COBRA Invitational — Meteorology

Name two sources of lift as it relates to thunderstorm development.

For what type of weather pattern was the Fujita Scale developed to measure?

The “ENSO” cycle is an abbreviation for what weather pattern? (1 point for the general term; 2 points for the exact phrase)

What weather-related disaster causes the most deaths in the U.S. each year?

What stage of the thunderstorm cycle is the most dangerous?

What is a unique feature of a super-cell vs. a non-super cell thunderstorm?

Which of the following statements are true? Select all that apply.

What type of thunderstorm is responsible for nearly all of the significant tornadoes in the U.S.?

Along the leading edge of a squall line is a low hanging arc of cloudiness called the ____.

The rate at which a parcel of air cools with increasing elevation is called the:

What type of thunderstorm can produce a tremendous rainfall over a relatively small area, leading to flash flooding?

The semi-permanent high/low that is responsible for directing US hurricanes either up the East coast or into the Gulf of Mexico

Wind flowing from a ridge toward a trough is decreasing in height above the surface.

Just prior to a cloud-to-ground lightning strike, the ground has a negative/____ prevailing charge.

What pushes Atlantic hurricanes west to east?

In terms of compass direction, positive tilted troughs will extend from the lowest pressure ____ to ____ in the Northern Hemisphere. (1/2 point each)

Which types of troughs produce the most severe weather?

Where the height contours are close to each other, it means there is a /slower change in altitude of the constant pressure level and indication of a small/ temperature gradient.

In low precipitation supercells the updraft is on the (front/rear) flank of the storm, and precipitation is (sparse/heavy).

Which statement(s) is/are true of precipitable water (PW)?

High precipitation supercells will have:

What is “pressure gradient”?

The (stronger/weaker) the updraft, the larger the hailstones that can be produced by the thunderstorm.

Tornadoes can be invisible. Circle fact or myth.

If a tornado watch has been issued, this means a tornado has been sighted. Circle fact or myth.

If there is a tornado warning, you should open all the windows in your house or apartment. Circle fact or myth.

If you are driving in a car on a highway and see a tornado behind you, find the nearest overpass and hide under it. Circle fact or myth.

When the tornado siren goes off, go to the innermost room on the lowest level of your house or building. Circle fact or myth.

Tornadoes are attracted to mobile home communities. Circle fact or myth.

Tornadoes can be made up of 2 or more smaller tornadoes called suction vortices. Circle fact or myth.

What is the first stage of the life cycle of the thunderstorm?

What type of wind can create particularly hazardous conditions for pilots and have been responsible for several disasters? Hint: Pilots are trained to recognize this event and many airports are equipped with detection equipment.

Even though Florida has the most thunderstorms in the U.S., the state does not have the most hail storms. Why not?

What is a wind shear?

Name two of the main types of derechos:

Name as many of the favourable environmental conditions for a tropical cyclone as you can.