ATOC 1050 EXAM 1 CU BOULDER
(INCLUDES QUESTIONS FROM THE
TEXTBOOK, SLIDES, AND STUDY
GUIDE AND MOST RECENT QUIZ)
Temperature is the measure of the average speed that molecules move in a substance.
- ANSWER-How is temperature defined?
Degrees Fahrenheit for the surface, and degrees Celsius for the upper air. - ANSWER-
What units for temperature are used in meteorology in the US?
Air temperature decreases with height in the troposphere. Air temperature increases
with height in the stratosphere. - ANSWER-How does air temperature change with
height in the troposphere and stratosphere?
The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere. - ANSWER-What is the
tropopause?
It prevents vertical motions from moving into the stratosphere so that clouds do not
grow any taller. - ANSWER-How does the altitude of the tropopause affect the height of
clouds in the troposphere?
The force applied by air on a unit area of surface. - ANSWER-How is atmospheric
pressure defined?
Millibar (mb) - ANSWER-What units of pressure do meteorologists use?
The atmosphere cannot contain any more water vapor without condensing into cloud
droplets. - ANSWER-What does it mean when people say "air is saturated"
The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere relative to the atmosphere's capacity for
moisture at a given temperature. - ANSWER-What is relative humidity?
The lowest temperature to which air can be cooled at constant pressure before
saturation occurs. - ANSWER-What is the dewpoint temperature?
100% - ANSWER-What is the value of relative humidity if the dewpoint temperature
equals the air temperature?
The "hidden heat" required for a phase change. - ANSWER-What is latent heat?
, The movement of air. - ANSWER-What is wind?
The direction from which the wind is blowing - ANSWER-What is the convention for
reporting wind direction?
Knots - ANSWER-What units are wind speed reported in?
Wind Speed - ANSWER-What do wind barbs represents on a weather map?
In the troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere between the ground and 12km (7.5
miles) - ANSWER-Over what altitude range does most of Earth's weather occur?
Temperature, pressure, density, moisture content, wind speed and direction, visibility,
cloud cover and precipitation rate. - ANSWER-What are the basic properties of the
atmosphere used in describing weather?
Ozone found in the stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet radiation increasing the temperature
in this layer. - ANSWER-Why does temperature typically increase with height in the
stratosphere?
Sea level is the altitude to which all station pressure measurements are corrected. The
value is the pressure that a particular station would record if it were located at sea level.
- ANSWER-What is meant by "sea level pressure"
That part of the total atmospheric pressure due to water vapor molecules. It is the force
exerted by water vapor molecules on a unit area. It is the measure of the absolute
amount of moisture in the air - ANSWER-What is vapor pressure?
The vapor pressure at which air is saturated at a given temperature. - ANSWER-What is
saturation vapor pressure?
the condition where air contains the maximum amount of water vapor for a given
temperature and pressure. - ANSWER-What is saturation?
Vapor pressure and dewpoint temperature. - ANSWER-What two variables describe the
amount of moisture in the air?
Measurements that are made simultaneously - ANSWER-What are synoptic
measurements?
ASOS reports cloud height and amount, visibility, precipitation type, intensity and
accumulations, obstructions to vision (fog, haze), wind direction and speed as well as
character (gusts, squalls), pressure, altimeter setting, temperature, and dewpoint
temperature. - ANSWER-What does ASOS report? (Automated surface observing
systems)
(INCLUDES QUESTIONS FROM THE
TEXTBOOK, SLIDES, AND STUDY
GUIDE AND MOST RECENT QUIZ)
Temperature is the measure of the average speed that molecules move in a substance.
- ANSWER-How is temperature defined?
Degrees Fahrenheit for the surface, and degrees Celsius for the upper air. - ANSWER-
What units for temperature are used in meteorology in the US?
Air temperature decreases with height in the troposphere. Air temperature increases
with height in the stratosphere. - ANSWER-How does air temperature change with
height in the troposphere and stratosphere?
The boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere. - ANSWER-What is the
tropopause?
It prevents vertical motions from moving into the stratosphere so that clouds do not
grow any taller. - ANSWER-How does the altitude of the tropopause affect the height of
clouds in the troposphere?
The force applied by air on a unit area of surface. - ANSWER-How is atmospheric
pressure defined?
Millibar (mb) - ANSWER-What units of pressure do meteorologists use?
The atmosphere cannot contain any more water vapor without condensing into cloud
droplets. - ANSWER-What does it mean when people say "air is saturated"
The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere relative to the atmosphere's capacity for
moisture at a given temperature. - ANSWER-What is relative humidity?
The lowest temperature to which air can be cooled at constant pressure before
saturation occurs. - ANSWER-What is the dewpoint temperature?
100% - ANSWER-What is the value of relative humidity if the dewpoint temperature
equals the air temperature?
The "hidden heat" required for a phase change. - ANSWER-What is latent heat?
, The movement of air. - ANSWER-What is wind?
The direction from which the wind is blowing - ANSWER-What is the convention for
reporting wind direction?
Knots - ANSWER-What units are wind speed reported in?
Wind Speed - ANSWER-What do wind barbs represents on a weather map?
In the troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere between the ground and 12km (7.5
miles) - ANSWER-Over what altitude range does most of Earth's weather occur?
Temperature, pressure, density, moisture content, wind speed and direction, visibility,
cloud cover and precipitation rate. - ANSWER-What are the basic properties of the
atmosphere used in describing weather?
Ozone found in the stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet radiation increasing the temperature
in this layer. - ANSWER-Why does temperature typically increase with height in the
stratosphere?
Sea level is the altitude to which all station pressure measurements are corrected. The
value is the pressure that a particular station would record if it were located at sea level.
- ANSWER-What is meant by "sea level pressure"
That part of the total atmospheric pressure due to water vapor molecules. It is the force
exerted by water vapor molecules on a unit area. It is the measure of the absolute
amount of moisture in the air - ANSWER-What is vapor pressure?
The vapor pressure at which air is saturated at a given temperature. - ANSWER-What is
saturation vapor pressure?
the condition where air contains the maximum amount of water vapor for a given
temperature and pressure. - ANSWER-What is saturation?
Vapor pressure and dewpoint temperature. - ANSWER-What two variables describe the
amount of moisture in the air?
Measurements that are made simultaneously - ANSWER-What are synoptic
measurements?
ASOS reports cloud height and amount, visibility, precipitation type, intensity and
accumulations, obstructions to vision (fog, haze), wind direction and speed as well as
character (gusts, squalls), pressure, altimeter setting, temperature, and dewpoint
temperature. - ANSWER-What does ASOS report? (Automated surface observing
systems)
