ATSC Snow Midterm Assessment Exam
Questions with Correct Answers
Which of these is a characteristic of right-side-up snow?
A. Typically results from warm-front-dominated storm
B. Poor ski conditions
C. Unstable snow configuration
D. Can result from windy conditions at the end of a storm
E. Typically results from cold-front-dominated storm - Answer-E. Typically results from
cold-front-dominated storm
Which treed or alpine (no trees) area would be the MOST wind-SHELTERED?
A. An alpine valley
B. An alpine slope
C. A treed valley
D. A treed slope
E. An alpine peak - Answer-C. A treed valley
You are going backcountry skiing in the middle of winter. You observe that it is -14˚C
and overcast. What cold temperature hazards should you be aware of?
A. Surface hoar formation, icy patches
B. Wet slab avalanches, low humidity
C. Frostbite, hypothermia
D. Hyperthermia, fog
E. Snow blindness, sunburn - Answer-C. Frostbite, hypothermia
Mountain ski-resort operators and recreational skiers tend to prefer ski pistes that are:
A. Covered in moguls
B. Steep and icy
C. Stably-stratified
D. Wet and slushy
E. Safe, smooth, and durable - Answer-E. Safe, smooth, and durable
For the sequence of weather maps below (left image is earlier in time, right image is
later in time), which shape indicates a region under the influence of a warm front?
(pic)
A. Square
B. Circle
,C. Triangle
D. Diamond
E. Upside-down triangle - Answer-A. Square
In the image below, which location shows a high pressure centre?
(pic)
A. 1
B. 4
C. 2
D. 5
E. 3 - Answer-C. 2
On a 70.0-kPa pressure-level (~3000 m) forecast map over Whistler-Blackcomb ski
resort (peak elevation 2284m), you see that the relative humidity is approximately 80%.
Based on this information alone, what would be a reasonable conclusion regarding
weather conditions?
A. Valley cloud
B. Fog at skiing elevations
C. Cloudy skies above Whistler
D. Cold temperatures
E. Clear skies above Whistler - Answer-C. Cloudy skies above Whistler
Gap winds affect skiers because:
A. The wind speed increases in the across-valley direction
B. Gap winds usually bring faster winds and colder temperatures
C. Gap winds usually bring warmer temperatures and calm winds
D. Gap winds increase humidity within the gap
E. The wind decelerates quickly over ridges - Answer-B. Gap winds usually bring faster
winds and colder temperatures
In the figure below, where would you expect high winds at the surface? (pic)
-B
-C
-D
-A
- E - Answer-- C
In the visible satellite image below, where would you place the cold front? (pic)
-e
-b
-c
-d
- a - Answer-- d
,What is the approximate pressure level at mid-mountain for Grouse Mountain (elevation
= 1000 m)?
A. 60.0 kPa
B. 90.0 kPa
C. 100.0 kPa
D. 80.0 kPa
E. 70.0 kPa - Answer-B. 90.0 kPa
As a forecaster, what is the primary difference between weather maps on TV and real
world weather maps?
A. TV weather maps are more complex than real world maps
B. Real world maps show fewer details than TV maps
C. TV weather maps are actually the same as real world maps
D. Real world maps are more complex than TV maps
D. TV weather maps are interactive, real world maps are not - Answer-D. Real world
maps are more complex than TV maps
The top of a snowpack is influenced primarily by the ____, whereas the bottom of a
snowpack is usually influenced by ____.
A. Atmosphere; ice
B. Snow; soil composition
C. Atmosphere; heat from the ground
D. Snow; heat from the sun
E. Atmosphere; snow - Answer-C. Atmosphere; heat from the ground
You plan to go skiing with friends at Whistler Mountain (elevation ~2000 m), and you
have access to an 85.0-kPa (~1500 m) pressure-level map. The forecasted temperature
at Whistler at 85.0 kPa is -2˚C, and the relative humidity is 65%. What is your estimate
of the free-air temperature for Whistler Mountain?
A. 3˚C
B. -5˚C
C. -12˚C
D. 1˚C
E. -7˚C - Answer-E. -7˚C
In the image below, what area is likely to be the MOST wind-EXPOSED? (Note, the
"areas" are directly AT the letters shown in the figure. They are NOT at any nearby
"pinned" locations.)
(pic)
-E
, -A
-D
-B
- C - Answer-- C
You are going backcountry skiing today. There has recently been a rain-on-snow event,
followed by a period of below-freezing temperatures. What might you expect?
A. Surface hoar
B. Dry sluffs
C. Right-side-up snow
D. Rain crust
E. Slow, wet surface snow - Answer-D. Rain crust
Which of these is a characteristic of dry sluff avalanches?
A. Fracture propagates across slope
B. Fractures out into cohesive blocks
C. Likely to bury you
D. Triggered by meltwater loosening bonds
E. Can knock you off your feet - Answer-E. Can knock you off your feet
Which snow climate characteristically has relatively warm temperatures?
A. Intermountain
B. Transitional
C. Continental
D. Maritime
E. Man-made - Answer-D. Maritime
Assume the wind units convention that we have used throughout this snowsports
section. What does a single "flag" (triangle or pennant) on a wind barb indicate?
A. Safe near-calm wind speeds
B. The triangle shape signifies it is a forecast for a mountain peak
C. A "flag" signifies a note of caution to pilots (or in this case, skiers).
D. Hazardous wind speeds, near 100 km/h at that level in exposed locations
E. Hazardous wind speeds, near 50 km/h in exposed locations - Answer-D. Hazardous
wind speeds, near 100 km/h at that level in exposed locations
What name is given to the type of snowflake shown in the picture below? (pic)
A. Symmetric
B. Stellar dendrite
C. Graupel
D. Column
Questions with Correct Answers
Which of these is a characteristic of right-side-up snow?
