ATSC 113 EXAM PREP Q&A 2026 STUDY
GUIDE SOLVED QUESTIONS
◉ Ceiling. Answer: alt of lowest cloud base with cloud coverage ≥ 5
oktas below 20000ft/6km
◉ Cloud Coverage. Answer: Clear (0 oktas) - Few (1,2) - Scattered
(3,4) - Broken (5,6,7) - Overcast (8) - Obscured (9, indef ceiling, i.e.
fog). If cloud cannot be seen from ground -> obscured -> vertical
visibility reported.
◉ Static stability. Answer: Depends on T layering not wind. Cool air
under warm air -> statically stable -> w/o wind shear -> non-
turbulent.
If S>0, stable (night, clear sky, calm winds), becomes non-turbulent.
If S=0, neutral.
If S<0, unstable (sunny days, light wind), turbulent.
◉ CAPE & K-Index. Answer: Convective Available Potential Energy
measures accumulated buoyant E of a rising warm humid air,
proportional to storm violence.
K-Index measures T&dew-point(humidity) at few key alt, useful for
rain-intensity.
◉ Sounding. Answer: Measuring air T at dif. alt. Measured by
rawinsondes.
, ◉ Squall line. Answer: Line of TS not along a front, in warm air, can
be triggered by wind shear or may form from cold front and progress
faster.
◉ Cold & Warm Fronts. Answer: Cold air advances -> cold front.
Warm air advances -> warm front.
◉ Dad Joke. Answer: Today, my son asked "Can I have a book
mark?" and I burst into tears. 11 years old and he still doesn't know
my name is Brian.
◉ cold occlusion. Answer: Advancing cold front has colder air than
the cold air ahead of warm front and merge together.
◉ Dry Line. Answer: A boundary btw dry & humid air at same T.
Dry air denser, moist air rises => TS. Like a cold front.
◉ Cold front. Answer: Southerly in NA, warm humid air advects
from S. Strong winds, gusty, P rel. Min.
Associated w/ Cumuliform clouds.
T decreases w/ time behind the front.
Winds are stronger near fronts
Cold fronts bring a narrow band of precipitaiton
, ◉ Warm front. Answer: Easterly ahead southerly behind, Wind ahead
is cool & humid.
Associated w/ Stratiform clouds ahead. Alongside, extensive low
clouds & fog.
Weak T gradient
Gradual T increase may change the precipitation
Reduced vis & thick clouds/fog
◉ TS. Answer: Convective clouds driven by buoyancy of warm
rising air. Most common in spring & summer. Stay at least 20 nm
away.
◉ TS cells. Answer: *Each is an individual TS.
1) Cumulus: updraft, no rain, no anvil, not vis on radar.
2) mature: up & down drafts, rain, anvil, most violent, rain vis on
radar.
3) Dissipating: Down, raining itself out, leaving ice crystals in the mid
& top, not very vis on radar.
*4) Residue: ice crystals in the anvil, long time to evap, blocks VFR.
◉ Single-cell & Multi-cell storm TS. Answer: basic storms
Single-cell: short-lived (15-30min), not violent.
Multi-cell: 2 or more, each can be at dif. stages.
, ◉ Orographic TS. Answer: Formed when wind blows warm, humid
air towards hills & Mt, if cloud forms -> could develop into TS. If
stationary, flashfloods. Basic Storm (along w/ single & multi-cell).
◉ Bow-echo TS. Answer: Line of TS bent into an arc by fast wind
fromt behind (rear inflow jet).
◉ Mesoscale Convective Complex. Answer: Line/region of strong
TS cells w/ heavy rain followed by moderate & light rain extending
over a broad region. (Mesoscale convective system TS including
squall-line, bow-echo, mesoscale convective vortex).
◉ Mesoscale convective vortex. Answer: After MCC dissipates,
MCV is the remaining non-stormy clouds at mid-alt w/ a slow cc-
rotation. May lead to MCC from heat next day.
◉ Super cell TS. Answer: most dangerous/ longest-lived, updraft
often appear as slow rotating cloud column => mesocyclone
(supercell). Includes (low- & high-precipitation and classic supercells.
◉ Low- & high-precipitation supercell TS. Answer: Low: not much
rain, may produce large hail & downburst winds.
High: rain much more extensive, rain wrapped completely around the
centre of rotation of mesocyclone.
◉ Classic supercell TS. Answer: Though only a small % supercells
spawn tornadoes, they are the strongest.
