Question 1 of 15
What instrument measures air pressure?
Why: Barometers are essential for forecasting.
Question 2 of 15
What instrument measures wind speed?
Why: Cup and sonic anemometers are the common types.
Question 3 of 15
What instrument measures humidity?
Why: Psychrometers are also acceptable — a wet-and-dry-bulb variant.
Question 4 of 15
What instrument measures rainfall?
Why: All are names for the same thing.
Question 5 of 15
What technology uses radio waves to detect precipitation?
Why: The word 'radar' is short for RAdio Detection And Ranging.
Question 6 of 15
What type of radar detects motion using frequency shift?
Why: Doppler radar is essential for tornado warnings.
Question 7 of 15
What weather balloon instrument sends data as it rises?
Why: Radiosondes are launched twice daily worldwide.
Question 8 of 15
What scale measures wind at sea?
Why: Sir Francis Beaufort devised it in 1805.
Question 9 of 15
What map line connects points of equal pressure?
Why: Isobars appear on synoptic charts.
Question 10 of 15
What map line connects points of equal temperature?
Why: Isotherms show temperature gradients.
Question 11 of 15
Who invented the mercury barometer?
Why: Evangelista Torricelli, in 1643.
Question 12 of 15
What US model is a common deterministic forecast tool?
Why: The GFS runs 4 times daily out to 384 hours.
Question 13 of 15
What European center's model is highly regarded for accuracy?
Why: Based in Reading, England.
Question 14 of 15
What is CAPE?
Why: Higher CAPE = more instability = bigger storms possible.
Question 15 of 15
What is a 'sounding'?
Why: Soundings are plotted on skew-T diagrams.