Description: This competition will test the student's knowledge of meteorological terms, techniques, and events.

Transcription

1 Weather or Not Description: This competition will test the student's knowledge of meteorological terms, techniques, and events. Number of Participants: 2 Approximate Time: 45 minutes The Competition: 1. Student teams will be quizzed in the form of a test on basic weather terms, concepts, and techniques. Material may include clouds, instruments, weather patterns, severe weather, and major weather events. 2. The test may include maps (meteorological and climatologically), charts (clouds), graphs (climatic zones), drawings (station models, sea/land breeze, fronts), diagrams (isobars, isotherms, lightning), and photographs in addition to basic questions. 3. Stations may be set up enabling students to make readings on a variety of simple scientific weather instruments such as thermometers, barometers, and anemometers. 4. Students will have 45 minutes to complete the test. Time is not a scoring factor. Scoring: The winner will be the one who achieved the highest score. Ties will be broken with supplemental questions that will only be scored in the event of a tie.

2 Test Question Bank All of the following may affect our weather EXCEPT A) temperature B) meteorologist C) wind D) sun Records are kept throughout the country of weather conditions in order to A) because the government demands it B) help historians understand the past C) provide names for future hurricanes D) help predict future weather conditions How are clouds formed? A) materials are filtered from sun light B) dry air rises and is moistened C) moist air rises and is cooled D) the wind blows cotton into the air Which type of cloud forms in horizontal layers? A) stratus B) cirrus C) nimbus D) cumulus A cloud that forms just above the surface of the earth is called A) stratus B) cumulus C) dew D) fog As the elevation above sea level in the Earth's atmosphere increases, the measured atmospheric pressure will A) remain the same B) increase C) decrease D) fluctuate During a cold front, a cold air mass catches up to a warm air mass and

3 pushes the warm air up quickly. What is the best prediction of what will happen when the two collide? A thunderstorms B light steady rain C heat wave D global warming Which diagram below shows a cold front? A.. B. C. D.

4 Which diagram shows a warm front?. A. B. C. D. What does the above diagram represent? a. rain b. wind c. sunny d. tornado

5 What is forecasted to occur in front of the line on the map above with the L? a. fair weather b. drought c rainstorms. d. windy What do meteorologists depend on to forecast an approaching storm? A air pressure B temperature C humidity D wind speed Most warm and cold air masses that enter Texas are moved by global winds. Which global winds are for most of the local weather in Texas? A northeast trade B southeast trade C polar easterlies D prevailing westerlies

6 Sometimes the weather in Texas is affected by air masses moving from the Gulf of Mexico. Which best describes these air masses? A cold and moist B warm and moist C cold and dry D warm and dry What are the Global Winds that blow constantly from the same direction called? A. humidity B. air pressure C. prevailing wind What is the weight of air? A. Air Mass B. Air Pressure C. Humidity What is the process by which a liquid changes to a gas? A. evaporation B. condensation C. precipitation What is the process when gas changes back into a liquid? A. precipitation B. evaporation C. condensation What is the term for: Any form of water that falls from the clouds? A. precipitation B. evaporation C. condensation

7 Circle the 4 Layers of the Atmosphere. A. Troposphere B. Kilosphere C. Stratosphere D. Mesosphere E. Thermosphere Name 3 types of clouds. A. Cirrus B. Tellius C. Cumulus D. Stratus E. Climatus What are two true facts about Hurricanes? A. They are also called Twisters B. Occur in Midwestern US C. They are also called Typhoons D. Occur in warm ocean water E. They are a type of cloud What are two true facts about Tornadoes? A. They are also called Twisters B. Occur in Midwestern US C. They are also called Typhoons D. Occur in warm ocean water E. They are a type of cloud What does a thermometer measure? A. air pressure B. wind direction C. temperature

8 What does a hygrometer measure? A. wind speed B. precipitation C. relative humidity What does a rain gauge measure? A. precipitation B. wind direction C. relative humidity What does a weather vane measure? A. air pressure B. wind direction C. wind speed What does an anemometer measure? A. temperature B. wind direction C. wind speed What does a barometer measure? A. air pressure B. temperature C. precipitation What is a large body of air that has nearly the same temperature and humidity?? A. greenhouse effect B. climate C. air mass D. air pressure E. humidity

9 What is the process by which the earth's atmosphere absorbs heat? A. global warming B. greenhouse effect C. microclimate D. air mass E. prevailing wind What is a short-term climate that occurs every 2-10 years in the Pacific Ocean? A. greenhouse effect B. global warming C. air pressure D. El Nino E. local winds What is the climate of a very small area? A. climate B. microclimate C. weather D. local winds E. front What is the boundary between air masses? A. air pressure B. precipitation C. front D. local winds E. climate What is the average of weather conditions through all seasons over a period of time? A. weather B. climate C. local winds D. condensation E. microclimate

10 What is the following instrument? A.Barometer B.Thermometer C.Anemometer D. Rain Gauge The name of this instrument is... A.Barometer B.Anemometer C.Thermometer D. Rain Gauge This weather device is a A.Thermometer B.Rain Gauge C.Barometer D.Anemometer

11 This weather device is a A.Thermometer B.Barometer Barometer C.Rain Gauge D.Anemometer What type of cloud is this? A.Cirrus B.Cumulus C. Cumulonimbus D.Stratus

12 If you see this type of cloud, the weather will probably be stormy. What type of cloud is it? A.Stratus B.Cirrus C.Cumulus Cumulus D.Cumulonimbus These types of clouds are associated with rain, what are they? A.Stratus B.Cirrus C.Cumulus Cumulus D.Cumulonimbus

