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Part 1 > 113 Meteorology > Flashcards

113 Meteorology Flashcards

1
Q

What percentages of gases compose the troposphere?

A

78% Nitrogen
21% Oxygen
1% Other trace gases

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2
Q

What is the temperature like in the lower stratosphere?

A

The temperature remains constant with increasing height

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3
Q

What is the vertical range of the troposphere?

A

Surface to 9-15km, closer to the equator, more expansion, higher troposphere (56,000ft). Closer to the poles, the opposite (28,000ft).

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4
Q

What is the motion in the troposphere?

A

Constant.
- Horizontally, wind.
- Vertically, convection, frontal lifting, and orographic lifting.

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5
Q

What is the Environmental Lapse Rate?

A

The decrease in temperature as height increases in the troposphere. 2 degrees celsius with every 1,000ft.

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6
Q

What is the tropopause?

A

A temperature inversion or isothermal layer that is the dividing line between the troposphere and stratosphere.

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7
Q

How much of the mass of the atmosphere is held in the troposphere?

A

75%
50% is found below 5,000ft

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8
Q

Water Vapour is:

A

The gaseous state of water in the atmosphere.
Releases latent heat when changing state

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9
Q

What role does water vapour have in the atmosphere?

A

Latent heat release destabilizes the atmosphere. Conversely, the evaporation of liquid cloud droplets and the sublimation of ice cloud crystals cool the atmosphere, increasing atmospheric stability.

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10
Q

Aerosols are:

A

Small particles of sea salt, dust, volcanic ash, smoke, etc. Floating freely in the atmosphere. Along with water vapour, are the building blocks for all cloud/precipitation.

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11
Q

The ozone layer:

A

Absorbs UV light from the sun.

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12
Q

Define atmospheric pressure

A

The total weight of the column of air above the point where the pressure is being measured.

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13
Q

What is the pressure unit used in aviation?

A

Hectopascals (hPa)

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14
Q

The average pressure on earth is:

A

1013.25 hPa or millibars

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15
Q

Define ‘pressure lapse rate’

A

Air is a fluid, compressed by the weight of the air above it. Therefore it is densest and heaviest at the earth’s surface. As we ascend, the pressure must decrease.

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16
Q

What is the pressure lapse rate below 10,000ft?

A

1hPa decrease for approximately every 30ft

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17
Q

What is the effect of light rain on vis?

A

Little reduction

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18
Q

What is the effect of moderate rain on vis?

A

Reduced to 3,000m-10km

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19
Q

What is the effect of heavy rain on vis?

A

Reduced < 3000m

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20
Q

What is the effect of light Dz/Snow on vis?

A

8000m or greater

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21
Q

What is the effect of moderate Dz/Snow on vis?

A

< 8000m >500m

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22
Q

What is the effect of heavy Dz/Snow on vis?

A

<500m

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23
Q

What classifies light rain?

A

trace - <1mm/hr

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24
Q

What classifies moderate rain?

A

1-10mm/hr

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25
Q

What classifies heavy rain?

A

equal to or > 10mm/hr

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26
Q

Heaped ‘puffy’ type clouds cause by convective up currents:

A

Cumulus

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27
Q

‘Sheet’ like cloud produced by slow, gradual lifting of air:

A

Stratus

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28
Q

Cloud types in the middle troposphere:

A

Alto

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29
Q

Cloud types which produce heavy rain:

A

Nimbo

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30
Q

‘Streaky” appearing cloud, consisting entirely of ice crystals:

A

Cirrus

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31
Q

Rainy heaped low cloud extending vertically, upper portion fibrous and spread in anvil shape:

A

Cumulonimbus/Towering Cumulus

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32
Q

Billowy/rolled layer of low cloud:

A

Stratocumulus

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33
Q

Heaped low level cloud developing vertically, cauliflower tops:

A

Cumulus

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34
Q

Layer cloud with uniform base:

A

Stratus

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35
Q

Layer of middle cloud through which the sun is barely visible:

A

Altostratus

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36
Q

Billowy middle cloud:

A

Altocumulus

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37
Q

Dark rainy layer middle cloud:

A

Nimbostratus

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38
Q

Stratiform/layer type clouds are ______?

A

Stable

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39
Q

Cumuliform/puffy type clouds are ______?

A

Unstable

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40
Q

High cloud:

A

20,000ft-tropopause

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41
Q

Middle cloud:

A

6,500ft-20,000ft

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42
Q

Low cloud:

A

Surface-6,500ft

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43
Q

If the DALR > ELR the air is:

A

Stable

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44
Q

If the DALR < ELR the air is:

A

Unstable

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45
Q

If the SALR > ELR the air is:

A

Stable

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46
Q

If the SALR < ELR the air is:

A

Unstable

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47
Q

What is the DALR?

