Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 1 of 8

1) The prevailing general direction of the jet stream is from west to east in the northern hemisphere: 2) Advection is the vertical movement of an air mass from one location to another: 3) Thunderstorms have the best chance of reaching severe thresholds when cold, dry air aloft is separated from warm moist air at the surface by: a) No inversion cap. b) A very weak inversion cap. c) An inversion cap that is neither very weak nor very strong. d) A very strong inversion cap. e) Inversions do not play any role in whether a thunderstorm is severe or not. 4) What largely describes a jet streak: a) Air speeds up as it approaches the streak. b) Caused by a large low-level temperature gradient. c) Amplify troughs when located on the right side of the trough. e) All of the above. 5) Isoheight contours indicated on upper air maps are compensated for the elevation of the ground directly below: 6) What best describes the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL): a) Where the troposphere ends and the stratosphere begins. b) The lowest levels of the troposphere that are more likely to mix because of interaction with obstructions near the ground, turbulence, erratic winds, friction, etc. c) Is always fixed in height and does not change by time-of-day. d) Both b) and c). e) Both a) and c). 7) What describes sleet: a) Sleet starts out as rain in clouds above freezing and then freezes after hitting ground that has a temperature below freezing. b) Sleet starts out as snow, completely melts in a warmer mid-altitude layer of air, and then refreezes in a colder layer at the lowest altitudes before hitting the ground. c) Sleet starts out as snow, partially melts in a warmer mid-altitude layer of air, and then refreezes in a colder layer at the lowest altitudes before hitting the ground. d) Sleet starts out as snow, partially melts in a warmer mid-altitude layer of air, and then refreezes after hitting ground that has a temperature below freezing. 8) Winds rotate around a high-pressure system in the following direction(s): Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 1 of 8

a) Clockwise northern hemisphere, counter-clockwise southern hemisphere. b) Counter-clockwise northern hemisphere, clockwise southern hemisphere. c) Always clockwise regardless of hemisphere. d) Always counter-clockwise regardless of hemisphere. 9) What would best describe a polar continental (cp) environment: a) Subject to minimal diurnal temperature swings between night and day. b) Representative of Oregon and Washington. c) Always cold year round because of polar air. d) Both a) and c). 10) What state would best describe a tropical continental (ct) environment: a) Louisiana. b) Arizona. c) Oklahoma. d) Georgia. Use the following figure to answer questions 11 and 12. 11) If you observed the following cloud structure early in the morning what conclusions could you draw that might be reasonable about the atmosphere: a) Suggests atmospheric instability that may develop into thunderstorms later in the day. b) It most likely is winter at this location given that these clouds are usually observed only in cooler months. c) Conditions in an around these clouds may be hazardous to aircraft because of enhanced icing tendencies. d) Both a) and c). e) None of the above 12) What is the most likely name for this type of cloud structure: a) Nimbostratus. b) Altocumulus Castellanus. c) Cumulonimbus Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 2 of 8

d) Cumulus Congestus. Use the following figure to answer questions 13-20. 13) The weather symbol A represents: a) Stationary front. b) Dryline. c) Cold front. d) Surface trough. 14) The weather symbol B represents: a) Tropical wave. b) Occluded front. c) Stationary front. d) Dryline. 15) The weather symbol C represents: a) Cold front. b) Warm front. c) Surface trough. d) Stationary front. 16) The weather symbol D represents: a) Occluded front. b) Squall line. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 3 of 8

c) Surface trough. d) Stationary front. 17) The weather symbol E represents: a) Warm front. b) Surface trough. c) Tropical wave. d) Dryline. 18) The weather symbol F represents: a) Stationary front. b) Tropical wave. c) Occluded front. d) Squall line. 19) The weather symbol G represents: a) Warm front. b) Surface trough. c) Dryline. d) Squall line. 20) The weather symbol H represents: a) Cold front. b) Squall line. c) Warm front. d) Tropical wave. 21) We live in Southern California which is susceptible to Santa Ana wind conditions which are possible anytime during the year, but most common in the fall months. What trait(s) define these wind events: a) They typically cost winds to blow towards the east or northeast. b) They are caused by a strong high-pressure system located over the Great Basin of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. c) As winds descend through canyons in the local mountains in route to the coast they experience adiabatic heating through compression. d) Both b) and c). e) All of the above. 22) What best describes the first (towering cumulus) stage of thunderstorm development: a) Warm, moist air at the surface becomes buoyant because of atmospheric instability and starts rising. b) The rising airmass becomes less buoyant after condensation starts. c) Cycle is characterized by both updrafts and downdrafts. e) Both b) and c). Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 4 of 8

