The following 20 question quiz asks multiple choice questions based on the information covered at the links of the following webpage: http://www.theweatherprediction.com/thermo/ under the headings "Skew-T Log-P Education and Indice Interpretation" and "Skew-T Application"

An answer key is provided at the bottom of this webpage.

1. A parcel of air rising when plotted on the Skew-T can only __________ as it rises.
a. Warm
b. Cool
c. Remain isothermal

2. National Weather Service weather balloon launches are done _________ time(s) per day.
a. One
b. Two
c. Three
d. Four

3. The environmental temperature is the:
a. Wet or dry adiabatic lapse rate
b. Parcel lapse rate
c. Dewpoint lapse rate
d. Actual temperature measured by the weather balloon

4. A sounding with no CAPE has no _____________.
a. Instability
b. Equilibrium Level (EL)
c. Level of Free Convection (LFC)
d. Any answer above

5. A hydrolapse is ______________.
a. A dramatic wind shift with height
b. A dramatic temperature increase with height
c. A dramatic dewpoint decrease with height
d. A dramatic temperature decrease with height

6. The ________ is the pressure level of cloud bases when surface heating results in positive buoyancy of surface based parcels of air.
a. Convective Condensation Level (CCL)
b. Level of Free Convection (LFC)
c. Lifted Condensation Level (LCL)
d. Equilibrium Level (EL)

7. Lifted unsaturated air will _____________ in relative humidity.
a. Increase
b. Decrease
c. Have a constant value

8. At a particular pressure level, this is the temperature that results after complete evaporation occurs into initially unsaturated air:
a. Dewpoint
b. Mixing ratio
c. Wet Bulb
d. Potential

9. This is the distance between two pressure levels and is a function of the temperature and moisture characteristics of that column of air between two pressure levels:
a. Thickness
b. Helicity
d. Temperature gradient

10. An inversion is ______________.
a. A wind shift with height
b. A temperature increase with height
c. A dewpoint increase with height
d. A temperature decrease with height

11. If the temperature is -5 C and the dewpoint is -10 C then the dewpoint depression in Celsius difference is:
a. 15
b. -5
c. 5
d. 15

12. This index assesses the BALANCE between instability and vertical wind shear:
a. Energy Helicity Index (EHI)
b. Lifted Index (LI)
c. Total Totals (TT)
d. Bulk Richardson Number (BRN)

13. Elevated convection from the top of the boundary layer would best be assessed by using the:
a. Showalter Index (SI)
b. Lifted Index (LI)
c. Surface based CAPE
d. Convective Inhibition

14. When CAPE exists, which of the following will be at the highest elevation?:
a. Maximim Parcel Level (MPL)
b. Level of Free Convection (LFC)
c. Equilibrium Level (EL)
d. Lifted Condensation Level (LCL)

15. When forecasting hail which index is least important to know:
a. Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE)
b. Lifted Index (LI)
c. Surface Relative Humidity (SFC RH)
d. Freezing Level (FRZ)

16. A clockwise turning of the wind with height is termed a ___________ wind.
a. Backing
b. Veering
c. Retrograding
d. Decreasing

17. A line of equal temperature is called a(n) __________________.
a. Isodrosotherm
b. Height contour
c. Thickness line
d. Isotherm

18. The wet adiabates will be nearly parallel to the dry adiabates when rising saturated air is:
a. Very warm
b. Accelerating
c. Very cold
d. Deceleration

19. The dry adiabatic lapse rate is equal to:
a. 9.8 C/km
b. 6.5 C/km
c. 5.5 C/km
d. 1.0 C/km

20. Rain that freezes after hitting the ground is:
a. Sleet
b. Freezing rain
c. Graupel
d. Ice Pellets


1. B
2. B
3. D
4. D
5. C
6. A
7. A
8. C
9. A
10. B
11. C
12. D
13. A
14. A
15. C
16. B
17. D
18. C
19. A
20. B