Weather Forecasting and Applied 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 Weather Forecasting and Applied Meteorology flashcards as text
What is Rapid Intensification (RI) of a tropical cyclone defined as?
Answer: An increase of at least 35 mph in maximum sustained winds within 24 hours
The NHC defines Rapid Intensification as an increase of at least 35 knots (~40 mph) in maximum sustained winds within 24 hours.
What is the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) and how does it affect US weather?
Answer: An eastward-propagating pattern of enhanced and suppressed tropical convection on 30–90 day timescales that modulates global weather
The MJO is an intraseasonal oscillation that modulates tropical rainfall and teleconnects to affect precipitation patterns, temperatures, and severe weather across the US.
In hydrological forecasting, what is the Flash Flood Guidance (FFG) product?
Answer: The amount of rainfall needed over a specific duration to initiate flash flooding in a given area
FFG represents the rainfall amount required over a specified duration (1, 3, 6 hours) to cause small stream flooding in a given hydrologic area.
What is the purpose of the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in the US?
Answer: Issuing outlooks, watches, and mesoscale discussions for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and winter storms
The SPC (Norman, OK) issues convective outlooks from day 1–8, tornado and severe thunderstorm watches, and mesoscale discussions for the contiguous US.
What does the term 'forecast bust' mean in operational meteorology?
Answer: A significant failure of a forecast, where the predicted weather did not materialize as expected
A forecast bust occurs when the issued forecast significantly diverges from actual conditions, representing a major forecaster or model failure.
What is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and how does it affect US winter weather?
Answer: A coupled ocean-atmosphere oscillation that modulates global climate; El Niño typically brings wetter conditions to southern US and drier/warmer to the north
ENSO alternates between El Niño (warm Pacific SSTs) and La Niña (cool SSTs), creating significant teleconnections that shift storm tracks and temperature patterns across the US.