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Private Pilot > Weather > Flashcards

Weather Flashcards

1
Q

4 Atmospheric Levels
Which level does most of the weather occur at?
What is the area that boxes the weather in called?

A

1)Troposphere
2)Stratosphere
3)Mesosphere
4)Thermosphere

Called the Tropopause

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2
Q

Temperature that results in Higher Pressure
Temperature that results in Lower Pressure

A

Heat- Higher
Cold- Lower

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3
Q

Troph

A

Elongated area of low pressure

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4
Q

Ridge

A

Elongated area of high pressure

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5
Q

Coriolis force increases when you’re close to…
Decreases when you’re close to…

A

Increases towards the poles
Decreases towards the equator

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6
Q

Does higher pressure mean higher or lower winds

A

Higher winds

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7
Q

Sea Breeze

A

Blows from cool water to warmer land
Speeds of 10-20 knots
Exists between 1500 and 3000ft

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8
Q

Land Breeze

A

Blows from cooler land to warmer water (opposite of sea breeze)
Weaker than the sea breeze

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9
Q

Valley Breeze

A

Mountain slopes are warmed by the sun during the day
Creates upslope flow few hundred feet above surface
5-20knots

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10
Q

Mountain Breeze

A

High terrain cools off and eventually becomes cooler than the air over the valley
Develops prior to sunrise
5-15knots
Mouth of valley sometimes sees speeds of 25+ knots

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11
Q

Coriolanus force

A

Causes all free moving objects to trace a curved path due to the earth’s rotation.

In the northern hemisphere the deviation will be to the right of the intended path.

In southern hemisphere the deviation will be to the left of the intended path.

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12
Q

Lapse Rates

A

Rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude

Average rate of temp change in 2 Celsius (3.5 Fahrenheit)

Air is stable as long as lapse rate remains below 3 degrees

Air is unstable if it exceeds 3 degrees

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13
Q

Temperature Inversions
What kind of weather does it usually result in?

A

Happens when temperature increases with an increase in altitude

Occurs in stable air w/ little to no wind or turbulence

Usually results in fog, haze, smoke, low clouds

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14
Q

Humidity

A

The difference between temperature and dew point

Relative humidity is the actual amount of moisture in the air compared to the total amount that could be there

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15
Q

Dew point

A

Temperature at which air reaches a state in which it can hold no more water

100% of moisture capacity is called saturation

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16
Q

How do you determine cloud ceiling with dew point and temperature?

A

Temperature-Dewpoint divided by 2, then multiplied by 1000
Divided by 3.5 if in Fahrenheit

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17
Q

When does frost form?

A

When water vapor changes directly to ice (deposition) on a surface that is BELOW freezing

Happens when objects cool to a temperature below the dew point

Water vapor then condenses out of the air to form dew, which then turns to frost if the surface is freezing

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18
Q

Types of Clouds

A

Low
Middle
High
Clouds with vertical development

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19
Q

Low Clouds

A

Surface to 6500ft AGL
Usually consist of entirely water

Types of Low Clouds:
Stratus
Stratocumulus
Nimbostratus

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20
Q

Middle Clouds

A

6500-20,000ft AGL
Composed of water, ice crystals, or supercooled water
May contain turbulence and potentially severe icing

Types of middle clouds:
Altostratus
Altocumulus

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21
Q

High Clouds

A

Above 20,000ft AGL
Generally white to light gray in color
Form STABLE AIR
Composed of mainly ice crystals
Seldom pose serious turbulence or icing hazard

High Cloud types:
Cirrus
Cirrostratus
Cirrocumulus

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22
Q

Clouds with Vertical Development

A

Bases are fount in the low to middle range and their tops extend to high territory
Puffy white clouds with flat bases that can build into towering, threatening behemoths

Types:
Cumulus
Towering Cumulus
Cumulonimbus

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23
Q

Embedded (in reference to cumulus clouds)

A

When they’re hidden amongst other cloud formations

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24
Q

When does precipitation occur?

A

When water or ice particles grow in size until they can no longer be supported by the atmosphere

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25
Q

3 Methods of Precipitation

A

Deposition (droplets reach max size then fall towards the earth)

Coalescence (bigger drops engulf the little ones on the way down)

Supercooled water droplets (turn to rime when they come into contact with a surface)

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26
Q

Drizzle vs Rain vs Rain Showers

A

Drizzle is less than .02 inches in diameter
Commonly associated with fog or low stratus

Rain is .02 inches or greater in diameter
Falls at a steady rate and stops gradually

Rain showers start, change intensity, then stop suddenly

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27
Q

Air Mass

A

Large body of air with fairly uniform temperature and moisture content

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28
Q

Classifications of Air Masses

A

For temperature: Polar/Tropical

For moisture content: Continental/Maritime

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29
Q

Air Mass: warming from below

A

Air mass moves over warmer surface

Lower layers of air mass are heated causing vertical movement of the air

EXTREME INSTABILITY

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30
Q

Air Mass: cooling from below

A

Flows over cooler surface

Lower layers are cooled and vertical movement is inhibited

Stability is increased

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31
Q

Front Definition

A

When two air masses that have different moisture/temperature characteristics collide

