Atmospheric Variables Regents

Which group of substances is arranged in order of decreasing specific heat values?

• iron, granite, basalt
• copper, lead, iron
• dry air, water vapor, ice
• liquid water, ice, water vapor

During which phase change will the greatest amount of energy be absorbed by 1 gram of water?

• melting
• freezing
• evaporation
• condensation

Which list correctly matches each instrument with the weather variable it measures?

• wind vane—wind speed
  thermometer—temperature
  precipitation gauge—relative humidity
• wind vane—wind direction
  thermometer—dewpoint
  psychrometer—air pressure
• barometer—relative humidity
  anemometer—cloud cover
  precipitation gauge—probability of precipitation
• barometer—air pressure
  anemometer—wind speed
  psychrometer—relative humidity

Which weather change is most likely indicated by rapidly falling air pressure?

• Humidity is decreasing.
• Temperature is decreasing.
• Skies are clearing.
• A storm is approaching.

Weather-station measurements indicate that the dewpoint temperature and air temperature are getting farther apart and that air pressure is rising. Which type of weather is most likely arriving at the station?

• a snowstorm
• a warm front
• cool, dry air
• maritime tropical air

The highest surface wind speeds occur when there is a

• 4-millibar air-pressure difference between two nearby locations
• 4-millibar air-pressure difference between two distant locations
• 20-millibar air-pressure difference between two nearby locations
• 20-millibar air-pressure difference between two distant locations

Air pressure is usually highest when the air is

• cool and humid
• cool and dry
• warm and humid
• warm and dry

Earth’s surface winds generally blow from regions of higher

• air temperature toward regions of lower air temperature
• air pressure toward regions of lower air pressure
• latitudes toward regions of lower latitudes
• elevations toward regions of lower elevations

What is the relative humidity when the dry-bulb temperature is 16°C and the wet-bulb temperature is 14°C?

• 90%
• 80%
• 14%
• 13%

A low-pressure system in the Northern Hemisphere has a surface air-circulation pattern that is

• clockwise and away from the center
• clockwise and toward the center
• counterclockwise and away from the center
• counterclockwise and toward the center