Maine Sea Kayak Guide Exam Questions And Answers With Verified Solutions

Cumulus - Formed by rising air currents Classic puffy white clouds Good weather Stratus - Sheets or horizontal layers Formed when air cools to dew point Low, uniform, thin, wispy sheets Fine drizzle Cirrus - Thin, wispy clouds Mares tails Rain in 24 hours Cirrocumulus - Rippled and thin Mackerel skies Ice crystals reflect light and create halo May indicate rain in 24 hours Alto cumulus - Puffy white/gray Indicate rain in 8-10 hours Altostratus - Gray/blue Light rain/snow Nimbostratus - Low, thick, dark grey Steady rain/snowStratocumulus - Thick, grey, irregular Change into nimbostratus Cumulonimbus - Cauliflower shape, flat tops Heavy rain, snow, hail, thunderstorms Cumulus (image) - Stratus (image) - Cirrus (image) - Cirrocumulus (image) - Altocumulus (image) - Altostratus (image) - Nimbostratus (image) - Stratocumulus (image) - Cumulonimbus (image) - 1-3 mph - Light air, glassy/calm water, flag limp 4-7 mph - Light breeze, overall ripple on water, flag stirs/leaves rustle, 0-1/2 ft waves8-12 mph - Gentle breeze Small, glassy waves 1/2-1 ft waves Flag occasionally extends, leaves/twigs in constant motion 13-18 mph - Moderate breeze Longer waves 1-1.5 ft waves Flag flaps, small branches move, dust and paper raised 19-24 mph - Fresh breeze Some whitecaps 1.5-2.5 ft waves Flag ripples, small leafy trees sway 25-31 mph - Strong breeze Regular pattern of whitecaps, some spray 2.5-4 ft waves Flag snaps, larger branches in motion, whistling in wires 32-38 mph - Moderate gale Swells form w/ whitecaps 4-5.5 ft waves Flag fully extended, whole trees in motion, resistance to walking 39-46 mph - Fresh gale Foam blown off wavetops in well marked streaks5.5-7.5 ft waves