WEATHER, CLIMATE & SYNOPTIC CHARTS

Complete the following questions by selecting the corresponding letter which matches the correct answer.

1. Which term is not an alternative name for a tropical cyclone?

a) hurricaneb) typhoonc) storm surged) closed depressione) low

2. A tropical cyclone is a roughly circular system of exceedingly strong winds that whirl around a centre of very low atmospheric pressure called:

a) an eyeb) a throatc) a wind tunneld) a vent

3. Which of the following descriptions is true regarding the nature of a cyclone?

a) cyclones are only low pressure cellsb) air flows into a cyclone in a clockwise direction in the northern hemispherec) produces very strong winds with little rainfalld) air flows into a cyclone in an anti-clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere

4. Sudden and violent movements of portions of the earth’s atmosphere are called:

a) squallsb) stormsc) twistersd) lightning Strikes

5. The central plains area of the United States (such as Kansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee) experiences the greatest number of tornadoes than any other country each year. This part of the plains where tornadoes are most common has been coined:

a) Tornado Centralb) Tornado Plainsc) Twister Valleyd) Tornado Alley

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6. A tornado is believed to result from:

a) a warm and moist tropical air mass meeting a cool and drier air mass over landb) a warm and moist tropical air mass meeting a cool and drier air mass over the oceanc) a low pressure system that develops over the ocean d) a low pressure system that develops over the warm ocean

7. A funnel shaped spiral is associated with which of the following storms?

a) hurricaneb) thunderstormc) tornadod) tropical Cyclone

8. Lasting for only a few seconds when a sudden increase in wind speed occurs is a:

a) galeb) stormc) breezed) gust

*9. A special scale that was developed by Admiral Beaufort in 1805 measures the

strength of the wind. This scale ranges from:

a) force 0 to force 12 b) force 0 to force 10c) force 1 to force 10d) force 1 to force 12e) force 1 to force 15

10. A high pressure system is often associated with which weather conditions?

a) stable, fine and clearb) unstable, clear and frostyc) unstable and cloudyd) rainy and cloudy

11. Which line on a map joins places of equal atmospheric pressure?

a) isobarb) isothermc) isohyetd) isohypse

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12. A ridge is defined as a:

a) an elongated area of relatively low pressureb) an elongated area of relatively high pressurec) a narrow strip of high landd) cold air undercutting warmer air

13. A long area of low pressure that exists between two high pressure areas is called a:

a) ridgeb) troughc) valleyd) fronte) band

14. Pressure gradient is measure by the distance apart of isobars.Which of the following statements is true?

a) the closer the isobars are together, the weaker the windsb) the closer the isobars are together, the stronger the windsc) strong winds exist when the isobars appear further apartd) calm conditions exist when the isobars appear further apart

15. Wind speed is measure by:

a) a thermometerb) an airometerc) an anemometerd) a sphygoid-mometer

16. Low pressure areas are where:

a) warm and lighter air is risingb) cool and lighterair is risingc) warm and heavier air is risingd) cool and heavier air is rising

17. When a mass of warm and light air moves over a mass of cool and heavier air, aa) cold front occursb) hot front occursc) cool front occursd) warm front occurs

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18. A cold front occurs when cold, moist air mass comes into contactwith an air mass of a different type. This may result in:

a) a temperature increaseb) no change in wind directionc) sudden fall in wind strengthd) a temperature drope) drier conditions

Questions 19-20 refer to the pressure cell diagram below:

19. The isobar reading for the central pressure of the pressure cell below is:

a) 1018 hectopascalsb) 1020 hectopascalsc) 1012 hectopascalsd) 1024 hectopascals

20. This increase in isobar readings indicates this pressure cell is:

a) a cycloneb) a low pressure cellc) a high pressure celld) a ridge

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21. The weather map below would indicate which season weather pattern?

a) Summerb) Autumnc) Winterd) Spring

Questions 22- 27 refer to the Australian weather map (February) on the following page:

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22. The winds experienced at Point A are:

a) very strong Northerliesb) moderate South Westerliesc) very strong Southerliesd) very strong South Westerlies

23. Likely to receive a cyclone warning with associated gale force winds within the next 24 hours is Point:

a) Cb) Dc) Ed) A

24. Which Point is currently experiencing light East to North East winds?

a) Bb) Cc) Fd) E

25. The isobar reading for Point G is likely to be:

a) 1008 Hectopascalsb) 1003 Hectopascalsc) 1006 Hectopascalsd) 1004 Hectopascals

26. There are two low pressure systems influencing Australia’s weather. The first low pressure is present near letter A. The second low pressure would be near letter:

a) Bb) Fc) Dd) C

27. As the cold front passes over letter E, what will happen to temperatures and winds?

a) temperatures are likely to fall and wind speed will increaseb) temperatures are likely to increase and wind speed will decreasec) temperatures are likely to fall and wind speed will decreased) temperatures will remain constant however wind speed will increase

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Questions 28-29 refer to the synoptic chart below:

28. Brisbane is experiencing:

a) 40 kilometre winds per hourb) 30 kilometre winds per hourc) 60 kilometre winds per hourd) calm conditions

29. The wind direction at Perth is:

a) Wb) Ec) ESEd) WSW

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30. The front type that is influencing much of the United Kingdom is:

a) an occluded front, which is a result of warm and cold fronts meetingb) a cold front where the cold air is advancing to replace warm airc) a warm front where warm air is advancing to replace the cold aira) a warm front where the cold is advancing to replace the warm air

31. Which of the following does not correctly define climate?Climate is:

a) general weather conditionsb) the average of weatherc) the long term seasonal patternd) conditions of the atmosphere at a particular timeb) the long term conditions of the atmosphere

