Atmospheric Dynamics and Composition Quiz

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Questions and Answers

To which scale do mountain/valley breeze and land/sea breeze circulations belong?

Meso

Which of the following would be considered a microscale event?

Funnel cloud

Which of the following are properties of climate data?

Normals

Extremes

Frequencies

All of the above (correct)

Synoptic climatology is similar to?

Regional climatology Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following fields is concerned with the effects of climate on natural and social phenomena?

Applied climatology Signup and view all the answers

Oxygen comprises approximately what percentage (%) of Earth's atmosphere?

21% Signup and view all the answers

The average environmental lapse rate in the troposphere in Celsius degrees per kilometer is?

6.5 Signup and view all the answers

Which atmospheric layer is sometimes referred to as the 'weather sphere'?

Troposphere Signup and view all the answers

This coldest layer of Earth's atmosphere extends to about 80 km is called the?

Mesosphere Signup and view all the answers

The maximum amount of water vapor that may exist in the atmosphere is directly related to the?

Temperature Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is false concerning Earth-Sun relationships?

The Sun sits at the center of Earth's orbit Signup and view all the answers

Isobars are?

Lines of equal pressure Signup and view all the answers

Winds diverge out of a(n) and converge into a(n) ?

High, low Signup and view all the answers

This refers to a wind that changes direction toward the right with height?

Veering Signup and view all the answers

The law that governs the movement of energy inequalities from areas of higher concentration to areas of lower concentration in an attempt to balance them is known as the?

Second law of thermodynamics Signup and view all the answers

The Walker circulation?

Exists to balance the normally observed pressure gradients over the tropical Pacific Ocean Signup and view all the answers

The Dust Veil Index?

Estimates the total amount of particulate matter in the atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

The notion that increased warming will cause more phytoplankton growth, thereby increasing dimethyl sulfide and sulfur dioxide concentrations, condensation, and cloud cover, is known as the?

CLAW hypothesis Signup and view all the answers

Human-caused desertification can be caused by?

Ranching Signup and view all the answers

Of all the gases emitted by volcanoes, the one that produces the most significant climatic signal is?

Sulfur dioxide Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following layers occurs adjacent to Earth's surface?

Laminar Signup and view all the answers

The relationship between the upward-directed buoyancy force and the downward-directed acceleration caused by gravity can be represented by the?

Hydrostatic equation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the gradient Richardson number?

It provides an index for assessing local stability conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a constant value, because it depends on the amount of moisture in the air?

Saturated adiabatic lapse rate Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is included in the definition of attenuation?

Both A and B Signup and view all the answers

How many River Forecast Centers exist in the United States?

13 Signup and view all the answers

The downward movement of water from the surface into the plant rooting zone is termed?

Infiltration Signup and view all the answers

The depth of water that would result if every water molecule in the atmosphere fell as precipitation would be which of the following?

1 inch (in) Signup and view all the answers

The process of bringing the soil moisture storage to its field capacity is termed?

Recharge Signup and view all the answers

The average coverage of rain gauges in the continental United States is one gauge per how many square kilometers?

723 Signup and view all the answers

The intermixing of steep thermal gradients across small regions is known as?

Baroclinicity Signup and view all the answers

The see-saw pattern of pressure and ridging/troughing at action centers is termed which of the following?

Teleconnection Signup and view all the answers

Where are the subtropical high-pressure centers strongest?

Over the relatively cool ocean during the summer Signup and view all the answers

Pressure is measured in?

Pascals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not true of the atmospheric circulation model proposed by Sir George Hadley?

The cell in the northern hemisphere is stronger than that in the southern hemisphere Signup and view all the answers

Under which of the following criteria would a location not be classified as a dry (B) climate in the Köppen system? (T refers to mean annual Celsius temperature, and P refers to annual precipitation in cm)

<blockquote> 70% of annual precipitation occurs in the winter, and P < 2(T + 14) </blockquote> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was not one of the climate classification categories used by the ancient Greeks?

Humid Zone Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the correct symbol to use for an occluded front?

Purple semicircles and triangles alternating on the same side of a line Signup and view all the answers

In the Thornthwaite climatic classification, the summer thermal efficiency concentration is calculated in which of the following ways?

