PROFESSIONAL METEOROLOGIST
CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which layer of the atmosphere contains most weather phenomena?
A. Mesosphere
B. Stratosphere
C. Troposphere
D. Thermosphere
Rationale: The troposphere contains most atmospheric moisture and is
where clouds, storms, and weather processes occur.
2. The primary source of energy driving Earth’s weather system is:
A. Geothermal heat
B. Solar radiation
C. Tidal forces
D. Earth’s core
Rationale: Uneven solar heating creates temperature gradients that drive
atmospheric circulation.
3. Atmospheric pressure generally decreases with increasing:
A. Latitude
B. Humidity
C. Altitude
D. Temperature
Rationale: Air density and pressure decline as elevation increases.
,4. The Coriolis effect is caused by:
A. Earth’s gravity
B. Earth’s rotation
C. Solar radiation
D. Friction
Rationale: Earth’s rotation causes moving air to deflect relative to the
surface.
5. Wind is primarily driven by differences in:
A. Humidity
B. Pressure
C. Latitude
D. Longitude
Rationale: Air moves from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas.
6. Which instrument measures atmospheric pressure?
A. Anemometer
B. Hygrometer
C. Barometer
D. Pyranometer
Rationale: Barometers are designed specifically to measure air pressure.
7. Relative humidity is defined as:
A. Total moisture in the air
B. Ratio of actual vapor pressure to saturation vapor pressure
C. Amount of precipitation
D. Dew point temperature
Rationale: Relative humidity compares existing moisture to the maximum
possible at a given temperature.
8. Dew point is the temperature at which air becomes:
A. Warmed
B. Stable
C. Saturated
, D. Turbulent
Rationale: Dew point indicates when condensation begins.
9. Which cloud type is associated with thunderstorms?
A. Stratus
B. Cirrus
C. Cumulonimbus
D. Altostratus
Rationale: Cumulonimbus clouds produce severe weather including
lightning and hail.
10.An anemometer measures:
A. Temperature
B. Pressure
C. Wind speed
D. Wind direction
Rationale: Wind speed is measured using an anemometer.
11.A radiosonde is used to measure:
A. Ocean currents
B. Upper-air conditions
C. Soil moisture
D. Solar radiation
Rationale: Radiosondes provide vertical profiles of temperature, humidity,
and pressure.
12.The lapse rate describes the rate of change of:
A. Pressure with latitude
B. Temperature with height
C. Wind with altitude
D. Humidity with time
Rationale: Lapse rate quantifies how temperature changes with elevation.
13.The dry adiabatic lapse rate is approximately:
A. 4°C/km
CERTIFICATION EXAM QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. Which layer of the atmosphere contains most weather phenomena?
A. Mesosphere
B. Stratosphere
C. Troposphere
D. Thermosphere
Rationale: The troposphere contains most atmospheric moisture and is
where clouds, storms, and weather processes occur.
2. The primary source of energy driving Earth’s weather system is:
A. Geothermal heat
B. Solar radiation
C. Tidal forces
D. Earth’s core
Rationale: Uneven solar heating creates temperature gradients that drive
atmospheric circulation.
3. Atmospheric pressure generally decreases with increasing:
A. Latitude
B. Humidity
C. Altitude
D. Temperature
Rationale: Air density and pressure decline as elevation increases.
,4. The Coriolis effect is caused by:
A. Earth’s gravity
B. Earth’s rotation
C. Solar radiation
D. Friction
Rationale: Earth’s rotation causes moving air to deflect relative to the
surface.
5. Wind is primarily driven by differences in:
A. Humidity
B. Pressure
C. Latitude
D. Longitude
Rationale: Air moves from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas.
6. Which instrument measures atmospheric pressure?
A. Anemometer
B. Hygrometer
C. Barometer
D. Pyranometer
Rationale: Barometers are designed specifically to measure air pressure.
7. Relative humidity is defined as:
A. Total moisture in the air
B. Ratio of actual vapor pressure to saturation vapor pressure
C. Amount of precipitation
D. Dew point temperature
Rationale: Relative humidity compares existing moisture to the maximum
possible at a given temperature.
8. Dew point is the temperature at which air becomes:
A. Warmed
B. Stable
C. Saturated
, D. Turbulent
Rationale: Dew point indicates when condensation begins.
9. Which cloud type is associated with thunderstorms?
A. Stratus
B. Cirrus
C. Cumulonimbus
D. Altostratus
Rationale: Cumulonimbus clouds produce severe weather including
lightning and hail.
10.An anemometer measures:
A. Temperature
B. Pressure
C. Wind speed
D. Wind direction
Rationale: Wind speed is measured using an anemometer.
11.A radiosonde is used to measure:
A. Ocean currents
B. Upper-air conditions
C. Soil moisture
D. Solar radiation
Rationale: Radiosondes provide vertical profiles of temperature, humidity,
and pressure.
12.The lapse rate describes the rate of change of:
A. Pressure with latitude
B. Temperature with height
C. Wind with altitude
D. Humidity with time
Rationale: Lapse rate quantifies how temperature changes with elevation.
13.The dry adiabatic lapse rate is approximately:
A. 4°C/km
