Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 1 of 7

1) What is generally true about the stratosphere: a) Has turbulent updrafts and downdrafts. b) Has either a stable or increasing temperature profile with altitude. c) Where the auroras occur. d) Both a) and b). 2) What is true about moist air vs. dry air if both are compared at the same pressure and temperature: a) They are equally dense. b) Moist air more dense then dry air in a hot desert, but less dense in the cold arctic. c) There is no density relationship between moist and dry air. d) Moist air is always more dense then dry air. e) Moist air is always less dense then dry air. 3) Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) is best described as: a) Typically averages -3.6 C/km or -6.5 F/1000 ft in the troposphere. b) The change in air temperature as altitude increases. c) Can have both negative and positive values in the troposphere. d) Both b) and c). 4) The following best describes latent heat: a) Is represented by a universal value for all materials. b) Can detect it with a thermometer or thermocouple. c) Energy either released or absorbed in the transition between solids, liquids, and gasses. d) All of the above. 5) If the temperature measured by a thermometer indicates 64 F, what temperature would be equivalent in another standard unit: a) 290.7 K. b) 16.7 C. c) 15.1 C. d) 257.2 K. 6) What does a psychrometer measure: a) Surface pressure. b) Temperature. c) Humidity. d) Sunlight. e) Wind speed. 7) Weather bombs are best characterized as: a) A drop in measured surface pressure of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. b) Are a type of tropical storm that results in severe weather. c) Are a type of extra-tropical storm that results in non-severe weather. d) Both a) and b). Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 1 of 7

e) Both a) and c). 8) What condition(s) act as (a) primary trigger(s) for initial thunderstorm formation: a) Orthographics. b) Diurnal heating. c) Frontal boundaries. d) Drylines. 9) Sublimation occurs when: a) Ice cubes observed in a freezer shrink in size after long time. b) Fog dissipates. c) Dry ice disappears. 10) What average pressure would be most likely observed near sea level: a) 980 millibars. b) 1002 millibars. c) 1005 millibars. d) 1012 millibars. e) 1020 millibars. 11) What is the primary purpose of weather: a) Redistribution of water to correct moisture imbalances in the global atmosphere. b) Redistribution of heat to correct thermal imbalances in the global atmosphere. c) Randomly create stormy weather in some places and fair weather in others. d) None of the above. 12) Which is true for water: a) Heat of fusion has a higher energy requirement then the heat of freezing. b) Heat of fusion has a lower energy requirement then the heat of freezing. c) Heat of fusion has a higher energy requirement then the heat of evaporation. d) Heat of evaporation has a lower energy requirement then the heat of condensation. e) Heat of fusion has a lower energy requirement then the heat of evaporation. 13) Inversions have the following effect(s): a) Result in a negative ELR value. b) Can strengthen the marine layer. c) Lead to air quality issues. d) Both b) and c). Use the following figure to answer questions 14 through 17: Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 2 of 7

14) What unit(s) is(are) used globally by to represent wind speed on wind barb symbols: a) Miles per hour if explicitly specified on the weather map legend. b) Kilometers per hours if explicitly specified on the weather map legend. c) Knots if not explicitly specified on the weather map legend. d) Both a) and b) depending on the country. 15) What is the wind speed for this observation: a) 35. b) 51. c) 70. d) 80. 16) What is the wind direction for this observation: a) Southeast. b) Southwest. c) Northeast. d) Northwest. e) Not enough information to tell. 17) What is most likely condition for this observation: a) Clear. b) Mostly clear. c) Partly cloudy. d) Mostly cloudy. e) Overcast. 18) If the relative humidity indicates 32% at 10 C on one day and 32% at 25 C a few days later what can be said: a) The air on both days stores the same amount of water vapor by mass. b) The air on both days is storing 32% of its maximum capacity of water vapor. c) The absolute humidity is higher on the cooler day and lower on the warmer day. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 3 of 7

