Question 1

List and describe the sequence of events that occur during a cloud-to-ground lightning discharge.

Accepted Answer

During a cloud-to-ground lightning discharge, several events occur in sequence.

1. The first event is the formation of a stepped leader. This is a channel of charged particles that extends from the cloud towards the ground in a series of short steps.

2. As the stepped leader approaches the ground, it induces a corresponding upward flow of charged particles from the ground, known as a streamer.

3. When the stepped leader and streamer connect, a completed path is formed for the flow of electricity. This creates a visible lightning bolt that travels from the ground to the cloud.

4. The return stroke is the most visible and intense part of the lightning discharge. It is the bright, luminous flash of light that we see and is the result of the rapid heating and expansion of the air along the path of the lightning bolt.

5. After the initial lightning bolt, subsequent return strokes may occur, resulting in multiple flashes of light and thunder. These subsequent strokes follow the same path as the initial discharge and can occur within milliseconds of each other.

Overall, a cloud-to-ground lightning discharge involves the formation of a stepped leader, the creation of a streamer, the connection between the two to form a lightning bolt, the intense return stroke, and potential subsequent strokes.

Question 2

A small thunderstorm cloud with virga falling out of its base and blowing dust at the ground could warn of a severe hazard to an airplane because:

Accepted Answer

A) this could be the first indication of a tornado 
B) it is likely that hail will soon begin to fall 
C) this could indicate an intense downdraft or microburst 
D) the airplane could be struck by lightning 
A) this could be the first indication of a tornado 
B) it is likely that hail will soon begin to fall 
C) this could indicate an intense downdraft or microburst 
D) the airplane could be struck by lightning C

Question 3

Ordinary thunderstorms only last about one hour and begin to dissipate when:

Accepted Answer

A) lightning neutralizes all the electrical charge in the cloud 
B) when all the precipitation particles in the cloud turn to ice 
C) when the downdraft spreads throughout the cloud and cuts off the updraft 
D) when solar heating at the ground begins to decrease 
A) lightning neutralizes all the electrical charge in the cloud 
B) when all the precipitation particles in the cloud turn to ice 
C) when the downdraft spreads throughout the cloud and cuts off the updraft 
D) when solar heating at the ground begins to decrease C

Question 4

In the United States,dryline thunderstorms are most common

Accepted Answer

A) in the Rocky Mountains 
B) in the desert southwest 
C) in the Great Plains 
D) in California 
E) in Florida 
A) in the Rocky Mountains 
B) in the desert southwest 
C) in the Great Plains 
D) in California 
E) in Florida

Question 5

Thunder is caused by:

Accepted Answer

A) the collision between two thunderstorms with opposite electrical charge 
B) the rapid heating of air surrounding a lightning channel 
C) the explosion that occurs when + and - charge collide and neutralize each other 
D) turbulent wind motions inside the thunderstorm 
A) the collision between two thunderstorms with opposite electrical charge 
B) the rapid heating of air surrounding a lightning channel 
C) the explosion that occurs when + and - charge collide and neutralize each other 
D) turbulent wind motions inside the thunderstorm

Question 6

Severe thunderstorms are capable of producing:

Accepted Answer

A) large hail 
B) tornadoes 
C) flash floods 
D) all of the above 
A) large hail 
B) tornadoes 
C) flash floods 
D) all of the above

Question 7

The most likely time for an ordinary call thunderstorm to form is

Accepted Answer

A) just after sunrise 
B) just before sunrise 
C) around midnight 
D) late afternoon 
E) at noon 
A) just after sunrise 
B) just before sunrise 
C) around midnight 
D) late afternoon 
E) at noon

Question 8

All thunderstorms require:

Accepted Answer

A) hot,humid 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,humid 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 9

In what ways are multicell thunderstorms different from ordinary thunderstorms? What are some of the meteorological or atmospheric conditions that favor the development of multicell thunderstorms?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what ways are multicell thunderstorms different...

Question 10

The atmospheric conditions that promote the formation of severe thunderstorms tend to prevent many smaller ones from forming.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The wind shear associated with several major airline crashes is believed to have been caused by:

Accepted Answer

A) microbursts 
B) dry lines 
C) the jet stream 
D) mesocyclones 
A) microbursts 
B) dry lines 
C) the jet stream 
D) mesocyclones

Question 12

List and discuss some of the atmospheric conditions that are needed for a thunderstorm to develop.

Accepted Answer

The answer of List and discuss some of the atmospheric...

Question 13

You a generally safe inside an automobile during a lighting storm because:

Accepted Answer

A) the car's radio antenna will act as a lightning rod 
B) the rubber tires insulate you from the ground 
C) metal cars do not become electrically charged 
D) the metal car body will carry the lightning current around the passengers inside 
A) the car's radio antenna will act as a lightning rod 
B) the rubber tires insulate you from the ground 
C) metal cars do not become electrically charged 
D) the metal car body will carry the lightning current around the passengers inside

Question 14

Strong vertical wind shear inhibits the formation of severe thunderstorms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

A supercell storm is:

Accepted Answer

A) a thunderstorm that produces several tornadoes 
B) a thunderstorm that produces a category F-5 tornado 
C) a thunderstorm with an extremely large downburst 
D) an enormous thunderstorm that lasts for several hours 
A) a thunderstorm that produces several tornadoes 
B) a thunderstorm that produces a category F-5 tornado 
C) a thunderstorm with an extremely large downburst 
D) an enormous thunderstorm that lasts for several hours

Question 16

A Mesoscale Convective Complex is actually:

Accepted Answer

A) a rapidly rotating tornado cyclone inside a massive thunderstorm 
B) another name for a suction vortex 
C) a complex display of lightning from distant thunderstorms 
D) a family of tornadoes that do a great deal of damage 
E) individual thunderstorms that grow into a large,long-lasting weather system 
A) a rapidly rotating tornado cyclone inside a massive thunderstorm 
B) another name for a suction vortex 
C) a complex display of lightning from distant thunderstorms 
D) a family of tornadoes that do a great deal of damage 
E) individual thunderstorms that grow into a large,long-lasting weather system

Question 17

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the principle of a lightning rod?

