USCG METEOROLOGY EXAM LATEST UPDATE 2021(Graded A)

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USCG METEOROLOGY EXAM A barometer showing falling pressure indicates the approach of a __________. a) high pressure system b) low pressure system c) high dew point d) low dew point A boundar... y between two air masses is a(n) __________. a) lapse rate b) isobar c) front d) continent A cloud sequence of cirrus, cirrostratus, and altostratus clouds followed by rain usually signifies the approach of a(n) __________. a) occluded front b) stationary front c) warm front d) cold front A cold front moving in from the northwest can produce __________. a) thunderstorms, hail, and then rapid clearing b) increasing cloud cover lasting for several days c) lengthy wet weather d) low ceilings with thick cirrus clouds A current moving across a lock entrance toward the river or toward the dam is called a(n) __________. a) cutoff b) outdraft c) lockwash d) springpool A current will develop between areas of different density in ocean waters. If you face in the same direction the current is flowing, the water of __________. a) high density will be on the left in the Northern Hemisphere b) high density will be on the right in the Southern Hemisphere c) low density will be on the left in the Northern Hemisphere d) low density will be on the left in the Southern Hemisphere A cyclone in its final stage of development is called a(n) __________. a) tornado b) anticyclone c) occluded cyclone or occluded front d) polar cyclone A frontal thunderstorm is caused by __________. a) pronounced local heating b) wind being pushed up a mountain c) a warm air mass rising over a cold air mass d) an increased lapse rate caused by advection of warm surface air A generally circular low pressure area is called a(n) __________. a) cyclone b) anticyclone c) cold front d) occluded front A hurricane moving northeast out of the Gulf passes west of your position. You could expect all of the following except __________. a) higher than normal swells b) high winds c) winds veering from south, through west, to northwest d) light showers A katabatic wind blows __________. a) up an incline due to surface heating b) in a circular pattern c) down an incline due to cooling of the air d) horizontally between a high and a low pressure area A light, feathery deposit of ice caused by the sublimation of water vapor directly into the crystalline form, on objects whose temperatures are below freezing, is called __________. a) dew b) frost c) glaze d) snow A line of clouds, sharp changes in wind direction, and squalls are most frequently associated with a(n) __________. a) occluded front b) warm front c) cold front d) warm sector A line on a weather chart connecting places which have the same barometric pressure is called an ____. a) isotherm b) isallobar c) isobar d) isotope A local wind which occurs during the daytime and is caused by the different rates of warming of land and water is a __________. a) foehn b) chinook c) land breeze d) sea breeze A low, uniform layer of cloud resembling fog, but not resting on the ground, is called __________. a) cumulus b) nimbus c) stratus d) cirrus A mercurial barometer at sea is subject to rapid variations in height ("pumping") due to the pitch and roll of the vessel. To avoid this error, measurements of atmospheric pressure at sea are usually measured with a(n) __________. a) syphon barometer b) cistern barometer c) aneroid barometer d) fortin barometer A position that is obtained by applying estimated current and wind to your vessel's course and speed is a(n) __________. a) dead reckoning position b) fix c) estimated position d) None of the above A sea breeze is a wind __________. a) that blows towards the sea at night b) that blows towards an island during the day c) caused by cold air descending a coastal incline d) caused by the distant approach of a hurricane A series of brief showers accompanied by strong, shifting winds may occur along or some distance ahead of a(n) __________. a) upper front aloft b) cyclone c) occluded front d) cold front A ship is on course 195° at a speed of 15 knots. The apparent wind is from 40° on the port bow, speed 30 knots. The direction and speed of the true wind are __________. a) 068°T, 30 knots b) 127°T, 21 knots c) 263°T, 42 knots d) 292°T, 42 knots A steep barometric gradient indicates __________. a) calms b) light winds c) strong winds d) precipitation A strong, often violent, northerly wind occurring on the Pacific coast of Mexico, particularly during the colder months, is called __________. a) Tehuantepecer b) Papagayo c) Norther d) Pampero A strong, often violent, northerly wind occurring on the Pacific coast of Mexico, particularly during the colder months, is a __________. a) Papagayo b) fall wind c) foehn d) williwaw A thin, whitish, high cloud popularly known as "mares' tails" is __________. a) altostratus b) stratus c) cumulus d) cirrus A tropical cyclone has recurved and entered temperate latitudes. In the Northern Hemisphere when a large high pressure system lies north of the storm, what situation may occur? a) The low may suddenly deepen, and the cyclone intensify and pick up speed. b) The left semicircle may become the dangerous semicircle. c) The low and the high may merge and cancel out the weather characteristics of each. d) The high may force the cyclone to reverse its track. A tropical wave is located 200 miles due west of your position, which is north of the equator. Where will the wave be in 24 hours? a) Farther away to the west b) Farther away to the east c) In the same place d) Closer and to the west A tropical wave is usually preceded by __________. a) tropical storms b) good weather c) heavy rain and cloudiness d) heavy seas A vessel encountering hurricane or typhoon conditions is required to transmit reports to the closest meteorological service every __________. a) 8 hrs b) 6 hrs c) 3 hrs d) hour A weather forecast states that the wind will commence backing. In the Northern Hemisphere, this would indicate that it will __________. a) shift in a clockwise manner b) shift in a counterclockwise manner c) continue blowing from the same direction d) decrease in velocity A weather forecast states that the wind will commence veering. In the Northern Hemisphere this indicates that the wind will __________. a) shift in a clockwise manner b) shift in a counterclockwise manner c) continue blowing from the same direction d) increase in velocity A wind vane on a moving vessel shows __________. a) dead reckoning wind direction b) true wind direction c) apparent wind direction d) estimated wind direction Above-normal tides near the center of a hurricane may be caused by the __________. a) high barometric pressure b) jet stream c) storm surge d) torrential rains According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northeast wind the center of low pressure is located to the __________. a) northeast b) west-southwest c) northwest d) south-southeast According to Buys Ballot's law, when an observer in the Northern Hemisphere experiences a northwest wind, the center of low pressure is located to the __________. a) northeast b) west-southwest c) northwest d) south-southeast According to Buys Ballot's Law, when an observer in the Southern Hemisphere experiences a northwest wind, the center of the low pressure is located to the __________. a) east-northeast b) south-southwest c) east-southeast d) west-southwest Advection fog, a common occurrence on the Great Lakes, forms when __________. a) air comes in contact with a rapidly cooling land surface b) frigid arctic air moves across the lakes and becomes saturated c) relatively warm air flows over cooler water d) cool air contacts warm river currents Advection fog is most commonly caused by __________. a) air being warmed above the dew point b) saturation of cold air by rain c) a rapid cooling of the air near the surface of the Earth at night d) warm moist air being blown over a colder surface After a cold front passes, the barometric pressure __________. a) drops and the temperature drops b) drops and the temperature rises c) rises and the temperature drops d) rises and the temperature rises After a cold front passes the barometric pressure usually __________. a) fluctuates b) remains the same c) remains the same, with clouds forming rapidly d) rises, often quite rapidly, with clearing skies After the passage of a cold front the visibility_______. _ a) does not change b) improves rapidly c) improves only slightly d) becomes poor Altocumulus clouds are defined as __________. a) high clouds b) middle clouds c) low clouds d) vertical development clouds An air mass is termed "warm" if __________. a) it is above 70°F b) the ground over which it moves is cooler than the air c) it originated in a high pressure area d) it originated in a low pressure area An anemometer on a moving vessel measures __________. a) apparent wind speed only b) true wind speed and true wind direction c) true wind speed only d) apparent wind speed and true wind direction An aneroid barometer is an instrument __________. a) used to measure the speed of wind b) in which the pressure of the air is measured c) that tells which direction a storm is coming from d) used to measure the height of waves An aneroid