19) If the measured wet bulb temperature is found to be substantially lower then the dry bulb temperature through the use of a hygrometer Santa Ana conditions would be reasonable: a) True. b) False. 20) Is it possible to have water freeze on surfaces even when the air temperature is above freezing. If you decide that it is possible what would be the mostly likely form of energy transfer best explains how this is possible: a) Conductive heat loss. b) Advective heat loss. c) Convective heat loss. d) Radiative heat loss. e) Not possible because this defies the laws of physics. 21) What is generally not true in a ordinary mass thunderstorm: a) Precipitation and lightning are usually at their strongest in the dissipation phase. b) Updrafts dominate in the cumulus phase. c) The bulk of the visible clouds exist above the freezing line in the dissipation phase. d) Hydrometeors are largely thought to be responsible for lightning. 22) The triple point from a meteorological standpoint defines: a) Where a low pressure center first forms along a stationary frontal boundary. b) Where difluent flow occurs in the jet stream. c) Where an occluded, warm, and cold front intersect. d) The altitude in a thunderstorm where water, ice, and vapor can co-exist. 23) What characteristics accurately define low pressure areas with respect to mid-latitude cyclones and hurricanes: a) Mid-latitude cyclones are strongest when tilted such that the surface low is typically to the east of the upper air low. b) Low pressure areas associated with hurricanes are strongest when both the surface and upper air low are vertically stacked. c) Hurricanes are a good example of thermal lows while mid-latitude cyclones are a good example of cold core lows. d) Both a) and b). 24) Freezing rain is more likely to occur with an advancing cold rather then a warm front: a) True. b) False. 25) Severe weather outbreaks (i.e. tornadoes, large hail, etc.) are more likely to occur along an advancing cold rather then a warm front: a) True. b) False. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 4 of 7

26) Long wave patterns have the following general features: a) Have a period between 4000 to 10,000 km long. b) Have a period between 1000 and 4000 km long. c) Are commonly referred to as Rossby waves. 27) What is an average number of long wave patterns that will be typically found in each hemisphere at any given time: a) 2-4 b) 4-6. c) 6-8. d) 10-12. 28) What is generally true of shortwaves: a) They attenuate ridges and amplify troughs. b) They attenuate troughs and amplify ridges. c) Move slower then long wave patterns. 29) The average lifecycle of single-cell thunderstorm is: a) 15-30 minutes. b) 15-45 minutes. c) 30-45 minutes. d) 30-60 minutes. e) 45-60 minutes. 30) From a physics standpoint Coriolis Force (CF) is best described as: a) A real force that acts on winds at right angles (either to the right or left of a wind s real motion) as perceived by a user. b) A pseudo force caused by a non-inertial reference frame that acts on winds at right angles (either to the right or left of a wind s real motion) as perceived by a user. c) It can be both a real or pseudo force depending on latitude. d) None of the above. 31) In the troposphere the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR) typically averages: a) -3.0 C/km or -1.6 F/1000 ft. b) -6.5 C/km or -3.6 F/1000 ft. c) -5.5 C/km or -3.0 F/1000 ft. d) -10.0 C/km or -5.5 F/1000 ft. e) -15.5 C/km or -8.6 F/1000 ft. 32) What is generally true of geostrophic winds: a) Only occur in low pressure areas. b) Only occur in high pressure areas. c) Where the PGF and CF are in equilibrium. d) Both a) and c) Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 5 of 7

33) Thunderstorms have a tendency to form in particular areas where: a) Wind shear is very high. b) Shallow zones where surface winds diverge. c) Turbulent overturning of air parcels is not present. d) All of the above. 34) Cyclolysis occurs when: a) An incipient kink forms in a stationary front. b) The cold front catches up with the warm front. c) The low pressure core is cutoff from warm air and the depressions fills. d) High pressure pushes out low pressure out of a region. Use the following figure illustrating a GOES infrared weather satellite image to answer the next two questions. 35) The region show as A is best described as: a) A warm front. b) A trough. c) A cold front. d) Cold air occlusion. 36) The region show as E is best described as: Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 6 of 7

a) A warm front. b) A trough. c) A cold front. d) Cold air occlusion. 37) The green colored areas: a) Indicate where the cloud tops are the warmest. b) Indicate where the cloud tops are the coldest. c) Where precipitation is falling. d) a) and c). e) b) and c). 38) A weather balloon radiosonde is launched from Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego at 12:00 UTC (3 AM PST). The weather balloon measures an average ELR of approximately - 2.8 C/km through the troposphere with abundant low-level moisture. What can generally be said about the atmosphere in an around the San Diego region based on this weather sounding: a) The atmosphere is unconditionally unstable and would likely support thunderstorm activity. b) The atmosphere is conditionally unstable and may support thunderstorm activity. c) The atmosphere is unconditionally stable and would not support thunderstorm activity. d) Not enough information to tell. 39) A cold-core high pressure system is best described as: a) High pressure at upper atmospheric levels directly above, low pressure at the surface. b) Little or no pressure difference at upper atmospheric level directly above, high pressure at the surface. c) High pressure at upper atmospheric levels directly above, high pressure at the surface. d) Low pressure at upper atmospheric levels directly above, high pressure at the surface. 40) Baroclinic instability best describes: a) Sinking air west of a trough. b) Rising air east of a trough. c) Streamlines cross colder to warmer isotherm lines west of a trough. d) b) and c). Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 7 of 7

1) What is generally true about the stratosphere: a) Has turbulent updrafts and downdrafts. b) Has either a stable or increasing temperature profile with altitude. c) Where the auroras occur. d) Both a) and b). 2) What is true about moist air vs. dry air if both are compared at the same pressure and temperature: a) They are equally dense. b) Moist air more dense then dry air in a hot desert, but less dense in the cold arctic. c) There is no density relationship between moist and dry air. d) Moist air is always more dense then dry air. e) Moist air is always less dense then dry air. 3) Environmental Lapse Rate (ELR) is best described as: a) Typically averages -3.6 C/km or -6.5 F/1000 ft in the troposphere. b) The change in air temperature as altitude increases. c) Can have both negative and positive values in the troposphere. d) Both b) and c). 4) The following best describes latent heat: a) Is represented by a universal value for all materials. b) Can detect it with a thermometer or thermocouple. c) Energy either released or absorbed in the transition between solids, liquids, and gasses. d) All of the above. 5) If the temperature measured by a thermometer indicates 64 F, what temperature would be equivalent in another standard unit: a) 290.7 K. b) 16.7 C. c) 15.1 C. d) 257.2 K. 6) What does a psychrometer measure: a) Surface pressure. b) Temperature. c) Humidity. d) Sunlight. e) Wind speed. 7) Weather bombs are best characterized as: a) A drop in measured surface pressure of at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. b) Are a type of tropical storm that results in severe weather. c) Are a type of extra-tropical storm that results in non-severe weather. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 1 of 7

d) Both a) and b). e) Both a) and c). 8) What condition(s) act as (a) primary trigger(s) for initial thunderstorm formation: a) Orthographics. b) Diurnal heating. c) Frontal boundaries. d) Drylines. 9) Sublimation occurs when: a) Ice cubes observed in a freezer shrink in size after long time. b) Fog dissipates. c) Dry ice disappears. 10) What average pressure would be most likely observed near sea level: a) 980 millibars. b) 1002 millibars. c) 1005 millibars. d) 1012 millibars. e) 1020 millibars. 11) What is the primary purpose of weather: a) Redistribution of water to correct moisture imbalances in the global atmosphere. b) Redistribution of heat to correct thermal imbalances in the global atmosphere. c) Randomly create stormy weather in some places and fair weather in others. d) None of the above. 12) Which is true for water: a) Heat of fusion has a higher energy requirement then the heat of freezing. b) Heat of fusion has a lower energy requirement then the heat of freezing. c) Heat of fusion has a higher energy requirement then the heat of evaporation. d) Heat of evaporation has a lower energy requirement then the heat of condensation. e) Heat of fusion has a lower energy requirement then the heat of evaporation. 13) Inversions have the following effect(s): a) Result in a negative ELR value. b) Can strengthen the marine layer. c) Lead to air quality issues. d) Both b) and c). Use the following figure to answer questions 14 through 17: Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 2 of 7

14) What unit(s) is(are) used globally by to represent wind speed on wind barb symbols: a) Miles per hour if explicitly specified on the weather map legend. b) Kilometers per hours if explicitly specified on the weather map legend. c) Knots if not explicitly specified on the weather map legend. d) Both a) and b) depending on the country. 15) What is the wind speed for this observation: a) 35. b) 51. c) 70. d) 80. 16) What is the wind direction for this observation: a) Southeast. b) Southwest. c) Northeast. d) Northwest. e) Not enough information to tell. 17) What is most likely condition for this observation: a) Clear. b) Mostly clear. c) Partly cloudy. d) Mostly cloudy. e) Overcast. 18) If the relative humidity indicates 32% at 10 C on one day and 32% at 25 C a few days later what can be said: a) The air on both days stores the same amount of water vapor by mass. b) The air on both days is storing 32% of its maximum capacity of water vapor. c) The absolute humidity is higher on the cooler day and lower on the warmer day. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 3 of 7

