Quiz 10 Solutions

1.) From the reading, what is a skilled forecast?

Many people said that a skilled forecast involves intelligent decisions by a forecaster and using models. This is an accurate response, but there is a specific answer I was looking for. However, I did give a point for this answer. By convention, a skilled forecast is a forecast that performs better than just using a forecast based on climatology.

2.) From the reading, define what an ensemble forecast is.

An ensemble forecast is developed by running multiple models and comparing results or to run the same model many times, but alter the initial starting conditions by a little bit.

3.) What is an orographic cloud?

An orographic cloud is a cloud that is formed from terrain effects, such as mountains, forcing air upward and causing condensation. An example of this type of cloud is a lenticular cloud.

4.) Clouds generally combine two descriptive features into their names, what are they? (For example, cirrocumulus is a combination of cirro and cumulus.)

Cloud names are combinations of the cloud's height and shape.

5.) Clouds can tell us a little about atmospheric stability. Do flat clouds form in regions of more stable air or more unstable air?

All clouds occur in a region of instability. However, a flat cloud forms in a region of more stable air. Basically, it will not explosively grow.