barometer reading should be corrected for differences in _____________________ . a) elevation b) temperature c) wind speed d) latitude An instrument designed to maintain a continuous record of atmospheric pressure is a(n) __________. a) mercurial barometer b) aneroid barometer c) barograph d) thermograph An occluded front is caused by a(n) __________. a) low pressure area b) high pressure area c) area of calm air d) cold front overtaking a warm front An occluded front is usually caused by a __________. a) cold front becoming stationary b) warm front becoming stationary c) cold front overtaking a warm front d) warm front dissipating An occluded front on a weather map is colored __________. a) blue line b) purple line c) dashed blue line d) alternate red and blue line Anticyclones are usually characterized by __________. a) dry, fair weather b) high winds and cloudiness c) gustiness and continuous precipitation d) overcast skies Apparent wind speed blowing across your vessel while underway can be measured by a(n) __________. a) barometer b) wind vane c) anemometer d) thermometer As a cold front passes an observer, pressure __________. a) drops and winds become variable b) rises and winds become gusty c) drops and winds become gusty d) rises and winds become variable As the South Equatorial Current approaches the east coast of Africa, it divides with the main part flowing south to form the warm __________. a) Agulhas Current b) Canary Current c) Benguela Current d) Madagascar Current As the temperature for a given mass of air increases, the __________. a) dew point increases b) dew point decreases c) relative humidity increases d) relative humidity decreases At what angle to the isobars do surface winds blow over the open sea? a) About 90° b) About 50° c) About 25° d) About 15° Atmospheric pressure at sea level is equal to __________. a) 14.7 pounds per square inch b) 29.92 inches of mercury c) 1013.25 millibars d) All of the above Barometer readings in weather reports are given in terms of pressure at __________. a) sea level b) Washington, D.C. c) the weather station d) the broadcasting station Barometers are usually calibrated to indicate atmospheric pressure in __________. a) inches of mercury and centimeters b) feet of mercury and millibars c) inches of mercury and millimeters d) inches of mercury and millibars Brief, violent showers frequently accompanied by thunder and lightning are usually associated with __________. a) passage of a warm front b) passage of a cold front c) winds shifting counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere d) stationary high pressure systems Cirrus clouds are composed primarily of __________. a) ice crystals b) water droplets c) snow crystals d) nitrogen Cirrus clouds followed by cirrostratus then altostratus, stratus, and occasionally nimbostratus indicate the approach of a(n) __________. a) cold front b) warm front c) tropical front d) occluded front Cloud formations are minimal when the __________. a) surface temperature and temperature aloft are equal b) surface temperature and temperature aloft differ greatly c) barometric pressure is very low d) relative humidity is very high Clouds appearing in the following order: cirrus, cirrostratus, altostratus, stratus, and nimbostratus usually indicate the approach of a(n) __________. a) warm front b) occluded front c) medium front d) cold front Clouds are classified according to their __________. a) size b) moisture content c) altitude and how they were formed d) location in a front Clouds that form as small white flakes or scaly globular masses covering either small or large portions of the sky are __________. a) cirrus b) cirrostratus c) altostratus d) cirrocumulus Cold water flowing southward through the western part of the Bering Strait between Alaska and Siberia is joined by water circulating counterclockwise in the Bering Sea to form the __________. a) Alaska Current b) Subarctic Current c) Kuroshio Current d) Oyashio Current Considering the general circulation of the atmosphere, the wind system between latitudes 30°N and 60°N is commonly called the __________. a) prevailing westerlies b) horse latitudes c) tradewinds d) subpolar low pressure belts Cumulonimbus clouds are most likely to accompany a(n) __________. a) high pressure system b) cold front c) warm front d) occluded front Cumulonimbus clouds can produce __________. a) dense fog and high humidity b) gusty winds, thunder, rain or hail, and lightning c) clear skies with the approach of a cold front d) a rapid drop in barometric pressure followed by darkness Current refers to the __________. a) vertical movement of the water b) horizontal movement of the water c) density changes in the water d) None of the above Cyclones tend to move __________. a) perpendicular to the isobars in their warm sectors b) parallel to the isobars in their warm sectors c) parallel to the line of the cold front d) perpendicular to the line of the cold front Cyclones that have warm sectors usually move __________. a) westerly b) parallel to the isobars in the warm sector c) toward the nearest high pressure area d) faster than the accompanying cold front During the winter months, the southeast trade winds are __________. a) stronger than during the summer months b) weaker than during the summer months c) drier than during the summer months d) wetter than during the summer months Early indications of the approach of a hurricane may be all of the following except __________. a) short confused swells b) gradually increasing white clouds (mare's tails) c) pumping barometer d) continuous fine mist-like rain Fetch is the __________. a) distance a wave travels between formation and decay b) stretch of water over which a wave-forming wind blows c) time in seconds required for two crests to pass a given point d) measurement of a wave's steepness Fog can form in any season on the Great Lakes, but it is most likely to occur over open waters in ________. a) summer and early autumn b) autumn and early winter c) winter and early spring d) spring and early summer Fog is likely to occur when there is little difference between the dew point and the __________. a) relative humidity b) air temperature c) barometric pressure d) absolute humidity Fog is most commonly associated with a(n) __________. a) warm front at night b) low pressure area c) anticyclone d) cold front in the spring Good weather is usually associated with a region of __________. a) low barometric pressure b) high barometric pressure c) falling barometric pressure d) pumping barometric pressure High clouds, composed of small white flakes or scaly globular masses, and often banded together to form a "mackerel sky", would be classified as __________. a) cirrus b) cirrocumulus c) altostratus d) cumulonimbus How long would a steady wind need to blow in order to create a wind driven current? a) 2 hours b) 6 hours c) 12 hours d) 18 hours If a weather bulletin shows the center of a low pressure system to be 100 miles due east of you, what winds can you expect in the Southern Hemisphere? a) South-southwesterly b) North-northwesterly c) South-southeasterly d) North-northeasterly If an observer in the Northern Hemisphere faces the surface wind, the center of low pressure is to his______________. a) left, slightly behind him b) right, slightly behind him c) left, slightly in front of him d) right, slightly in front of him If it is impossible to avoid a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere, the most favorable place to be when the storm passes is in __________. a) the dangerous semicircle b) the eye (center) of the storm c) that half of the storm lying to the right of the storm's path d) that half of the storm lying to the left of the storm's path If the sky was clear, with the exception of a few cumulus clouds, it would indicate __________. a) rain b) hurricane weather c) fair weather d) fog setting in If you are caught in the left semicircle of a tropical storm, in the Southern Hemisphere, you should bring the wind __________. a) on the starboard quarter, hold course and make as much way as possible b) 2 points on the port quarter, and make as much way as possible c) on the port bow, and make as much way as possible d) dead ahead and heave to If you were sailing in the North Pacific and were interested in the ice and iceberg limits, you could find this information in the __________. a) Pilot Chart b) Coast Pilot c) Notice to Mariners d) None of the above If your weather bulletin shows the center of a low pressure area to be 100 miles due east of your position, what winds can you expect in the Northern Hemisphere? a) East to northeast b) East to southeast c) North to northwest d) South to southeast In a tropical cyclone, in the Northern Hemisphere, a vessel hove to with the wind shifting counterclockwise is __________. a) ahead of the storm center b) in the dangerous semicircle c) in the navigable semicircle d) directly in the approach path of the storm In a tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere, a vessel hove to with the wind shifting counterclockwise would be __________. a) in the navigable semicircle b) in the dangerous semicircle c) directly in the path of the center d) ahead of the storm In a tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere, a