19) If the measured wet bulb temperature is found to be substantially lower then the dry bulb temperature through the use of a hygrometer Santa Ana conditions would be reasonable: a) True. b) False. 20) Is it possible to have water freeze on surfaces even when the air temperature is above freezing. If you decide that it is possible what would be the mostly likely form of energy transfer best explains how this is possible: a) Conductive heat loss. b) Advective heat loss. c) Convective heat loss. d) Radiative heat loss. e) Not possible because this defies the laws of physics. 21) What is generally not true in a ordinary mass thunderstorm: a) Precipitation and lightning are usually at their strongest in the dissipation phase. b) Updrafts dominate in the cumulus phase. c) The bulk of the visible clouds exist above the freezing line in the dissipation phase. d) Hydrometeors are largely thought to be responsible for lightning. 22) The triple point from a meteorological standpoint defines: a) Where a low pressure center first forms along a stationary frontal boundary. b) Where difluent flow occurs in the jet stream. c) Where an occluded, warm, and cold front intersect. d) The altitude in a thunderstorm where water, ice, and vapor can co-exist. 23) What characteristics accurately define low pressure areas with respect to mid-latitude cyclones and hurricanes: a) Mid-latitude cyclones are strongest when tilted such that the surface low is typically to the east of the upper air low. b) Low pressure areas associated with hurricanes are strongest when both the surface and upper air low are vertically stacked. c) Hurricanes are a good example of thermal lows while mid-latitude cyclones are a good example of cold core lows. d) Both a) and b). 24) Freezing rain is more likely to occur with an advancing cold rather then a warm front: a) True. b) False. 25) Severe weather outbreaks (i.e. tornadoes, large hail, etc.) are more likely to occur along an advancing cold rather then a warm front: a) True. b) False. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 4 of 7

26) Long wave patterns have the following general features: a) Have a period between 4000 to 10,000 km long. b) Have a period between 1000 and 4000 km long. c) Are commonly referred to as Rossby waves. 27) What is an average number of long wave patterns that will be typically found in each hemisphere at any given time: a) 2-4 b) 4-6. c) 6-8. d) 10-12. 28) What is generally true of shortwaves: a) They attenuate ridges and amplify troughs. b) They attenuate troughs and amplify ridges. c) Move slower then long wave patterns. 29) The average lifecycle of single-cell thunderstorm is: a) 15-30 minutes. b) 15-45 minutes. c) 30-45 minutes. d) 30-60 minutes. e) 45-60 minutes. 30) From a physics standpoint Coriolis Force (CF) is best described as: a) A real force that acts on winds at right angles (either to the right or left of a wind s real motion) as perceived by a user. b) A pseudo force caused by a non-inertial reference frame that acts on winds at right angles (either to the right or left of a wind s real motion) as perceived by a user. c) It can be both a real or pseudo force depending on latitude. d) None of the above. 31) In the troposphere the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR) typically averages: a) -3.0 C/km or -1.6 F/1000 ft. b) -6.5 C/km or -3.6 F/1000 ft. c) -5.5 C/km or -3.0 F/1000 ft. d) -10.0 C/km or -5.5 F/1000 ft. e) -15.5 C/km or -8.6 F/1000 ft. 32) What is generally true of geostrophic winds: a) Only occur in low pressure areas. b) Only occur in high pressure areas. c) Where the PGF and CF are in equilibrium. d) Both a) and c) Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 5 of 7

33) Thunderstorms have a tendency to form in particular areas where: a) Wind shear is very high. b) Shallow zones where surface winds diverge. c) Turbulent overturning of air parcels is not present. d) All of the above. 34) Cyclolysis occurs when: a) An incipient kink forms in a stationary front. b) The cold front catches up with the warm front. c) The low pressure core is cutoff from warm air and the depressions fills. d) High pressure pushes out low pressure out of a region. Use the following figure illustrating a GOES infrared weather satellite image to answer the next two questions. 35) The region show as A is best described as: a) A warm front. b) A trough. c) A cold front. d) Cold air occlusion. 36) The region show as E is best described as: Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 6 of 7

a) A warm front. b) A trough. c) A cold front. d) Cold air occlusion. 37) The green colored areas: a) Indicate where the cloud tops are the warmest. b) Indicate where the cloud tops are the coldest. c) Where precipitation is falling. d) a) and c). e) b) and c). 38) A weather balloon radiosonde is launched from Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego at 12:00 UTC (3 AM PST). The weather balloon measures an average ELR of approximately - 2.8 C/km through the troposphere with abundant low-level moisture. What can generally be said about the atmosphere in an around the San Diego region based on this weather sounding: a) The atmosphere is unconditionally unstable and would likely support thunderstorm activity. b) The atmosphere is conditionally unstable and may support thunderstorm activity. c) The atmosphere is unconditionally stable and would not support thunderstorm activity. d) Not enough information to tell. 39) A cold-core high pressure system is best described as: a) High pressure at upper atmospheric levels directly above, low pressure at the surface. b) Little or no pressure difference at upper atmospheric level directly above, high pressure at the surface. c) High pressure at upper atmospheric levels directly above, high pressure at the surface. d) Low pressure at upper atmospheric levels directly above, high pressure at the surface. 40) Baroclinic instability best describes: a) Sinking air west of a trough. b) Rising air east of a trough. c) Streamlines cross colder to warmer isotherm lines west of a trough. d) b) and c). Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #1 Page 7 of 7