Assessment Questions for Session 6

Choose the best answer:

  1. A rising parcel of saturated air ...
    a) will, in general, cool faster than a rising parcel of dry air.
    b) will, in general, cool more slowly than a rising parcel of dry air.
    c) will cool at the same rate as a rising parcel of dry air.

  2. Which condition of atmospheric stability is often associated with the entrapment of pollutants at or near the surface of the earth?
    a) a neutral atmosphere
    b) a stable atmosphere
    c) an unstable atmosphere

  3. An air mass moving eastward across the eastern US encounters the Appalachian Mountains. This air mass is forced upward by which of the following atmospheric lifting mechanisms?
    a) convergence
    b) frontal lifting
    c) adiabatic lifting
    d) orographic lifting

  4. Fill in the Blank: A dry parcel forced upward through a stable layer in the atmosphere will _________ if the force acting on the parcel suddenly disappears.
    a) begin to sink
    b) continue to rise
    c) remain where it is
    d) either begin to sink, continue to rise, or remain where it is, depending on the temperature and humidity profile of the atmosphere

  5. As clouds begin to develop over central Oklahoma, forecasters warn that this storm system may rapidly intensify to produce damaging winds and heavy downpours. What is one factor that may play a role in hindering the rapid and intense development of this storm?
    a) entrainment of warmer, moist air into this convective system
    b) a differential distribution of moisture throughout this system in which the lower region of the system contains substantially more water vapor than the upper region producing a convectively stable system as it rises.
    c) entrainment of surrounding dryer air into this convective system



      

On to Part 1: A Review of Atmospheric Lifting Mechanisms

To Session 6 Objectives


On-line Tutors Session 6 Overview Course Content Home Page
Developed by
The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.
Copyright © 1996