GEOS 114 Meteorology Midterm Exam
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN THE ANSWER SHEET PROVIDED
I. Multiple Choice (45 points)-
1. The climate of some locality governs
a. the type of crops that can be cultivated.
b. the fresh water supply.
c. the average heating and cooling requirements for homes.
d. All of the above are correct.
2. Air pressure can be thought of as
a. air temperature.
b. wind speed.
c. the weight of the overlying air.
d. the weight of the underlying air.
3. Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds in a high pressure system blow
a. clockwise and inward.
b. clockwise and outward.
c. counterclockwise and inward.
d. counterclockwise and outward.
4. Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds blow ___________ about the center of a low pressure
system.
a. clockwise and outward
b. clockwise and inward
c. counterclockwise and outward
d. counterclockwise and inward
5. At the same humidity (water vapor concentration), a cold air mass is _________ a warm air mass.
a. denser than
b. less dense than
c. as dense as
d. none of the above
6. Often the day’s highest air temperature and lowest relative humidity occur
a. around midnight.
b. near sunrise.
c. during early to mid-afternoon.
d. None of the above is correct.
7. A geostationary satellite orbits Earth at _________ altitude than a polar-orbiting satellite.
a. lower
b. higher
c. same
d. variable
8. Clouds appear on __________ satellite images.
a. visible
b. infrared
c. water vapor
d. All of the above are correct.
9. The atmosphere is
a. a relatively thin envelope of gases and particles that encircles the planet.
b. where weather takes place.
c. a major component of the Earth system.
d. All of the above are correct.
10. The portion of the atmosphere in which the principal gases (nitrogen and oxygen) occur everywhere in the same
proportions is the
, a. troposphere.
b. stratosphere.
c. homosphere.
d. All of these are correct.
e. None of these is correct.
11. The portion of the atmosphere in which the proportions of the principal gases (nitrogen and oxygen) change with altitude is
a. below the stratopause.
b. the heterosphere.
c. the homosphere.
d. the troposphere.
e. below the tropopause.
12. An atmospheric gas that varies significantly in concentration from one location to another near sea-level is
a. nitrogen.
b. oxygen.
c. water vapor.
d. All of these are correct.
e. None of these is correct.
13. The ozone shield occurs within that portion of the atmosphere known as the
a. troposphere.
b. stratosphere.
c. mesosphere.
d. thermosphere.
e. ionosphere.
14. The three most common gases in the "dry" atmosphere (excluding water vapor) are
a. nitrogen, oxygen, argon.
b. nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide.
c. nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide.
d. oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide.
15. The source(s) of atmospheric aerosols is (are)
a. wind erosion of soil.
b. forest fires.
c. the spray of ocean waves.
d. volcanic eruptions.
e. All of these are correct.
16. A radiosonde is equipped with instruments that measure
a. temperature
b. air pressure.
c. dewpoint (a measure of humidity).
d. All of these are correct.
e. None of these is correct.
17. Within the atmosphere, the lowest average air temperature occurs
a. within the troposphere.
b. at the tropopause.
c. within the stratosphere.
d. at the stratopause.
e. at the mesopause.
18. The layers of the atmosphere, in order, from the surface up are
a. stratosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, troposphere.
b. troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere.
c. thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere.
d. troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN THE ANSWER SHEET PROVIDED
I. Multiple Choice (45 points)-
1. The climate of some locality governs
a. the type of crops that can be cultivated.
b. the fresh water supply.
c. the average heating and cooling requirements for homes.
d. All of the above are correct.
2. Air pressure can be thought of as
a. air temperature.
b. wind speed.
c. the weight of the overlying air.
d. the weight of the underlying air.
3. Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds in a high pressure system blow
a. clockwise and inward.
b. clockwise and outward.
c. counterclockwise and inward.
d. counterclockwise and outward.
4. Viewed from above in the Northern Hemisphere, surface winds blow ___________ about the center of a low pressure
system.
a. clockwise and outward
b. clockwise and inward
c. counterclockwise and outward
d. counterclockwise and inward
5. At the same humidity (water vapor concentration), a cold air mass is _________ a warm air mass.
a. denser than
b. less dense than
c. as dense as
d. none of the above
6. Often the day’s highest air temperature and lowest relative humidity occur
a. around midnight.
b. near sunrise.
c. during early to mid-afternoon.
d. None of the above is correct.
7. A geostationary satellite orbits Earth at _________ altitude than a polar-orbiting satellite.
a. lower
b. higher
c. same
d. variable
8. Clouds appear on __________ satellite images.
a. visible
b. infrared
c. water vapor
d. All of the above are correct.
9. The atmosphere is
a. a relatively thin envelope of gases and particles that encircles the planet.
b. where weather takes place.
c. a major component of the Earth system.
d. All of the above are correct.
10. The portion of the atmosphere in which the principal gases (nitrogen and oxygen) occur everywhere in the same
proportions is the
, a. troposphere.
b. stratosphere.
c. homosphere.
d. All of these are correct.
e. None of these is correct.
11. The portion of the atmosphere in which the proportions of the principal gases (nitrogen and oxygen) change with altitude is
a. below the stratopause.
b. the heterosphere.
c. the homosphere.
d. the troposphere.
e. below the tropopause.
12. An atmospheric gas that varies significantly in concentration from one location to another near sea-level is
a. nitrogen.
b. oxygen.
c. water vapor.
d. All of these are correct.
e. None of these is correct.
13. The ozone shield occurs within that portion of the atmosphere known as the
a. troposphere.
b. stratosphere.
c. mesosphere.
d. thermosphere.
e. ionosphere.
14. The three most common gases in the "dry" atmosphere (excluding water vapor) are
a. nitrogen, oxygen, argon.
b. nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide.
c. nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide.
d. oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide.
15. The source(s) of atmospheric aerosols is (are)
a. wind erosion of soil.
b. forest fires.
c. the spray of ocean waves.
d. volcanic eruptions.
e. All of these are correct.
16. A radiosonde is equipped with instruments that measure
a. temperature
b. air pressure.
c. dewpoint (a measure of humidity).
d. All of these are correct.
e. None of these is correct.
17. Within the atmosphere, the lowest average air temperature occurs
a. within the troposphere.
b. at the tropopause.
c. within the stratosphere.
d. at the stratopause.
e. at the mesopause.
18. The layers of the atmosphere, in order, from the surface up are
a. stratosphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, troposphere.
b. troposphere, thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere.
c. thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere.
d. troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
