Wildland Firefighting Practice Exam

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Get ready for the Wildland Firefighting Exam. Study essential skills and knowledge with our interactive quizzes and in-depth resources. Prepare yourself to ace the exam and embark on an essential career in fire management!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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How are winds defined that occur when the sun sets, leading to surface cooling?

Upslope winds
Downslope winds
Thermal winds
Trade winds

The correct answer is: Downslope winds

Winds that occur when the sun sets and surface cooling begins are defined as downslope winds. These winds typically happen because the air, having been heated during the day, rises as the surface loses warmth after sunset. As the cooler air descends from elevated areas, it creates a flow of downslope winds. This phenomenon is particularly common in mountainous regions where cooler air descends into valleys, following the logic of cold air being denser than warm air. Understanding downslope winds is essential for wildfire behavior, as these winds can push flames and embers downhill, potentially spreading a fire more quickly in the evening hours. This contrasts with upslope winds, which occur during the day when the sun heats the surface, causing the air to rise. Thermal winds and trade winds are related to different atmospheric dynamics and are not specifically linked to the cooling effects that occur at sunset.