Download Chapter 1-3: Weather Forecasting A. Define, Describe, or Identify: 1

Chapter 1-3: Weather Forecasting
A. Define, Describe, or Identify:
1. Weather Forecasting -
2. NWS -
3. Raob -
4. Rawin -
5. Solar Observation Network -
6. TIROS -
7. ASOS Program -
8. Flight Service Station (FSS) -
9. PATWAS -
10. Surface Analysis Charts (SA) -
B. Fill in the Blank:
Using the words listed below, fill in the blank with the word or words necessary to
complete the statement. Each word may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
PIBALS
AFWA
meteorology
oceans
synoptic
sunsynchronous
satellite
radar
reports
Sun
ASOS
computer
military
maps
civilian
GOES
weather
forecaster
1. The Air Force Weather Agency is the largest of the ___________________
weather services.
2. __________________________ are made using balloons that are tracked by
instruments as they rise.
3. Storm detection __________________________________ gathers data showing
the distribution of rain, hail, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
4. A solar observation network monitors the events occurring on the
______________.
5. ___________________________ satellites allow weathermen to view nearly the
whole planet at once.
6. About 75 percent of the Earth is covered with
_____________________________.
7. A __________________________ orbit means that the satellite is placed in a
polar orbit at the proper time and orbital altitude to keep the craft always in
sunlight.
8. Electronic data processing machines or ________________________ have
become valuable to modern weather service.
9. _________________________________ summary charts are used mainly to
point to areas of likely dangerous weather in and around the cloud regions shown
on other weather charts.
10. _____________________________ is a science that still has a long way to go to
achieve perfect forecast accuracy.
C. Multiple Choice:
Circle the letter that correctly answers the question or completes the statement.
1. A weather instrument used for measuring atmospheric pressure.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Hygrometer
Psychrometer
Barometer
Thermometer
2. Invented in 1643, this instrument was the best for predicting weather several
days in advance.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Hygrometer
Psychrometer
Barometer
Thermometer
3. A weather instrument used for measuring the temperature of the air.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Psychrometer
Thermometer
Barometer
Hygrometer
4. An instrument used for measuring the amount of moisture in the air.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Psychrometer
Thermometer
Barometer
Hygrometer
5. An instrument that provided a very precise measurement of the amount of water
vapor mixed in the air.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Barometer
Hygrometer
Thermometer
Psychrometer
6. An atmospheric probe for measuring pressure, temperature, and relative
humidity.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Radiosonde
Dropsonde
Rawinsonde
Pilot Balloon
7. This instrument senses the atmospheric conditions and converts this information
to radio signals that are sent to a ground or air receiving station.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Radiosonde
Dropsonde
Rawinsonde
Pilot Balloon
8. An instrument released from a high-flying aircraft to measure weather
conditions.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Radiosonde
Dropsonde
Rawinsonde
Pilot Balloon
9. Carries a reflector so it can be tracked by radar, in addition to the information
provided by radio.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Pilot Balloon
Rawinsonde
Radiosonde
Dropsonde
10. An observation of temperature, pressure, relative humidity, and winds aloft.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Pilot Balloon
Rawinsonde
Radiosonde
Dropsonde
D. True/False:
Place a T in the blank if the statement is true, and an F in the blank if the statement
is false.
1. By regulation, the military weather service may not give weather service to
civilian organizations or persons, except under emergency or other special
circumstances.
2. Weather behaves according to physical laws.
3. Years ago a few people riding small boats and balloons penetrated severe
storms in an attempt to understand what was occurring.
4. Space Environment Monitor (SEM) measures the amount and intensities of
energy emanating from the Sun.
5. Radar systems gather information by bouncing radio waves off objects.
6. The Doppler effect is named after Austrian physicist, Christian Doppler.
7. Since the invention of the telegraph more than a century ago, man has been
able to learn about the weather beyond the horizon.
8. Development of the computer in the twentieth century helped to fill
important gaps about weather conditions over ocean and wilderness areas.
9. Computers are capable of plotting limited weather data, analyzing the wind
flow pattern, predicting future patterns, and drawing the analyzed chart and
the forecast chart.
10. Many pilots and the public get weather information by telephone.
11. Despite progression in recent years, weather forecasting is not an exact
science.
12. A forecaster can predict the passage of a fast-moving cold front within 2
hours of its arrival.
13. Hurricanes are difficult for forecasters to track because of erratic paths.
14. A warm front is extremely difficult to locate.
E. List or Describe:
1. Describe how the Doppler effect may be demonstrated.
2. Describe the operations of the National Weather Service.
3. Describe the geostationary satellite.