23) In the case of a single cell, air-mass type thunderstorm what ultimately causes the storm to dissipate: a) The storm runs out precipitation. b) All the available moisture in the storm finally freezes. c) Falling precipitation in the storm sufficiently cools the surrounding air to the point that the downdrafts become stronger and ultimately overpower the updrafts cutting off fuel to the storm. e) Both b) and c). 24) Isolated single cell thunderstorms are more common then multi-cell thunderstorms: Use the following figure to answer questions 25 and 26. This picture was taken in Abilene, Kansas at approximately 40 miles away from a supercell thunderstorm that resulted in baseball-sized hail and a few tornadoes. 25) What type of cloud best describes this image: a) Cumulus congestus. b) Cumulonimbus. c) Cumulostratus. d) Cumulus fractus. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 5 of 8

26) With no other information available, what are the significant visual clues that would warn you that severe weather is likely occurring near this location: a) Overshooting tops extending beyond tropopause. b) Strongly tilted updraft. c) Large vertical and horizontal scales of the cloud structure. d) Both a) and c). e) All of the above. 27) What upper air weather chart represents the middle of the troposphere: a) 300 millibar b) 500 millibar c) 700 millibar d) 850 millibar e) 1000 millibar Use the following figure to answer questions 28 and 34. 28) This upper air chart is representative of what level in nominal height in the atmosphere above sea level: a) 111 meters (365 feet). b) 762 meters (2498 feet). c) 3013 meters (9882 feet) Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 6 of 8

d) 5576 meters (18289 feet). e) 10366 meters (33999 feet). 29) Off the New England coast there is: a) Warm air advection. b) Cold air advection. c) Advection is significant in this case because it is strongest when streamlines are crossing perpendicular to isotherms. d) Both a) and c). e) Both b) and c). 30) What is the air temperature over Southern California at this level: a) 4 F. b) 4 C. c) 11 F. d) 11 C. 31) What does the violet number 860 mean over Southern California: a) 860 millibars. b) 860 meters. c) 8.60 C. d) 8.60 F. 32) What is the dewpoint depression (be careful!) over Southern California: a) 4 F. b) 4 C. c) 7 F. d) 7 C. 33) What is the wind speed over Southern California at this level: a) 5 knots from the north. b) 10 knots from the north. c) 5 knots from the south. d) 10 knots from the south. 34) What time was this upper air sounding taken: a) 12:00 A.M. local time for each reporting station. b) 12.00 P.M. local time for each reporting station. c) 12:00 Zulu (UTC) time for all reporting stations. d) It doesn t really matter air soundings are air soundings. 35) Downdrafts from a dissipating thunderstorms can spill out onto the ground, travel many miles along the surface and act as a trigger for new thunderstorms as far as 100 miles away from the original thunderstorm if conditions are favorable: Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 7 of 8

36) What is generally true of squall lines: a) A bowing out radar signature often suggests the line has reached severe limits. b) Are usually found along or slightly ahead of an advancing cold front. c) Are usually found along or slightly behind an advancing cold front. e) Both a) and c). 37) Extremely strong wind shear aloft is more likely to enhance the severity of hurricanes and thunderstorms: 38) Hurricanes are dangerous to life an property regardless of where a person is positioned and is one of the best reasons for leaving and finding shelter elsewhere. One quadrant of a hurricane is generally more dangerous then the others, however, because of enhanced storm surge (water coming onto land). Using your knowledge of the behavior of low and high pressure areas, which quadrant in the northern hemisphere is typically the most violent and dangerous to life: a) The northeastern quadrant. b) The northwestern quadrant. c) The southeastern quadrant. d) The southwestern quadrant. 39) What is typically true of a dryline: a) Is a boundary between cold dry air to the north and warm moist air to the south. b) Is a boundary between hot dry air to the west and warm moist air to the east. c) Is a boundary between warm moist air to the west and hot dry air to the east. d) Is a boundary between hot moist air to the west and cold dry air to east. 40) Drylines are: a) Typically found in the spring months over the lower plains states like Oklahoma and Texas. b) Are important triggering mechanisms for severe thunderstorm outbreaks. c) Is wedge shaped and initially tilts at the lower levels of the atmosphere towards the east because of density differences between dry and moist air. e) All of the above. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 8 of 8

8) Winds rotate around a high-pressure system in the following direction(s): a) Clockwise northern hemisphere, counter-clockwise southern hemisphere. b) Counter-clockwise northern hemisphere, clockwise southern hemisphere. c) Always clockwise regardless of hemisphere. d) Always counter-clockwise regardless of hemisphere. 9) What would best describe a polar continental (cp) environment: a) Subject to minimal diurnal temperature swings between night and day. b) Representative of Oregon and Washington. c) Always cold year round because of polar air. d) Both a) and c). 10) What state would best describe a tropical continental (ct) environment: a) Louisiana. b) Arizona. c) Oklahoma. d) Georgia. Use the following figure to answer questions 11 and 12. 11) If you observed the following cloud structure early in the morning what conclusions could you draw that might be reasonable about the atmosphere: a) Suggests atmospheric instability that may develop into thunderstorms later in the day. b) It most likely is winter at this location given that these clouds are usually observed only in cooler months. c) Conditions in an around these clouds may be hazardous to aircraft because of enhanced icing tendencies. d) Both a) and c). e) None of the above 12) What is the most likely name for this type of cloud structure: a) Nimbostratus. b) Altocumulus Castellanus. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 2 of 2