vessel hove to with the wind shifting clockwise would be __________. a) ahead of the storm center b) in the dangerous semicircle c) directly behind the storm center d) in the navigable semicircle In low latitudes, the low(s) of the diurnal variation of pressure occur(s) at __________. a) noon b) noon and midnight c) 1000 and 2200 d) 0400 and 1600 In low latitudes the range of the diurnal variation of pressure is up to __________. a) 0.5 millibar b) 3.0 millibars c) 6.0 millibars d) 10.0 millibars In many areas "atoll" clouds (clouds of vertical development) are produced over small islands. These are the result of __________. a) rising air currents produced by the warm islands b) warm air from the sea rising over higher land areas c) cool land air mixing with warm sea air d) descending air over the islands In most cases, the direction of the apparent wind lies between the bow and __________. a) the direction of the true wind b) true north c) the beam on the windward side d) the beam on the lee side In mid-ocean, the characteristics of a wave are determined by three factors. What is NOT one of these factors? a) Effect of the moon's gravity b) Fetch c) Wind velocity d) Length of time a wind has been blowing In North America the majority of the weather systems move from __________. a) north to south b) south to north c) east to west d) west to east In reading a weather map, closely spaced pressure gradient lines would indicate __________. a) high winds b) high overcast clouds c) calm or light winds d) fog or steady rain In shallow water, waves that are too steep to be stable, causing the crests to move forward faster than the rest of the wave, are called __________. a) rollers b) breakers c) white caps d) surfers In some river mouths and estuaries the incoming high-tide wave crest overtakes the preceding low-tide trough. This results in a wall of water proceeding upstream, and is called a __________. a) seiche b) bore c) boundary wave d) surge In the doldrums you can expect __________. a) steady, constant winds b) frequent rain showers and thunderstorms c) steep pressure gradients d) low relative humidity In the doldrums you will NOT have __________. a) high relative humidity b) frequent showers and thunderstorms c) steep pressure gradients d) frequent calms In the Northern Hemisphere, a wind that shifts counterclockwise is a __________. a) veering wind b) backing wind c) reverse wind d) chinook wind In the Northern Hemisphere, an area of counterclockwise wind circulation surrounded by higher pressure is a __________. a) low b) high c) warm front d) cold front In the Northern Hemisphere, an observer at point II in the weather system should experience a wind shift from the __________. a) southwest, clockwise to northwest b) northeast, clockwise to west-southwest c) northeast, counterclockwise to northwest d) east, counterclockwise to south-southwest In the Northern Hemisphere, gusty winds shifting clockwise, a rapid drop in temperature, thunderstorms or rain squalls in summer (frequent rain/snow squalls in winter) then a rise in pressure followed by clearing skies, indicate the passage of a(n) __________. a) warm front b) tropical cyclone c) anticyclone d) cold front In the Northern Hemisphere, the largest waves or swells created by a typhoon or hurricane will be located __________. a) in the southeast quadrant of the storm b) directly behind the storm center c) forward and to the right of its course d) behind and to the left of its course In the Northern Hemisphere the major ocean currents tend to flow __________. a) clockwise around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans b) clockwise or counterclockwise depending on whether it is warm or cold current c) counterclockwise except in the Gulf Stream d) counterclockwise around the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans In the Northern Hemisphere, what type of cloud formations would you expect to see to the west of an approaching tropical wave? a) Cumulus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction b) High altostratus clouds in the morning hours c) Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a northeast to southwest direction d) Cirrostratus clouds lined up in rows extending in a north to south direction In the Northern Hemisphere, winds veering sharply to the west or northwest with increasing speed are indications that a __________. a) cold front has passed b) low pressure center is approaching c) stationary front exists d) high pressure center has passed In the Northern Hemisphere, you are caught in the dangerous semicircle with plenty of sea room available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________. a) starboard bow and make as much headway as possible b) starboard quarter, and make as much headway as possible c) port quarter, and make as much headway as possible d) port bow, and make as much headway as possible In the Northern Hemisphere, your vessel is believed to be in the direct path of a hurricane, and plenty of sea room is available. The best course of action is to bring the wind on the __________. a) starboard bow, note the course, and head in that direction b) starboard quarter, note the course, and head in that direction c) port quarter, note the course, and head in that direction d) port bow, note the course, and head in that direction In the relatively calm area near the hurricane center, the seas are __________. a) moderate but easily navigated b) calm c) mountainous and confused d) mountainous but fairly regular as far as direction is concerned In the Sargasso Sea there are large quantities of seaweed and no well defined currents. This area is located in the __________. a) Central North Atlantic Ocean b) Caribbean Sea c) Western North Pacific Ocean d) area off the west coast of South America In which month will the equatorial counter current be strongest? a) January b) April c) August d) October Isobars on a weather map are useful in predicting __________. a) temperature b) dew point c) wind velocity d) relative humidity It is desirable that a vessel encountering hurricane or typhoon conditions sends weather reports to the closest meteorological service at least every __________. a) hour b) 3 hours c) 6 hours d) 8 hours Little or no change in the barometric reading over a twelve hour period indicates __________. a) stormy weather is imminent b) that present weather conditions will continue c) a defect in the barometer d) increasing wind strength Low pressure disturbances, which travel along the intertropical convergence zone, are called __________. a) permanent waves b) tidal waves c) tropical waves d) tropical storms Monsoons are characterized by __________. a) light, variable winds with little or no humidity b) strong, gusty winds that blow from the same general direction all year c) steady winds that reverse direction semiannually d) strong, cyclonic winds that change direction to conform to the passage of an extreme low pressure system Ocean currents are well defined and __________. a) create large waves in the direction of the current b) change direction 360° during a 24 hour period c) remain fairly constant in direction and velocity throughout the year d) are characterized by a light green color Ocean swells originating from a typhoon can move ahead of it at speeds near __________. a) 10 knots b) 20 knots c) 30 knots d) 50 knots On a clear, warm day, you notice the approach of a tall cumulus cloud. The cloud top has hard well defined edges and rain is falling from the dark lower edge. Should this cloud pass directly overhead __. a) it will be preceded by a sudden increase in wind speed b) it will be preceded by a sudden decrease in wind speed c) the wind speed will not change as it passes d) the wind will back rapidly to left in a counterclockwise direction as it passes On a voyage from Capetown to London, the favorable ocean current off the coast of Africa is the ________. a) Canary Current b) Benguela Current c) Agulhas Current d) South Atlantic Current On a voyage from Halifax, N.S., to Dakar, West Africa, the Canary Current will __________. a) set the vessel to the left b) set the vessel to the right c) offer resistance in the form of a head current d) furnish additional thrust in the form of a fair or following current On a working copy of a weather map, a cold front is represented by what color line? a) Red b) Blue c) Alternating red and blue d) Purple On a working copy of a weather map, a stationary front is represented by which color line? a) Red b) Blue c) Alternating red and blue d) Purple On a vessel proceeding from a very cold to a warm climate with a cargo of a nonhygroscopic nature in the holds, which is true? a) Danger of heavy ship sweat exists; constant and vigorous ventilation is required. b) There is danger of heavy cargo sweat if outside air is introduced by ventilation. c) There is little danger of ship's sweat, slight possibility of cargo sweat; moderate ventilation is needed. d) The possibility of any sweat problem, either cargo or ship, is remote. On an Atlantic Ocean voyage from New York to Durban, South Africa, you should expect the Agulhas Current to present a strong __________. a) offshore set b) onshore set c) head current d) fair or following current On mid-ocean waters, the height of a wind-generated wave is not affected by the __________. a) water depth exceeding 100 feet b) fetch c) wind's velocity d) duration of the wind On the approach of a warm front the barometric pressure usually __________. a) falls b) rises c) is steady d) is unreliable On the Great Lakes, short-term fluctuations in water levels may be a result of any of the following except __________. a) strong winds b) sudden changes in barometric pressure c) seiches d) below normal rain fall On the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, there is a special type of fog known as steam fog. It is caused by ___. a) warm air passing over much colder water b) cold air passing over much warmer water c) a rapid cooling of the ground on a clear night d) rain coming out of a warm air mass aloft On the pole side of the high pressure belt in each hemisphere, the pressure diminishes. The winds along these gradients are diverted by the Earth's rotation toward the east and are known as the ________. a) geostrophic winds b) doldrums c) horse latitudes d) prevailing westerlies One of the causes of ocean currents is density differences in the water. This is true because __________. a) in an area of high density the water's surface is lower than in an area of low density b) surface water flows from an area of high density to one of low density c) the lesser the density gradient the freer the water is to move d) it is the density differences that cause the currents to stay in the troughs One of the factors which affects the circulation of ocean currents is __________. a) humidity b) varying densities of water c) vessel traffic d) the jet stream Prevailing winds between 30°N and 60°N latitude are from the __________. a) east b) west c) north d) south Radiation fog __________. a) always forms over water b) is formed by a temperature inversion c) is thinnest at the surface d) dissipates during the evening Recurvature of a hurricane's track usually results in the forward speed __________. a) increasing b) decreasing c) remaining the same d) varying during the day Relative humidity is the percentage of water vapor that is in the air as compared to the maximum amount it can hold at __________. a) a specific barometric pressure b) a specific temperature c) a specific wind speed d) any time Set of the current is __________. a) its velocity in knots b) direction from which it flows c) estimated current d) direction towards which it flows Severe tropical cyclones (hurricanes, typhoons) occur in all warm-water oceans except the __________. a) Indian Ocean b) North Pacific Ocean c) South Pacific Ocean d) South Atlantic Ocean Snow has obliterated surface features and the sky is covered with uniform, altostratus clouds. There are no shadows and the horizon has disappeared. What is this condition called? a) Ice blink b) Whiteout c) Water sky d) Aurora reflection Steam fog is most likely to occur on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers in __________. a) spring, around late evening b) spring, around early evening c) fall, around early morning d) fall, around midday Steam smoke will occur when __________. a) extremely cold air from shore passes over warmer water b) warm dry air from shore passes over cooler water c) cold ocean water evaporates into warm air d) cool rain passes through a warm air mass Steady precipitation is typical of __________. a) coming cold weather conditions b) a warm front weather condition c) high pressure conditions d) scattered cumulus clouds Stormy weather is usually associated with regions of __________. a) high barometric pressure b) low barometric pressure c) steady barometric pressure d) changing barometric pressure Swell is the rise and fall of the ocean's surface due to __________. a) fetch b) distant winds c) local storms d) the pull of the moon Temperature and moisture characteristics are modified in a warm or cold air mass due to __________. a) pressure changes in the air mass b) movement of the air mass c) the heterogeneous nature of the air mass d) upper level atmospheric changes That half of the hurricane to the right hand side of its track (as you face the same direction that the storm is moving) in the Northern Hemisphere is called the __________. a) windward side b) leeward side c) safe semicircle d) dangerous semicircle The apparent wind's speed can be zero, but only when two conditions are present. One condition is that the true __________. a) wind must be on the beam b) wind's speed must be zero c) wind must be from dead ahead d) wind's speed equals the ship's speed The apparent wind's speed can be zero, but only when two conditions are present. One condition is that the true wind __________. a) must be from dead ahead b) speed must be zero c) must be from dead astern d) must be on the beam The appearance of nimbostratus clouds in the immediate vicinity of a ship at sea would be accompanied by which of the following conditions? a) Rain and poor visibility b) Dropping barometric pressure and backing wind in the Northern Hemisphere c) High winds and rising sea d) Severe thunderstorms The area of strong westerly winds occurring between 40°S and 60°S latitude is called the __________. a) polar easterlies b) prevailing westerlies c) roaring forties d) jet streams The atmosphere in the vicinity of a high pressure area is called a(n) __________. a) anticyclone b) cold front c) occluded front d) cyclone The Benguela Current flows in a __________. a) SW'ly direction along the NW coast of Africa b) S'ly direction off the East Coast of Australia c) NW'ly direction along the SW coast of Africa d) SW'ly direction along the SE coast of Greenland The best estimate of the wind direction at sea level can be obtained from observing the direction of the __________. a) cloud movement b) vessel heading c) waves d) swells The Brazil Current flows in which general direction? a) Northwesterly b) Southwesterly c) Southerly d) Northerly The circulation around a low pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere is __________. a) counterclockwise b) variable c) clockwise d) anticyclonic The cold ocean current which meets the warm Gulf Stream between latitudes 40° and 43°N to form the "cold wall" is called the __________. a) North Cape Current b) Labrador Current c) Greenland Current d) North Atlantic Current The consistent winds blowing from the horse latitudes to the doldrums are called the __________. a) prevailing westerlies b) polar easterlies c) trade winds d) roaring forties The current that, in many respects, is similar to the Gulf Stream is the __________. a) Kuroshio b) California Current c) Oyashio d) Benguela Current The dangerous semicircle of a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere is that area of the storm __________. a) to the right of the storm's track b) measured from true north clockwise to 180°T c) measured from true north counterclockwise to 180°T d) between the ship's heading and the bearing to the eye The dangerous semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is that area __________. a) measured from due south clockwise 180° b) measured from due south counterclockwise 180° c) to the left of the storm's track d) ahead of the typhoon measured from the storm's track to 90° on each side The dense black cumulonimbus clouds surrounding the eye of a hurricane are called __________. a) spiral rainbands b) cloud walls c) funnel clouds d) cyclonic spirals The dew point is reached when the __________. a) temperature of the air equals the temperature of the seawater b) atmospheric pressure is 14.7 lbs. per square inch c) relative humidity reaches 50% d) air becomes saturated with water vapor The direction of the southeast trade winds is a result of the __________. a) equatorial current b) humidity c) rotation of the earth d) change of seasons The diurnal pressure variation is most noticeable in the __________. a) polar regions b) horse latitudes c) roaring forties d) doldrums The drift and set of tidal, river, and ocean currents refer to the __________. a) position and area of the current b) speed and direction toward which the current flows c) type and characteristic of the current's flow d) None of the above The doldrums are characterized by __________. a) steady, light to moderate winds b) frequent calms c) clear skies d) low humidity The dry-bulb temperature is 78°F and the wet-bulb temperature is 62°F. What is the relative humidity? a) 16% b) 24% c) 39% d) 79% The dry-bulb temperature is 78°F (26°C) and the wet-bulb temperature is 68°F (20°C). What is the relative humidity? a) 10% b) 24% c) 56% d) 60% The edge of a hurricane has overtaken your vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, and the northwest wind of a few hours ago has shifted to the west. This is an indication that you are located in the __________. a) navigable semicircle b) dangerous semicircle c) low pressure area d) eye of the storm The effect of wind on exposed areas of the vessel is most noticeable when __________. a) backing b) going slow ahead c) going full ahead d) turning The expression "the air is saturated" means __________. a) the relative humidity is 100% b) the vapor pressure is at its minimum for the prevailing temperature c) precipitation has commenced d) cloud cover is 100% The flow of air around an anticyclone in the Southern Hemisphere is __________. a) clockwise and outward b) counterclockwise and outward c) clockwise and inward d) counterclockwise and inward The form of cloud often known as "mackerel sky" which is generally associated with fair weather is ___. a) nimbostratus b) stratus c) cirrocumulus d) cumulonimbus The dew point temperature is __________. a) always higher than the air temperature b) always lower than the air temperature c) equal to the difference between the wet and dry bulb temperatures d) the temperature at which the air is saturated with water vapor The direction of prevailing winds in the Northern hemisphere is caused by the __________. a) magnetic field at the North Pole b) Gulf Stream c) Earth's rotation d) Arctic cold fronts The direction of the surface wind is __________. a) directly from high pressure toward low pressure b) directly from low pressure toward high pressure c) from high pressure toward low pressure deflected by the earth's rotation d) from low pressure toward high pressure deflected by the earth's rotation The diurnal variation of pressure is most noticeable __________. a) above the polar circles b) in a low pressure area c) during periods of low temperatures d) in the doldrums The diurnal variation of pressure is not visible in the middle latitudes in winter because __________. a) it is masked by the pressure changes of moving weather systems b) the decreased gravitational effect from the sun causes the variation to fade c) the decreased average temperature is less than the critical temperature d) the increased Coriolis force disperses the pressure variation The first indications a mariner will have of the approach of a warm front will be __________. a) large cumulonimbus clouds building up b) low dark clouds with intermittent rain c) fog caused by the warm air passing over the cooler water d) high clouds gradually followed by lower thicker clouds The fog most commonly encountered at sea is called __________. a) conduction fog b) radiation fog c) frontal fog d) advection fog The fog produced by warm moist air passing over a cold surface is called __________. a) conduction fog b) radiation fog c) frontal fog d) advection fog The greater the pressure difference between a high and a low pressure center, the __________. a) dryer the air mass will be b) cooler the temperature will be c) greater the force of the wind will be d) warmer the temperature will be The height of a wave is the vertical distance __________. a) from the still water plane to the crest b) from the still water plane to the trough c) from crest to trough d) between water levels at one-quarter of the wave's length The highest frequency of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean occurs during __________. a) January, February and March b) April, May and June c) August, September and October d) July, November and December The horse latitudes are characterized by __________. a) weak pressure gradients and light, variable winds b) the formation of typhoons or hurricanes in certain seasons c) steady winds in one direction for six months followed by wind reversal for the next six months d) steady winds generally from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere The Humboldt Current flows in which direction? a) North b) South c) East d) West The inner cloud bands of a hurricane, when viewed from a distance, form a mass of dense, black cumulonimbus clouds called the __________. a) bar of the storm b) eye of the storm c) funnel d) front The length of a wave is the length __________. a) of the wave's crest b) of the wave's trough c) measured from crest to trough d) measured from crest to crest The navigable semicircle of a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere is that area of the storm measured __________. a) from true north clockwise to 180°T b) from true north counterclockwise to 180°T c) from the bow counterclockwise to 180° relative d) from the direction of the storm's movement counterclockwise 180° The navigable semicircle of a tropical storm in the South Indian Ocean is located on which side of the storm's track? a) Rear b) Front c) Left d) Right The navigable semicircle of a typhoon in the Southern Hemisphere is the area __________. a) behind the typhoon, measured from 90° to 180°From each side of the storm's track b) to the right of the storm's track c) ahead of the typhoon, measured from the storm's track to 90° on each side d) measured from due south, counterclockwise 180° The north equatorial current flows to the __________. a) east b) northeast c) southwest d) west The numeral in the center of a wind rose circle on a pilot chart indicates the __________. a) total number of observations b) average wind force on the Beaufort scale c) average wind force in knots d) percentage of calms The passing of a low pressure system can be determined by periodically checking the __________. a) thermometer b) hygrometer c) barometer d) anemometer The precession of the equinoxes occurs in a(n) __________. a) easterly direction b) westerly direction c) northerly direction d) southerly direction The presence of stratus clouds and a dying wind will usually result in __________. a) heavy rain b) heavy snow c) thick fog d) clearing skies The pressure gradient between the horse latitudes and doldrums runs __________. a) east to west b) north to south c) northeast to southwest d) northwest to southeast The prevailing westerlies of the Southern Hemisphere blow 18-30 knots __________. a) all year long b) during the summer months only c) during the winter only d) during spring only The prevailing winds in the band of latitude from approximately 5°N to 30°N are the __________. a) prevailing westerlies b) northeast trade winds c) southeast trade winds d) doldrums The probability of a sudden wind may be foretold by __________. a) a partly cloudy sky b) an overcast sky c) a fast approaching line of dark clouds d) the formation of cumulus clouds in the sky The region of high pressure extending around the Earth at about 35°N latitude is called the __________. a) prevailing westerlies b) horse latitudes c) troposphere d) doldrums The rise and fall of the ocean's surface due to a distant storm is known as __________. a) sea b) waves c) fetch d) swell The set of the current is the __________. a) speed of the current at a particular time b) maximum speed of the current c) direction from which the current flows d) direction in which the current flows The set of the equatorial countercurrent is generally to the __________. a) north b) east c) southwest d) northwest The slope of a warm front is about __________. a) 1 mile vertically to 10 miles horizontally b) 1 mile vertically to 50 miles horizontally c) 1 mile vertically to 150 miles horizontally d) 1 mile vertically to 500 miles horizontally The southeast trade winds actually blow toward the __________. a) southeast b) south c) east d) northwest The speed at which an ocean wave system advances is called __________. a) wave length b) ripple length c) group velocity d) wave velocity The standard atmospheric pressure measured in inches of mercury is __________. a) 29,92 b) 500 c) 760 d) 1013,2 The steepness of a cold front depends on __________. a) the direction of wind around the front b) its velocity c) the temperature of the air behind the front d) the precipitation generated by the front The term "flood current" refers to that time when the water __________. a) is flowing towards the land b) is moving towards the ocean c) level is not changing d) level is rising because of heavy rains The thin, whitish, high clouds composed of ice crystals, popularly known as "mares' tails" are __________. a) cirrus b) cirrocumulus c) altostratus d) nimbostratus The time interval between successive wave crests is called __________. a) wave period b) wavelength c) frequency d) significant wave height The true wind is from 330°T, speed 6 knots. You want the apparent wind to be 30 knots from 10° on your port bow. To what course and speed must you change? a) Cn 240°, 28.0 knots b) Cn 270°, 28.0 knots c) Cn 180°, 30.0 knots d) Cn 090°, 32.5 knots The two most effective generating forces of surface ocean currents are __________. a) temperature and salinity differences in the water b) wind and density differences in the water c) water depth and underwater topography d) rotation of the Earth and continental interference The usual sequence of directions in which a tropical cyclone moves in the Southern Hemisphere is _____. a) northwest, west, and south b) southwest, south, and southeast c) north, northwest, and east d) west, northwest, and north The velocity of the apparent wind can be more than the true wind, and come from the same direction, if certain conditions are present. One condition is that the __________. a) ship's speed must be less than the true wind velocity b) true wind must be from dead astern c) true wind velocity must be faster than the ship's speed d) true wind must be from dead ahead The velocity of the apparent wind can be less than the true wind and from the same direction, if certain conditions are present. One condition is that the __________. a) ship's speed is more than the true wind velocity b) true wind is from dead astern c) true wind is on the beam d) true