A

3°C/1000ft

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48
Q

What is the SALR?

A

1.5°C/1000ft

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49
Q

What is it called when temperature remains constant with increasing altitude?

A

Isotherm

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50
Q

What is it called when temperature increases with increasing altitude?

A

Inversion

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51
Q

What is the adiabatic process?

A
  • air is forced to rise
  • it is subject to less pressure
  • it then expands
  • which results in cooling
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52
Q

Sudden increase in wind speed of 10kts or > above mean wind speed, lasting for a few seconds:

A

Gust

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53
Q

Sudden decrease in wind speed of 10kts or > below mean wind speed, lasting for a few seconds:

A

Lull

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54
Q

Sudden increase in wind speed reaching at least 22kts/16kts above mean wind speed. Often associated with Cb showers thunderstorms, etc:

A

Squall

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55
Q

1/2 of the atmosphere is found:

A

below 5,000ft

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56
Q

3/4 of the atmosphere is found:

A

below 11,000ft

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57
Q

What height does the troposphere extend to?

A

Surface to 9-17km (up to 36,090ft)

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58
Q

How much mass of the atmosphere does the troposphere contain?

A

75% such as water vapour and aerosols

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59
Q

What are the four important elements to weather?

A
  • water vapour
  • carbon dioxide
  • aerosols
  • ozone
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60
Q

Water vapour

A

Gaseous state of water present in the atmosphere

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61
Q

How does CO2 heat the atmosphere?

A

It absorbs terrestrial radiation emitted by the earth

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62
Q

What is pressure?

A

The force per unit area exerted by the weight of atmosphere

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63
Q

What is the pressure lapse rate?

A

1hPa for every 30’ till 5,000ft

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64
Q

How is pressure measured?

A

Mercury Barometer, Altimeter (Aneroid barometer)

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65
Q

A line of a map joining equal pressure:

A

Isobar

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66
Q

Which way does wind flow to isobars?

A

Parallel

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67
Q

Region of high pressure enclosed by isobars:

A

Anti-cyclone (highs)

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68
Q

Which way does the wind flow in an anti-cyclone in the southern hemisphere?

A

anti-clockwise

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69
Q

What happens to air in a high?

A

It descends, causing generally stable conditions

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70
Q

Region of relatively low pressure enclosed by isobars:

A

Cyclones (lows)

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71
Q

Which way does the wind flow in a Cyclone in the southern hemisphere?

A

Clockwise

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72
Q

Ridge:

A

Extension of high pressure isobars, never marked on weather map

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73
Q

Trough:

A

Extension of low pressure isobars, all fronts are also troughs.

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74
Q

What is the pressure on a trough?

A

At any point along a trough line pressure is lower than the pressure on either side of the trough.

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75
Q

Cols:

A

The area between two highs and lows, wind is very weak, hard to predict weather conditions.

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76
Q

Pressure gradient of isobars close together?

A

Steeper gradient and stronger winds

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77
Q

Pressure gradient of isobars further apart?

A

Shallower gradient and weaker winds

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78
Q

Tropical cyclone

A

Same as low pressure

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79
Q

What is aircraft performance based off?

A

Deviation from ISA

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80
Q

What is temperature?

A

Measure of kinetic energy of particles in an object

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81
Q

Radiation:

A

The transmission of heat from one body to another

82
Q

Solar radiation:

A

Emits short wavelengths which transmit large amounts of energy

83
Q

What is the composition of Solar radiation?

A

UV -10%
Vis - 45%
IR - 45%

84
Q

Terrestrial radiation:

A

Emits long wavelengths which carry less energy

85
Q

Specific heat:

A

The amount of heat per unit mass required to raise temperature by one degree celsius

86
Q

Albedo:

A

The percentage of solar radiation reflection from the surface (snow 80%, forests 5%)

87
Q

Solar insolation:

A

The amount of solar radiation that reaches the earths surface

88
Q

Horizontal heat transfer by wind:

A

Advection

89
Q

The point at which air will saturate at

A

Dew point

90
Q

The amount of water in the air

A

Humidity

91
Q

Why do we use dew point instead of RH?

A

Easier to compare with temperature (both in celsius)

92
Q

The energy required to change from one state to another without changing temperature

A

Latent heat

93
Q

Vapour to liquid

A

Condensation

94
Q

Liquid to gas

A

Evaporation

95
Q

Rate of evaporation depends on:

A

Air temperature
Moisture content
Wind
Atmospheric pressure

96
Q

What is wind?

