ATMO Exam 4 UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. List four regions in North America where mid-latitude cyclones tend to develop or redevelop -
CORRECT ANSWER - The Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean east of the Carolinas,
Alberta (eastern slopes of Canadian Rockies), Colorado (eastern slopes of U.S. Rockies)
2. What are nor'easters? Why are they given that name? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Midlatitude cyclonic storms that develop or intensify off the eastern seaboard of North America
then move northeastward along the coast, often bringing gale force northeasterly winds to coastal
areas, along with heavy rain, snow or sleet. Their name comes from the typical direction of the
wind (northeasterly) in the hardest hit areas.
3. How does the polar-front jet stream influence the formation of a mid-latitude cyclone? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The polar front jet stream provides areas of divergence aloft.
4. What are the roles of warm, cold, and dry conveyor belts in the development of a mid-latitude
cyclonic storm system? - CORRECT ANSWER - Warm conveyor belt: originates at the
surface in the warm sector, ahead of the cold front. As the warm airstream moves northward, it
slowly rises along the sloping warm front. Water vapor in the rising air condenses, and clouds
form. Aloft, the warm air flow gradually turns toward the northeast or east, parallel to the upper-
level flow. The rising warm air causes cloudiness to appear ahead of the surface low and its
surface warm front. From these clouds, rain or snow usually falls. Directly below the warm
conveyor belt, a cold, moist airstream, the cold conveyor, belt moves slowly westward north of
the surface low and the warm front. As the airstream moves into the vicinity of the surface low,
rising air gradually forces the cold conveyor belt upward. The rising airstream usually turns as it
ascends, producing a comma-shaped cloud. If the airstream rises high enough, it gets caught in
the southwesterly flow aloft and swings northeastward. The last conveyor belt is a dry one that
forms in the upper atmosphere. Called the dry conveyor belt, this airstream slowly descends from
the northwest behind the surface cold front, where it brings generally clearing weather. If a
branch of this dry air sweeps into the storm, it produces a clear area that, in the comma cloud,
appears to pinch off the comma's head from its tail. This phenomenon tends to show up on
satellite pictures as the storm becomes more fully developed.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. List four regions in North America where mid-latitude cyclones tend to develop or redevelop -
CORRECT ANSWER - The Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean east of the Carolinas,
Alberta (eastern slopes of Canadian Rockies), Colorado (eastern slopes of U.S. Rockies)
2. What are nor'easters? Why are they given that name? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Midlatitude cyclonic storms that develop or intensify off the eastern seaboard of North America
then move northeastward along the coast, often bringing gale force northeasterly winds to coastal
areas, along with heavy rain, snow or sleet. Their name comes from the typical direction of the
wind (northeasterly) in the hardest hit areas.
3. How does the polar-front jet stream influence the formation of a mid-latitude cyclone? -
CORRECT ANSWER - The polar front jet stream provides areas of divergence aloft.
4. What are the roles of warm, cold, and dry conveyor belts in the development of a mid-latitude
cyclonic storm system? - CORRECT ANSWER - Warm conveyor belt: originates at the
surface in the warm sector, ahead of the cold front. As the warm airstream moves northward, it
slowly rises along the sloping warm front. Water vapor in the rising air condenses, and clouds
form. Aloft, the warm air flow gradually turns toward the northeast or east, parallel to the upper-
level flow. The rising warm air causes cloudiness to appear ahead of the surface low and its
surface warm front. From these clouds, rain or snow usually falls. Directly below the warm
conveyor belt, a cold, moist airstream, the cold conveyor, belt moves slowly westward north of
the surface low and the warm front. As the airstream moves into the vicinity of the surface low,
rising air gradually forces the cold conveyor belt upward. The rising airstream usually turns as it
ascends, producing a comma-shaped cloud. If the airstream rises high enough, it gets caught in
the southwesterly flow aloft and swings northeastward. The last conveyor belt is a dry one that
forms in the upper atmosphere. Called the dry conveyor belt, this airstream slowly descends from
the northwest behind the surface cold front, where it brings generally clearing weather. If a
branch of this dry air sweeps into the storm, it produces a clear area that, in the comma cloud,
appears to pinch off the comma's head from its tail. This phenomenon tends to show up on
satellite pictures as the storm becomes more fully developed.