wind is from dead ahead The velocity of the wind, its steady direction, and the amount of time it has blown determines a wind driven current's __________. a) temperature b) density c) deflection d) speed The West Wind Drift is located __________. a) near 60°S b) on each side of the Equatorial Current c) in the North Atlantic between Greenland and Europe d) in the South Pacific near 5°S The wind circulation around a high pressure center in the Northern Hemisphere is __________. a) counterclockwise and moving towards the high b) counterclockwise and moving outward from the high c) clockwise and moving towards the high d) clockwise and moving outward from the high The wind direction around a low pressure area in the Northern Hemisphere is __________. a) clockwise and inward b) clockwise and outward c) counterclockwise and inward d) counterclockwise and outward The wind flow from the horse latitudes to the doldrums is deflected due to __________. a) Coriolis force b) the mid-latitude, semi-permanent high c) differing atmospheric pressures d) the prevailing westerlies The wind speed and direction observed from a moving vessel is known as __________. a) coordinate wind b) true wind c) apparent wind d) anemometer wind The wind velocity is higher in the dangerous semicircle of a tropical cyclone because of the __________. a) wind circulation and forward motion of the storm b) extension of the low pressure ridge c) recurvature effect d) direction of circulation and pressure gradient The winds with the greatest effect on the set, drift, and depth of the equatorial currents are the _________. a) doldrums b) horse latitudes c) trade winds d) prevailing westerlies The winds of the "roaring forties" are strongest near __________. a) 40°N b) 50°N c) 40°S d) 50°S The winds you would expect to encounter in the North Atlantic between latitudes 5° and 30° are known as the __________. a) doldrums b) westerlies c) trades d) easterlies Three or four feet of the total height of a storm surge in a hurricane can be attributed to __________. a) an increase in temperature b) an increase in the wave period c) the wind velocity d) the decrease in atmospheric pressure Tropical cyclones are classified by form and intensity. Which system does not have closed isobars? a) Hurricane b) Tropical disturbance c) Tropical depression d) Cyclone Tropical cyclones do not form within 5° of the Equator because __________. a) there are no fronts in that area b) it is too hot c) it is too humid d) of negligible Coriolis force Tropical cyclones normally form within which of the following belts of latitude? a) 5° to 15° b) 15° to 30° c) 30° to 45° d) 45° to 60° Tropical storms and hurricanes are most likely to form in the Southern hemisphere during __________. a) January through March b) April through May c) June through August d) September through November Uniform, grayish-white cloud sheets that cover large portions of the sky, and are responsible for a large percentage of the precipitation in the temperate latitudes, are called __________. a) altostratus b) altocumulus c) cirrostratus d) cirrocumulus Warm air masses will generally have __________. a) Turbulence within the mass b) Stratiform clouds c) Heavy precipitation d) Good visibility Weather conditions in the middle latitudes generally move __________. a) eastward b) westward c) northward d) southward Weather systems in the middle latitudes generally travel from __________. a) north to south b) west to east c) east to west d) None of the above What classification of tropical cyclone would have closed isobars, counter clockwise rotary circulation, and sustained winds between 34 and 63 knots? a) A tropical disturbance b) A tropical depression c) A tropical storm d) A hurricane What current flows southward along the west coast of the United States and causes extensive fog in that area? a) Davidson Current b) North Pacific Current c) Alaska Current d) California Current What describes a flood current? a) Horizontal movement of the water toward the land after high tide b) Horizontal movement of the water toward the land after low tide c) Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide d) Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide What describes an ebb current? a) Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following low tide b) Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following low tide c) Horizontal movement of the water away from the land following high tide d) Horizontal movement of the water toward the land following high tide What do the numbers on isobars indicate? a) barometric pressure b) temperature c) rain in inches d) wind speed What indicates that a tropical cyclone can be expected at your position within 24 to 48 hours? a) A daily fluctuation of over 6 millibars in the barometric reading b) A sudden wind shift from southwest to northwest followed by steadily increasing winds c) The normal swell pattern becoming confused, with the length of the swell increasing d) An overcast sky with steadily increasing rain from nimbostratus clouds What indicates the arrival of a hurricane within 24 to 36 hours? a) The normal swell becoming lower and from a steady direction b) Long bands of nimbostratus clouds radiating from a point over the horizon c) The barometer drops 2 millibars between 1000 and 1600 d) Unusually good weather with above average pressures followed by a slow fall of 4 millibars in 6 hours What is an ebb current? a) A current at minimum flow b) A current coming in c) A current going out d) A current at maximum flow What is the average speed of the movement of a hurricane following the recurvature of its track? a) 5 to 10 knots b) 20 to 30 knots c) 40 to 50 knots d) Over 60 knots What is the average speed of movement of a hurricane prior to recurvature? a) 4 to 6 knots b) 6 to 8 knots c) 10 to 12 knots d) 15 to 20 knots What is the first sign of the existence of a well developed tropical cyclone? a) Gale force winds from the north b) An unusually long ocean swell c) Steep, short-period waves and light wind d) Thunderstorms and higher than usual humidity What is true about a front? a) It is a boundary between two air masses. b) There are temperature differences on opposite sides of a front. c) There are abrupt pressure differences across a front. d) All of the above What is true concerning an anemometer on a moving vessel? a) It measures true wind speed. b) It measures true wind speed and true wind direction. c) It measures apparent wind speed. d) It measures apparent wind speed and true wind direction. What is typical of warm front weather conditions? a) An increase in pressure b) A wind shift from southwest to northwest c) Scattered cumulus clouds d) Steady precipitation What kind of pressure systems travel in easterly waves? a) High pressure b) Low pressure c) Subsurface pressure d) Terrastatic pressure What kind of weather would you expect to accompany the passage of a tropical wave? a) Heavy rain and cloudiness b) Good weather c) A tropical storm d) Dense fog What level of development of a tropical cyclone has a hundred mile radius of circulation, gale force winds, less than 990 millibars of pressure and vertically formed cumulonimbus clouds? a) A tropical disturbance b) A tropical depression c) A tropical storm d) A typhoon What occurs when rising air cools to the dew point? a) Advection fog forms b) Humidity decreases c) Winds increase d) Clouds form What should you expect when you encounter a tsunami in the open ocean? a) Violent seas from mixed directions b) No noticeable change from the existing sea state c) Winds increasing to gale force from the northwest in the Northern Hemisphere d) A major wave of extreme height and length What type of clouds are associated with a cold front? a) Altostratus and fracto-cumulus b) Altostratus and cirrus c) Cirrus and cirrostratus d) Cumulus and cumulonimbus What weather change accompanies the passage of a cold front in the Northern Hemisphere? a) Wind shift from northeast clockwise to southwest b) Steady dropping of barometric pressure c) Steady precipitation, gradually increasing in intensity d) A line of cumulonimbus clouds What will a veering wind do? a) Change direction in a clockwise manner in the Northern Hemisphere b) Circulate about a low pressure center in a counterclockwise manner in the Northern Hemisphere c) Vary in strength constantly and unpredictably d) Circulate about a high pressure center in a clockwise manner in the Southern Hemisphere What will act to dissipate fog? a) Upwelling cold water b) Advection of warm air over a colder surface c) Rain that is warmer than air d) Downslope motion of an air mass along a coast What winds blow towards the equator from the area about 30° north? a) Prevailing westerlies b) Roaring thirties c) Equatorial flow d) Northeast trades When a cold air mass and a warm air mass meet, and there is no horizontal motion of either air mass, it is called a(n) __________. a) cold front b) occluded front c) stationary front d) warm front When a current flows in the opposite direction to the waves, the wave __________. a) length is increased b) height is increased c) velocity increases d) length is unchanged When a low pressure area is approaching, the weather generally __________. a) improves b) worsens