USCG Meteorology and Weather 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a rapidly falling barometer (more than 0.06 inches per hour) typically indicate?
- Improving weather conditions
- An approaching storm or severe weather (Correct answer)
- Fog formation
- High pressure system arrival
Correct answer: An approaching storm or severe weather
A rapid barometric pressure drop indicates an approaching low-pressure system, which typically brings deteriorating weather and strong winds.
Question 2: A wind rotating counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere is associated with which type of pressure system?
- High pressure (anticyclone)
- Low pressure (cyclone) (Correct answer)
- A stationary front
- A sea breeze
Correct answer: Low pressure (cyclone)
In the Northern Hemisphere, winds rotate counterclockwise around a low-pressure (cyclonic) system due to the Coriolis effect.
Question 3: What type of fog forms when warm moist air moves over colder water?
- Radiation fog
- Advection fog (Correct answer)
- Steam fog
- Upslope fog
Correct answer: Advection fog
Advection fog forms when warm, moist air is transported over a cooler sea surface, cooling the air to its dew point and causing condensation.
Question 4: The Beaufort Scale is used to measure what?
- Barometric pressure
- Sea wave height
- Wind force and speed (Correct answer)
- Visibility distance
Correct answer: Wind force and speed
The Beaufort Scale is a numerical scale from 0 to 12 used to describe wind force and its effects on the sea surface.
Question 5: What is a 'small craft advisory' issued for?
- Winds 15–33 knots or seas 5–7 feet (Correct answer)
- Winds 34–47 knots or seas 8–12 feet
- Winds above 64 knots
- Winds below 10 knots
Correct answer: Winds 15–33 knots or seas 5–7 feet
The National Weather Service issues a small craft advisory when winds are forecast between 15 and 33 knots or seas are 5 to 7 feet, posing hazards to small vessels.
Question 6: What weather phenomenon is indicated by a halo around the sun or moon?
- Fog approaching within 12 hours
- Precipitation likely within 24–48 hours (Correct answer)
- A high pressure system building
- Clear skies for 48 hours
Correct answer: Precipitation likely within 24–48 hours
A halo around the sun or moon is caused by ice crystals in cirrus clouds, which often precede a warm front and indicate rain within 24–48 hours.
USCG Meteorology and Weather 1
What does a rapidly falling barometer (more than 0.06 inches per hour) typically indicate?