Meteorology · Clouds — Lenticular
Smooth, lens-shaped lenticular clouds, often near mountains, indicate:
- ACalm conditions everywhere
- BStrong winds aloft and standing mountain waves (turbulence) in the airflow✓ Correct
- CAn approaching fog bank
- DHeavy thunderstorms directly below
Explanation
Lenticular (lens-shaped) clouds form at the crests of standing waves in airflow forced over mountains, marking strong winds aloft and turbulence. Near mountainous coasts they warn of gusty lee winds and rough air, complementing other signs like foehn winds.
Authority: WMO; mountain meteorology
Practice the full Meteorology bank
Free spaced-repetition quizzing across 2550 USCG exam questions — it schedules your reviews so the ones you miss come back until they stick.
Related Meteorology questions
- Atmosphere & Pressure
Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately:
- Atmosphere & Pressure
One millibar (mb) is equal to:
- Atmosphere & Pressure
A barometer that is falling rapidly most likely indicates:
- Atmosphere & Pressure
On a surface weather chart, isobars spaced very close together indicate:
- Wind
By convention, a wind is named for:
- Wind
In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects moving air: