DGCA Meteorology: Thunderstorms Questions
84 exam-style Thunderstorms questions for the DGCA Meteorologypaper (CPL & ATPL). The first 12 are free below with answers and explanations — sign up free to practise all of them with progress tracking.
- Q1
Generally the severest activity of a, heat type, TS is for
- A2 hrs
- B30 to 45 min
- C3 to 4 hr
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 30 to 45 min
A heat (air-mass) thunderstorm is intense but short-lived: its mature stage, with the heaviest rain, lightning and strongest gusts, typically lasts only about 30 to 45 minutes before dissipation sets in.
- Q2
Turbulence near a Cumulonimbus (CB) cloud is experienced:
- AOnly 5 NM outside CB
- BInside CB and 5 NM radius outside
- COnly inside CB
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Inside CB and 5 NM radius outside
CB clouds have strong updrafts, causing rough air inside and up to 5 NM around.
- Q3
Norwesters occur during
- AJan-Feb
- BMar-May
- CJune-Sep
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Mar-May
Norwesters (Kalbaisakhi) are violent pre-monsoon thunderstorms of east and northeast India, occurring during March to May when intense surface heating combines with moisture inflow from the Bay of Bengal.
- Q4
Where is a squall line to be expected?
- AIn front of an active cold front.
- BBehind a cold front.
- CIn front of a cold front occlusion at higher levels.
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Correct answer: A. In front of an active cold front.
Squall lines typically develop ahead of an active cold front, where warm, moist, unstable air is being lifted, producing a line of vigorous thunderstorms in advance of the front itself.
- Q5
Norwesters normally occur during
- AMornings
- BAfternoons
- CNights
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Afternoons
Norwesters are triggered by maximum daytime heating acting on moist, unstable air, so they normally break out in the afternoon and evening.
- Q6
In cyclones, severe weather (e.g., hail, tornadoes) occurs at temperatures:
- A+5°C to +15°C
- B-5°C to -15°C
- C0°C isotherm
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Correct answer: B. -5°C to -15°C
Hail and tornadoes form in cyclones at -5°C to -15°C, where updrafts are strong.
- Q7
Thunderstorms will occur on a warm front:
- AWhen air is warm moist and cools quicker than SALR
- BWhen air is cold moist and cools quicker than SALR
- CWhen air is warm moist and cools slower than DALR
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Correct answer: A. When air is warm moist and cools quicker than SALR
Thunderstorms become embedded in warm-frontal cloud when the warm, moist air being lifted is unstable, that is, when the environment cools with height faster than the saturated adiabatic lapse rate, so saturated rising air stays warmer than its surroundings and deep convection develops.
- Q8
Generally the severest activity of a, heat type, TS is for
- A30 to 45 min
- B2 hrs
- C3 to 4 hr
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 30 to 45 min
A heat thunderstorm's most severe phase, the mature stage with heavy rain, lightning and strong gusts, generally lasts only about 30 to 45 minutes before the cell begins to dissipate.
- Q9
Generally the severest activity of a, heat type, TS is for
- A2 hrs
- B30 to 45 min
- C3 to 4 hr
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 30 to 45 min
The severest activity of a heat thunderstorm, its mature stage of heavy rain, lightning and gusty downdraughts, typically lasts about 30 to 45 minutes.
- Q10
The diametre of and Macroburst
- A 4 km or more
- B ‹ 4 km
- C › 8 km
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 4 km or more
A macroburst is a downburst whose outflow of damaging winds extends over a horizontal distance of 4 km or more, lasting typically 5 to 30 minutes. A downburst smaller than 4 km across is classified as a microburst.
- Q11
What is the approximate maximum diameter of a microburst?
- A20 km
- B50 km
- C4 km
- D400 m
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Correct answer: C. 4 km
This Explanation is Coming Soon
- Q12
Which of the following causes echoes on meteorological radar screens?
- AWater vapour
- BFog
- CAny cloud
- DHail
Show answer
Correct answer: D. Hail
This Explanation is Coming Soon
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