Met Gen 4

Question 1

The extensive stratiform cloud decks commonly associated with warm fronts are caused by:

A) The cold air being conditionally unstable.
B) Pronounced conductive cooling of the warm air.
C) The cold air having a high relative humidity.
D) Expansional cooling of the overrunning warm air.

Answer 1

D) Expansional cooling of the overrunning warm air.

Question 2

During flight in the lower levels toward a warm front (ie. from the cold air side), you notice that the precipitation changes from steady rain to heavy showers. You would then assume that:

A) The front was slow moving but had a steep frontal slope.
B) The cold air was moist and unstable.
C) The front had a shallow slope but was retreating rapidly.
D) The warm air was moist and unstable.

Answer 2

D) The warm air was moist and unstable.

Question 3

As you fly in the lower levels of the cold air mass side toward a winter warm front (mA air overrunning cA air), you encounter ice pellets. In this case, you would know that there was:

A) Very unstable air aloft.
B) Freezing rain above.
C) Widespread sublimation occurring in the layer immediately above.
D) A region of dry snow immediately above you.

Answer 3

B) Freezing rain above.

Question 4

Which of the following cold fronts are likely to be found in Canada during the summer months?

A) Continental Arctic and Maritime Arctic.
B) Maritime Arctic and Maritime Polar.
C) Maritime Polar and Maritime Tropical.
D) Continental Arctic and Maritime Polar.

Answer 4

B) Maritime Arctic and Maritime Polar.

Question 5

Cold frontal weather is determined by:

A) The stability of the warm air mass.
B) The moisture content of the warm air mass.
C) The speed of the front and the steepness of its frontal surface.
D) All of the above.

Answer 5

D) All of the above.

Question 6

The cloud and precipitation associated with a cold front develop because:

A) The warm air that is in contact with the cold air is cooled conductively.
B) The warm air that is lifted up the frontal surface cools by expansion.
C) The cold air becomes saturated as it overruns the warm air.
D) Advectional heating of the cold air occurs as it advances over ground recently occupied by the warm air.

Answer 6

B) The warm air that is lifted up the frontal surface cools by expansion.

Question 7

A rapidly moving cold front with a steep frontal surface has moved into your region. you note however, that no extensive areas of convective cloud have formed along the front. This would indicate that:

A) The warm air mass has a low relative humidity.
B) An inversion was present in the cold air mass.
C) The warm air must have been conditionally stable.
D) The cold air mass has a low relative humidity.

Answer 7

A) The warm air mass has a low relative humidity.

Question 8

An approaching cold front that initially has a shallow frontal surface, steepens some distance behind the surface front. You experience a Wind shift and a drop in temperature, when would you expect clouds and precipitation to occur?

A) It would have already occurred.
B) At the same time as the wind shift.
C) Will occur later.
D) No weather change is expected.

Answer 8

C) Will occur later.

Question 9

You are at an airport that experiences the passage of a cold front in the early afternoon. Shortly afterwards, the clouds scatter out leaving a clear sky. During the next 12 hours, you would expect the temperature to:

A) Decrease, then increase slightly.
B) Steadily decrease.
C) Remain relatively constant.
D) Increase slightly, then decrease.

Answer 9

D) Increase slightly, then decrease.

Question 10

A cold front with a steep frontal surface that is advancing rapidly upon moist, unstable air produces a suitable environment for:

A) A frontal depression.
B) A squall line of thunderstorms.
C) Orographic subsidence.
D) A “bent back occlusion.

Answer 10

B) A squall line of thunderstorms.

Question 11

A combination of both cold front and warm front weather conditions would most likely be associated with which of the following?

A) An upper cold front.
B) An occluded front.
C) A trowal.
D) Both (B) and (C) are correct.

Answer 11

D) Both (B) and (C) are correct.

Question 12

In the northern hemisphere, the future movement of a mature frontal depression and its associated frontal wave will tend to be parallel to the:

A) Isobars behind the cold front.
B) Warm sector isobars.
C) Surface isobars in the air immediately to the north of the crest above the wave.
D) Contours of the 500 hPa surface.

Answer 12

B) Warm sector isobars.

Question 13

At a stationary front, the cold air moves:

A) Towards the front.
B) Against a steep surface pressure gradient.
C) Parallel to the front.
D) Away from the front.

Answer 13

C) Parallel to the front.

Question 14

The transition zone between two different air masses where there is a sudden change in temperature and moisture content is called:

A) The mixing zone.
B) A col.
C) A stagnation zone.
D) A front.

Answer 14

D) A front.

Question 15

When the properties of two air masses along a front are becoming increasingly different in temperature and moisture, it is referred to as:

A) Frontolysis.
B) Cyclogenesis.
C) Frontogenesis.
D) Deepening

Answer 15

C) Frontogenesis.