A

The movement of air due to pressure differences at earths surface due to the uneven absorption of solar radiation

97
Q

Motion of air relative to rotation of earths surface

A

Coriolis Force

98
Q

Coriolis force acts ____ of wind direction in the southern hemisphere

A

Left

99
Q

Stronger CF, ______ wind?

A

Stronger

100
Q

Coriolis force acts ____ of wind direction in the northern hemisphere

A

Right

101
Q

Coriolis force is _____ at the equator and _____ at the poles

A

Zero, Maximum

102
Q

Factors affecting CF

A

Wind speed, lattitude

103
Q

How does the friction layer affect CF?

A

Slows wind and hence weakens CF

104
Q

Which direction does the friction later wind blow in a low in the southern hemisphere?

A

clockwise

105
Q

Which direction does the friction later wind blow in a high in the southern hemisphere?

A

anti-clockwise

106
Q

Wind backing

A

swings anti-clockwise

107
Q

Wind veering

A

swings clockwise

108
Q

Geostrophic wind:

A

The wind that would result from an exact balance of PGF and CF

109
Q

If you stand with your back to a geostrophic wind in the northern hemisphere the centre of low pressure will be _____?

A

Left

110
Q

If you stand with your back to a geostrophic wind in the southern hemisphere the centre of low pressure will be _____?

A

Right

111
Q

What are the horizontal and vertical limits of a sea breeze?

A

20-50km, 3,000ft

112
Q

What is the average strength of a sea breeze?

A

10-15kts

113
Q

What time of day and seasons do sea breezes occur?

A

When the sun is out to heat the land, usually peaks in the afternoon. More common in summer when the specific heat of land is significantly lower than the sea.

114
Q

What clouds are expected with a sea breeze?

A

Cumulus in land, clear skies out to sea.

115
Q

What is the effect of local obstructions?

A

Tumbling and turbulence downstream from the object, resulting in dumping and localised down draughts.

116
Q

How strong is a land breeze?

A

3-4kts

117
Q

What is the effect of terrain channeling?

A

Similar to a venturi, when air is forced through a gap between adjacent high ground, it results in extremely high localised wind.

118
Q

What is deposition?

A

Water vapour to ice

119
Q

What is sublimation

A

Ice to water vapour

120
Q

What are the two ways water vapour enters the atmosphere?

A

Evaporation, transpiration

121
Q

How are temp and dew point found?

A

By sending a weather balloon aloft carrying an electronic instrument package called a radiosonde that measures the temp/dp every minute or so and radios the info back to the ground station

122
Q

Describe the adiabatic process

A

A parcel of air is forced to rise, it experiences less pressure, and thus expands, resulting in cooling.

123
Q

Liquid precipitation with droplets bigger than drizzle droplets:

A

Rain

124
Q

Uniform precipitation composed exclusively of small droplets of water very close to each other:

A

Drizzle

125
Q

Ice crystals that have combined to form a snowflake:

A

Snow

126
Q

A mixture of rain and snow:

A

Sleet

127
Q

Frozen balls of water (associated with Cbs)

A

Hail

128
Q

How small are cloud drops?

A

100 micrometers

129
Q

How small are raindrops?

A

> 0.5mm

130
Q

Continuous rain:

A

Large widespread, will not stop soon. Only falls from stratiform, nimbostratus.

131
Q

Intermittent rain:

A

Continuous precipitation from thin layer cloud.

132
Q

Showers:

A

Passing rain from cumuliform cloud.

133
Q

Define prevailing visibility:

A

The greatest horizontal visibility covering at least half of the horizon.

134
Q

What is the difference between fog and mist?

A

Fog vis: <1000m
Mist vis: 1000m or >

135
Q

What is the vis in haze and smoke?

A

Equal to or < 5,000m

136
Q

When is RVR reported?

A

When vis is 1500m or less via METAR, ATIS, or ATC.

137
Q

Weather associated with Cb’s:

A

-Showers of RA/SN/GS
-Possible TS/lightening
-Moderate heavy glaze ice
-Severe turbulence in and below, violent on entry and exit.

