WX201 exam 2

Front

An absolutely unstable atmosphere results when the environmental lapse rate is the adiabatic rate.

 

less than; dry

 

the same as; dry

 

less than; moist

 

greater than; dry

 

greater than; moist

Back

greater than; dry

Front

A rock sitting on the top of a hill describes a/an _ situation.

 

hydrostatic

 

geostrophic

 

neutral

 

stable

 

unstable

Back

unstable

Front

Which cloud type below forms in the most conditionally unstable atmosphere

 

stratus

 

cirrostratus

 

cumulonimbus

 

nimbostratus

 

cumulus humilis

Back

cumulonimbus

Front

The rate at which the actual air temperature decreases with increasing height above the surface is referred to as the ____ rate.

 

moist adiabatic

 

dry adiabatic

 

absolute stability

 

environmental lapse

 

thermoclinic

Back

environmental lapse

Front

The difference between “moist” and “dry” adiabatic rates is due to the fact that

 

moist air weighs less than dry air.

 

an unsaturated air parcel expands more rapidly than a saturated air parcel.

 

saturated air is always unstable.

 

moist air weighs more than dry air.

 

latent heat is released by a rising parcel of saturated air.

Back

latent heat is released by a rising parcel of saturated air.

Front

The elevation where the cloud base forms is called the ____ level.

 

precipitation

 

condensation

 

saturation

 

cloud formation

 

adiabatic

Back

condensation

Front

A rising unsaturated air parcel cools at the

 

condensation rate.

 

dry adiabatic rate.

 

moist adiabatic rate.

 

development rate.

 

saturation rate.

Back

dry adiabatic rate.

Front

If the upper atmosphere cools while the lower atmosphere warms,

 

clouds will dissipate across the area

 

winds in the lower atmosphere strengthen.

 

the atmosphere becomes more unstable, less stable.

 

the atmosphere becomes more stable, less unstable.

 

winds in the upper atmosphere strengthen.

Back

the atmosphere becomes more unstable, less stable.

Front

Which of the following is not a mechanism primarily responsible for most clouds observed

 

Uplift along weather fronts.

 

Uplift along topography.

 

Surface heating and free convection.

 

Differences in air pressure caused by a rapidly increasing moist adiabatic rate in a thermal.

 

Widespread ascent due to convergence of surface air.

Back

Differences in air pressure caused by a rapidly increasing moist adiabatic rate in a thermal.

Front

Air that ____ vertical displacements is considered to be stable.

 

entrains

 

resists

 

ionizes

 

exacerbates

 

intensifies

Back

resists