c) Cumulonimbus d) Cumulus Congestus. Use the following figure to answer questions 13-20. 13) The weather symbol A represents: a) Stationary front. b) Dryline. c) Cold front. d) Surface trough. 14) The weather symbol B represents: a) Tropical wave. b) Occluded front. c) Stationary front. d) Dryline. 15) The weather symbol C represents: a) Cold front. b) Warm front. c) Surface trough. d) Stationary front. 16) The weather symbol D represents: a) Occluded front. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 3 of 3

b) Squall line. c) Surface trough. d) Stationary front. 17) The weather symbol E represents: a) Warm front. b) Surface trough. c) Tropical wave. d) Dryline. 18) The weather symbol F represents: a) Stationary front. b) Tropical wave. c) Occluded front. d) Squall line. 19) The weather symbol G represents: a) Warm front. b) Surface trough. c) Dryline. d) Squall line. 20) The weather symbol H represents: a) Cold front. b) Squall line. c) Warm front. d) Tropical wave. 21) We live in Southern California which is susceptible to Santa Ana wind conditions which are possible anytime during the year, but most common in the fall months. What trait(s) define these wind events: a) They typically cost winds to blow towards the east or northeast. b) They are caused by a strong high-pressure system located over the Great Basin of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. c) As winds descend through canyons in the local mountains in route to the coast they experience adiabatic heating through compression. d) Both b) and c). e) All of the above. 22) What best describes the first (towering cumulus) stage of thunderstorm development: a) Warm, moist air at the surface becomes buoyant because of atmospheric instability and starts rising. b) The rising airmass becomes less buoyant after condensation starts. c) Cycle is characterized by both updrafts and downdrafts. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 4 of 4

e) Both b) and c). 23) In the case of a single cell, air-mass type thunderstorm what ultimately causes the storm to dissipate: a) The storm runs out precipitation. b) All the available moisture in the storm finally freezes. c) Falling precipitation in the storm sufficiently cools the surrounding air to the point that the downdrafts become stronger and ultimately overpower the updrafts cutting off fuel to the storm. e) Both b) and c). 24) Isolated single cell thunderstorms are more common then multi-cell thunderstorms: Use the following figure to answer questions 25 and 26. This picture was taken in Abilene, Kansas at approximately 40 miles away from a supercell thunderstorm that resulted in baseball-sized hail and a few tornadoes. 25) What type of cloud best describes this image: a) Cumulus congestus. b) Cumulonimbus. c) Cumulostratus. Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 5 of 5

d) Cumulus fractus. 26) With no other information available, what are the significant visual clues that would warn you that severe weather is likely occurring near this location: a) Overshooting tops extending beyond tropopause. b) Strongly tilted updraft. c) Large vertical and horizontal scales of the cloud structure. d) Both a) and c). e) All of the above. 27) What upper air weather chart represents the middle of the troposphere: a) 300 millibar b) 500 millibar c) 700 millibar d) 850 millibar e) 1000 millibar Use the following figure to answer questions 28 and 34. 28) This upper air chart is representative of what level in nominal height in the atmosphere above sea level: a) 111 meters (365 feet). b) 762 meters (2498 feet). Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 6 of 6

c) 3013 meters (9882 feet) d) 5576 meters (18289 feet). e) 10366 meters (33999 feet). 29) Off the New England coast there is: a) Warm air advection. b) Cold air advection. c) Advection is significant in this case because it is strongest when streamlines are crossing perpendicular to isotherms. d) Both a) and c). e) Both b) and c). 30) What is the air temperature over Southern California at this level: a) 4 F. b) 4 C. c) 11 F. d) 11 C. 31) What does the violet number 860 mean over Southern California: a) 860 millibars. b) 860 meters. c) 8.60 C. d) 8.60 F. 32) What is the dewpoint depression (be careful!) over Southern California: a) 4 F. b) 4 C. c) 7 F. d) 7 C. 33) What is the wind speed over Southern California at this level: a) 5 knots from the north. b) 10 knots from the north. c) 5 knots from the south. d) 10 knots from the south. 34) What time was this upper air sounding taken: a) 12:00 A.M. local time for each reporting station. b) 12.00 P.M. local time for each reporting station. c) 12:00 Zulu (UTC) time for all reporting stations. d) It doesn t really matter air soundings are air soundings. 35) Downdrafts from a dissipating thunderstorms can spill out onto the ground, travel many miles along the surface and act as a trigger for new thunderstorms as far as 100 miles away from the original thunderstorm if conditions are favorable: Science Olympiad Meteorology Quiz #2 Page 7 of 7