WX201 Exam 2 Questions and
Answers Graded A+
Stable
If an object is displaced, it will respond in a manner than returns it to its original position
Neutral Stability
If an object is displaced it will remain at its new location
Unstable
If an object is displaced, it will continue to move away from its original position
Positively Bouyant
An air parcel is warmer than its environment it is what
Negatively bouyant
An air parcel is colder than its environment is what
Enviro lapse rate
Dry adiabatic lapse rate
moist adiabatic lapse rate
What three things determine the stability of the atmosphere
Absolutely stable
When the lapse rate is less than the moist adiabatic lapse rate ( < 6 degrees/km)
Conditionally unstable atmosphere
When the lapse rate is greater than the moist rate but less than the dry rate ( between 6 and 10)
Absolutely Unstable
When the lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate (> 10)
Hot air near the surface; associated with absolutely unstable environment
What causes mirages
instability and convection are likely present
What is apparent if air parcels become saturated in a conditionally unstable atmosphere
rise
Adiabatic cooling occurs when air parcels do what in the atmosphere
Cools, dry
When an unsaturated air parcel is lifted in the atmosphere it does what at the what kind of adiabatic
lapse rate
, 10 degrees C/km
What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate
6 degrees C/km
What is the moist adiabatic lapse rate
convergence
The lifting mechanism associated with air being forced or "squeezed together near the ground is
called what
convective lifting
Lifting mechanism associated with "warm air rising" is called what
tend to be horizontally layered
Clouds forming in an atmosphere that is stable are what
negatively buoyant
If an air parcel is colder than its environment it is what
absolutely unstable
if the lapse rate is +12/km then the atmosphere is what
Conditionally unstable
If the lapse rate is +8/km then the atmosphere is what
absolutely stable
if the lapse rate is +3/km then the atmosphere is what
saturated
if an air parcel that is conditionally unstable becomes absolutely unstable then it is what
the temp near the ground warms while the temp aloft cools
The atmosphere typically becomes more unstable when what
2 mm
What is the typical size of a raindrop
100 times
how much larger is a typical raindrop from a cloud rain droplet
mixture of supercooled liquid droplets and ice particles
Cloud particles at air temperature around -25 degrees C would likely be
Answers Graded A+
Stable
If an object is displaced, it will respond in a manner than returns it to its original position
Neutral Stability
If an object is displaced it will remain at its new location
Unstable
If an object is displaced, it will continue to move away from its original position
Positively Bouyant
An air parcel is warmer than its environment it is what
Negatively bouyant
An air parcel is colder than its environment is what
Enviro lapse rate
Dry adiabatic lapse rate
moist adiabatic lapse rate
What three things determine the stability of the atmosphere
Absolutely stable
When the lapse rate is less than the moist adiabatic lapse rate ( < 6 degrees/km)
Conditionally unstable atmosphere
When the lapse rate is greater than the moist rate but less than the dry rate ( between 6 and 10)
Absolutely Unstable
When the lapse rate is greater than the dry adiabatic lapse rate (> 10)
Hot air near the surface; associated with absolutely unstable environment
What causes mirages
instability and convection are likely present
What is apparent if air parcels become saturated in a conditionally unstable atmosphere
rise
Adiabatic cooling occurs when air parcels do what in the atmosphere
Cools, dry
When an unsaturated air parcel is lifted in the atmosphere it does what at the what kind of adiabatic
lapse rate
, 10 degrees C/km
What is the dry adiabatic lapse rate
6 degrees C/km
What is the moist adiabatic lapse rate
convergence
The lifting mechanism associated with air being forced or "squeezed together near the ground is
called what
convective lifting
Lifting mechanism associated with "warm air rising" is called what
tend to be horizontally layered
Clouds forming in an atmosphere that is stable are what
negatively buoyant
If an air parcel is colder than its environment it is what
absolutely unstable
if the lapse rate is +12/km then the atmosphere is what
Conditionally unstable
If the lapse rate is +8/km then the atmosphere is what
absolutely stable
if the lapse rate is +3/km then the atmosphere is what
saturated
if an air parcel that is conditionally unstable becomes absolutely unstable then it is what
the temp near the ground warms while the temp aloft cools
The atmosphere typically becomes more unstable when what
2 mm
What is the typical size of a raindrop
100 times
how much larger is a typical raindrop from a cloud rain droplet
mixture of supercooled liquid droplets and ice particles
Cloud particles at air temperature around -25 degrees C would likely be
