ATOC Exam 1 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025-2026
How does the average speed of air molecules influence the atmosphere? - Answers It
determines the air temperature.
In general, where in the troposphere is temperature the coldest? - Answers at the tropopause
Which of the following lists the layers of the atmosphere from lowest altitude to highest altitude?
- Answers troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
Which is true?
Pressure increases with height
Mean sea level pressure is approx. 900 mb
Pressure is the weight of the air above a unit area
Pressure at the tropopause is approx. 10mb - Answers Pressure is the weight of the air above a
unit area.
What is a typical range of sea level pressure values found in middle-latitudes? - Answers 980 mb
to 1045 mb
If the temperature is equal to the dew point temperature the air is said to be ___________ and the
relative humidity is equal to____________. - Answers Saturated, 100%
What two things happen when saturation vapor pressure is equal to the vapor pressure? -
Answers The air is saturated and the relative humidity is 100%.
What variable describes the actual amount of moisture in the air? - Answers vapor pressure
At night, as the air temperature falls, what typically happens to the relatively humidity? -
Answers it will increase
When is latent heat released into the atmosphere? - Answers During a phase change
Deposition is the change of water from the ______ phase to the _________ phase. - Answers gas,
solid
During the process of condensation latent heat is __________ the atmosphere, resulting in
_________ air temperature. - Answers released into, warmer
During which phase change is latent heat released into the atmosphere? - Answers
condensation and freezing
A north wind means that wind is blowing from? - Answers North to South
, What information do wind barbs provide to us? - Answers wind speed
What term is used to describe a layer in the atmosphere where atmospheric temperature
increases with height? - Answers inversion
T/F:There are more surface weather observing stations in the US than rawinsonde launching
sites. - Answers True
A doppler radar measures - Answers the location of precipitation, the intensity of precipitation,
and the wind speed.
A loop of water vapor satellite images would indicate:
the location of areas with lots of water vapor
the circulation of the atmosphere at altitudes from 3 to 6 miles
the temperature of the surface of the earth
all of the above
only a and b - Answers only a and b
A bright region on a visible satellite image could be:
thick clouds
snow covered ground
a forest
all the above
only a and b - Answers Thick clouds and snow covered ground
A bright region on an infrared satellite image is: - Answers a cold object.
A cloud that is bright on a visible satellite image but dark on an infrared satellite image is likely
to be _________? - Answers in the lower troposphere (less than 1 km altitude)
An are of low heights on a constant pressure map is referred to as a______. - Answers Trough
T/F: Isobars are typically shown on a constant height map? - Answers True
You would expect to find the 700 mb pressure surface at a higher elevation if the air below the
700 mb pressure surface is ____________. As a result the 700 mb pressure surface will slope
down towards _______ air. - Answers warm, cold
T/F: On a surface weather map, a strong pressure gradient exists where isobars are packed
How does the average speed of air molecules influence the atmosphere? - Answers It
determines the air temperature.
In general, where in the troposphere is temperature the coldest? - Answers at the tropopause
Which of the following lists the layers of the atmosphere from lowest altitude to highest altitude?
- Answers troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
Which is true?
Pressure increases with height
Mean sea level pressure is approx. 900 mb
Pressure is the weight of the air above a unit area
Pressure at the tropopause is approx. 10mb - Answers Pressure is the weight of the air above a
unit area.
What is a typical range of sea level pressure values found in middle-latitudes? - Answers 980 mb
to 1045 mb
If the temperature is equal to the dew point temperature the air is said to be ___________ and the
relative humidity is equal to____________. - Answers Saturated, 100%
What two things happen when saturation vapor pressure is equal to the vapor pressure? -
Answers The air is saturated and the relative humidity is 100%.
What variable describes the actual amount of moisture in the air? - Answers vapor pressure
At night, as the air temperature falls, what typically happens to the relatively humidity? -
Answers it will increase
When is latent heat released into the atmosphere? - Answers During a phase change
Deposition is the change of water from the ______ phase to the _________ phase. - Answers gas,
solid
During the process of condensation latent heat is __________ the atmosphere, resulting in
_________ air temperature. - Answers released into, warmer
During which phase change is latent heat released into the atmosphere? - Answers
condensation and freezing
A north wind means that wind is blowing from? - Answers North to South
, What information do wind barbs provide to us? - Answers wind speed
What term is used to describe a layer in the atmosphere where atmospheric temperature
increases with height? - Answers inversion
T/F:There are more surface weather observing stations in the US than rawinsonde launching
sites. - Answers True
A doppler radar measures - Answers the location of precipitation, the intensity of precipitation,
and the wind speed.
A loop of water vapor satellite images would indicate:
the location of areas with lots of water vapor
the circulation of the atmosphere at altitudes from 3 to 6 miles
the temperature of the surface of the earth
all of the above
only a and b - Answers only a and b
A bright region on a visible satellite image could be:
thick clouds
snow covered ground
a forest
all the above
only a and b - Answers Thick clouds and snow covered ground
A bright region on an infrared satellite image is: - Answers a cold object.
A cloud that is bright on a visible satellite image but dark on an infrared satellite image is likely
to be _________? - Answers in the lower troposphere (less than 1 km altitude)
An are of low heights on a constant pressure map is referred to as a______. - Answers Trough
T/F: Isobars are typically shown on a constant height map? - Answers True
You would expect to find the 700 mb pressure surface at a higher elevation if the air below the
700 mb pressure surface is ____________. As a result the 700 mb pressure surface will slope
down towards _______ air. - Answers warm, cold
T/F: On a surface weather map, a strong pressure gradient exists where isobars are packed
