SAN FRANCISCO STATE
UNIVERSITY
Metr 356.01
Fall 2004 MIDTERM #1
200 pts
Part I. Surface Chart
Interpretation.
Figure 1. Surface Chart
for 1600Z 24 September 2003
1. Pressure System A on the chart is a
(a) an
anticyclone.
(b)
a low
pressure area.
(c) a
cyclone.
(d) a ridge.
(e) (b)
and (c).
2. Pressure System B on the chart is a
(a) an
anticyclone.
(b)
a low
pressure area.
(c) a
cyclone.
(d) a ridge.
(e) (b)
and (c).
3. Station 4 (see above) is reporting
(a) a
thunderstorm
(b) heavy
continuous rain
(c) moderate
fog.
(d)
heavy
continuous snow.
(e) haze.
(a) Station
1
(b) Station
2
(c) Station
3
(d)
Station 4
(e) Stations
1, 2 and 3.
5.
The station(s) with the lowest relative humidity
(a) Station
1
(b) Station
2
(c) Station
3
(d) Station 4
(e) Stations
1, 2 and 3.
6. The pressure at Station 2 is
(a)
932.0
mb
(b) 1093.2
mb
(c) 29.32 mb
(d) 93.20
mb
(e) 993.2 mb
7. The FRONT shown on the weather map is
probably
(a) a
stationary front
(b) a cold front
(c) a
warm front
(d) an
occluded front
(e)
the dry line
Part II. Satellite and Radar
Interpretation. Refer to Figs. 2
and 3.
Fig. 2. Infrared Satellite Image, 04 UTC 6 Sep 1998
Fig. 3. Radar Reflectivvity, 0348 UTC 6 Sep
1998
8. Fig. 2 shows areas of precipitation.
(a) T
(b) F
9. Fig. 3 shows areas of cloudiness.
(a) T
(b) F
10. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in combination would
suggest to meteorologists that the dominant cloud form over
CaliforniaÕs Sierra Nevada
(a) is
stratus.
(b) is
fog.
(c) is cumulonimbus.
(d)
is cirrus
spissatus.
(e) is
stratocumulus.
11. The radar network in the United States
has somewhat limited utility in California because
(a) severe
thunderstorms do not occur in California
(b) the
radars in the California are offline at night.
(c) stratus
is the most observed cloud type in California.
(d) the
mountainous areas of the state
block the transmission of radar emissions (and reflections back).
(e) there
are few radar sites in California.
Part
III. Visible Satellite. Refer to Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Visible Satellite Image, 1845 UTC, 12 August 1997
12. In Pacific Daylight Time, the date and
time for Fig. 4 are
(a) 1045
AM, 11 August 1997
(b) 1145 AM, 12 August 1997
(c) 1045
AM, 12 August 1997
(d) 645 PM, 12
August 1997
(e) 1145
PM, 11 August 1997
13. Examination of the satellite image
suggests that fog is the dominant cloud form appearing along the
coast (rather than, say,
cumulonimbus)
(a) because
cumulonimbus does not often occur along the coast.
(b) because the cloudiness appears to outlining
the coastline, indicating that it is a low cloud form restricted to the coastal
sections by the topography.
(c) because
stratus is the most observed cloud type in California.
(d) because
the dewpoint temperatures are high.
(e) because
there are few radar sites in California.
14. Fog appears to be moving inland over
the central section of the Bay Area
(a) because
upwelling is occuring there.
(b) because Mt Diablo is drawing the fog inland
there.
(c) because
San Francisco is heating up and drawing the fog inland.
(d) because
that is in the region of the Coast Range broken by the Golden Gate.
(e) because
the dewpoint temperatures are the highest there.
15. The Santa Cruz Mountains are located
roughly at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D.
(e) E
16. Mt. Tamalpais is located
roughly at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D.
(e) E
17. Mt. Diablo is located
roughly at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D.
(e) E
Part IV.
More on Advection Fog.
Questions 18 to 22 refer to Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Schematic Section Across Coastline During Typical Summer Afternoon
18. Advection is occuring at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D.
(e) E
19. A high pressure area is located
at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) E
20. A low pressure area is located at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) E
21. Upwelling is occurring at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) E
22. Air is being cooled to the
dewpoint at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(e) E
Questions 23 through 27
Refer to Figure 6, below.
Fig 6. Sea-surface Temperature Analysis Centering on 10/10/01
23. The lines drawn on Figure 6 are
(a) isobars
of sea surface temperature.
(b) contours of sea elevation
(c) isotherms
of sea surface temperature.
(d) streamlines.
(e) radar
depiction contours.
24. Upwelling is occuring at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
25. The coldest ocean temperatures
are occurring roughly at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
26. Water rising from the ocean
bottom would emerge at the surface roughly at
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D
(a) partially due to
upwelling and partially due to the presence of the California Current
(b)
partially due to upwelling and partially due to the presence of the Kuroshio
Current
(c) partially
due to upwelling and partially due to the presence of the Humbolt Current
(d) partially
due to downwelling and partially due to the presence of the California Current
Fig.
