American Meteorological Society Certification Synoptic Meteorology 2

Question 1

What does a negatively tilted trough indicate on upper-level charts?

Accepted Answer

Amplifying system and enhanced severe weather potential

Answer

Weakening system and subsidence

Answer

Tropical moisture surge

Answer

High-pressure building

Question 2

Which layer in the atmosphere separates the troposphere from the stratosphere?

Accepted Answer

Tropopause

Answer

Mesopause

Answer

Stratopause

Answer

Thermopause

Question 3

In synoptic analysis, what does 'vorticity advection' describe?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal transport of spin by the wind

Answer

Vertical transport of heat

Answer

Moisture flux convergence

Answer

Surface pressure tendency

Question 4

What meteorological tool provides vertical profiles of temperature, humidity, and wind at a specific location?

Accepted Answer

Radiosonde sounding

Answer

Surface ASOS station

Answer

Radar reflectivity

Answer

Satellite IR imagery

Question 5

The 850 hPa temperature field is commonly used to diagnose what in winter forecasting?

Accepted Answer

Precipitation type (rain vs. snow boundary)

Answer

Jet stream position

Answer

Tropopause height

Answer

Stratospheric intrusions

Question 6

A Rex block pattern in the upper atmosphere consists of what configuration?

Accepted Answer

A high to the north with a low to the south blocking zonal flow

Answer

Two troughs of equal amplitude

Answer

A split jet stream with equal branches

Answer

An omega block at 500 hPa