c) remains the same d) is unpredictable When a hurricane passes over colder water or land and loses its tropical characteristics, the storm becomes a(n) __________. a) high pressure area b) extratropical low-presure system c) tropical storm d) easterly wave When a warm air mass is adjacent to a cold air mass, the separation line between the two is called a(n) __________. a) front b) isobar c) isotherm d) equipotential line When a warm air mass overtakes and replaces a cold air mass, the contact surface is called a(n) ________. a) warm front b) cold front c) line squall d) occluded front When crossing a front isobars tend to __________. a) change from smooth curves within the air mass to sharp bends at the front b) change from sharp bends within the air mass to smooth curves at the front c) pass smoothly across the front with no change d) become closer together at the front and pass through in straight lines When drawing a weather map and an isobar crosses a front, the isobar is drawn __________. a) perpendicular to the front b) kinked and pointing away from the low c) kinked and pointing towards the low d) kinked and pointing towards the high for a warm front only When facing into the wind in the Northern Hemisphere the center of low pressure lies __________. a) directly in front of you b) directly behind you c) to your left and behind you d) to your right and behind you When is the peak of the hurricane season in the western North Pacific? a) January through March b) April through June c) July through October d) November through December When operating in an area where sea ice and icebergs are present, which statement is true? a) Icebergs may travel in a direction many degrees different from the sea ice. b) Both icebergs and sea ice will move in approximately the same direction and at the same speed. c) Icebergs and sea ice will move in the same direction, but at different speeds due to the sail effect of the berg. d) Icebergs and sea ice will move in the same direction, but the iceberg will move slower because of its underwater bulk. When recording the wind direction in the weather log, you would report the __________. a) direction the wind is blowing toward b) direction the wind is blowing from c) duration of the maximum gust of wind d) wind chill factor When reporting wind direction, you should give the direction in __________. a) true degrees b) magnetic compass degrees c) relative degrees d) isobaric degrees Where are the prevailing westerlies of the Southern Hemisphere located? a) Between the Equator and 10° latitude b) Between 10° and 20° latitude c) Between 30° and 60° latitude d) Between 60° and 90° latitude Where is the dangerous semicircle located on a hurricane in the Southern Hemisphere? a) To the left of the storm's track b) To the right of the storm's track c) In the high pressure area d) On the south side Which change in the condition of the seas could indicate the formation of a tropical storm or hurricane several hundred miles from your location? a) A long swell from an unusual direction b) A lengthy lull in the wind and seas c) Large seas coming from different directions d) A brisk chop from the southeast Which cloud commonly produces a halo about the Sun or Moon? a) Cirrostratus b) Cirrocumulus c) Altostratus d) Altocumulus Which cloud type is normally associated with thunderstorms? a) Cirrus b) Stratus c) Cumulus d) Cumulonimbus Which condition exists at the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere? a) The north polar regions are in continual darkness. b) The Northern Hemisphere is having short days and long nights. c) The Southern Hemisphere is having winter. d) The Sun shines equally on both hemispheres. Which condition exists in the eye of a hurricane? a) Wind rapidly changing direction b) A temperature much lower than that outside the eye c) Towering cumulonimbus clouds d) An extremely low barometric pressure Which condition will occur after a cold front passes? a) Temperature rises b) Stratus clouds form c) Pressure decreases d) Humidity decreases Which condition would not indicate the approach of a tropical storm? a) Long, high swells b) Cirrus clouds c) Halos about the Sun or Moon d) Decrease in wind velocity Which current would you encounter on a direct passage from southern Africa to Argentina, South America? a) South Atlantic b) South Equatorial c) Agulhas d) Guinea Which current would you encounter on a direct passage from London, England, to Capetown, South Africa? a) Falkland Current b) Brazil Current c) Norway Current d) Benguela Current Which indication on the barometer is most meaningful in forecasting weather? a) The words "Fair - Change - Rain" b) The direction and rate of change of barometric pressure c) The actual barometric pressure d) The relative humidity Which is a characteristic of the weather preceding an approaching warm front? a) Gusty winds b) Steadily falling barometric pressure c) Decreasing relative humidity d) Clearing skies Which is not a contributing cause of ocean currents? a) Surface winds b) Density differences in the water c) Underwater topography d) Gravitational effects of celestial bodies Which is true concerning the speed of fronts? a) Cold fronts move faster than warm fronts. b) Cold fronts move slower than warm fronts. c) Cold fronts and warm fronts move with equal speed. d) Cold fronts move slower at the northern end and faster at the southern end. Which kind of conditions would you observe as the eye of a storm passes over your vessel's position? a) Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and an extremely low barometer b) Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and an extremely low barometer c) Flat calm seas, heavy rain, light winds, and high pressure d) Huge waves approaching from all directions, clearing skies, light winds, and high pressure Which list of clouds is in sequence, from highest to lowest in the sky? a) Altostratus, cirrostratus, stratus b) Cirrostratus, altostratus, stratus c) Stratus, cirrostratus, altostratus d) Altostratus, stratus, cirrostratus Which ocean current is "warm" based on the latitude in which it originates and on the effect it has on climate? a) Kuroshio Current b) Benguela Current c) Peru Current d) California Current Which position includes the effects of wind and current? a) Dead reckoning positions b) Estimated positions c) Leeway position d) Set position Which statement is true concerning weather conditions on the Great Lakes? a) When a vessel is south of an eastward-moving storm center, the approach of the low is evidenced by winds from the north to northeast. b) When a vessel is north of an eastward-moving storm center, changes in the weather are less distinctive than when sailing south of the center. c) The most destructive storms usually come from the northwest or north. d) Thunderstorms are most likely to develop from November through April. Which statement(s) concerning the effect of Coriolis force on ocean currents is(are) correct? a) The deflection of the current is to the left in the Northern Hemisphere. b) The Coriolis force is greater in the lower latitudes. c) The Coriolis force is more effective in deep water. d) All of the above Which term refers to the direction a current is flowing? a) Set b) Drift c) Vector direction d) Stand Which type of cloud is among the most dependable for giving an indication of an approaching weather system? a) Cumulus b) Altostratus c) Cumulostratus d) Nimbus Which type of cloud is composed entirely of ice crystals and is found at very high altitudes? a) Cumulus b) Cirrus c) Stratus d) Nimbostratus Which type of cloud is the classic "thunderhead"? a) Cumulonimbus b) Stratus c) Cirrus d) Altostratus Which type of fog is the most dense and widely spread of those that occur on the Great Lakes? a) Steam fog b) Advection fog c) Radiation fog d) Lake effect fog Which type of weather could you expect soon after seeing "hook" or "comma" shaped cirrus clouds? a) Rain with the approach of a warm front b) Clearing with the approach of a cold front c) Continuing fog and rain d) The formation of a tropical depression Which weather change accompanies the passage of a cold front in the Northern Hemisphere? a) Wind shift from northeast, clockwise to southwest b) Steady dropping of barometric pressure c) Steady precipitation, gradually increasing in intensity d) A line of cumulonimbus clouds Which wind pattern has the most influence over the movement of frontal weather systems over the North American continent? a) Subpolar easterlies b) Northeast trades c) Prevailing westerlies d) Dominant southwesterly flow Which wind results from a land mass cooling more quickly at night than an adjacent water area? a) Coastal breeze b) Sea breeze c) Land breeze d) Mistral While on watch, you notice that the air temperature is dropping and is approaching the dew point. Which type of weather should be forecasted? a) Hail b) Heavy rain c) Sleet d) Fog While passing through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front is crossing western Kentucky and Tennessee. Tomorrow's weather will be dominated by a high pressure area. What weather should you expect tomorrow? a) Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog b) Moderate winds from the northwest, clear visibility and cooler