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ATSC 231 Block 5 Exam Practice
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
How can you identify the locations of possible turbulence associated with thunderstorms - ✔✔• Outflow
Phenomena
- Derecho
- Downburst
- Microburst
- Gust Front
What is the phenomena that produce low altitude turbulence with a thunderstorm - ✔✔- Derecho
- Downburst
- Microburst
- Gust Front
How can you distinguish between derecho, downburst, microburst and gust front - ✔✔Derecho - A
widespread, long lived, straight line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe
thunderstorm
Downburst - An area of strong, often damaging winds produced by one or more convective downdrafts
over an area from less than 1 to 400 km in horizontal dimensions.
Emily Charlene © 2025, All Rights Reserved.
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Microburst - A convective downdraft (downburst) that covers an area less than 4 km (2.5 miles) along a
side with peak winds that last 2 to 5 minutes.
Gust front - The leading edge of the outflow air from a thunderstorm
What are the characteristics of wet and dry microbursts - ✔✔Wet - Microburst Accompanied by Heavy
Precipitation at Surface
Dry - Microburst Accompanied by Little Precipitation at Surface (or virga)
What are the characteristics of microbursts in general including life cycle, symmetry and strength -
✔✔Average strength of a microburst is about 50 knots
perfectly symmetrical, except if acompanied by strong wind that makes the Convective Cell Move with
the Wind
EXAM Q - Microbursts are the strongest 5 minutes after they hit the ground
What are the characteristics and visual features of gust fronts - ✔✔• May precede precipitation up to 15
mi
if stationary, outflow will move in all directions
If storm is moving, you can add the speed of the storm to the outflow (but only in front of it)
Emily Charlene © 2025, All Rights Reserved.
ATSC 231 Block 5 Exam Practice
Questions and Answers 100% Pass
How can you identify the locations of possible turbulence associated with thunderstorms - ✔✔• Outflow
Phenomena
- Derecho
- Downburst
- Microburst
- Gust Front
What is the phenomena that produce low altitude turbulence with a thunderstorm - ✔✔- Derecho
- Downburst
- Microburst
- Gust Front
How can you distinguish between derecho, downburst, microburst and gust front - ✔✔Derecho - A
widespread, long lived, straight line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe
thunderstorm
Downburst - An area of strong, often damaging winds produced by one or more convective downdrafts
over an area from less than 1 to 400 km in horizontal dimensions.
Emily Charlene © 2025, All Rights Reserved.
, 2|Page
Microburst - A convective downdraft (downburst) that covers an area less than 4 km (2.5 miles) along a
side with peak winds that last 2 to 5 minutes.
Gust front - The leading edge of the outflow air from a thunderstorm
What are the characteristics of wet and dry microbursts - ✔✔Wet - Microburst Accompanied by Heavy
Precipitation at Surface
Dry - Microburst Accompanied by Little Precipitation at Surface (or virga)
What are the characteristics of microbursts in general including life cycle, symmetry and strength -
✔✔Average strength of a microburst is about 50 knots
perfectly symmetrical, except if acompanied by strong wind that makes the Convective Cell Move with
the Wind
EXAM Q - Microbursts are the strongest 5 minutes after they hit the ground
What are the characteristics and visual features of gust fronts - ✔✔• May precede precipitation up to 15
mi
if stationary, outflow will move in all directions
If storm is moving, you can add the speed of the storm to the outflow (but only in front of it)
Emily Charlene © 2025, All Rights Reserved.
