Physical Geography 11th Edition Petersen Test Bank

Physical Geography 11th Edition
Petersen Test Bank

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Chapter 06 - Humidity, Condensation, and Precipitation
True / False
1. The hydrologic cycle for the Earth system as a whole can be considered a closed system because there is no gain or loss
of water.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: The Hydrologic Cycle
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.2 - Outline the processes in the hydrologic cycle, including how water
circulates among and interacts with the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember
2. If a parcel of air at 30° C is saturated, and its temperature is raised to 40° C, water vapor will be forced to condense.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Water in the Atmosphere
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.3 - Apply adiabatic lapse rates to determine temperature changes in air
that rises, expands, and cools compared with air that sinks, compresses, and warms.
KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Understand
3. The total amount of atmospheric water remains nearly constant.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
4. The closer the dew point temperature is to the actual air temperature, the lower the relative humidity.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
5. The relative humidity of a parcel of air can change even if the amount of moisture within it stays constant.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
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6. The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the world’s driest region.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
7. A radiation fog is likely to form during the occurrence of a ground inversion.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Condensation, Fog, and Clouds
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.4 - Understand that relative humidity is a percentage of moisture
saturation in the air, and know why it is dependent on air temperature and moisture content.
and know why it is dependent on air temperature and moisture content.
8. Condensation in the atmosphere always results in precipitation.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
9. The drier the air and the lower the relative humidity, the greater the evaporation rate will be.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
REFERENCES: Sources of Atmospheric Moisture
10. The normal (environmental) lapse rate is always precisely 6.5°C per 1000 meters.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
REFERENCES: Adiabatic Heating and Cooling
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.5 - Explain why if no change in moisture content occurs, as air warms the
relative humidity will fall when the air warms, and when air cools, the relative humidity will
rise.
11. Cirrocumulus are low level clouds.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
12. Increased wind decreases evaporation rates.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
13. Frost is dew that forms, but then freezes.

a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
14. Adiabatic heating and cooling of air does not involve the input or output of external heat to, or from, an air parcel.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: True
rise.
15. The wet adiabatic lapse rate cools faster with rising altitude than the dry adiabatic lapse rate.
a. True
b. False
ANSWER: False
rise.
Multiple Choice
16. The only substance on Earth that occurs naturally as a liquid, a solid, and a gas is ____.
a. argon
b. oxygen
c. carbon dioxide
d. water
e. iron
ANSWER: d
REFERENCES: Humidity, Condensation, and Precipitation - Introduction
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.1 - Explain why Earth’s surface is dominated by water but freshwater
remains a limited and precious resource.
17. The circulation of water from one part of the general Earth system to another is known as the ____.
a. condensation cycle
b. hydrologic cycle
c. environmental cycle
d. evaporation cycle
e. carbon cycle
ANSWER: b
18. As the temperature of a parcel of air increases, its capacity for water vapor ____.
a. increases
b. decreases
c. remains constant
d. increases, then decreases
e. decreases, then increases
ANSWER: a

19. Rainwater is slightly acidic because it absorbs ____ in the atmosphere.
a. oxygen
b. nitrogen
c. methane
d. argon
e. carbon dioxide
ANSWER: e
20. If an unsaturated parcel of air is cooled, it will eventually reach a temperature where the air will become saturated.
This temperature is known as the ____.
a. environmental temperature
b. dew point
c. lifting condensation level
d. adiabatic
e. stratus
ANSWER: b
21. The amount of water vapor in the air at a time and place is called ____.
a. capacity
b. the saturation deficit
c. humidity
d. the precipitation potential
e. transpiration
ANSWER: c
22. The amount of water vapor in the air compared to the greatest amount of water the air could hold at a given
temperature is known as the ____.
a. saturated humidity
b. specific humidity
c. absolute humidity
d. relative humidity
e. potential humidity
ANSWER: d


23. An unusual and important property of water is that its volume expands when it ____.
a. melts from ice
b. experiences higher atmospheric pressure
c. freezes into a solid
d. encounters plant roots
e. flows at greater velocities
ANSWER: c
24. Most of the water on Earth can be found in ____.

