ATOC 1050 EXAM 2- CU BOULDER WITH CORRECT SOLUTIONS

ATOC 1050 EXAM 2- CU BOULDER WITH
CORRECT SOLUTIONS
An air parcel that rises adiabatically through the atmosphere will __________.
expand and cool
compress and cool
remain unchanged
compress and warm
expand and warm - ANSWER-Expand and cool

If a saturated air parcel is lifted vertically in the atmosphere from the lifting condensation
level, it will cool at the __________.
moist adiabatic lapse rate
moist diabatic lapse rate
dry diabatic lapse rate
dry adiabatic lapse rate - ANSWER-moist adiabatic lapse rate

Which type of cloud has rounded protuberances on their bottom surfaces and are often
associated with stormy weather and cumulonimbus clouds?
Mammatus
Lenticular
Pileus - ANSWER-Mammatus

What type of cloud is described as high, white and thin? i.e. wispy
Cumulus
Mammatus
Cirrus
Stratus - ANSWER-Cirrus

A parcel of air is at the surface on the west side of a mountain. The surface is at 0 km
above sea level. The air parcel has a temperature of 18 °C. The parcel is forced over a
mountain with an elevation at the top of 3 km above sea level. The dew point
temperature of the parcel is 8 °C. Assume a moist adiabatic lapse rate of 8°C/km and
that the dew point temperature does not change with height until saturation occurs. The
dry adiabatic lapse rate is 10 °C/km. What is the temperature of the parcel at the top of
the mountain?
-8 deg C
-6 deg C
-10 deg C
-12 deg C - ANSWER--8 deg C

At the top of the mountain (3 km above sea level), the air parcel from the previous
question precipitates out all of its moisture and then travels down the eastern side of the

, mountain. The surface on the east side is at 0 km above sea level. What is the
temperature of the parcel when it reaches the surface? Assume a moist adiabatic lapse
rate of 8°C/km. The dry adiabatic lapse rate is 10 °C/km.
20 deg C
18 deg C
24 deg C
22 deg C - ANSWER-22 deg C

Which of the following is NOT necessary for a cloud to form?
Water Vapor
Relative humidity of 100%
A temperature below 0 deg C
Solid particles to attach to. - ANSWER-A temperature below 0 deg C

What will happen to an air parcel that is mechanically lifted in an unstable atmosphere?
It will remain at the height it was mechanically lifted to
It will sink back to its original position
It will continue to rise on its own - ANSWER-It will continue to rise on its own

Most cloud droplets are large enough to fall as precipitation.
True
False - ANSWER-False

Which of the following is NOT a cloud formation mechanism:
Orographic lifting
Subsidence
Convection
Frontal lifting
Convergence - ANSWER-Subsidence

Particles that serve as surfaces onto which water vapor may condense are called:
Saturated nuclei
Cloud condensation nuclei
Supersaturated nuclei
Hydrophobic nuclei - ANSWER-Cloud condensation nuclei

If an unsaturated air parcel is lifted vertically in the atmosphere, it will cool at the
__________ until it reaches the __________.
dry adiabatic lapse rate; adiabatic level
moist adiabatic lapse rate; lifting condensation level
moist adiabatic lapse rate; adiabatic level
dry adiabatic lapse rate; lifting condensation level - ANSWER-dry adiabatic lapse rate;
lifting condensation level

A typical cloud droplet is large enough to fall through the air as precipitation.
True