USCG Meteorology and Weather 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A tropical cyclone in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific with sustained winds of 74 mph or greater is classified as?
- A tropical depression
- A tropical storm
- A hurricane (Correct answer)
- A typhoon
Correct answer: A hurricane
A tropical cyclone in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific is called a hurricane when sustained winds reach 74 mph (64 knots) or greater.
Question 2: What is the 'dangerous semicircle' of a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere?
- The left side of the storm's path
- The rear quadrant
- The right side of the storm's path (Correct answer)
- The eye wall region
Correct answer: The right side of the storm's path
The right semicircle of a Northern Hemisphere hurricane is considered dangerous because storm winds add to the forward speed of the storm, increasing wave heights and surge.
Question 3: What does GMDSS weather broadcast format NAVTEX provide to mariners?
- Real-time radar imagery
- Printed text weather forecasts and navigational warnings (Correct answer)
- Voice weather broadcasts
- Satellite cloud imagery
Correct answer: Printed text weather forecasts and navigational warnings
NAVTEX broadcasts meteorological warnings, navigational warnings, and search-and-rescue information as printed text via a dedicated 518 kHz frequency.
Question 4: Sea fog most commonly forms when?
- Air temperature is much higher than sea surface temperature
- Air and sea temperatures are nearly equal and humidity is high (Correct answer)
- Strong winds mix warm and cold air layers
- Barometric pressure is falling rapidly
Correct answer: Air and sea temperatures are nearly equal and humidity is high
Sea fog forms when warm, humid air is chilled to its dew point upon contact with a cooler sea surface, which most often occurs when air and sea temperatures are close.
Question 5: What is a 'gale warning' issued for?
- Winds 20–33 knots
- Winds 34–47 knots (Correct answer)
- Winds 48–63 knots
- Winds 64 knots and above
Correct answer: Winds 34–47 knots
The National Weather Service issues a gale warning when sustained winds of 34 to 47 knots are expected in marine areas.
Question 6: Which cloud type is associated with thunderstorms and severe weather?
- Cirrus
- Stratus
- Cumulonimbus (Correct answer)
- Altostratus
Correct answer: Cumulonimbus
Cumulonimbus clouds are towering convective clouds that produce thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, lightning, and sometimes tornadoes.
USCG Meteorology and Weather 2
A tropical cyclone in the Atlantic or eastern Pacific with sustained winds of 74 mph or greater is classified as?