Chapter 6, Review Questions - University of Kentucky



Chapter 6, Review Questions

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1. Identify and describe the various phase change processes involving water.

2. Explain how the Sun drives the global water cycle.

3. How does distillation convert seawater to fresh water?

4. Define vapor pressure. How does Dalton’s law of partial pressures apply to vapor pressure?

5. If the mixing ratio is equal to the saturation mixing ratio, what is the relative humidity?

6. On a clear calm day, why does the relative humidity usually decrease from a maximum shortly after sunrise to a minimum in the early or mid afternoon?

7. Why does the amount of precipitable water vary with the mean temperature of the troposphere?

8. Describe the principal mechanism whereby clouds form in the atmosphere.

9. Why are clouds and precipitation more likely on the windward slopes of a mountain range than the leeward slopes?

10. What is the significance of a rain shadow for agriculture?

Chapter 6, Critical Thinking Questions

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1. Provide some examples of how the physical characteristics of Earth’s surface affect the ratio of how much rainwater (or snow melt) runs off versus how much infiltrates to the ground.

2. How and why does the moisture content of the top soil affect the maximum air temperature in the lower troposphere?

3. In late autumn or early winter, cold air flows on northwest winds from snow-covered ground across the ice-free waters of Lake Superior. Describe the changes in temperature, vapor pressure, and stability of the cold air as it flows over the lake.

4. Are convective clouds (e.g., cumulus) more likely to form over snow-covered ground or bare ground? Explain your reasoning.

5. Determine the relative humidity if the…

{a} vapor pressure is 6 mb and the saturation vapor pressure is 24 mb.

{b}Vapor pressure is 12 mb and the saturation vapor pressure is 12 mb

{c}Mixing ratio is 10 g/kg and the temperature is 25°C.

6. Under what atmospheric condition is the actual air temperature, dewpoint, and wet-bulb temperature the same?

7. A saturated air parcel ascends in the atmosphere. What is the parcel’s initial relative humidity? What happens to the value of the relative humidity of the saturated parcel as it continues to ascend? What does this imply about the vapor pressure of the ascending saturated parcel?

8. Determine whether the following soundings obtained from radiosonde launches are stable, unstable, or neutral for both saturated and unsaturated air parcels…

{a} -7 C°/1000 m

{b} +8 C°/1000 m

{c} -12 C°/1000 m

{d} -4 C°/ 1000 m

9. How does stability affect the vertical development of cumuliform clouds?

10. Explain how converging surface winds can cause clouds to form.

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