Question 16

A land breeze:

A) Blows from the water to the land during the day.
B) Blows from the land to the water during the night.
C) Is always more pronounced and more regular than the sea breeze.
D) May spring up very suddenly, especially during the mid morning.

Answer 16

B) Blows from the land to the water during the night.

Question 17

A condition favorable for the development of strong katabatic winds would be:

A) A region of extensive glaciers.
B) Sloping terrain whose temperature is warmer than the air that rests upon it.
C) An area of gently rolling hills that adjoin a snow covered plain.
D) Daytime heating of ice-free slopes in the Canadian Arctic during summers.

Answer 17

A) A region of extensive glaciers.

Question 18

A warm anabatic wind found in very hilly terrain is known as a:

A) Mistral wind.
B) Coast winter outflow wind.
C) Bora.
D) Chinook wind.

Answer 18

D) Chinook wind.

Question 19

Anabatic winds can best be characterized as:

A) Strong winds associated with mid-latitude cyclones and frontal boundaries.
B) A gusty mountain breeze that results in nocturnal cooling.
C) Very cold and intense winds that have been funnelled through narrow mountain passes and are pulled towards low pressure systems to the east.
D) Upslope winds that develop on mountain slopes as they are heated by the sun.

Answer 19

D) Upslope winds that develop on mountain slopes as they are heated by the sun.

Question 20

An aircraft flies over an airport on radar vectors for an approach. The pilot notes that he/she can see the airport through a thin layer of fog. What can the pilot foresee as he/she turns onto the final approach?

A) The airport will not be clearly seen since flight visibility will be less.
B) The airport will be clearly seen, as there will be no difference in flight visibility.
C) The airport will be clearly seen, as there will be no difference in slant range visibility.
D) The airport will not be clearly seen since slant range visibility will be less.

Answer 20

D) The airport will not be clearly seen since slant range visibility will be less.

Question 21

What adds to a whiteout illusion (ie. no depth perception) besides a snow covered surface?

A) No wind condition.
B) Uniformly overcast sky.
C) Moderate snow.
D) During the night time hours.

Answer 21

B) Uniformly overcast sky.

Question 22

The requirement for the formation of all types of fog is:

A) High relative humidity.
B) Cloudless nights.
C) Light breezes that do not exceed 13Kts.
D) The presence of an inversion.

Answer 22

A) High relative humidity.

Question 23

A south-westerly flow of mT air moving over the Labrador Current would produce:

A) Steam fog.
B) Advection fog.
C) Radiation fog.
D) Adiabatic fog.

Answer 23

B) Advection fog.

Question 24

In the answers below, choose the answer that best describes the fog that would develop as the air flows from the pacific ocean towards the Rockies:

A) Advection fog
B) Upslope fog.
C) Radiation fog.
D) Steam fog.

Answer 24

B) Upslope fog.

Question 25

The fog that forms ahead of a warm front is the result of:

A) Rain that is falling from the overrunning cold air.
B) Radiation cooling of the warm air as it advects over the cold ground.
C) Expansional cooling of the cold air as it is forced aloft.
D) The evaporation of rain as it falls from the warm air into the cold air below.

Answer 25

D) The evaporation of rain as it falls from the warm air into the cold air below.

Question 26

Which of the following cooling processes is involved in the formation of the fog that frequently follows a warm front?

A) Expansion.
B) Radiation.
C) Advection.
D) Evaporation.

Answer 26

C) Advection.

Question 27

Which of the following types of fog forms as a result of raising the dewpoint up to the outside air temperature?

A) Steam fog, Arctic Sea Smoke, and Frontal Fog.
B) Steam Fog, Arctic Sea Smoke, and Upslope Fog.
C) Steam Fog and Advection Fog.
D) Arctic Sea Smoke and Upslope Fog.

Answer 27

A) Steam fog, Arctic Sea Smoke, and Frontal Fog.

Question 28

Steam fog forms when:

A) Warm moist air moves over a cooler surface.
B) A strong wind blows moist, cool air towards the land during winter.
C) Moist air is cooled expansionally.
D) Water evaporates into very cold air in contact with it.

Answer 28

D) Water evaporates into very cold air in contact with it.

Question 29

When very cold, dry air drifts across the relatively warm waters of lakes, streams or marsh surfaces during cold autumn mornings, you would expect the formation of:

A) Radiation fog.
B) Stratocumulus cloud.
C) Ice fog.
D) Steam fog.

Answer 29

D) Steam fog.

Question 30

Both steam fog and radiation fog require which of the following for their formation?

A) Cold, moist air moving horizontally over a cold surface.
B) Condensation nuclei.
C) Expansional cooling.
D) Contact with a surface that is undergoing radiational cooling.

Answer 30

B) Condensation nuclei.