Question 1

Aside from cumulonimbus clouds that sometimes penetrate into the stratosphere, all clouds are observed in the lower atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

False

Question 2

In the United States, the frequency of days with dense fog is very low in places like Utah, Arizona, and Montana.

Accepted Answer

These areas are generally arid or semi-arid and have lower humidity levels, which contributes to a lower frequency of dense fog compared to more humid regions.

Question 3

The foggiest spot near sea level in the United States is Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Accepted Answer

The foggiest spot near sea level in the United States is Point Reyes, California, not Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Question 4

In Ralph Abercromby's and Hugo Hildebrandsson's cloud classification system, each of the four primary cloud groups is identified by the type of precipitation it produces.

Accepted Answer

Ralph Abercromby's and Hugo Hildebrandsson's cloud classification system categorizes clouds based on their appearance and altitude, not the type of precipitation they produce.

Question 5

Because fog causes a lot of problems, such as accidents, scientists are seeking ways to disperse, or at least "thin" fog.

Accepted Answer

Scientists are indeed exploring methods to disperse or thin fog to reduce its impact on visibility, which can lead to accidents in transportation and other areas. Techniques include using fans to circulate air, heat to evaporate water droplets, and even dispersal agents to break up the fog.

Question 6

Cumulonimbus clouds are associated with more or less continuously falling rain or snow.

Accepted Answer

Cumulonimbus clouds are associated with thunderstorms and intense weather conditions, including heavy rain, snow, hail, and lightning, but not with continuously falling precipitation.

Question 7

In hazy conditions, distant objects are usually more visible in the afternoon than in the morning, even when the concentration of particles in the air has not changed.

Accepted Answer

In hazy conditions, the sun is higher in the sky in the afternoon, which means that the light has to travel through less of the haze to reach our eyes. This makes distant objects more visible in the afternoon than in the morning.

Question 8

Dew is most likely to form on
A)clear, calm nights.
B)cloudy, calm nights.
C)clear, windy nights.
D)cloudy, windy nights.
E)rainy nights.

Accepted Answer

Dew forms on clear, calm nights because the ground cools through radiation, reaching a temperature below the dew point of the air near the surface, leading to condensation.

Question 9

Wet haze restricts visibility more than dry haze.

Accepted Answer

Wet haze consists of larger particles due to the absorption of moisture, which scatters more light and thus restricts visibility more than dry haze, which is composed of smaller particles.

Question 10

Steam fog poses a threat to humans with respiratory problems.

Accepted Answer

Steam fog, which forms when cold air moves over warmer water and the water vapor condenses into fog, does not inherently contain pollutants or substances that would pose a direct threat to humans with respiratory problems. It is essentially water vapor and does not carry the same risks as smog or industrial pollutants.

Question 11

Water vapor cannot condense onto hygroscopic nuclei particles at a relative humidity less than 100 percent.

Accepted Answer

Hygroscopic nuclei particles can attract and hold water vapor, allowing condensation to occur at a relative humidity less than 100 percent.

Question 12

Even at high elevations where cirrus clouds are found, liquid water still exists in the clouds.

Accepted Answer

Cirrus clouds, despite forming at high elevations where temperatures are extremely low, can contain liquid water droplets that have not frozen due to a phenomenon known as supercooling.

Question 13

Frost forms when the dew point temperature is at or below freezing.

Accepted Answer

Frost forms when the temperature of surfaces cools to below the dew point temperature and below freezing, causing water vapor in the air to directly deposit as ice crystals without becoming liquid water first.

Question 14

The sky is overcast, and it is raining. The cloud above you is a cumulus humilis cloud.

Accepted Answer

The cloud type associated with overcast skies and rain is typically nimbostratus, not cumulus humilis, which are low-level clouds characterized by their small, fluffy appearance and are generally associated with fair weather.

Question 15

Condensation nuclei may be made up of salt from the ocean.

Accepted Answer

Condensation nuclei can indeed be made up of various particles, including salt from the ocean, which provide surfaces for water vapor to condense upon and form droplets.

Question 16

On a cold morning, it is possible to see your breath even if the air temperature is above freezing.

Accepted Answer

This occurs because the warm, moist air exhaled from your lungs condenses into tiny droplets of water when it comes into contact with the colder air, making your breath visible.

Question 17

High cirriform clouds are composed almost entirely of ice crystals. In tropical regions, air temperatures low enough to freeze all liquid water usually occur only above 6,000 m (about 20,000 feet). In polar regions, however, these same temperatures may be found at altitudes as low as 3,000 m (about 10,000 feet). Hence, while you may observe cirrus clouds at 3,600 m (about 12,000 feet)over northern Alaska, you will not see them at that elevation above southern Florida.

Accepted Answer

Cirriform clouds, including cirrus clouds, are high-level clouds that form above 20,000 feet in tropical regions and can form at lower altitudes in polar regions due to the colder temperatures found at lower heights, supporting the statement about observing cirrus clouds at different elevations in Alaska and Florida.

Question 18

The TRMM ( T ropical R ainfall M easuring M ission)satellite, a joint venture between NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), can pick out individual cloud features as small as 2.4 km (1.5 mi)in diameter.

Accepted Answer

The TRMM satellite, equipped with advanced radar and imaging technology, is designed to measure rainfall in the tropics and can indeed resolve cloud features as small as 2.4 km in diameter, allowing for detailed observations of precipitation patterns and storm structures.

Question 19

The cooling of the ground to produce dew is mainly the result of ____.
A)conduction
B)radiational cooling
C)cooling due to the release of latent heat
D)advection
E)condensation

Accepted Answer

Radiational cooling occurs when the ground loses heat by emitting infrared radiation, usually at night, leading to a decrease in temperature and potentially the formation of dew if conditions are right.

Question 20

All clouds form in rising air.

Accepted Answer

Clouds can form in both rising and sinking air, depending on the conditions. While rising air often leads to cloud formation due to cooling and condensation, certain types of clouds, like stratocumulus, can also form in gently sinking air if the air is cooled to its dew point.

Quiz 5: Condensation: Dew, Fog, and Clouds