anti-cyclonic.
So, stormy weather tends to be in cyclones while dry, sunny or fair weather tends to be anti-cyclonic. This
information also helps with questions #25 to #30.
24. Which of the following statements are true for cyclones?
a. During a cyclone, wet, warm air rises easily compared to dry, cool air.
b. Because air expands and cools as it rises we tend to get clouds and precipitation, along with
wind. Sometimes we also get lightning, thunder, hail and high winds.
c. After a storm, the air tends to be cleaner or freshened.
d. Even without a rain storm, on normal days air is unstable and will rise when heated
e. All of the above are true
25. For anti-cyclones, which of the following statements are true:
a. Air that is turning clockwise as it descends tends to be heavier and/or drier than humid or
warmer air nearby.
b. Sinking air contains relatively little moisture and is compressing as it descends
c. Air that is sinking will warm-up by adiabatic compression
d. A high-pressure weather system will tend to produce clear skies
e. All of the above are true
26. On a world-wide basis, there tends to be rising air at the Equator because:
a. There is plenty of sunshine and water
b. Solar energy evaporates water and heats the ocean
c. Warm, humid air is lighter weight than cooler, drier air
d. Cloud formation releases latent heat that warms the air for more rising or lifting
e. All of the above are true
27. On a world-wise basis, equatorial and tropical regions tend to:
a. Experience mild conditions because ocean water “takes the heat”
b.
c.
d.
e.
Evaporate water and produce cloud cover that blocks some solar energy
Experience rising air masses that eventually produce clouds and rain
Exhibit low air pressure that invites high pressure air to move in
All of the above are true
28. Prevailing low-pressure systems of rising air near the Equator draw in higher pressure air from
locations further north or south of the Equator. These higher pressure systems away from the
Equator exhibit drier, descending air that is sunny, rather than stormy.
True ___
False ___
For question #28 look at your notes from class regarding high and low-pressure air. These systems work
together: Compare that to the textbook at the bottom of page 116 and all of page 118.
The key here is that high-pressure anti-cyclones with sinking air feed surface air into the bottom of nearby lowpressure cyclones. At the top of a low-pressure system, air can move laterally before entering a higher pressure
system somewhere else. The cycle goes on and on.
29. Sunny, high-pressure weather in locations north and south of the Equator are the result of drier,
descending air that moves along the surface toward the Equator where it can rise again in lowpressure systems. Air that emerges from the top of a low-pressure air then moves north or south
before sinking once again into an anti-cyclone of sinking air that reaches the surface before moving
once again back toward the Equator.
True ___
False ___
30. According to page 118 of the textbook, the endless cycle of low-pressure rising air and high-pressure
sinking air can be called a “Hadley Cell”. Hadley cells are invisible, yet can move vast amounts of air
to and from equatorial regions. These cycles are created by solar energy that creates low-pressure,
rising air from evaporation of ocean water near the Equator. After rising and moving away from the
Equator, the air becomes drier and sinks back to the surface for flow again back toward the Equator.
True ___
False ___
31. In the northern hemisphere, cyclonic winds move:
a. counter-clockwise while rising
b. clock-wise and sink
c. counter-clockwise with sinking air.
d. clock-wise with rising air
e. None of the above