073/SPECIMEN English

METEOROLOGY / 073 / MÉTÉOROLOGIE

Marine Safety Directorate

la Direction de la Sécurité maritime

Department of Transport - Ministère des transports

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Duration of this examination is three hours.

2. The Meteorology Examination (073) consists of:

(a) 25 Multiple Choice Questions worth two marks each.

(b) 5 Descriptive calculation and simple drawing questions worth 10 marks each

3. No pencil or ink marks are to be made on this booklet. The 25 Multiple Choice questions are to be answered on the special card provided and the other 5 questions on working paper. All examination booklets, working paper and answer cards are to be returned on completion of the examination.

4. Each candidate's name is to appear in block capitals on the left hand side of the blue answer card followed by the booklet number and date of the examination.

5. Candidates are to indicate answers by darkening each appropriate block on the blue answer card with an H.B. pencil. Do not circle or mark the responses with an X or fold the card. Disregard the column "5" on the blue answer card.

6. READ EACH QUESTION carefully and select the MOST APPROPRIATE answer. Three of the four listed responses are partially correct or incorrect. Comprehension of the questions setting and your professional knowledge precede the selection of the correct response.

7. EXAMPLE

13. Which is the furthest east of the following Canadian Provinces?:

1. Nova Scotia,

2. Newfoundland,

3. Quebec,

4. Prince Edward Island.

The correct response is "No. 2 Newfoundland", and so the second rectangle in question No. 13 would be pencil darkened on the blue answer card.

1. 07-01-02-01-01-01-00

The tropopause is the boundary layer between the:

1. earth and the troposphere

2. earth and the stratosphere

3. troposphere and the stratosphere

4. troposphere and the ozone layer

2 MARKS

2. 07-01-05-01-01-01-00

The lower levels of the atmosphere are heated by the:

1. incoming short wave radiation from the sun

2. incoming long wave radiation from the sun

3. outgoing short wave radiation from the earth

4. outgoing long wave radiation from the earth

2 MARKS

3. 07-01-07-03-01-01-00

If the temperature at 300 m is 10°C in a rising current of unsaturated air, what would the temperature be at 3 000 m?

1. 1°C

2. -7°C

3. -17°C

4. -27°C

2 MARKS

4. 07-04-01-05-01-01-00

The belt of light and variable winds between the westerly wind belt and the North East trade winds is known as the:

1. Doldrums

2. Intertropical Convergence Zone

3. Subtropical High Pressure Region

4. Polar Front Zone

2 MARKS

5. 07-03-08-01-01-01-00

In low latitude areas, knowledge of the diurnal variation of pressure is important, because it :

1. may assist in giving the first indication of an approaching Tropical Revolving Storm (T.R.S.)

2. gives indication of a line squall approaching

3. indicates an immediate change in wind force and direction

4. indicates an approaching depression

2 MARKS

6. 07-04-01-02-01-01-00

The Coriolis force:

1. is due to the earth's rotation

2. is an apparent deflecting force on windflow

3. causes a deflection of wind to the right in the Northern Hemisphere

4. is all of the above

2 MARKS

7. 07-04-03-01-01-01-00

The Southwest Indian Monsoon is caused by:

1. a high pressure area over India

2. a low pressure area over N.W. India

3. the wind blowing from a low pressure to a high pressure area

4. a low pressure area over the Southwest part of the Indian Ocean

2 MARKS

8. 07-05-01-01-02-01-00

Below is air data from four stations. Which of them are in the same air mass?

A B C D

Temperature: 21°C 22°C 20°C 16°C

Dew Point: 6°C 11°C 9°C 5°C

Pressure: 103.4 kPA 104.0 kPA 98.8 kPA 98.6 kPA

1. A and B

2. B and C

3. C and D

4. all stations are in the same air mass

2 MARKS

9. 07-05-05-01-02-01-00

Which of the following is a front?

1. a transtional area between continental size air masses each having their own characteristic type of weather

2. a dividing zone between different air masses

3. a belt of comparatively bad weather

4. all of the above

2 MARKS

10. 07-06-09-01-01-01-00

Which of the following clouds fits this description? "Thick clouds with nearly horizontal base, upper surface is dome shaped, appearing very hard and clear cut".

1. cirrocumulus

2. altocumulus

3. stratocumulus

4. cumulus

2 MARKS

11. 07-07-04-02-01-01-00

Which of the conditions below does not favour the formation of advection fog?

1. force 4 winds (Beaufort scale)

2. warm moist air over a cold surface

3. change in wind direction

4. high relative humidity

2 MARKS

12. 07-08-01-05-01-01-00

The diagram below shows a simple ocean wave. Which letter indicates the period of the wave?

