ATSC Snow Midterm Assessment Exam
Questions with Correct Answers
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
E. Needle - Answer-B. Stellar dendrite
It's quite cold and foggy as you get out of your car in the Revelstoke Mountain Resort
parking lot. But there is a temperature inversion higher up in the alpine. You should:
, A. Call off the ski day, the visibility is unlikely to get better higher up
B. Leave the sunglasses in the car, it gets dark early this time of year
C. Dress in layers, it will be warmer in the alpine
D. Dress appropriately and bundle up, it's going to be a cold one
E. Make sure to put your waterproof shell on, it could rain later - Answer-C. Dress in
layers, it will be warmer in the alpine
On the 85.0-kPa (~1500 m) pressure level map below, look at the temperature and
relative humidity for Whistler (marked with a white "X"). What is the elevation of the rain-
snow line (NOT freezing level)?
(pic)
A. 1600 m
B. 1900 m
C. 2500 m
D. 1300 m
E. 2200 m - Answer-A. 1600 m
In the IR satellite image below, what is the most likely reason that the land appears
darker than the ocean? (pic)
A. It's nighttime
B. The ocean is warmer than the land
C. You can't see low clouds in IR satellite images
D. There are clouds over the ocean.
E. The land is warmer than the ocean - Answer-E. The land is warmer than the ocean
What weather conditions might lead to a soft-packed ski piste in a resort?
A. Recent extremely warm frontal passage
B. Rainy, humid, and overcast
C. Warm temperatures and moderate winds
D. Cold temperatures and strong arctic outflow
E. Recent snowfall, high pressure, and light winds - Answer-E. Recent snowfall, high
pressure, and light winds
Surface hoar forms under ____ skies when the near-surface air-temperature gradient is
____.
A. clear; large
B. cloudy; small
C. cloudy; large
D. clear; small
E. clear; isothermal - Answer-A. clear; large
Questions with Correct Answers
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
E. Needle - Answer-B. Stellar dendrite
It's quite cold and foggy as you get out of your car in the Revelstoke Mountain Resort
parking lot. But there is a temperature inversion higher up in the alpine. You should:
, A. Call off the ski day, the visibility is unlikely to get better higher up
B. Leave the sunglasses in the car, it gets dark early this time of year
C. Dress in layers, it will be warmer in the alpine
D. Dress appropriately and bundle up, it's going to be a cold one
E. Make sure to put your waterproof shell on, it could rain later - Answer-C. Dress in
layers, it will be warmer in the alpine
On the 85.0-kPa (~1500 m) pressure level map below, look at the temperature and
relative humidity for Whistler (marked with a white "X"). What is the elevation of the rain-
snow line (NOT freezing level)?
(pic)
A. 1600 m
B. 1900 m
C. 2500 m
D. 1300 m
E. 2200 m - Answer-A. 1600 m
In the IR satellite image below, what is the most likely reason that the land appears
darker than the ocean? (pic)
A. It's nighttime
B. The ocean is warmer than the land
C. You can't see low clouds in IR satellite images
D. There are clouds over the ocean.
E. The land is warmer than the ocean - Answer-E. The land is warmer than the ocean
What weather conditions might lead to a soft-packed ski piste in a resort?
A. Recent extremely warm frontal passage
B. Rainy, humid, and overcast
C. Warm temperatures and moderate winds
D. Cold temperatures and strong arctic outflow
E. Recent snowfall, high pressure, and light winds - Answer-E. Recent snowfall, high
pressure, and light winds
Surface hoar forms under ____ skies when the near-surface air-temperature gradient is
____.
A. clear; large
B. cloudy; small
C. cloudy; large
D. clear; small
E. clear; isothermal - Answer-A. clear; large
