Tracking the Path: Cyclone Prediction Quiz

If scientists need to see a storm that is hundreds of miles wide, then they need a view from a very high altitude; if satellites orbit the Earth, then they provide the perfect "bird's-eye view" to monitor cloud patterns.

If weather involves many complex variables like wind and pressure, then humans cannot calculate all changes quickly; if computer models process vast data, then they are the primary tool for forecasting paths.

If satellite data is sometimes not precise enough for internal pressure, then scientists must go inside the storm; if "Hurricane Hunters" are reinforced planes, then they are the specific tool used for this task.

If falling air pressure indicates a strengthening cyclone, then scientists must measure atmospheric weight; if a barometer measures pressure, then it is the correct instrument for this prediction.

If a cyclone's growth depends on conditions high in the sky, then data must be collected above ground; if a radiosonde is a sensor package carried by a balloon, then it provides this vertical data.

If radar works by bouncing radio waves off rain droplets, then it has a limited range; if a storm is thousands of miles away, then it is beyond radar range and must be tracked by satellite instead.

If the "category" of a cyclone is determined by how fast the wind is moving, then wind speed must be measured; if an anemometer is the tool for measuring wind, then it is the correct choice.

If we have current data and want to know the future, then we must use mathematical formulas; if these formulas simulate the atmosphere, then the process is called numerical weather prediction.

If cyclones get their energy from warm water, and if water must be at least 26.5°C to fuel them, then tracking SST tells scientists if a storm has the fuel needed to strengthen.

If a warning needs to reach thousands of people instantly, then electronic communication is required; if radio, TV, and social media reach large audiences, then they are the standard tools for alerts.

If a "Watch" indicates that conditions are possible but not certain, then the storm is still in the distance; if the storm had already hit, then a "Warning" or emergency status would be in effect.

If a plane cannot fly at all altitudes, then it must drop sensors to "see" the air below it; if a dropsonde falls through the storm, then it records the vertical layers of temp and wind.

If a storm moves across a rotating planet, then its path will be deflected; if this deflection is a known physical law, then it is called the Coriolis Effect.

If scientists need to know exactly how fast winds are moving near houses, then they need high-resolution local data; if Doppler radar detects the motion of raindrops, then it provides precise wind speed.

If scientists need to know what is happening at the ocean's surface where planes can't stay, then they need floating stations; if buoys are anchored in the sea, then they provide constant surface data.

If a cyclone is weak, then its center is messy; if the rotation becomes very fast and intense, then it clears out a distinct center; therefore, a clear eye indicates a powerful storm.

If a cyclone is a "leaf in a stream," then it is pushed by large-scale winds and pressures; if Earth's rotation affects direction, then models must calculate all three of these factors.

If a "Watch" is for possible conditions, then a "Warning" is for when the threat is imminent; if the 36-hour mark is the standard for immediate action, then it is a Warning.

If forecasts are not 100% perfect, then there is a margin of error; if the "cone" gets wider over time, then it represents the growing range of possible paths the storm center could take.

If visible cameras need sunlight to see clouds, then they are useless at night; if infrared sensors detect heat instead of light, then they can "see" the storm's heat signature 24 hours a day.