1. A

2. B

3. C

4. D

2 MARKS

13. 07-08-05-01-01-01-00

Which of the following statements about Tsunamis is in error?

1. they are ocean waves caused by severe disturbance on the ocean floor or shore

2. their speed in deep water can reach 400 knots

3. a Tsunami warning system is in operation in the Pacific Ocean

4. in deep water, the Tsunamis can cause waves 15 m high

2 MARKS

14. 07-05-05-04-01-01-00

Your vessel is on passage from Montreal to Bremen. What cloud is typical along the line of the cold front?

1. altocumulus

2. cumulonimbus

3. altostratus

4. fair weather cumulus

2 MARKS

15. 07-05-05-04-02-01-00

In mid-July, a vessel in the Eastern Atlantic is overtaken by a cold front and the widespread stratus clouds give way to clear skies. The temperature will:

1. remain the same

2. increase slightly for a few hours then decrease

3. decrease slightly for a few hours then increase

4. decrease

2 MARKS

16. 07-09-02-01-01-01-00

The first sign of freezing in sea water is the formation of _______ ice.

1. grease

2. frazil

3. pancake

4. young

2 MARKS

17. 07-09-05-02-01-01-00

When escorting ships in ice, Canadian Coast Guard Icebreakers use which of the following to indicate the icebreaker has become stopped?

1. two rotating red lights

2. the single letter "G" (by sound, visual or R/T signal)

3. two flashing amber lights at least 6.0 m apart, horizontally fitted abaft the main mast

4. three white lights on the port or starboard yardarm, and by day, 3 black balls

2 MARKS

18. 07-10-02-02-01-01-00

The usual track of a Southern Hemisphere tropical revolving storm is which of the following?

1. 1

2. 2

3. 3

4. 4

2 MARKS

19. 07-10-05-02-01-01-00

Whilst crossing the Caribbean Sea, you encounter a hurricane. With insufficient sea room and shelter not available, you discover the vessel to be in the navigable semi-circle. The accepted manoeuvre is to:

1. heave to with the wind on the starboard bow

2. heave to with the wind on the port bow

3. run with the wind on the port quarter

4. run with the wind on the starboard quarter

2 MARKS

20. 07-11-02-01-02-01-00

Eastward of 46°W, the Gulfstream ceases to be well defined. The resulting easterly flow is known as the:

1. Azores Current

2. North Atlantic Current

3. Portuguese Current

4. Canary Current

2 MARKS

BASED ON THE SYNOPTIC CHART SHOWN, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING FIVE (5) QUESTIONS:

21. 07-14-04-02-01-01-00

A vessel is in position 38° 15'N, 45° 30'W steering north at 10 knots. The barometric tendency would be:

1. falling steadily

2. remaining constant

3. steady then falling

4. falling then rising

2 MARKS

22. 07-14-04-03-01-01-00

A vessel is in position 38° 15'N, 45° 30'W steering north at 10 knots. The estimated wind is:

1. south, force 6

2. southwesterly, force 3

3. north, force 3 to 4

4. north easterly, force 6

2 MARKS

23. 07-14-04-05-01-01-00

A vessel is in position 38° 15'N, 45° 30'W steering north at 10 knots. The probable wave height is:

1. less than 1 m

2. less than 2 m

3. less than 3 to 4 m

4. greater than 5 m

2 MARKS

24. 07-14-04-05-02-01-00

A vessel is in position 38° 15'N, 45° 30'W steering north at 10 knots. The sea direction would probably be from:

1 NE

2. SE

3. SW

4. NW

2 MARKS

25. 07-14-04-06-01-01-00

A vessel is in position 38° 15'N, 45° 30'W steering north at 10 knots. The probable visibility is:

1. poor with dense fog

2. moderate with fog patches

3. good with cirrostratus clouds

4. excellent with little or no cloud

2 MARKS

1. Describe the Polar Front and its effect upon Canadian weather.

10 MARKS

2. Show clearly, with the aid of sketches, why there is usually a rapid shift in wind direction as a front passes the observer.

10 MARKS

3. Give, with the aid of a simple diagram, the surface currents you would encounter on a voyage from St. John's, Newfoundland, to Vancouver, BC, via the Panama Canal in the fall of the year.

10 MARKS

4. Sketch and name all the parts of a Tropical Revolving Storm, illustrating the track, alternate and characteristic paths and wind direction for the Northern Hemisphere.

10 MARKS

5. Why are icebergs found in the East Coast of Canada and yet not in the waters of the West Coast of Canada?

10 MARKS