7, Mean Sealevel Pressure Map for
July (larger version at back of exam)
27. Note the locations A, B and
C. Of these locations, one
records a wind speed of 15 knots, one a
wind speed of 30 knots and the other a
wind speed of 20 knots. Which is
recording 30 knots?
(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
29. Note the locations A, B and
C. Of these locations, one
records a wind speed of 15 knots, one a
wind speed of 30 knots and the other a
wind speed of 20 knots. Which is
reporting 15 knots?
(a) A
(b) B
30. Note the locations A, B and
C. Of these locations, one
records a wind speed of 15 knots, one a wind speed of 30 knots and the other a
wind speed of 20 knots. Which is
reporting 20 knots?
(a) A
(b) B
31. Note the locations A, B and C. Of these locations, one records a
southwest wind, one records a
northwest wind and one
records a southeast wind., Which is reporting a southeast wind.?
(a) A
(b) B
32. Note the locations A, B and
C. Of these locations, one
records a southwest wind, one records a
northwest wind and one
records a southeast wind., Which is reporting a southwest wind.?
(a) A
(b) B
33. Note the locations A, B and
C. Of these locations, one
records a southwest wind, one records a
northwest wind and one
records a southeast wind., Which is reporting a northwest wind.?
(a) A
(b) B
34. At location A, the correct wind
plot would be
(a)
(b)
35. At location B, the correct wind
plot would be
(a) 
(b)
36. At location C, the correct wind
plot would be
(a)
(b)
(c)
37. High 1 is the
(a) California
High
(b) Atlantic High
(c) Humboldt
High
(d) Pacific
High
38. Low 1 is partially responsible for a
monsoonal pattern over North America during the summer.
(a) True
39. Low 1 is the
(a) Monsoon
Low
(b) North American Thermal Low
(c) Gulf
of Alaska Low
(d) Aleutian
Low
40. The dew point temperature is used by
meteorologists in many ways. Which
of the following is NOT one
of those ways?
(a) The
dew point temperatures can be used as a rough indication of how much water
vapor is present.
(b) The
difference between the actual temperature and the dew point temperature is
related to the relative humidity.
(c) Meteorologists
can use the dew point temperature to determine how much cooling is needed to
produce clouds at the observation site..
(d) Meteorologists
use the dew point temperature to assess the strength of cyclones.
(e) The
surface dew point temperature can be used as a very rough indicator of how
prone the atmosphere is for thunderstorm formation.
41. When the temperature is cooled to the
dew point temperature at the ground
(a) condensation
begins, often evidenced by the formation of fog.
(b) there
is much water vapor in the air.
(c) strong
winds develop.
(d) evaporation
begins.
(e) rain
occurs.
Part VII. Convective Outlook
42.
Figure 8 is the Convective Outlook for 9/25/01. The outer arrow (normally colored brown or orange) encompasses
a. the region that has a 10%
probability that strong and
violent tornadoes will be observed within 25 miles of a given location.
b. the portion of the United States
expected to experience general thunderstorms.
c. the portion of the United States
expected to experience tornadoes.
d. the region in which severe
downbursts are sure to occur.
e. the portion of the United States
expected to have a high risk for severe thunderstorms.
43.
Figure 8 is the Convective Outlook for 9/25/01. The inner arrow (colored red)
encompasses
a. the region that has a 10%
probability that strong and
violent tornadoes will be observed within 25 miles of a given location.
b. the portion of the United States
expected to experience general thunderstorms.
c. the portion of the United States
expected to experience tornadoes.
d. the region in which severe
downbursts are sure to occur.
e. the
portion of the United States expected to have a high risk for severe
thunderstorms.
44. San FranciscoÕs latitude is most
nearly
(a) 30N
(b) 38N
(c) 45N
(d) 50N
45. CaliforniaÕs precipitation
pattern is strongly influenced by topography.
(a) T
(b) F
46. San FranciscoÕs normal annual
rainfall is most nearly
(a) 42
inches
(b) 32 inches
(c) 22
inches
(d) 12
inches
(e) 2
inches
47. San FranciscoÕs longitude is most
nearly
(a) 90W
(b) 10W
(c) 100W
(d) 123W
(e) 150W
48. The Meditrerranean Climate is
found in roughly the same range of latitudes on the West Coast of
continents in both the Northern
and Southern Hemisphere.
(a) T
(b) F
49. Eureka is in what region of California
(a) the
Sierra Nevada
(b) the North Coast
(c) near Lake
Tahoe
(d) the
Central Coast
(e) just
north of Santa Barbara
50. Normal annual rainfall is defined
as
(a) the
rainfall that should be expected each year.
(b) the rainfall that would occur only in a
typical years and not other years.
(c) the average
rainfall for the entire period of record.
(d) the
rainfall that occurs normally in December, January, February.
(e) defined
as the average rainfall for the thirty years ending the last even decade.
