Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Observation 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 Remote Sensing and Atmospheric Observation flashcards as text
What is the purpose of ASOS (Automated Surface Observing System) stations in the US?
Answer: Automated surface weather observations for aviation and public use
ASOS stations provide automated, continuous surface weather observations including temperature, dew point, wind, visibility, and present weather.
What atmospheric quantity does a rawinsonde measure in addition to temperature and humidity?
Answer: Wind speed and direction throughout the vertical profile
A rawinsonde is a radiosonde tracked by GPS or radar to also provide a complete vertical wind profile through the atmosphere.
The WSR-88D radar network in the United States is also known by what acronym?
Answer: NEXRAD
The WSR-88D network is known as NEXRAD (Next Generation Weather Radar), the backbone of operational weather surveillance in the US.
Ground-based microwave radiometers in meteorology are used primarily for what purpose?
Answer: Profiling temperature and humidity through the lower troposphere continuously
Microwave radiometers passively detect thermal emissions from atmospheric oxygen and water vapor to retrieve continuous temperature and humidity profiles.
What does the Velocity Azimuth Display (VAD) technique provide from Doppler radar data?
Answer: Vertical wind profiles at the radar site
The VAD technique uses a full 360° radar scan at constant elevation to derive mean wind speed and direction as a function of altitude.
What is the Bright Band in radar meteorology?
Answer: An enhanced reflectivity layer near the melting level where snowflakes partially melt
The bright band is an elevated layer of high radar reflectivity caused by partially melted snowflakes presenting a larger effective radar cross-section.