Question 1

​About ____ percent of all cloud-to-ground lightning is negative.

Accepted Answer

A)  ​90 
B)  ​70 
C)  ​50 
D)  ​30 
E)  ​10 
A)  ​90 
B)  ​70 
C)  ​50 
D)  ​30 
E)  ​10

Question 2

Sometimes there is only one lightning stroke, but more often the leader-and-stroke process is repeated in the same ionized channel at intervals of about four-hundredths of a second. The subsequent leader, called a ____________________ proceeds from the cloud along the same channel as the original stepped leader; however, it proceeds downward more quickly because the electrical resistance of the path is now lower.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sometimes there is only one lightning stroke,...

Question 3

Electrons​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​are negatively charged. 
B)  ​are positively charged. 
C)  ​carry no charge. 
D)  ​can carry either positive or negative charge. 
E)  ​go back and forth between positive, negative, and neutral. 
A)  ​are negatively charged. 
B)  ​are positively charged. 
C)  ​carry no charge. 
D)  ​can carry either positive or negative charge. 
E)  ​go back and forth between positive, negative, and neutral.

Question 4

Although we often see thunderstorms forming where the surface air is quite warm and humid, they may also form when the surface air temperature is 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) or even lower.​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

All thunderstorms require​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​hot air. 
B)  ​divergence of the air aloft. 
C)  ​lifting along some barrier such as a mountain or front. 
D)  ​surface heating. 
E)  ​rising air. 
A)  ​hot air. 
B)  ​divergence of the air aloft. 
C)  ​lifting along some barrier such as a mountain or front. 
D)  ​surface heating. 
E)  ​rising air.

Question 6

Thunderstorms are ____________________ storms that form with rising air.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of Thunderstorms are ____________________ storms that form with...

Question 7

If thunderstorms bring repeated heavy rain to a region for days or weeks, the result can be one or more ____________________ floods.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of If thunderstorms bring repeated heavy rain to...

Question 8

In the United States, winter thunderstorms often occur ____ when cold air aloft moves over the region.​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​in Hawaii 
B)  ​in the northeast 
C)  ​along the east coast 
D)  ​along the west coast 
E)  ​in the Gulf Coast region 
A)  ​in Hawaii 
B)  ​in the northeast 
C)  ​along the east coast 
D)  ​along the west coast 
E)  ​in the Gulf Coast region

Question 9

A cloud-to-ground lightning discharge will sometimes appear to flicker. This is because​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​you are able to see charges. 
B)  ​you are barely able to distinguish separate return strokes. 
C)  ​the bright light causes you to blink. 
D)  ​of refraction caused by turbulent thunderstorm winds. 
E)  ​your eyes momentarily get blinded by lightning. 
A)  ​you are able to see charges. 
B)  ​you are barely able to distinguish separate return strokes. 
C)  ​the bright light causes you to blink. 
D)  ​of refraction caused by turbulent thunderstorm winds. 
E)  ​your eyes momentarily get blinded by lightning.

Question 10

How can you determine how far away a lightning stroke is?​

Accepted Answer

Light travels so fast that you see light

Question 11

How does negative cloud-to-ground lightning differ from positive cloud-to-ground lightning?​

Accepted Answer

The typical cloud-to-ground lightning fl

Question 12

Typically, a lightning flash will have ____ leaders, each followed by a return stroke.​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​one or two 
B)  ​two or three 
C)  ​three or four 
D)  ​four or five 
E)  ​five or six 
A)  ​one or two 
B)  ​two or three 
C)  ​three or four 
D)  ​four or five 
E)  ​five or six

Question 13

Where the cold downdraft reaches the surface, the air spreads out horizontally in all directions. The surface boundary that separates the advancing cooler air from the surrounding warmer air is called a ____________________.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of Where the cold downdraft reaches the surface,...

Question 14

Even though the bright return stroke of lightning travels from the ground up to the cloud, it happens so quickly that our eyes cannot resolve the motion, and we see what appears to be a continuous bright flash of light.​

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

​Describe the atmospheric conditions at the surface and aloft that are necessary for the development of most supercell thunderstorms. (Include in your answer the role that the low-level jet plays in the rotating updraft.)

