Meteorology Exam 1 Questions
and Correct Answers
What is saturation? - Answer-The maximum amount of water that can be held in the air
When is saturation achieved? - Answer-When condensation and evaporation are
balanced
What is relative humidity? - Answer-Amount of water vapor in air vs. the amount the air
can cold.
What is specific humidity? - Answer-The actual quantity of water in air. Water vapor
molecules vs. the amount of dry air
Is humidity higher in a warm or cool air mass? - Answer-Warm, bc warm air can hold
more water vapor
What two ways can change the relative humidity in the air? - Answer-Change the temp,
Change the amount of water vapor
Why does relative humidity decrease during the daytime but increase overnight? -
Answer-Temp of air changes, water vapor remains the same. Cold air (overnight) can
hold less water vapor (which leads to an increase in RH), than warm (daytime) air
(which leads to a decrease in RH)
Define dew point. - Answer-The temp at which saturation occurs. The higher the DP, the
more moisture, lower DP, less moisture
How is humidity measured? - Answer-Sling psychrometer! and hygrometer
How is dew created? Frost? - Answer-When temp and dew point are the same!
condensation occurs at the surface Above freezing: dew, below freezing: frost!
What is fog? - Answer-a low cloud that forms near the surface
Radiation fog - Answer-forms on clear/calm nights where temp cools through radiation
cooling
, Advection fog - Answer-Warm and moist air is pushed over a colder surface and
condensation occurs. (usually over water)
Upslope fog - Answer-winds push air up a mountain, air cools and fog forms (usually at
slop, not peak)
What's the most common type of fog around Kutztown? - Answer-Radiation Fog!
How are clouds classified? - Answer-Height!
Low clouds (height, composition, prefix) - Answer-surface to 6,500ft, mostly water
droplets, Stratus-
Middle clouds (height, composition, prefix) - Answer-6,500ft to 23,000ft, mostly water
droplets, can contain ice crystals, Alto-
High clouds (height, composition, prefix) - Answer-20,000ft, ice crystals, Cirrus, absorb
radiation and increase greenhouse effect
What is the atmosphere? - Answer-layer of gases that surround the Earth
What are the most abundant gases in the atmosphere? - Answer-Nitrogen, Oxygen,
Argon
What are permanent gases in the atmosphere? - Answer-gases that remain constant
(nitrogen and oxygen)
What are variable gases in the atmosphere? - Answer-fluctuate at any given time in the
atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide)
How is carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere? - Answer-the decay and
exhalation of animals
What is the greenhouse effect? - Answer-Atmosphere heated up by the sun, heat
cannot be released and is held in the atmosphere
What are some greenhouse gases? - Answer-Water Vapor, Methane, Ozone
How can density of air change? - Answer-Varies depending on temperature and
moisture
More moisture in the air make the air _____ dense - Answer-LESS!
Name the layers of the atmosphere - Answer-*starting at surface* Troposphere-
Stratosphere-Mesosphere-Thermosphere
and Correct Answers
What is saturation? - Answer-The maximum amount of water that can be held in the air
When is saturation achieved? - Answer-When condensation and evaporation are
balanced
What is relative humidity? - Answer-Amount of water vapor in air vs. the amount the air
can cold.
What is specific humidity? - Answer-The actual quantity of water in air. Water vapor
molecules vs. the amount of dry air
Is humidity higher in a warm or cool air mass? - Answer-Warm, bc warm air can hold
more water vapor
What two ways can change the relative humidity in the air? - Answer-Change the temp,
Change the amount of water vapor
Why does relative humidity decrease during the daytime but increase overnight? -
Answer-Temp of air changes, water vapor remains the same. Cold air (overnight) can
hold less water vapor (which leads to an increase in RH), than warm (daytime) air
(which leads to a decrease in RH)
Define dew point. - Answer-The temp at which saturation occurs. The higher the DP, the
more moisture, lower DP, less moisture
How is humidity measured? - Answer-Sling psychrometer! and hygrometer
How is dew created? Frost? - Answer-When temp and dew point are the same!
condensation occurs at the surface Above freezing: dew, below freezing: frost!
What is fog? - Answer-a low cloud that forms near the surface
Radiation fog - Answer-forms on clear/calm nights where temp cools through radiation
cooling
, Advection fog - Answer-Warm and moist air is pushed over a colder surface and
condensation occurs. (usually over water)
Upslope fog - Answer-winds push air up a mountain, air cools and fog forms (usually at
slop, not peak)
What's the most common type of fog around Kutztown? - Answer-Radiation Fog!
How are clouds classified? - Answer-Height!
Low clouds (height, composition, prefix) - Answer-surface to 6,500ft, mostly water
droplets, Stratus-
Middle clouds (height, composition, prefix) - Answer-6,500ft to 23,000ft, mostly water
droplets, can contain ice crystals, Alto-
High clouds (height, composition, prefix) - Answer-20,000ft, ice crystals, Cirrus, absorb
radiation and increase greenhouse effect
What is the atmosphere? - Answer-layer of gases that surround the Earth
What are the most abundant gases in the atmosphere? - Answer-Nitrogen, Oxygen,
Argon
What are permanent gases in the atmosphere? - Answer-gases that remain constant
(nitrogen and oxygen)
What are variable gases in the atmosphere? - Answer-fluctuate at any given time in the
atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide)
How is carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere? - Answer-the decay and
exhalation of animals
What is the greenhouse effect? - Answer-Atmosphere heated up by the sun, heat
cannot be released and is held in the atmosphere
What are some greenhouse gases? - Answer-Water Vapor, Methane, Ozone
How can density of air change? - Answer-Varies depending on temperature and
moisture
More moisture in the air make the air _____ dense - Answer-LESS!
Name the layers of the atmosphere - Answer-*starting at surface* Troposphere-
Stratosphere-Mesosphere-Thermosphere
