MEA 130 - EXAM 3 Summer 2000 1. Which of the following statements concerning air pressure is true? a. air pressure is equal to the average speed of the molecules b. air pressure is also called barometric pressure c. air pressure increases with respect to height d. all of the above 2. If a liquid with a much lower density than mercury (i.e. alcohol) is used in barometers, the height of the instrument would: a. not allow an accurate measure of atmospheric pressure b. have to decrease c. remain the same d. have to increase 3. If surface air pressure increases, the height of the column in a mercury barometer would: a. decrease b. remain constant c. increase d. cannot determine from available information 4. The term "aneroid" used to classify a type of barometer indicates: a. without air b. without liquid c. with mercury d. without calibration 5. The vertical pressure gradient (dp/dz) is ___________ the horizontal pressure gradient (dp/dx). a. much greater than b. much less than c. approximately the same as d. none of the above 6. Lines connecting equal pressures on a surface weather map are called: a. isobars b. millibars c. isolines d. isotherms The figure above depicts a cross-section of North Carolina's terrain and barometric pressure recorded at four stations. Use this information and the station elevations listed below to answer questions 7 - 9. Murphy: 1000 meters Mt. Mitchell: 2000 meters RDU: 150 meters Manteo: 0 meters 7. Which station has the largest sea-level pressure? a. Murphy b. RDU c. Manteo d. Mt. Mitchell 8. Which station has a sea-level pressure of 1010 mb? a. Mt. Mitchell b. Manteo c. RDU d. Murphy 9. Which station has the largest station-level pressure? a. Mt. Mitchell b. RDU c. Manteo d. Murphy Questions 10 through 12 refer to the following equation for the Coriolis Force: CF = 2 Omega *v * sin (Lat) 10. Three stations in North Carolina; Wilmington (at 34.250), Raleigh (at 35.250) and Elizabeth City (at 36.250) each record a wind speed of 15 m/s. Which would experience the largest Coriolis Force? a. Wilmington b. Elizabeth City c. Raleigh d. cannot tell from information provided 11. If the rotation rate of the earth were to increase, the Coriolis Force would: a. decrease b. increase c. remain the same d. cannot tell from information provided 12. The magnitude of the Coriolis Force is equal to zero: a. at the north and south poles b. when the wind speed is zero c. at the equator d. both (b) and (c) 13. The Geostrophic Wind (Vg) represents a balance between which two forces? a. Horizontal Pressure Gradient Force and Friction Force b. Horizontal Pressure Gradient Force and Coriolis Force c. Coriolis Force and Friction Force d. none of the above 14. Which of the following is true concerning the Horizontal Pressure Gradient Force? a. it's directed from high pressure to low pressure b. it's magnitude is related to the pressure gradient c. it impacts the wind speed and direction d. all of the above Questions 15 - 19 refer to the figure below 15. This figure depicts ___________ pressure pattern and resulting forces. a. a surface-level b. an upper-level c. a vertical cross section d. none of the above 16. The Coriolis Force (CF) is depicted by which arrow? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 17. The Geostrophic Wind (Vg) is depicted by which arrow? a. 3 b. 2 c. 1 d. none of the above 18. The Horizontal Pressure Gradient Force is depicted by which arrow? a. 3 b. 2 c. 1 d. none of the above 19. The units of the lines labeled 796 and 800 are _______ . a. millibars b. meters c. inches of mercury d. isobars Questions 20 - 24 refer to the figure below 20. This figure depicts ___________ pressure pattern and resulting forces. a. a surface-level b. an upper-level c. a vertical cross section d. none of the above 21. The Coriolis Force (CF) is depicted by which arrow? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 22. The Friction Force is depicted by which arrow? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 23. The wind is depicted by which arrow? a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4 24. The angle which represents cross isobar flow is typically _________ . a. 30 b. 300 c. 3000 d. none of the above 25. The figure above depicts the pressure pattern and wind flow arrows associated with: a. an upper-level high pressure center b. an upper-level low pressure center c. a surface-level high pressure center d. a surface-level low pressure center 26. The figure above depicts the pressure pattern and wind flow arrows associated with: a. a surface-level low pressure center b. a surface-level high pressure center c. an upper-level low pressure center d. an upper-level high pressure center 27. The air ________ above areas of surface low pressure, resulting in _________ weather. a. sinks, inclement b. rises, inclement c. sinks, nice d. rises, nice 28. Which of the following provides upper-air wind speed and direction measurements? a. LIDAR b. rawinsondes c. satellites d. all of the above 29. Air masses are characterized by high pressure and homogeneous properties of ________ and ________. a. temperature (T), dewpoint temperature (Td) b. Relative Humidity (RH), temperature (T) c. Relative Humidity (RH), dewpoint temperature (Td) d. temperature (T),density (p) 30. Which of the following areas would be a good source region? a. Appalachian Mountains b. Gulf of Mexico c. Rocky Mountains d. Great Lake States 31. During the summer, which air mass type dominates NC's weather? a. cP b. mP c. mT d. cT 32. During the summer, this type of air mass is most often responsible for drought conditions over the Southern and Central Plains: a. mP b. mT c. cP d. cT 33. Which air mass would most likely have the lowest actual water vapor pressure (e)? a. cT b. mP c. mT d. cP 34. Which air mass would most likely have the highest saturation vapor pressure (es)? a. mP b. mT c. cT d. cP 35. The greatest contrast in Temperature (T) and dewpoint (Td) would occur along the boundary separating which two air masses? a. cP and cT b. cP and mT c. mP and cP d. mT and mP 36. The word "frontolysis" means: a. the analysis (or study) of fronts b. a front is being generated c. one front is about to overtake another front d. a front is dissipating 37. A stationary front does not move because: a. the winds blow parallel to the front b. the front is between high and low pressure c. the winds blow against each other with equal strength d. all of the above 38. Which of the following are characteristics of a typical cold front? a. steep slopes b. fast movement c. overrunning (stratified) precipitation d. (a) and (b) 39. Which of the following are characteristics of a typical warm front? a. steep slopes b. fast movement c. overrunning (stratified) precipitation d. all of the above 40. Occluded fronts typically occur when: a. a warm front overtakes a cold front b. a cold front overtakes a warm front c. a cold front overtakes a stationary front d. a warm front overtakes a stationary front Questions 41 through 46 refer to the surface map below 41. mT air would most likely be found at point: (A) (B) (C) (D) 42. cP air would most likely be found at point: (A) (B) (C) (D) 43. Which area would most likely experience thunderstorms? (A) (B) (C) (D) 44. Which area would most likely have the highest dewpoint (Td)? (A) (B) (C) (D) 45. An occluded front is positioned between numbers: a. 1 and 2 b. 2 and 4 c. 3 and 4 d. 4 and 5 46. A stationary front is positioned between numbers: a. 1 and 2 b. 2 and 4 c. 3 and 4 d. 4 and 5 Questions 47 through 50 refer to the following station plot for Raleigh: 47. What is the current weather occurring at the station? a. cloudy with a thunderstorm b. cloudy with drizzle c. cloudy with snow d. cloudy with fog 48. Three hours ago the barometric pressure was ________. a. 1010 millibars b. 1010 inches of Hg c. 1017 millibars d. 1017 inches of Hg 49. Which air mass type is likely over the station? a. cP b. cT c. mP d. mT 50. Which of the following weather scenarios is most likely occurring at the station: a. a warm front is approaching the station b. a cold front is approaching the station c. a "Back Door" cold front recently passed through the station d. a warm front recently passed through the station |