American Meteorological Society Certification Synoptic Meteorology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of front forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front?
- Stationary front
- Occluded front (Correct answer)
- Dryline
- Backdoor front
Correct answer: Occluded front
An occluded front forms when the faster-moving cold front catches and lifts the warm front off the surface.
Question 2: On a surface weather map, isobars that are closely spaced indicate what?
- Weak pressure gradient and calm winds
- Strong pressure gradient and strong winds (Correct answer)
- High humidity
- Stable air
Correct answer: Strong pressure gradient and strong winds
Closely spaced isobars indicate a steep pressure gradient, which drives stronger winds.
Question 3: What is the Bergen School cyclone model?
- A tropical cyclone intensification theory
- The Norwegian model describing extratropical cyclone life cycle (Correct answer)
- A forecasting algorithm for winter storms
- A mesoscale convective system model
Correct answer: The Norwegian model describing extratropical cyclone life cycle
The Norwegian (Bergen School) cyclone model describes how extratropical cyclones develop, mature, and occlude.
Question 4: Which surface feature is commonly found along the boundary between dry continental and moist Gulf of Mexico air in the US?
- Cold front
- Warm front
- Dryline (Correct answer)
- Occluded front
Correct answer: Dryline
The dryline is a moisture boundary common over the US Great Plains, separating moist Gulf air from dry continental air.
Question 5: 500 hPa height charts are used primarily to analyze what?
- Surface wind patterns
- Mid-tropospheric steering flow and troughs/ridges (Correct answer)
- Precipitation type
- Boundary layer humidity
Correct answer: Mid-tropospheric steering flow and troughs/ridges
500 hPa charts depict mid-tropospheric flow, showing troughs, ridges, and the steering layer for weather systems.
Question 6: What is a cutoff low?
- A surface low with no associated precipitation
- An upper-level low that has separated from the main westerly flow (Correct answer)
- A shallow low formed by surface heating
- A low-pressure system over the ocean only
Correct answer: An upper-level low that has separated from the main westerly flow
A cutoff low is an isolated upper-level low pressure center that has detached from the main jet stream flow.
American Meteorological Society Certification Synoptic Meteorology 1
What type of front forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front?