American Meteorological Society Certification Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Observation

Question 1

What does radar reflectivity (dBZ) measure in meteorological applications?

Accepted Answer

Intensity of precipitation by measuring returned energy from hydrometeors

Answer

Wind speed and direction

Answer

Cloud top temperature

Answer

Atmospheric pressure

Question 2

What does Doppler radar velocity data measure that standard reflectivity cannot?

Accepted Answer

Radial wind velocity (toward or away from the radar)

Answer

Precipitation type

Answer

Cloud thickness

Answer

Lightning frequency

Question 3

What is the purpose of dual-polarization radar technology?

Accepted Answer

Distinguish precipitation types (rain, snow, hail, graupel) and improve QPE

Answer

Increase radar range

Answer

Reduce ground clutter

Answer

Measure upper-level winds

Question 4

Geostationary satellites like GOES remain fixed over one location because they orbit at what altitude?

Accepted Answer

35,786 km (geosynchronous orbit)

Answer

800 km

Answer

1,000 km

Answer

22,000 km

Question 5

Infrared (IR) satellite imagery detects what property to infer cloud heights?

Accepted Answer

Cloud top temperature (colder = higher)

Answer

Cloud albedo (reflectivity)

Answer

Cloud thickness

Answer

Cloud water content

Question 6

Water vapor satellite imagery detects radiation in what spectral band?

Accepted Answer

Water vapor absorption band (~6.2–7.3 μm)

Answer

Visible light (~0.5 μm)

Answer

Near-infrared (~1.6 μm)

Answer

Thermal window (~10.7 μm)