13 What are the following clouds? A.Stratus B.Cirrus C.Cumulus Cumulus D.Cumulonimbus Cumulonimbus clouds can sometimes form what? A.Hurricanes B.Tornadoes C.Blizzards D.Extreme temperatures Rain, snow, hail, and sleet are all A.Types of clouds B.Associated with tornadoes C.Precipitation D.Associated with a warm f ront Wind strength is dependent upon A. vertical movement of air B. air pressure differences C. horizontal movement of air D. amount of gravitation attraction

14 Lines on a surface map which show areas of equal temperature are called A. isobars B. thermobars C. thermtherms D.. isotherms The global winds which most influence the weather in the United States are the A. Trade Winds B. Polar Easterlies C. Westerlies D. Doldrums Sea breezes occur during the --?-- and produce winds moving --?--. A. night / out over the water B. night / in over the land C. day / out over the water D. day / in over the land Upward and downward currents of air which result from the uneven heating of the air are called A. conduction currents B. convection currents C. radiation currents D. winds The shift in global winds (to the right in the Northern Hemisphere) as a result of the Earth's rotation is called the A. Bernouli Principle B. Jetstream C. El Nino D. Coriolis Effect Winds are named according to A. the direction they are blowing toward B. the direction they are blowing from C. their speed D. their origin

15 What is the movement of air around the center of a HIGH air pressure system? A. downward, outward and clockwise B. downward, inward and counterclockwise C. upward, outward and clockwise D. upward, inward and counterclockwise Wind is caused by A. currents from outer space B. uneven heating of the earth C, revolution of the earth around the sun The name of the scale that describes and classifies the different wind speeds is the A. Fahrenheit B. Celsius B. Beaufort Wind direction is measured by a A hygrometer B. wind vane C. barometer Wind speed is measured with a A. anemometer B. barometer C. hygrometer Another device that measures wind speed is A. Doppler radar B. rockets C. psychrometer Areas where pressure is higher than the surrounding air are called. A. high pressure areas B. atmosphere C. low pressure areas D. humidity

16 Name each of the types of fronts pictured here? Cold Front 1 Warm Front 2 Stationary Front 3 Occluded Front 4 Trough 5 Squall 6 Dry Line 7 Tropical Wave 8 Which of the following is NOT related to weather: a. precipitation b. wind speed and direction c. pollen count d. temperature How do weather patterns generally move across the United States? a. West to East b. East to West c. North to South d. South to North

17 Which of the weather descriptions below would indicate that you should wear shorts and a short-sleeved shirt today? a. cool and cloudy with an 85% chance of precipitation b. warm and sunny with clear skies c. cool and breezy with winds gusting to 30 mph out of the north d. clear and sunny with temperatures in the mid 30s. When air pressure is high: a. you can expect clouds and rain b. you can expect cold temperatures c. you can expect sunny, clear days d. you can expect tornadoes When air pressure is low: a. you can expect clouds and rain b. you can expect warm temperatures c. you can expect sunny, clear days d. you can expect to have dry skin Which one of the following statements is FALSE: a. Weather results from the movement of air and changes in temperature, air pressure and humidity. b. Weather is caused by air that stays in the same place for a long time. c. A weather report can include temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, cloud cover and precipitation. How do you calculate how far a warm or cold front will move in a particular time? a. multiply speed in miles per hour by direction in numbers the front is moving by time in hours b. multiply speed in miles per hour by time in hours c. divide time by miles per hour d. subtract hours from time.

18 To predict the weather, you do NOT need to know which of the following: a. front speed and direction b. the distance of a front or weather system from the place you are forecasting for c. the current weather conditions d. the current phase of the moon Which three gases make up the majority of our atmosphere? Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Argon Name at least two variable gases in our atmosphere. Water Vapor, Carbon Dioxide, Ozone Why are these gases considered variable? These gases are considered variable because they are not always present in a constant proportion Put the four layers of the atmosphere in order, from the ground up. Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere In which layers of the atmosphere does an inversion occur? An inversion occurs in the stratosphere and thermosphere How are orographic clouds formed? Orographic clouds are formed by air being lifted due to topography. This air rises to its dew point, condenses, and creates orographic clouds Why are there generally clouds in a low pressure center? Air in a low pressure converges and is forced to rise. This air rises to its dew point, condenses, and creates clouds What are the three energy transfer mechanisms? Conduction, Radiation, and Convection The Corollas Force deflects objects to the (left, right) in the Northern Hemisphere and deflects objects to the (left, right) in the Southern Hemisphere. Right; left

19 Where on earth is the Corollas Force the greatest? Near the poles; there is no Corollas force at the equator What are the four types of fronts? Occluded, Stationary, Warm, Cold In the southern hemisphere, winds flow (clockwise, counterclockwise) around a high pressure center and flow (clockwise, counterclockwise) around a low pressure system. Counterclockwise; clockwise What is a dry line? A dry line is a moisture boundary that separates a moist air mass from a dry air mass What is an isobar? An isobar is a line drawn on a weather map connecting points of equal pressure What does the Beaufort Scale measure? The Beaufort scale measures wind strength _ How are rainbows created? Where must you be standing to see one? A rainbow is an arc of concentric colored bands formed by refraction (bending of light) and internal reflection of sunlight by falling raindrops. An observer must be looking at a shaft of falling rain with the sun at his/her back What is a Chinook wind? A Chinook wind consists of air that is adiabatically compressed as it is drawn down the leeward slope of a mountain. As a consequence, the air is warm and dry. Why are cloudy nights generally warmer than cloudless nights? Radiation leaves the earth and doesn t encounter any obstacles. Without the insulation that clouds provide, the night becomes chilly.