Question 1

A probability forecast that calls for a "40 percent chance of rain" means that ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  there is a 40 percent chance that it will not rain within the forecast area 
B)  there is a 40 percent chance that any random place in the forecast area will receive measurable rainfall 
C)  it will rain on 40 percent of the forecast area 
D)  it will rain 40 percent of the time over the forecast area

Question 2

Suppose that where you live the middle of January is typically several degrees warmer than the rest of the month. If you forecast this "January thaw" for the middle of next January, you would have made a ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  climatological forecast 
B)  persistence forecast 
C)  forecast based on weather types 
D)  statistical forecast

Question 3

High pressure systems tend to move toward the region of greatest ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  barometric pressure 
B)  surface pressure rise 
C)  surface pressure drop 
D)  visibility

Question 4

Exhibit 9-1  The following questions refer to the above illustration of a mid-latitude cyclone (the dashed lines show the positions of the fronts 6 hours ago). Consider the accompanying figure. At which of the four positions would you expect to hear the following 12-hour forecast?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4

Question 5

Predicting the weather by weather types employs which forecasting method?

Accepted Answer

A)  probability 
B)  steady-state 
C)  analogue 
D)  persistence

Question 6

Weather observations made by most countries of the world are shared and distributed globally by international agencies.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Smaller grid spacing ____ the resolution of computer forecasting models.

Accepted Answer

A)  can decrease 
B)  does not change 
C)  can increase 
D)  can vary

Question 8

Geographical features on the earth such as mountain ranges do not have much effect on the weather because the features are small compared to the thickness of the atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

A persistence forecast could be quite accurate when ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  a frontal system approaches your location at constant speed 
B)  you are positioned in the middle of a large, stationary air mass 
C)  the weather has been unusually cold for several days 
D)  upper level winds blow straight from west to east

Question 10

Exhibit 9-1  The following questions refer to the above illustration of a mid-latitude cyclone (the dashed lines show the positions of the fronts 6 hours ago). Consider the accompanying figure. At which of the four positions would you expect to hear the following 12-hour forecast?

Accepted Answer

A)  1 
B)  2 
C)  3 
D)  4

Question 11

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. A WATCH | WARNING indicates that hazardous weather is either imminent or actually occurring within the specified forecast area.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair...

Question 12

Under what circumstances would the National Weather Service issue a tornado watch?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under what circumstances would the National Weather...

Question 13

For a forecast to show ____, it should be better than one based solely on the current or the "normal" weather.

Accepted Answer

A)  skill 
B)  accuracy 
C)  chaos 
D)  persistence

Question 14

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. A METEOGRAM | SOUNDING is a two-dimensional vertical profile of temperature, dew point, and winds.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair...

Question 15

A high pressure system that tends to persist in the same geographic location for many days is referred to as a ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  static high 
B)  stationary high 
C)  blocking high 
D)  stable high

Question 16

A weather forecast that predicts that future weather will be the same as present weather is called ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  a steady-state forecast 
B)  the trend method 
C)  a persistence forecast 
D)  the analogue method

Question 17

Forecast models have a hard time predicting ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  temperature 
B)  jet stream patterns 
C)  precipitation 
D)  surface pressure

Question 18

Most computer models produce forecasts for only one grid point.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Surface pressure systems tend to move in the same direction as the wind at 5500 m and at about THE SAME | HALF the speed.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair...

Question 20

The least accurate forecast method of predicting the weather two days into the future during changeable weather conditions is usually the ____.

Accepted Answer

A)  trend method 
B)  persistence forecast 
C)  analogue method 
D)  probability forecast

Exam 9: Weather Forecasting

A probability forecast that calls for a "40 percent chance of rain" means that ____.

Suppose that where you live the middle of January is typically several degrees warmer than the rest of the month. If you forecast this "January thaw" for the middle of next January, you would have made a ____.

High pressure systems tend to move toward the region of greatest ____.

Exhibit 9-1 The following questions refer to the above illustration of a mid-latitude cyclone (the dashed lines show the positions of the fronts 6 hours ago) . Consider the accompanying figure. At which of the four positions would you expect to hear the following 12-hour forecast?

Predicting the weather by weather types employs which forecasting method?

Weather observations made by most countries of the world are shared and distributed globally by international agencies.

Smaller grid spacing ____ the resolution of computer forecasting models.

Geographical features on the earth such as mountain ranges do not have much effect on the weather because the features are small compared to the thickness of the atmosphere.

A persistence forecast could be quite accurate when ____.

Exhibit 9-1 The following questions refer to the above illustration of a mid-latitude cyclone (the dashed lines show the positions of the fronts 6 hours ago) . Consider the accompanying figure. At which of the four positions would you expect to hear the following 12-hour forecast?

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. A WATCH | WARNING indicates that hazardous weather is either imminent or actually occurring within the specified forecast area.

Under what circumstances would the National Weather Service issue a tornado watch?

For a forecast to show ____, it should be better than one based solely on the current or the "normal" weather.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. A METEOGRAM | SOUNDING is a two-dimensional vertical profile of temperature, dew point, and winds.

A high pressure system that tends to persist in the same geographic location for many days is referred to as a ____.

A weather forecast that predicts that future weather will be the same as present weather is called ____.

Forecast models have a hard time predicting ____.

Most computer models produce forecasts for only one grid point.

Instructions: Choose one answer from each pair of selections. Surface pressure systems tend to move in the same direction as the wind at 5500 m and at about THE SAME | HALF the speed.

The least accurate forecast method of predicting the weather two days into the future during changeable weather conditions is usually the ____.