Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

What effect does an increase in pressure have on air as it sinks toward the Earth's surface?

1. It cools the air mass significantly.

2. It leads to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds.

3. It causes adiabatic heating, resulting in clear skies.

4. It creates turbulence in the atmosphere.

The correct answer is: It causes adiabatic heating, resulting in clear skies.

An increase in pressure on an air mass as it descends toward the Earth's surface leads to adiabatic heating. This process occurs because as the air sinks, the pressure surrounding it increases, causing the air molecules to become more densely packed and raise their temperature. The result is a warming effect known as adiabatic heating. This warming is significant because it often inhibits cloud formation and leads to stable atmospheric conditions, typically resulting in clear skies. This process is fundamental in meteorology, as descending air masses, which warm adiabatically, are often associated with fair weather patterns.