a. the atmosphere
b. the ocean
c. groundwater
d. glaciers
e. rivers and lakes
ANSWER: b
25. The ____ of a parcel of air can change as the parcel of air rises, simply because the volume of the parcel of air
increases.
a. specific humidity
b. relative humidity
c. potential humidity
d. absolute humidity
e. partial humidity
ANSWER: d
26. The weight of water vapor (grams) in a particular volume of air (cubic meter) is referred to as ____.
a. specific humidity
b. relative humidity

c. potential humidity
d. absolute humidity
e. partial humidity
ANSWER: d
27. Potential evapotranspiration is the maximum evapotranspiration that would take place with ____.
a. a cloudless sky
b. an unlimited supply of water
c. water at 99° C
d. air temperatures 10° C below current conditions
e. air at 0% relative humidity
ANSWER: b
28. Which type of fog occurs due to cold ground surfaces that have cooled from the loss of thermal energy to space?
a. upslope fog
b. advection fog
c. radiation fog
d. convection fog
e. conduction fog
ANSWER: c
29. Which type of fog occurs when a warm moist marine air mass moves over a cold land mass?
a. advection fog
b. radiation fog
c. upslope fog
d. frost fog
e. ground fog
ANSWER: a


30. Clouds are generally named based on which two characteristics?

a. temperature and shape
b. height and shape
c. latitude and height
d. height and width
e. temperature and width
ANSWER: b
31. Clouds typically develop because ____.

a. the temperature of a parcel of air increases
b. a parcel of air rises and cools
c. water vapor is added to a parcel of air
d. a parcel of air descends
e. condensation nuclei are added to a parcel of air
ANSWER: b
rise.
32. Low, layered clouds associated with gray, overcast skies are called ____.
a. cirrus
b. stratus
c. lenticular
d. cumulonimbus
e. cumulus
ANSWER: b
33. A cloud formed by rapidly rising columns of air that can ascend to great heights is called a ____ cloud.
a. cirrus
b. lenticular
c. stratus
d. cumulonimbus
e. cirrostratus
ANSWER: d
34. Clouds with “nimbo” or “nimbus” in their name are associated with ____.
a. precipitation
b. ice crystals
c. high altitudes
d. lightning and thunder
e. a sheet-like shape
ANSWER: a
35. Under conditions of ____, the normal lapse rate is less than the adiabatic rate in operation.
a. instability
b. neutrality
c. precipitation
d. stability
e. rime
ANSWER: d
rise.
36. The phrase "rain shadow" is associated with which type of precipitation?
a. convectional
b. orographic
c. cyclonic
d. frontal
e. Bergeron
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Precipitation Processes
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.7 - Describe the temperature, humidity, pressure, and winds that influence
the potential for precipitation and the kinds of precipitation that may result.

37. Many of the great deserts of the world coincide with the ____.
a. equatorial low
b. subtropical highs
c. subpolar lows
d. polar highs
e. polar front
ANSWER: b
REFERENCES: Distribution of Precipitation
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.8 - Provide examples of why precipitation, evaporation, and water
availability all vary in terms of their geographic distribution on Earth.
38. Which precipitation mechanism takes place when a warmer air mass rises after encountering a colder, denser air
mass?
a. convectional precipitation
b. frontal precipitation
c. cyclonic (or convergence) precipitation
d. orographic precipitation
e. radiation precipitation
ANSWER: b
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.6 - Determine what processes cause the air to reach the dew point
temperature and attain a relative humidity of 100%—a condition that can produce
condensation and precipitation.
39. Which cloud type is associated with severe storms?

a. nimbostratus
b. cumulonimbus
c. cirrostratus
d. altocumulus
e. cirrus
ANSWER: b
40. Most of the fresh water on Earth is found in ____.

a. groundwater
b. lakes
c. the atmosphere
d. rivers
e. glacial ice
ANSWER: e
Completion
41. The process by which water pulls itself upward through small openings is called _______________. (two words)
ANSWER: capillary action
42. When air of a given temperature holds all the water vapor that it possibly can, it is said to be in a state of
_______________.
ANSWER: saturation
REFERENCES: Water in the Atmosphere.
43. Minute particles in the atmosphere that provide a surface on which condensation can take place are called
_______________. (two words)
ANSWER: condensation nuclei
44. The energy that drives the hydrologic cycle comes from the _______________.
ANSWER: Sun
45. The ice that forms when supercooled water droplets come in contact with a cold surface is called _______________.
ANSWER: rime

46. The combined effects of evaporation and transpiration are referred to as _______________.
ANSWER: evapotranspiration
47. The most common form of precipitation, by far, is _______________.