138
Q

Weather associated with Tcu’s:

A

-Severe Icing
-Moderate turbulence

139
Q

Weather associated with Sc:

A

-Light RA/DZ
-Light/mod rime icing is FZL low
- Light turbulence

140
Q

Weather associated with Cu:

A

-Possible SHRA
-Light/mod glaze icing just above FZL
-Mod/severe turbulence in and below

141
Q

Weather associated with St:

A

-DZ/ reduced vis
-Nil icing
-Light turbulence

142
Q

Weather associated with As:

A

-Thin virga or -RA
-Light rime ice
-Light turbulence on entry/exit

143
Q

Weather associated with Ac:

A

-Possible virga
-Possible light rime icing
-Light/mod turbulence

144
Q

Weather associated with Nimbostratus:

A

-Mod/Heavy continuous RA/SN
- Mod rime icing. glaze possible in lower levels of cloud
-Generally light turbulence but maybe mod/sev within a front

145
Q

VC

A

In vicinity (8-16km)

146
Q

MI

A

shallow

147
Q

BC

A

patches

148
Q

PR

A

partial

149
Q

DR

A

low drifting

150
Q

BL

A

blowing

151
Q

FZ

A

freezing

152
Q

GS

A

small hail

153
Q

GR

A

hail

154
Q

SG

A

snow grains

155
Q

PL

A

ice pellets

156
Q

IC

A

ice crystals

157
Q

BR

A

mist

158
Q

FG

A

fog

159
Q

FU

A

smoke

160
Q

VA

A

volcanic ash

161
Q

DU

A

widespread dust

162
Q

SA

A

sand

163
Q

SQ

A

squall

164
Q

FC

A

funnel clouds

165
Q

PO

A

dust/sand whirls

166
Q

SS

A

sandstorm

167
Q

DS

A

duststorm

168
Q

CAVOK

A

cloud and visibility OK

169
Q

//

A

Sensor is unable to detect weather, either no weather or current weather unable to be detected by sensors

170
Q

///

A

Sensor cannot determine if the cloud types are Tcu or Cb

171
Q

////

A

Visibility not reported (probably due to faulty sensor)

172
Q

/////////

A

Cloud not reported (probably due to faulty sensor)

173
Q

What is the slope of a cold front?

A

1/50 to 1/80

174
Q

Is a cold front stable or unstable?

A

Unstable

175
Q

What kind of clouds/weather does a cold front produce?

A

Cumuliform, TS and Cb

176
Q

What speed does a cold front move?

A

Up to 35kts, 150km across.

177
Q

Is a warm front stable or unstable?

A

Generally stable

178
Q

What is the slope of a warm front?

A

1 in 200 (shallow)

179
Q

How fast does a warm front move?

A

10-15 kts

180
Q

What weather is associated with warm fronts?

A

Consistent widespread rain, stratiform cloud (Cs, As, St, Ns)

181
Q

Wind that is forced to rise over a mountain barrier:

A

Orographic lifting

182
Q

Cloud formations during orographic lifting, unstable flow:

A

Appear to be stable but with embedded Cb clouds and TS

183
Q

Cloud formations during orographic lifting, stable flow:

A

Layered cloud forms on windward side, Lenticular clouds on leeward side.

184
Q

Clouds associated with widespread ascent:

A

All cloud types

185
Q

Clouds formed by stable mechanical lifting:

A

If sufficient lifting for air to become saturated, stratocumulus will form.

186
Q

Clouds formed by unstable mechanical lifting/convective lifting:

A

Fair weather cumulus to full on thunderstorm depending on level of instability.

187
Q

Pressure in a warm front

A

Falling, then steady

188
Q

Temperature in a warm front:

A

Rising, then steady

189
Q

Dew point in a warm front:

A

Rise, then steady

190
Q

Wind in a warm front

A

Northeast/East, backing and easing, Northwest

191
Q

Cloud in a warm front:

A

Thickening Ci, Cs, As, Ns, Sc, St, thick layer cloud, high cloud clears

192
Q

Precipitation in a warm front:

A

Virga then -RA, clearing

193
Q

Vis in a warm front:

A

Poor in RA/DZ, Very poor in +RADZ, Fair but poor in any fog or mist

194
Q

Pressure in a cold front

A

Falling, then rising

195
Q

Temperature in a cold front

A

Warm steady, sudden decrease, cold steady

196
Q

Dew point in a cold front

A

Steady or slowly rising, rising in precipitation, drop

197
Q

Wind in a cold front

A

Northwest, sudden backing, west/southwest

198
Q

Cloud in a cold front

A

Cb in narrow band, clearing into Cu/TCu

199
Q

Precipitation in a cold front

A

+TSRA and hail, easing to SCT SH

200
Q

Vis in a cold front

A

Initially good, poor in RA/TSRA, poor in SCT SH good in between

201
Q
A

Part 1 (6 decks)

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