Mesoscale Meteorology Flashcards
6 cards from real AMS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Mesoscale Meteorology flashcards as text
A bow echo on Doppler radar is associated with what type of hazard?
Answer: Damaging straight-line winds and bookend vortices
Bow echoes are bow-shaped radar reflectivity features associated with strong rear-inflow jets and damaging straight-line winds.
What causes the hook echo feature on radar associated with supercell thunderstorms?
Answer: Rotation in the storm drawing precipitation around the mesocyclone
The hook echo forms when the supercell's rotating updraft wraps precipitation around the mesocyclone, creating the distinctive hook shape.
Mountain waves and associated turbulence are detected most effectively with which tool?
Answer: Pilot Reports (PIREPs) and upper-air wind analysis
PIREPs from aircraft combined with upper-air wind profiles are essential for identifying and forecasting mountain wave turbulence.
An outflow boundary is a mesoscale boundary created by what?
Answer: The spreading cool downdraft air from convective storms
Outflow boundaries form at the leading edge of cold pool air from thunderstorm downdrafts and can trigger new convection.
What is wind shear's primary role in supercell thunderstorm formation?
Answer: It tilts the updraft, separating it from the downdraft and allowing rotation
Wind shear tilts the updraft away from the downdraft, preventing the storm from choking itself and promoting sustained, rotating convection.
What is a Mesoscale Convective System (MCS)?
Answer: A complex of thunderstorms organized on the mesoscale with a contiguous precipitation area
An MCS is a complex of convective storms that forms a large, contiguous precipitation area organized on the mesoscale (100–2000 km).