temperatures c) Low overcast; mild temperatures with light, steady rain or drizzle d) Scattered clouds with light, southeasterly winds; high humidity and possibly fog While taking weather observations, you determine that the wind is blowing from the northeast. You would record the wind direction in the weather log as __________. a) 045° b) 090° c) 135° d) 225° While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on the TV news indicates that a cold front will cross western Kentucky and Tennessee the next morning. What weather should accompany this front? a) Light, southerly winds; high humidity and possibly fog b) Overcast with steady, light rain or drizzle c) Gusting winds shifting to the northwest with thunderstorms d) Scattered clouds with light to moderate southeasterly winds and possibly fog While upbound through Memphis, the weather report on TV news indicates that a warm front is stationary over the Kentucky - Missouri - Tennessee areas. What weather conditions should you expect? a) Strong, gusting winds from the NW with thundershowers b) Light winds from the northeast with clear skies c) A "blue norther" d) Southerly winds with steady rain; fog or overcast Wind direction may be determined by observing all of the following except __________. a) low clouds b) waves c) whitecaps d) swells Wind velocity varies __________. a) directly with the temperature of the air mass b) directly with the pressure gradient c) inversely with the barometric pressure d) inversely with the absolute humidity With the passage of an occluded front the temperature __________. a) rises rapidly b) remains about the same c) drops rapidly d) depends on whether warm type or cold type occlusion You are anchored in the Aleutian Island chain and receive word that a tsunami is expected to strike the islands in six hours. What is the safest action? a) Get underway and be in deep, open-ocean water when the tsunami arrives. b) Increase the scope of the anchor cable and drop the second anchor underfoot at short stay. c) Get underway and be close inshore on the side of the island away from the tsunami. d) Plant both anchors with about a 60° angle between them, and let out a long scope to each anchor. You are attempting to locate your position relative to a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere. If the wind direction remains steady, but with diminishing velocity, you are most likely __________. a) in the right semicircle b) in the left semicircle c) on the storm track ahead of the center d) on the storm track behind the center You are enroute from Puerto Rico to New York. A hurricane makes up and is approaching. If the wind veers steadily, this indicates that your vessel is __________. a) in the dangerous semicircle b) in the navigable semicircle c) directly in the path of the storm d) in the storm center You are enroute to Jacksonville, FL, from San Juan, P.R. There is a fresh N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________. a) cirrus clouds b) long swells c) smoother seas and warmer water d) steeper waves, closer together You are enroute to Savannah, GA, from Recife, Brazil. There is a strong N'ly wind blowing. As you cross the axis of the Gulf Stream you would expect to encounter __________. a) cirrus clouds b) long swells c) smoother seas and warmer water d) steeper waves, closer together You are in the Northern Hemisphere and a tropical wave is located 200 miles due east of your position. Where will the wave be located 12 hours later? a) Farther away to the east b) In the same position c) Nearby to the east d) Farther away to the west You are in the Northern Hemisphere and a tropical wave is located 200 miles due west of your position. Where will the wave be located 24 hours later? a) In the same place b) Closer and to the west c) Closer and to the east d) Farther away to the west You are located within a stationary high pressure area. Your aneroid barometer is falling very slowly. This indicates a(n) __________. a) wind shift of 180° b) large increase in wind velocity c) decrease in the intensity of the system d) increase in the intensity of the system You are on a coastwise voyage bound for Marcus Hook, PA. Your speed is 15 knots. You wish to use the flood tide to facilitate docking starboard side to, heading seaward. To have the most favorable tide throughout, you should time your arrival at the entrance to Delaware Bay __________. a) for 1 hour before flood begins b) for 1 hour after flood begins c) for 3 hours after flood begins d) for 1 hour before ebb begins You are plotting a running fix in an area where there is a determinable current. How should this current be treated in determining the position? a) The drift should be added to the ship's speed. b) The course and speed made good should be determined and used to advance the LOP. c) The current should be ignored. d) The set should be applied to the second bearing. You are steaming eastward in the North Atlantic in an extratropical cyclonic storm and the wind is dead ahead. According to the law of Buys Ballot, the center of the low pressure lies __________. a) ahead of you b) astern of you c) to the north d) to the south You are steaming west in the North Atlantic in an extratropical cyclonic storm, and the wind is dead ahead. According to the law of Buys Ballot, the center of low pressure lies to the __________. a) North b) South c) East d) West You are steaming in the open ocean of the North Pacific between the Aleutian Chain and Hawaii. A warning broadcast indicates that an earthquake has occurred in the Aleutians and has generated a tsunami that is predicted to hit Hawaii. What action is necessary for the ship's safety? a) Calculate the tsunami's ETA at your position and turn to a course that will head into the Tsunami. b) Securely stow all loose gear, check deck lashings, and prepare for extreme rolls. c) No special action as tsunamis are inconspicuous in the open ocean d) Prepare for sudden, high-velocity wind gusts from rapidly changing directions. You are steaming west in the South Atlantic in an extratropical cyclonic storm, and the wind is dead ahead. According to the law of Buys Ballot, the center of low pressure lies __________. a) to the north of you b) to the south of you c) dead ahead of you d) dead astern of you You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 11 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 070°T, 80 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 270°T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 11 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA? a) 84 miles b) 79 miles c) 74 miles d) 66 miles You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 13 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 120 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 275°T at 25 knots. What course should you steer at 13 knots to have the maximum CPA? a) 339° b) 333° c) 326° d) 320° You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120°T, 110 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 25 knots. If you maneuver at 12 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA? a) 77 miles b) 82 miles c) 87 miles d) 93 miles You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 120°T, 110 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 25 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA? a) 332° b) 339° c) 346° d) 357° You are underway on course 120°T and can make 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 150°T at 120 miles. The hurricane is on course 295° at 20 knots. What course should you steer at 12 knots to have the maximum CPA? a) 312° b) 330° c) 348° d) 001° You are underway on course 120°T and your maximum speed is 12 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 150°T, 120 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 295°T at 20 knots. If you maneuver at 12 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA? a) 89 miles b) 96 miles c) 105 miles d) 117 miles You have determined that you are in the right semicircle of a tropical cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere. What action should you take to avoid the storm? a) Place the wind on the starboard quarter and hold that course. b) Place the wind on the port quarter and hold that course. c) Place the wind on the port bow and hold that course. d) Place the wind on the starboard bow and hold that course. Your vessel is enroute from Japan to Seattle and is located at position I on the weather map. You should experience which weather condition? a) Clear skies with warm temperatures b) Steady precipitation c) Overcast skies with rising temperature d) Thundershowers Your vessel is going from a warm climate to a cold climate with a hygroscopic cargo. Which statement is true? a) You must ventilate constantly and vigorously to combat ship sweat. b) You should ventilate; there is little danger of ship sweat, but a possibility of cargo sweat. c) There is danger of heavy cargo sweat if you ventilate. d) There is little danger of any sweat problem. Your vessel is on course 270°T, speed 10 knots. The apparent wind is from 10° off the port bow, speed 30 knots. From which direction is the true wind? a) 345°T b) 255°T c) 165°T d) 075°T [Show More]

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