ATSC 113 SNOW Exam test preparation Questions and Must
have solutions Updated version 2025/2026
Your friend calls and tells you that he has made plans to go to Grouse Mountain!
Grouse has an elevation of ~1000 m. Using 85-kpa pressure-level map: the forecasted
temperature is 1˚C and the relative humidity is 95%. What is your estimate of the free-
air temperature? - correct answer 3˚C
What factor(s) do you need to account for when making surface heating or cooling
adjustments to the free-air temperature? Select the best answer. - correct answer Cloud
cover, sun angle, and wind speed
It is a spring afternoon with clear skies and light winds. You have already determined
that the free-air temperature is 4˚C. What is your final temperature forecast after
adjusting for surface heating or cooling? - correct answer 12˚C
You are forecasting for 8:00 am (just before sunrise) on a winter day with partly cloudy
skies and wind speeds of 50 km/h. The free-air temperature is 0˚C. How should you
adjust your morning temperature forecast for surface heating or cooling? - correct
answer Subtract 2˚C
Snowpack temperature gradient: - correct answer Is the most important factor that
influences the evolution of a snowpack.
Under what conditions are faceted crystals produced? - correct answer Large vertical
temperature gradient and fast-moving water vapour
When a substance undergoes a phase change directly from the gas to the solid phase
without the liquid phase in between, this is known as: - correct answer Deposition
How might surface hoar lead to an avalanche? - correct answer Due to its feathery and
delicate nature creating weak bonds
, What is needed for surface hoar to form? - correct answer Clear skies, calm winds
under 15 km/h, and strong temperature inversion above the surface
What characteristics are associated with weakly-bonded snow layers? - correct answer
Faceted snow crystals, surface hoar, newly-fallen snow, large vertical snowpack
temperature gradient
It is spring and you observe that it is 7˚C with sunny, clear skies. What conditions might
you need to be aware of? - correct answer Snowmelt, strong insolation, possible wet
slab avalanche
Which ONE of the following characteristics APPLIES to transitional climates? - correct
answer Moderate snowfall
The descriptions below are characteristic of which snow climate?
Smaller snowfall totals per storm
Arctic airmasses often arrive from the north
More clear-sky days
Higher avalanche danger - correct answer Continental
Low pressure systems, also referred to as cyclones, - correct answer are associated
with bad weather - Lows can be identified by isobars of decreasing pressure the inner-
most isobar encircling the low centre.
Wind chill - correct answer not the actual temperature, but rather the apparent
temperature
A frontal zone - correct answer is defined by a relatively strong horizontal temperature
gradient.
OTHER THAN temperature, what three different indicators can you use to identify a
front on a weather map? - correct answer Relative humidity, trough, wind direction
have solutions Updated version 2025/2026
Your friend calls and tells you that he has made plans to go to Grouse Mountain!
Grouse has an elevation of ~1000 m. Using 85-kpa pressure-level map: the forecasted
temperature is 1˚C and the relative humidity is 95%. What is your estimate of the free-
air temperature? - correct answer 3˚C
What factor(s) do you need to account for when making surface heating or cooling
adjustments to the free-air temperature? Select the best answer. - correct answer Cloud
cover, sun angle, and wind speed
It is a spring afternoon with clear skies and light winds. You have already determined
that the free-air temperature is 4˚C. What is your final temperature forecast after
adjusting for surface heating or cooling? - correct answer 12˚C
You are forecasting for 8:00 am (just before sunrise) on a winter day with partly cloudy
skies and wind speeds of 50 km/h. The free-air temperature is 0˚C. How should you
adjust your morning temperature forecast for surface heating or cooling? - correct
answer Subtract 2˚C
Snowpack temperature gradient: - correct answer Is the most important factor that
influences the evolution of a snowpack.
Under what conditions are faceted crystals produced? - correct answer Large vertical
temperature gradient and fast-moving water vapour
When a substance undergoes a phase change directly from the gas to the solid phase
without the liquid phase in between, this is known as: - correct answer Deposition
How might surface hoar lead to an avalanche? - correct answer Due to its feathery and
delicate nature creating weak bonds
, What is needed for surface hoar to form? - correct answer Clear skies, calm winds
under 15 km/h, and strong temperature inversion above the surface
What characteristics are associated with weakly-bonded snow layers? - correct answer
Faceted snow crystals, surface hoar, newly-fallen snow, large vertical snowpack
temperature gradient
It is spring and you observe that it is 7˚C with sunny, clear skies. What conditions might
you need to be aware of? - correct answer Snowmelt, strong insolation, possible wet
slab avalanche
Which ONE of the following characteristics APPLIES to transitional climates? - correct
answer Moderate snowfall
The descriptions below are characteristic of which snow climate?
Smaller snowfall totals per storm
Arctic airmasses often arrive from the north
More clear-sky days
Higher avalanche danger - correct answer Continental
Low pressure systems, also referred to as cyclones, - correct answer are associated
with bad weather - Lows can be identified by isobars of decreasing pressure the inner-
most isobar encircling the low centre.
Wind chill - correct answer not the actual temperature, but rather the apparent
temperature
A frontal zone - correct answer is defined by a relatively strong horizontal temperature
gradient.
OTHER THAN temperature, what three different indicators can you use to identify a
front on a weather map? - correct answer Relative humidity, trough, wind direction
