Multiple Choice Quiz

Choose the best answer.

1		Why is knowledge of local effects so important to weather forecasters?
			A)	It provides additional guidance with which to make an accurate forecast.
			B)	It's the only information about the weather available to forecasters.
			C)	It tells exactly what the weather will be without the use of other data.
			D)	Knowledge of local effects is of no benefit to forecasters whatsoever.
2		While trend forecasting (extrapolation) works fairly well in the short term, why does it become less useful for longer forecast periods?
			A)	Meteorologists are particularly bad at arithmetic.
			B)	Numerical weather prediction models are generally less accurate at longer forecast times.
			C)	Weather systems do not often remain at constant speeds or development rates.
			D)	Persistence works better for long-term forecasts.
3		Why must short-term changes in the barometric pressure be used with caution?
			A)	Pressure falls are often indicative of improving weather conditions.
			B)	Pressure undergoes a cycle of rises and falls every 12 hours or so.
			C)	Pressure rises are often indicative of approaching stormy weather.
			D)	A and B are correct.
4		Why is it misleading to refer to the jet stream's 'steering' of surface cyclones?
			A)	Areas of convergence and divergence associated with the jet stream change the surface pressure pattern.
			B)	It is actually the mid-level flow (not the jet stream) that steers surface cyclones.
			C)	Jet-stream 'steering' of surface cyclones works best for short-term forecasts.
			D)	None of the above.
5		If tomorrow's 8 am temperature is forecast to be 42°F, and tomorrow's 6 pm temperature is forecast to be 60°F, what would be the best estimate of tomorrow's 1 pm temperature (using interpolation)?
			A)	44°F.
			B)	32°F.
			C)	58°F.
			D)	50°F.
6		Why are surface and upper-air weather data plotted on maps?
			A)	To give novice meteorologists something to do, keeping them out of the way.
			B)	To determine the areal extent of weather systems, and to correlate them to features observed from radar and satellite imagery.
			C)	To track the progress of major weather systems, such as fronts and cyclones.
			D)	A and B are correct.
			E)	B and C are correct.
7		Meteorologists may be hired to perform the following jobs:
			A)	Create detailed short-term forecasts for military operations.
			B)	Create numerical models to simulate the transport and diffusion of pollutants.
			C)	Assess short- and long-term weather cycles to determine commodities futures.
			D)	All of the above.
			E)	Meteorologists would do none of these things.
8		The low temperature for Rochester, NY on March 22, 2003 is 28°F, based on the normal low temperature for this date at this location. What forecast method was used to arrive at this forecast?
			A)	Persistence.
			B)	Climatology.
			C)	Weather types.
			D)	Extrapolation.
			E)	Trend forecasting.
9		Why should a meteorologist check past and present weather observations before making a forecast for a specific location?
			A)	To determine whether any weather trends are detectable.
			B)	To determine whether any major air mass changes have occurred.
			C)	To determine whether the numerical weather prediction models have been accurate.
			D)	All of the above.
			E)	Past weather conditions do not matter, since it's the future we're interested in.
10		Which of the following statements is false?
			A)	Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models typically make forecasts by solving primitive equations.
			B)	NWP models make forecasts from initial weather conditions.
			C)	Model output statistics (MOS) are always accurate.
			D)	A good meteorologist makes use of numerous NWP models when making a forecast, rather than just one.