Summer potential evapotranspiration divided by total annual potential evapotranspiration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following climatic types is not found in the middle latitudes?

Af Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following regions is not considered to have a Steppe climate?

Southern China Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not considered a subarctic climate?

Dwb Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is false regarding highland climates?

The Appalachian Mountains feature a large area of highland climates Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not true regarding Cfa climates?

Extreme precipitation events are rare Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following locations does not have a Marine West Coast climate?

Long Beach, California Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following has little to no effect on African climate?

Kuroshiro current Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does not have an effect on the climate of Africa?

All of these affect the climate of Africa Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding the QBO?

The westerly phase of the QBO enhances Atlantic hurricane activity Signup and view all the answers

All of the following are important Antarctic Ice Shelves for identifying the signature of climate change, except the?

Thornthwaite Ice Shelf Signup and view all the answers

The Tuareg are a group of people who are particularly well-adapted for living in the?

Desert Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Atmospheric and Climate Dynamics

Mountain/valley breeze and land/sea breeze circulations are classified under the meso scale.
A funnel cloud is categorized as a microscale event in meteorology.
Climate data properties include normals, extremes, and frequencies.
Synoptic climatology aligns closely with regional climatology for understanding climate variations.
Applied climatology examines the impact of climate on both natural and social systems.

Atmospheric Composition and Structure

Oxygen constitutes approximately 21% of Earth's atmosphere.
The average environmental lapse rate in the troposphere is 6.5 °C per kilometer.
The troposphere is often referred to as the "weather sphere," where most weather events occur.
Mesosphere, the coldest atmospheric layer, extends up to about 80 km.
The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere correlates directly with temperature.

Atmospheric Pressure and Wind Patterns

Isobars represent lines of equal atmospheric pressure on weather maps.
Winds diverge from high-pressure areas and converge into low-pressure zones.
Veering describes a wind that shifts direction to the right with increasing height.

Thermodynamics and Energy Transfer

The second law of thermodynamics governs energy movement from high to low concentration areas, promoting balance.
Walker circulation operates to balance pressure gradients over the tropical Pacific Ocean.
The Dust Veil Index measures total particulate matter present in the atmosphere.

Climate and Environmental Interactions

The CLAW hypothesis suggests that increased warming enhances phytoplankton growth, affecting cloud cover and climatic feedbacks.
Human-induced desertification can largely result from ranching practices.
Among gases emitted by volcanoes, sulfur dioxide significantly influences climatic signals.

Precipitation and Hydrology

Infiltration refers to the downward movement of water into the soil's rooting zone.
The average depth of precipitation from all atmospheric water molecules would yield about 1 inch.
Recharge describes the process of bringing soil moisture storage to its field capacity.

Weather Observation and Analysis

There are 13 River Forecast Centers across the United States for monitoring water levels and conditions.
Rain gauges are typically spaced at one per 723 square kilometers in the continental U.S.
Baroclinicity refers to the intermixing of steep thermal gradients across small spatial areas.

Climate Classification and Patterns

The gradient Richardson number assesses local stability conditions regarding atmospheric flow.
Saturated adiabatic lapse rate is variable, depending on atmospheric moisture levels.
Attenuation includes processes like scattering and absorption of light and other phenomena.
The Köppen climate classification identifies non-dry climates based on precipitation patterns and temperature relationships.

Climatic Regions and Effects

Cfa climates are characterized by a humid subtropical climate with distinct seasonal rainfall.
Marine West Coast climate is absent in Long Beach, California, despite its coastal location.
The August temperature cannot exceed a certain threshold to still classify as a dry (B) climate in Köppen terms.

Climate Change and Impact on Ecosystems

The QBO indicates that the westerly phase increases the likelihood of Atlantic hurricane occurrences.
Important Antarctic Ice Shelves, aside from the Thornthwaite Ice Shelf, are key indicators of climate change.
The Tuareg people are highly adapted to life in desert environments, showcasing cultural adaptation to extreme climates.

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Description

Test your knowledge on atmospheric dynamics, including circulations like mountain breezes and the layers of the atmosphere. Discover how climate properties and pressure patterns influence weather events. This quiz covers essential concepts in meteorology and climatology.