Accepted Answer

A) the lightning rod acts to discharge the thunderstorm 
B) the lightning rod intercepts the lightning and safely carries the lightning current
Around the object it protects 
C) lightning rods have been used since the 1700s,but the principle of their
Operation is not known. 
D) positive charge induced in the lightning rod repels the negative charge in an
Approaching step leader 
A) the lightning rod acts to discharge the thunderstorm 
B) the lightning rod intercepts the lightning and safely carries the lightning current
Around the object it protects 
C) lightning rods have been used since the 1700s,but the principle of their
Operation is not known. 
D) positive charge induced in the lightning rod repels the negative charge in an
Approaching step leader

Question 18

The upper part of a thunderstorm cloud is normally __________ charged,and the middle and lower parts are __________ charged.

Accepted Answer

A) negatively,negatively 
B) negatively,positively 
C) positively,positively 
D) positively,negatively 
A) negatively,negatively 
B) negatively,positively 
C) positively,positively 
D) positively,negatively

Question 19

Thunder will not occur:

Accepted Answer

A) without lightning 
B) in wintertime thunderstorms 
C) in thunderstorms over the ocean 
D) when a thunderstorm is producing precipitation 
A) without lightning 
B) in wintertime thunderstorms 
C) in thunderstorms over the ocean 
D) when a thunderstorm is producing precipitation

Question 20

In a multicell storm,each of the cells is always in the same stage of development.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

List and describe the sequence of events that occur during a cloud-to-ground lightning discharge.

A small thunderstorm cloud with virga falling out of its base and blowing dust at the ground could warn of a severe hazard to an airplane because:

Ordinary thunderstorms only last about one hour and begin to dissipate when:

In the United States,dryline thunderstorms are most common

Thunder is caused by:

Severe thunderstorms are capable of producing:

The most likely time for an ordinary call thunderstorm to form is

All thunderstorms require:

In what ways are multicell thunderstorms different from ordinary thunderstorms? What are some of the meteorological or atmospheric conditions that favor the development of multicell thunderstorms?

The atmospheric conditions that promote the formation of severe thunderstorms tend to prevent many smaller ones from forming.

The wind shear associated with several major airline crashes is believed to have been caused by:

List and discuss some of the atmospheric conditions that are needed for a thunderstorm to develop.

You a generally safe inside an automobile during a lighting storm because:

Strong vertical wind shear inhibits the formation of severe thunderstorms.

A supercell storm is:

A Mesoscale Convective Complex is actually:

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the principle of a lightning rod?

The upper part of a thunderstorm cloud is normally charged,and the middle and lower parts are charged.

Thunder will not occur:

In a multicell storm,each of the cells is always in the same stage of development.

The Turbulent Atmosphere

Energy That Drives the Storms

Temperature and Humidity Extremes

Condensation in the Atmosphere

Clouds and Stability

Precipitation Extremes

Atmospheric Motions

Wind Systems

Air Masses and Fronts

Mid-Latitude Cyclonic Storms

Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Weather Forecasting

The Earths Changing Climate

Filters

Exam 11: Thunderstorms

List and describe the sequence of events that occur during a cloud-to-ground lightning discharge.

A small thunderstorm cloud with virga falling out of its base and blowing dust at the ground could warn of a severe hazard to an airplane because:

Ordinary thunderstorms only last about one hour and begin to dissipate when:

In the United States,dryline thunderstorms are most common

Thunder is caused by:

Severe thunderstorms are capable of producing:

The most likely time for an ordinary call thunderstorm to form is

All thunderstorms require:

In what ways are multicell thunderstorms different from ordinary thunderstorms? What are some of the meteorological or atmospheric conditions that favor the development of multicell thunderstorms?

The atmospheric conditions that promote the formation of severe thunderstorms tend to prevent many smaller ones from forming.

The wind shear associated with several major airline crashes is believed to have been caused by:

List and discuss some of the atmospheric conditions that are needed for a thunderstorm to develop.

You a generally safe inside an automobile during a lighting storm because:

Strong vertical wind shear inhibits the formation of severe thunderstorms.

A supercell storm is:

A Mesoscale Convective Complex is actually:

Which of the following is the most accurate description of the principle of a lightning rod?

The upper part of a thunderstorm cloud is normally __________ charged,and the middle and lower parts are __________ charged.

Thunder will not occur:

In a multicell storm,each of the cells is always in the same stage of development.

The Turbulent Atmosphere

Energy That Drives the Storms

Temperature and Humidity Extremes

Condensation in the Atmosphere

Clouds and Stability

Precipitation Extremes

Atmospheric Motions

Wind Systems

Air Masses and Fronts

Mid-Latitude Cyclonic Storms

Tornadoes

Hurricanes

Weather Forecasting

The Earths Changing Climate

Filters

The upper part of a thunderstorm cloud is normally charged,and the middle and lower parts are charged.