American Meteorological Society Certification Weather Forecasting and Applied Meteorology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the Global Forecast System (GFS) and who operates it?
- A European global NWP model operated by ECMWF
- A global NWP model operated by NOAA/NWS for weather prediction out to 16 days (Correct answer)
- A seasonal forecast model operated by NASA
- A high-resolution US regional model
Correct answer: A global NWP model operated by NOAA/NWS for weather prediction out to 16 days
The GFS is NOAA's operational global NWP model, producing forecast guidance out to 16 days at ~13 km horizontal resolution.
Question 2: Aviation weather forecasts use which product to describe expected conditions at an airport over 24–30 hours?
- METAR
- TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast) (Correct answer)
- SIGMET
- PIREP
Correct answer: TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast)
A TAF is a standardized aviation forecast for conditions within 5 statute miles of an airport, valid for 24–30 hours.
Question 3: A SIGMET (Significant Meteorological Information) advises pilots of what?
- Routine weather along a route
- Hazardous meteorological conditions affecting aircraft safety (severe turbulence, icing, volcanic ash) (Correct answer)
- Surface wind forecasts at airports
- Precipitation probability along a route
Correct answer: Hazardous meteorological conditions affecting aircraft safety (severe turbulence, icing, volcanic ash)
SIGMETs are urgent weather advisories warning pilots of non-convective hazards including severe turbulence, severe icing, volcanic ash, and tropical cyclones.
Question 4: What is a Weather Watch vs. Warning distinction in NWS severe weather products?
- They are interchangeable terms
- A Watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather; a Warning means severe weather is occurring or imminent (Correct answer)
- A Watch means severe weather is occurring; a Warning is the forecast outlook
- Watches are county-based; warnings are state-based
Correct answer: A Watch means conditions are favorable for severe weather; a Warning means severe weather is occurring or imminent
NWS Watches indicate conditions are favorable for severe weather development, while Warnings indicate severe weather is imminent or occurring.
Question 5: Fire Weather forecasting focuses on what combination of variables?
- Cloud cover and precipitation only
- Wind speed, relative humidity, temperature, and fuel moisture for wildfire risk (Correct answer)
- Temperature and dew point only
- Upper-level jet stream and 500 hPa heights
Correct answer: Wind speed, relative humidity, temperature, and fuel moisture for wildfire risk
Fire weather forecasting integrates wind, relative humidity, temperature, and fuel moisture to assess wildfire ignition and spread potential.
Question 6: What is the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale used to classify?
- Tropical storm intensity by central pressure
- Hurricane intensity by maximum sustained wind speed (Categories 1–5) (Correct answer)
- Storm surge height
- Overall storm destructive potential including rainfall
Correct answer: Hurricane intensity by maximum sustained wind speed (Categories 1–5)
The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies hurricane intensity into five categories based solely on maximum sustained wind speed.
American Meteorological Society Certification Weather Forecasting and Applied Meteorology 2
What is the Global Forecast System (GFS) and who operates it?