GUIDE SOLVED QUESTIONS
◉ Ceiling. Answer: alt of lowest cloud base with cloud coverage ≥ 5
oktas below 20000ft/6km
◉ Cloud Coverage. Answer: Clear (0 oktas) - Few (1,2) - Scattered
(3,4) - Broken (5,6,7) - Overcast (8) - Obscured (9, indef ceiling, i.e.
fog). If cloud cannot be seen from ground -> obscured -> vertical
visibility reported.
◉ Static stability. Answer: Depends on T layering not wind. Cool air
under warm air -> statically stable -> w/o wind shear -> non-
turbulent.
If S>0, stable (night, clear sky, calm winds), becomes non-turbulent.
If S=0, neutral.
If S<0, unstable (sunny days, light wind), turbulent.
◉ CAPE & K-Index. Answer: Convective Available Potential Energy
measures accumulated buoyant E of a rising warm humid air,
proportional to storm violence.
K-Index measures T&dew-point(humidity) at few key alt, useful for
rain-intensity.
◉ Sounding. Answer: Measuring air T at dif. alt. Measured by
rawinsondes.
, ◉ Squall line. Answer: Line of TS not along a front, in warm air, can
be triggered by wind shear or may form from cold front and progress
faster.
◉ Cold & Warm Fronts. Answer: Cold air advances -> cold front.
Warm air advances -> warm front.
◉ Dad Joke. Answer: Today, my son asked "Can I have a book
mark?" and I burst into tears. 11 years old and he still doesn't know
my name is Brian.
◉ cold occlusion. Answer: Advancing cold front has colder air than
the cold air ahead of warm front and merge together.
◉ Dry Line. Answer: A boundary btw dry & humid air at same T.
Dry air denser, moist air rises => TS. Like a cold front.
◉ Cold front. Answer: Southerly in NA, warm humid air advects
from S. Strong winds, gusty, P rel. Min.
Associated w/ Cumuliform clouds.
T decreases w/ time behind the front.
Winds are stronger near fronts
Cold fronts bring a narrow band of precipitaiton
, ◉ Warm front. Answer: Easterly ahead southerly behind, Wind ahead
is cool & humid.
Associated w/ Stratiform clouds ahead. Alongside, extensive low
clouds & fog.
Weak T gradient
Gradual T increase may change the precipitation
Reduced vis & thick clouds/fog
◉ TS. Answer: Convective clouds driven by buoyancy of warm
rising air. Most common in spring & summer. Stay at least 20 nm
away.
◉ TS cells. Answer: *Each is an individual TS.
1) Cumulus: updraft, no rain, no anvil, not vis on radar.
2) mature: up & down drafts, rain, anvil, most violent, rain vis on
radar.
3) Dissipating: Down, raining itself out, leaving ice crystals in the mid
& top, not very vis on radar.
*4) Residue: ice crystals in the anvil, long time to evap, blocks VFR.
◉ Single-cell & Multi-cell storm TS. Answer: basic storms
Single-cell: short-lived (15-30min), not violent.
Multi-cell: 2 or more, each can be at dif. stages.
, ◉ Orographic TS. Answer: Formed when wind blows warm, humid
air towards hills & Mt, if cloud forms -> could develop into TS. If
stationary, flashfloods. Basic Storm (along w/ single & multi-cell).
◉ Bow-echo TS. Answer: Line of TS bent into an arc by fast wind
fromt behind (rear inflow jet).
◉ Mesoscale Convective Complex. Answer: Line/region of strong
TS cells w/ heavy rain followed by moderate & light rain extending
over a broad region. (Mesoscale convective system TS including
squall-line, bow-echo, mesoscale convective vortex).
◉ Mesoscale convective vortex. Answer: After MCC dissipates,
MCV is the remaining non-stormy clouds at mid-alt w/ a slow cc-
rotation. May lead to MCC from heat next day.
◉ Super cell TS. Answer: most dangerous/ longest-lived, updraft
often appear as slow rotating cloud column => mesocyclone
(supercell). Includes (low- & high-precipitation and classic supercells.
◉ Low- & high-precipitation supercell TS. Answer: Low: not much
rain, may produce large hail & downburst winds.
High: rain much more extensive, rain wrapped completely around the
centre of rotation of mesocyclone.
◉ Classic supercell TS. Answer: Though only a small % supercells
spawn tornadoes, they are the strongest.
