American Meteorological Society Certification Mesoscale Meteorology

Question 1

What type of mesoscale convective system organizes into a line of thunderstorms?

Accepted Answer

Squall line

Answer

Supercell

Answer

Mesoscale convective complex (MCC)

Answer

Air mass thunderstorm

Question 2

A supercell thunderstorm is distinguished by what primary feature?

Accepted Answer

A persistent, deep rotating updraft (mesocyclone)

Answer

Weak rotation and shallow depth

Answer

Multicell cluster organization

Answer

Very slow movement

Question 3

What is a Mesoscale Convective Complex (MCC)?

Accepted Answer

A large, long-lived organized convective system with a circular cold cloud shield

Answer

A single large supercell thunderstorm

Answer

A cluster of sea breeze cells

Answer

A winter storm with embedded convection

Question 4

Sea and land breezes are primarily driven by what mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Differential heating between land and water surfaces

Answer

Upper-level divergence

Answer

Coriolis force at the coast

Answer

Orographic lifting

Question 5

What radar feature indicates a strong rotating updraft in a supercell?

Accepted Answer

Mesocyclone signature (Doppler couplet)

Answer

Bright band

Answer

BWER (Bounded Weak Echo Region)

Answer

Bow echo

Question 6

What is a derecho?

Accepted Answer

A widespread, long-lived wind storm produced by a fast-moving convective system

Answer

A tropical squall system

Answer

A type of cold front

Answer

A severe thunderstorm limited to one county