A. Typically results from warm-front-dominated storm
B. Poor ski conditions
C. Unstable snow configuration
D. Can result from windy conditions at the end of a storm
E. Typically results from cold-front-dominated storm - Answer-E. Typically results from
cold-front-dominated storm
Which treed or alpine (no trees) area would be the MOST wind-SHELTERED?
A. An alpine valley
B. An alpine slope
C. A treed valley
D. A treed slope
E. An alpine peak - Answer-C. A treed valley
You are going backcountry skiing in the middle of winter. You observe that it is -14˚C
and overcast. What cold temperature hazards should you be aware of?
A. Surface hoar formation, icy patches
B. Wet slab avalanches, low humidity
C. Frostbite, hypothermia
D. Hyperthermia, fog
E. Snow blindness, sunburn - Answer-C. Frostbite, hypothermia
Mountain ski-resort operators and recreational skiers tend to prefer ski pistes that are:
A. Covered in moguls
B. Steep and icy
C. Stably-stratified
D. Wet and slushy
E. Safe, smooth, and durable - Answer-E. Safe, smooth, and durable
For the sequence of weather maps below (left image is earlier in time, right image is
later in time), which shape indicates a region under the influence of a warm front?
(pic)
A. Square
B. Circle
,C. Triangle
D. Diamond
E. Upside-down triangle - Answer-A. Square
In the image below, which location shows a high pressure centre?
(pic)
A. 1
B. 4
C. 2
D. 5
E. 3 - Answer-C. 2
On a 70.0-kPa pressure-level (~3000 m) forecast map over Whistler-Blackcomb ski
resort (peak elevation 2284m), you see that the relative humidity is approximately 80%.
Based on this information alone, what would be a reasonable conclusion regarding
weather conditions?
A. Valley cloud
B. Fog at skiing elevations
C. Cloudy skies above Whistler
D. Cold temperatures
E. Clear skies above Whistler - Answer-C. Cloudy skies above Whistler
Gap winds affect skiers because:
A. The wind speed increases in the across-valley direction
B. Gap winds usually bring faster winds and colder temperatures
C. Gap winds usually bring warmer temperatures and calm winds
D. Gap winds increase humidity within the gap
E. The wind decelerates quickly over ridges - Answer-B. Gap winds usually bring faster
winds and colder temperatures
In the figure below, where would you expect high winds at the surface? (pic)
-B
-C
-D
-A
- E - Answer-- C
In the visible satellite image below, where would you place the cold front? (pic)
-e
-b
-c
-d
- a - Answer-- d
,What is the approximate pressure level at mid-mountain for Grouse Mountain (elevation
= 1000 m)?
A. 60.0 kPa
B. 90.0 kPa
C. 100.0 kPa
D. 80.0 kPa
E. 70.0 kPa - Answer-B. 90.0 kPa
As a forecaster, what is the primary difference between weather maps on TV and real
world weather maps?
A. TV weather maps are more complex than real world maps
B. Real world maps show fewer details than TV maps
C. TV weather maps are actually the same as real world maps
D. Real world maps are more complex than TV maps
D. TV weather maps are interactive, real world maps are not - Answer-D. Real world
maps are more complex than TV maps
The top of a snowpack is influenced primarily by the ____, whereas the bottom of a
snowpack is usually influenced by ____.
A. Atmosphere; ice
B. Snow; soil composition
C. Atmosphere; heat from the ground
D. Snow; heat from the sun
E. Atmosphere; snow - Answer-C. Atmosphere; heat from the ground
You plan to go skiing with friends at Whistler Mountain (elevation ~2000 m), and you
have access to an 85.0-kPa (~1500 m) pressure-level map. The forecasted temperature
at Whistler at 85.0 kPa is -2˚C, and the relative humidity is 65%. What is your estimate
of the free-air temperature for Whistler Mountain?
A. 3˚C
B. -5˚C
C. -12˚C
D. 1˚C
E. -7˚C - Answer-E. -7˚C
In the image below, what area is likely to be the MOST wind-EXPOSED? (Note, the
"areas" are directly AT the letters shown in the figure. They are NOT at any nearby
"pinned" locations.)
(pic)
-E
, -A
-D
-B
- C - Answer-- C
You are going backcountry skiing today. There has recently been a rain-on-snow event,
followed by a period of below-freezing temperatures. What might you expect?
A. Surface hoar
B. Dry sluffs
C. Right-side-up snow
D. Rain crust
E. Slow, wet surface snow - Answer-D. Rain crust
Which of these is a characteristic of dry sluff avalanches?
A. Fracture propagates across slope
B. Fractures out into cohesive blocks
C. Likely to bury you
D. Triggered by meltwater loosening bonds
E. Can knock you off your feet - Answer-E. Can knock you off your feet
Which snow climate characteristically has relatively warm temperatures?
A. Intermountain
B. Transitional
C. Continental
D. Maritime
E. Man-made - Answer-D. Maritime
Assume the wind units convention that we have used throughout this snowsports
section. What does a single "flag" (triangle or pennant) on a wind barb indicate?
A. Safe near-calm wind speeds
B. The triangle shape signifies it is a forecast for a mountain peak
C. A "flag" signifies a note of caution to pilots (or in this case, skiers).
D. Hazardous wind speeds, near 100 km/h at that level in exposed locations
E. Hazardous wind speeds, near 50 km/h in exposed locations - Answer-D. Hazardous
wind speeds, near 100 km/h at that level in exposed locations
What name is given to the type of snowflake shown in the picture below? (pic)
A. Symmetric
B. Stellar dendrite
C. Graupel
D. Column