ANSWER: rain
48. There are three basic shapes of clouds: cirrus, stratus, and _______________.
ANSWER: cumulus
49. The altitude at which clouds form from lifting is called the _______________. (three words)
ANSWER: lifting condensation level
50. Freezing nuclei are a part of the _______________ process of forming precipitation.
ANSWER: Bergeron
51. Rain that freezes as it falls through a thick layer of sub-freezing air near the surface is called _______________.
ANSWER: sleet

52. The _______________ humidity of a parcel of air is expressed as a percentage of saturation.
ANSWER: relative
53. Rising parcels of air expand as they counter decrease atmospheric pressure with altitude, causing the parcel’s air
temperature to decrease in a process called _______________. (two words)
ANSWER: adiabatic cooling
rise.
54. Liquid water cooler than 0° C is called _______________ water.

ANSWER: supercooled
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: PHYG.PETR.17.6.7 - Describe the temperature, humidity, pressure, and winds that influence
the potential for precipitation and the kinds of precipitation that may result.
55. The process by which plants give up moisture to the air is called _______________.
ANSWER: transpiration
Essay
56. Why is the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile (if not the driest) one of the driest places on Earth?
ANSWER: The stabilizing effect of the subtropical high pressure system dominates Northern Chile for
long periods. Also, the Atacama Desert is on the rain shadow side of the Andes.
57. Clouds take on three distinctive shapes. What are they, and what do they look like?
ANSWER: The three basic shapes are: cirrus, cumulus, and stratus. Cirrus clouds are thin, wispy,
stringy, white clouds that move across the sky like feathers. Cumulus clouds are massive
piles of clouds, rounded in appearance, usually with a flat base. Stratus clouds have a
horizontal sheetlike appearance, lying in layers with fairly uniform thickness.
58. Explain the processes and conditions that contribute to the formation of clouds with a flat bottom.
ANSWER: The lifting condensation level is the altitude at which clouds form from lifting and depends
on the lapse rate and the dew point of the parcel of air that is rising. Once the air reaches the
lifting condensation level (the level of the flat bottom of the cloud), condensation begins.
59. Explain why higher relative humidity can make weather feel warmer to us than a day with the same temperature but
lower relative humidity.
ANSWER: Higher relative humidity makes for a lower evaporation rate of sweat from our skin. Since
evaporation cools our skin, a higher relative humidity causes less heat to be drawn from our
skin and we feel warmer.
60. Why are the dry adiabatic lapse rate and the wet adiabatic lapse rate different?
ANSWER: As a rising parcel of air cools to its dew point temperature, condensation occurs, which
releases latent heat into the air. Air cools faster prior to the onset of condensation. The rate of
cooling is called the dry adiabatic lapse rate. Once condensation occurs, and latent heat is
released, the air parcel cools at a different rate known as the wet adiabatic lapse rate.
rise.

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Physical Geography 11th Edition

Petersen Test Bank

3. The total amount of atmospheric water remains nearly constant.

KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember

6. The Atacama Desert of northern Chile is the world’s driest region.

7. A radiation fog is likely to form during the occurrence of a ground inversion.

8. Condensation in the atmosphere always results in precipitation.

11. Cirrocumulus are low level clouds.

12. Increased wind decreases evaporation rates.

13. Frost is dew that forms, but then freezes.

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REFERENCES: Water in the Atmosphere

24. Most of the water on Earth can be found in ____.

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and know why it is dependent on air temperature and moisture content.

30. Clouds are generally named based on which two characteristics?

31. Clouds typically develop because ____.

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KEYWORDS: Bloom’s: Remember

39. Which cloud type is associated with severe storms?

40. Most of the fresh water on Earth is found in ____.

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47. The most common form of precipitation, by far, is _______________.

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54. Liquid water cooler than 0° C is called _______________ water.

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