32. All but two of the following are elements of weather. Which two do not belong?

rainfall, wind, latitude, temperature, air pressure, humidity, cloud and ocean currents.

a) ocean currents & latitudeb) ocean currents & cloudc) rainfall and temperatured) air pressure and humidity

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Question 33 refers to the surface chart of the United States below:

33. Which of the following is correct?

a) i] A: high pressure with winds flowing counter-clockwiseii] B: 1004 millibarsii] C: low pressure with winds flowing clockwise

b) i] A: low pressure with winds flowing counter-clockwiseii] B: 1006 millibarsiii] C: high pressure with winds flowing clockwise

c) i] A: high pressure with winds flowing clockwiseii] B: 1004 millibarsiii] C: low pressure with winds flowing counter-clockwise

d) i] A: low pressure with winds flowing clockwiseii] B: 1004 millibarsiii] C: high pressure with winds flowing counter-clockwise

34. Distance from the sea has a major influence on climates that are coastal or further inland. Which of the following descriptions does not refer to an effect based on this distance?

a) the further the distance from the sea, the hotter the summers and colder the wintersb) inland areas tend to be more dry than coastal areasc) the further the distance from the sea, the cooler the summers and the warmer the

wintersd) coastal areas tend to be more wet than inland areas

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A

B

C

35. The information below describes how ocean currents affect both temperature and precipitation levels at coastal regions.

i) a warm ocean current brings warmer temperaturesii) a cool ocean current reduces the capacity for passing air to hold water vapour,

therefore increasing precipitation iii) air that passes over a warm ocean current will increase its capacity to store water

vapour.iv) as cool ocean currents bring cooler temperatures, they are associated with less

precipitation.v) air that passes over a warm ocean current will reduce its capacity to hold water

vapourvi) as a warm ocean current results in more evaporation, more rainfall is likely to result

Which of these changes described above are correct?

a) ii & vb) i, ii, iii & vc) i, iii , iv & vid) i, iii, iv & v

36. If one were reading a synoptic chart, which weather prediction description is incorrect concerning the element of air pressure?

a) pressure systems move in an Easterly direction across Australiab) troughs may contribute to unstable conditionsc) ridges may extend fine weather and block out low pressure systemsd) pressure systems move in a Westerly direction across Australia

37. Which elements of weather are not shown directly on a weather map, but rather inferred?

i) temperatureii) cloud coveriii) air pressureiv) wind speedv) rainfall

a) i & iib) i & vc) id) i, ii & v

38. Diurnal means:

a) over a 24 hour periodb) within a 48 hour periodc) twice dailyd) twilight hourse) daylight hours

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39. Which pair of statements is incorrect?

a) i] winds blow in attempt to equalise air pressureii] winds are named according to the direction in which they originate

b) i] the greater the pressure gradient, the stronger the windii] a wind blowing on to the shore is named an onshore wind

c) i] a wind blowing on to the shore is named an offshore windii] winds are named according to the direction they blow to

d) i] winds tend to follow the direction of isobarsii] winds blow in an attempt to equalise air pressure

40. The following diagram of the sun’s rays passing through the atmosphere illustrates:

a) the sun heats up more atmosphere as it passes through to Xb) sun’s rays are less concentrated at Y compared with Xc) due to the earth’s curvature, the heating effect increases at Y d) the sun’s rays are less concentrated at X compared with Y

41. Which definition correctly describes the term solstice?

a) when the sun appears furtherest from the equator and is over the tropicsb) when the sun’s rays are directly overheadc) equal hours of day and nightd) when the sun appears over the equator

42. The Summer solstice for the southern hemisphere is:

a) December 22ndb) June 22ndc) December 16thd) December 21ste) June 16th

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Sun’s rays

Sun’s rays

Sun’s raysEquator X

Y

Y

Questions 43-44 refer to the season diagram below:

43. If the South Pole is tilted towards the sun, what season will the northern hemisphere be experiencing?

a) autumnb) summerc) springd) winter

44. Which letter represents the northern hemisphere Spring?

a) Ab) Bc) Cd) D

45. The snow capped summit of Mt Kilimanjaro is permanently snow covered. This can be explained by the climatic factor:

a) altitudeb) mountain barriersc) latituded) distance from the sea

46. Cold ocean currents are associated with:

a) low evaporation ratesb) air containing high moisture levelsc) high evaporation ratesd) southern hemisphere oceanic regions

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SUN

47. These clouds form at the most high altitudes:

a) nimbostratusb) cumulusc) cirrusd) stratus

*48. Cumulonimbus clouds are typical of:

a) temperatures below 0 degrees Celsiusb) hot and humid days in summerc) cool winter daysd) cool summer days

49. High, thin and feathery sheet clouds are characteristic for:

a) cirrostratus cloudsb) cirrocumulus cloudsc) stratocumulus cloudsd) altocumulus clouds

50. Clouds are generally classified according to:

a) formb) heightc) appearanced) all of the abovee) a and b only

51. Which statements are false regarding the nature of clouds?

1. clouds are condensation in the air2. stratus clouds are typical of mid to low altitudes3. the highest level clouds consist of ice particles4. cumulus clouds are fluffy and dome shaped5. a cirrus cloud is rain bearing

a) 1b) 3c) 2&4d) 4&5e) 5

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*52. When combining high humidity levels and strong convection currents cumulus clouds can extend to great heights, sometimes over 15000m. When these clouds spread out they form a thunderhead or:

a) hammerb) anvilc) stirrupd) haloe) bank

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