ATOC Exam 3 Questions Well Answered Latest Update 2025-2026
Which dimension does not match a possible depth of airmass? - Answers 1-2 meters
Which of the following would typically be the coldest airmass? - Answers Arctic airmass
On a weather map, which marks the transition zone between two air masses with sharply
contrasting properties? - Answers A front
Which of the following locations is not a good North American airmass source region? -
Answers The Pacific Northwest coast
An airmass is defined as a body of air with: - Answers slowly varying values of surface
temperature and moisture content.
Occluded fronts form as a ______ overtakes a ______. - Answers Colf front; warm front
Which of the following statements about dry lines is false? - Answers Dry lines are found most
commonly east of the Mississippi river.
A dry line is a boundary between air masses with similar _____ characteristics and differing
______ characteristics. - Answers Temperature; moisture
What does the symbol for a cold front look like? - Answers A line with triangles facing outward.
Cold, relatively dry air is advancing southeastward. Status clouds are producing light, steady rain
along the frontal boundary. What type of air is most likely present ahead of the front? - Answers
The air is most likely to be warm, moist, and stable.
It is May on the Great Plains. A cold front is advancing towards you. What type of weather
conditions would you expect to find if the cold front is advancing into warm, moist, conditionally
unstable air? - Answers Thunderstorms
Choose the frontal passage......
"Cold temperatures are expected today with winds from the east. Skies will be overcast with
snow developing during the day. Snow is expected to change to freezing rain and then rain later
today. Tomorrows temperatures will be warmer and the weather more pleasant with winds out
of the south." - Answers Warm front
Which of the following statements about extratropical cyclones is not true? - Answers They
form between approximately 5 degrees and 60 degrees North.
A primary tole of extratropical cyclones is to: - Answers Transport heat from the equator to the
poles.
Where might a line of showers and thunderstorms develop south of the low-pressure center in a
, Rocky Mountain cyclone? - Answers Along a dry line, along the cold front, along the upper level
front are all possible (a, b, and c).
Which statement about upslope flow and extratropical cyclones is correct? - Answers The
Rocky Mountains enhance upslope flow associated with cyclones and the region of a cyclone
that experiences upslope flow may also develop strong winds and cold temperatures (a and c).
Which of the following may occur when extratropical cyclones develop on the Plains east of the
Rockies in early spring? - Answers All of the above may occur.
An extratropical cyclone will intensify as long as _____ at the surface is ______ than _____ at the
jetstream level. - Answers Convergence; weaker; divergence.
During the winter a trowal is often associated with _______. - Answers Cloudy skies and
precipitation.
The Gulf of Mexico often provides the moisture necessary to fuel snowfall in Great Plains
blizzards. - Answers True
Which region of the US has the highest annual probability of a blizzard? - Answers Northern
Great Plains
Immediately prior to the formation of the cyclone that eventually creates a Great Plains blizzard,
where would a 500 mb trough most likely be found? - Answers over the Rocky Mountains
As a blizzard-producing cyclone moves eastward, what direction does the associated Arctic
airmass move? - Answers Southward
The National Weather Service issues a blizzard warning when falling or blowing snow is
accompanied by winds exceeding what speed? - Answers 30 knots
What is the highest air temperature for which the National Weather Service will issue a blizzard
warning? - Answers Temperature is not criterion for blizzard conditions.
Which of the following is not an "ingredient" of a severe blizzard? - Answers Low dewpoint
temperatures
Blizzards with which type of cyclone typically have larger snowfall totals? - Answers Colorado
cyclone
What is the term meteorologists use to describe the wrap-around band of warm air about the
surface? - Answers Trowal
What is the term used to describe blizzards caused solely by blowing snow? - Answers Ground
blizzards
Which of the following factors are included in the wind chill? - Answers Temperature and wind
Which dimension does not match a possible depth of airmass? - Answers 1-2 meters
Which of the following would typically be the coldest airmass? - Answers Arctic airmass
On a weather map, which marks the transition zone between two air masses with sharply
contrasting properties? - Answers A front
Which of the following locations is not a good North American airmass source region? -
Answers The Pacific Northwest coast
An airmass is defined as a body of air with: - Answers slowly varying values of surface
temperature and moisture content.
Occluded fronts form as a ______ overtakes a ______. - Answers Colf front; warm front
Which of the following statements about dry lines is false? - Answers Dry lines are found most
commonly east of the Mississippi river.
A dry line is a boundary between air masses with similar _____ characteristics and differing
______ characteristics. - Answers Temperature; moisture
What does the symbol for a cold front look like? - Answers A line with triangles facing outward.
Cold, relatively dry air is advancing southeastward. Status clouds are producing light, steady rain
along the frontal boundary. What type of air is most likely present ahead of the front? - Answers
The air is most likely to be warm, moist, and stable.
It is May on the Great Plains. A cold front is advancing towards you. What type of weather
conditions would you expect to find if the cold front is advancing into warm, moist, conditionally
unstable air? - Answers Thunderstorms
Choose the frontal passage......
"Cold temperatures are expected today with winds from the east. Skies will be overcast with
snow developing during the day. Snow is expected to change to freezing rain and then rain later
today. Tomorrows temperatures will be warmer and the weather more pleasant with winds out
of the south." - Answers Warm front
Which of the following statements about extratropical cyclones is not true? - Answers They
form between approximately 5 degrees and 60 degrees North.
A primary tole of extratropical cyclones is to: - Answers Transport heat from the equator to the
poles.
Where might a line of showers and thunderstorms develop south of the low-pressure center in a
, Rocky Mountain cyclone? - Answers Along a dry line, along the cold front, along the upper level
front are all possible (a, b, and c).
Which statement about upslope flow and extratropical cyclones is correct? - Answers The
Rocky Mountains enhance upslope flow associated with cyclones and the region of a cyclone
that experiences upslope flow may also develop strong winds and cold temperatures (a and c).
Which of the following may occur when extratropical cyclones develop on the Plains east of the
Rockies in early spring? - Answers All of the above may occur.
An extratropical cyclone will intensify as long as _____ at the surface is ______ than _____ at the
jetstream level. - Answers Convergence; weaker; divergence.
During the winter a trowal is often associated with _______. - Answers Cloudy skies and
precipitation.
The Gulf of Mexico often provides the moisture necessary to fuel snowfall in Great Plains
blizzards. - Answers True
Which region of the US has the highest annual probability of a blizzard? - Answers Northern
Great Plains
Immediately prior to the formation of the cyclone that eventually creates a Great Plains blizzard,
where would a 500 mb trough most likely be found? - Answers over the Rocky Mountains
As a blizzard-producing cyclone moves eastward, what direction does the associated Arctic
airmass move? - Answers Southward
The National Weather Service issues a blizzard warning when falling or blowing snow is
accompanied by winds exceeding what speed? - Answers 30 knots
What is the highest air temperature for which the National Weather Service will issue a blizzard
warning? - Answers Temperature is not criterion for blizzard conditions.
Which of the following is not an "ingredient" of a severe blizzard? - Answers Low dewpoint
temperatures
Blizzards with which type of cyclone typically have larger snowfall totals? - Answers Colorado
cyclone
What is the term meteorologists use to describe the wrap-around band of warm air about the
surface? - Answers Trowal
What is the term used to describe blizzards caused solely by blowing snow? - Answers Ground
blizzards
Which of the following factors are included in the wind chill? - Answers Temperature and wind