Accepted Answer

Supercell thunderstorms are long-lasting

Question 16

The downdraft in an ordinary thunderstorm is created mainly by​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​the melting of snow in the anvil. 
B)  ​electrical attraction between the cloud and ground. 
C)  ​the release of latent heat as water in the cloud freezes. 
D)  ​evaporating raindrops that make the air cold and heavy. 
E)  ​upper level wind motions. 
A)  ​the melting of snow in the anvil. 
B)  ​electrical attraction between the cloud and ground. 
C)  ​the release of latent heat as water in the cloud freezes. 
D)  ​evaporating raindrops that make the air cold and heavy. 
E)  ​upper level wind motions.

Question 17

An ordinary thunderstorm​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​does not produce lightning or thunder. 
B)  ​has a tilted updraft and downdraft. 
C)  ​is a scattered/isolated storm and normally not severe. 
D)  ​does not produce hail. 
E)  ​does not produce precipitation. 
A)  ​does not produce lightning or thunder. 
B)  ​has a tilted updraft and downdraft. 
C)  ​is a scattered/isolated storm and normally not severe. 
D)  ​does not produce hail. 
E)  ​does not produce precipitation.

Question 18

When caught in a thunderstorm in an open field, the best thing to do is to​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​run for cover under the nearest tree. 
B)  ​lie down flat on the ground. 
C)  ​crouch down as low as possible while minimizing contact with the ground. 
D)  ​remove all metallic objects from your pockets. 
E)  ​climb up onto a hill. 
A)  ​run for cover under the nearest tree. 
B)  ​lie down flat on the ground. 
C)  ​crouch down as low as possible while minimizing contact with the ground. 
D)  ​remove all metallic objects from your pockets. 
E)  ​climb up onto a hill.

Question 19

____________________ are placed on buildings to protect them from lightning damage.​

Accepted Answer

The answer of ____________________ are placed on buildings to protect...

Question 20

The highest frequency of thunderstorms in the United States occurs in​

Accepted Answer

A)  ​California. 
B)  ​Kansas. 
C)  ​Colorado. 
D)  ​Maine. 
E)  ​Florida. 
A)  ​California. 
B)  ​Kansas. 
C)  ​Colorado. 
D)  ​Maine. 
E)  ​Florida.

About ____ percent of all cloud-to-ground lightning is negative.

Electrons

Although we often see thunderstorms forming where the surface air is quite warm and humid, they may also form when the surface air temperature is 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) or even lower.

All thunderstorms require

Thunderstorms are ____________________ storms that form with rising air.

If thunderstorms bring repeated heavy rain to a region for days or weeks, the result can be one or more ____________________ floods.

In the United States, winter thunderstorms often occur ____ when cold air aloft moves over the region.

A cloud-to-ground lightning discharge will sometimes appear to flicker. This is because

How can you determine how far away a lightning stroke is?

How does negative cloud-to-ground lightning differ from positive cloud-to-ground lightning?

Typically, a lightning flash will have ____ leaders, each followed by a return stroke.

Where the cold downdraft reaches the surface, the air spreads out horizontally in all directions. The surface boundary that separates the advancing cooler air from the surrounding warmer air is called a ____________________.

Even though the bright return stroke of lightning travels from the ground up to the cloud, it happens so quickly that our eyes cannot resolve the motion, and we see what appears to be a continuous bright flash of light.

Describe the atmospheric conditions at the surface and aloft that are necessary for the development of most supercell thunderstorms. (Include in your answer the role that the low-level jet plays in the rotating updraft.)

The downdraft in an ordinary thunderstorm is created mainly by

An ordinary thunderstorm

When caught in a thunderstorm in an open field, the best thing to do is to

____________________ are placed on buildings to protect them from lightning damage.

The highest frequency of thunderstorms in the United States occurs in

Earth and Its Atmosphere

Energy - Warming the Earth and the Atmosphere

Seasonal and Daily Temperatures

Atmospheric Humidity

Condensation - Dew - Fog - and Clouds

Stability and Cloud Development

Precipitation

Air Pressure and Winds

Wind - Small-Scale and Local Systems

Wind - Global Systems

Air Masses and Fronts

Middle Latitude Cyclones

Weather Forecasting

Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Earths Changing Climate

Global Climate

Air Pollution

Light - Color and Atmospheric Optics

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Exam 14: Thunderstorms