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

Radar reflectivity (dBZ) measures the intensity of returned microwave energy from precipitation particles, indicating rainfall or snowfall rates.

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

Doppler radar measures the phase shift of returned radar pulses to determine the radial velocity of precipitation moving toward or away from the radar.

Question 3

What is the purpose of dual-polarization radar technology?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Dual-polarization radar transmits both horizontal and vertical pulses, allowing discrimination of hydrometeor types and improving quantitative precipitation estimates.

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

Geostationary satellites orbit at ~35,786 km where orbital period equals Earth's rotation, keeping them stationary relative to the surface.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

Cloud top temperature (colder = higher)

Answer

IR satellite detects emitted thermal radiation; since temperature decreases with altitude, colder cloud tops appear brighter and indicate higher clouds.

American Meteorological Society Certification Practice Test

American Meteorological Society Certification Practice Test

American Meteorological Society Certification Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Observation