Upper-air Meteorology

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. The 500 millibar level, which is the level above the Earth's surface where the pressure has decreased to exactly 500 millibars, is often referred to as what? The steering level The lifting condensation level The jet stream level The tropopause

2. What is the point in the atmosphere called where the bottom of the first cloud is seen? Level of free convection Convective available potential energy Dew point Lifting condensation level

3. Why do meteorologists use the pressure level above the surface of the Earth called the 850 millibar level when looking for temperature advection (horizontal movement of temperature)? The air is not affected by diurnal temperature changes This is the steering level of the atmosphere The winds are lightest at that level The air is typically free of moisture at this level

4. In order for a tropical depression to strengthen, what type of upper-level conditions must be in place? Light winds Convergence Strong winds Temperature inversion

5. In the mid-latitudes, what is the most common type of precipitation-forming process called? Bergeron process Condensation Collision-coalescence Saturation vapor pressure

6. When air is lifted, it cools at either the dry adiabatic (no exchange of heat or energy with the surroundings) lapse rate or the saturated adiabatic lapse rate, depending on the relative humidity of the air parcel. Why is the dry adiabatic lapse rate always greater than the saturated adiabatic lapse rate? It isn't--they are equal Saturated air ascends more slowly than unsaturated air Condensation in saturated air parcels causes release of latent heat The dry adiabatic lapse rate is only for parcels that have less than 5% humidity

7. Why is the jet stream found at higher altitudes in the tropics than at the poles? The warm, moist air in the tropics "attracts" the jet stream but only at high altitudes. The cold air expands and takes up more space than warmer air, causing the jet stream level to be found at a higher altitude. The warm air expands and takes up more space than cooler air, causing the jet stream level to be found at a higher altitude. The winds are faster at the poles so the jet stream must be closer to the surface of the Earth.

8. It is possible for a cloud to extend into the atmospheric layer above the troposphere, called the stratosphere. True False

9. Geostrophic flow is an idealized flow that occurs away from the Earth's surface, usually at the 500 millibar pressure level. In geostrophic flow, the air flows parallel to the isobars (lines of equal pressure) as opposed to flowing at right angles to the isobars at the surface. What are the two balanced forces that make up geostrophic flow? Pressure gradient force and friction Pressure gradient force and Coriolis force Coriolis force and friction Coriolis force and centripetal acceleration

10. Which of the following IS NOT a factor that influences the amount of solar radiation received at the surface of the Earth? Scattering Albedo Emissivity Absorption