32
Q

Types of FRONTS

A

Cold

Warm

Stationary

Occluded

33
Q

Cold Front

A

Towering Cumulus clouds
Short periods of showers
Fair visibility in haze
High dew point

34
Q

Warm Front

A

Stratus clouds
Fog
Light to moderate rain
Poor visibility
Steadily rising dew point

35
Q

Occluded Front

A

Nimbostratus clouds
Light to heavy precipitation
Poor visibility in precipitation
Steady dew point
Most dangerous

36
Q

3 Conditions for Thunderstorms to form

A

Unstable air (lapse rate greater than 3)

Lifting action

Relatively high moisture content

37
Q

Squall line

A

50 to 300 miles ahead of a fast moving cold front

Can form without a front present

Formed by thunderstorms

Most destructive weather conditions

38
Q

Life Cycle of a Thunderstorm

A

Cumulus Stage (updrafts)

Mature Stage (updrafts and downdrafts, most dangerous)

Dissipating Stage (downdrafts beneath the clouds, updrafts in them)

39
Q

How far should you stay away from a thunderstorm?

A

Minimum of 20 nautical miles

40
Q

What should you do with the plane during turbulence?

A

Slow to maneuvering speed
Attempt to maintain level flight altitude
Accept variations in airspeed and altitude

41
Q

Mechanical turbulence

A

When obstacles such as buildings interfere with normal wind flow

Often experienced in the traffic pattern

Also occurs when strong winds flow perpendicular to steep hills/ridges

42
Q

Convective Turbulence

A

Occurs over land in fair weather

Caused by thermals which develop in air heated by contact with warmer surface below

43
Q

Capping stable layer

A

The smooth layer above the convective turbulence area

Usually a few thousand to 10,000+ AGL in especially hot places (like the desert in the summer)

44
Q

Frontal turbulence

A

Occurs in the narrow zone just ahead of a fast moving cold front

Updrafts can reach up to 1000 ft/min

Worsened when front is moving over rough terrain

45
Q

Wake turbulence

A

Created by large aircraft’s wind vortices

Most dangerous when: SLOW, CLEAN, AND HEAVY

46
Q

Clear air turbulence

A

High altitude phenomena occurring above 15,000ft (usually)

Caused by interaction of layers of air with differing wind speeds, convective currents, or obstructions to normal wind flow

47
Q

Mountain wave turbulence

A

Occurs on the downslope of the wind over mountainous terrain

Produces waves

Waves can extend 100+ miles downwind with crests as high as 100,000ft

Extremely dangerous to general aviation airplanes operating at low altitudes

48
Q

Wind shear

A

Drastic shift in wind speed and/or direction

Can occur at ANY altitude

49
Q

Wind Shear (Microburst)

A

Extreme downdraft up to 6,000ft loss of altitude per minute

50
Q

Visual Indicators of Wind Shear

A

Humid climates: Low clouds, visible rain shaft

Dry climates: Virga at cloud base, dust ring on ground

51
Q

What conditions does icing occur and what does it do to the airplane?

A

Visible moisture
When the temperature of the aircraft surface is 0 Celsius or colder

Reduces thrust and lift
Increases drag and weight

52
Q

What is rime ice and what does it do to the aircraft?

A

Instantaneous freezing of TINY supercooled water droplets striking the aircraft’s surface
Normally forms at temperatures between -15celsius and -20celsius

Does not conform to the shape of the airfoil causing a serious decrease in lift
It builds up much more significantly than normal ice

53
Q

Clear Ice

A

Worst type of ice
Heavy, difficult to detect, difficult to remove
Highest accumulation rate occurs in freezing rain

Develops in areas of LARGE supercooled water droplets that are in cumulus clouds or in freezing rain beneath a warm front inversion

54
Q

3 Types of Icing

A

Structural (ice forms on the structure of the aircraft)

Induction (blocks the venturi/air filter/ducting/fuel metering device)

Instrument (ice forms on the instruments)

55
Q

PIREPs
7-1-18

A

Pilot weather report
Altitude must be reported in MSL
Encouraged anytime you encounter unexpected weather conditions

UA=routine
UUA=urgent

56
Q

METARs

A

Observation of surface weather reported in standard format
Aviation routine weather report

57
Q

SPECI

A

Type of METAR that is a non-routine weather report

58
Q

TAFs
How long are they valid for?

A

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
Valid for 24hours
Scheduled 4 times a day

One of the best sources of weather info for a SPECIFIC airport

59
Q

Sea level pressure interpretation…

A

When the altimeter setting is less than 29.53 add 9
Example: 095=90.95

When the altimeter setting is greater than 29.53 add 10
Example: 114=1011.4

60
Q

BECMG (TAF interpretation)

A

Gradual change in the weather during a 2 hour period

61
Q

Wind and Temperatures Aloft forecast
What do the first 4 numbers mean?
What does a code of 9900 mean?

A

First 2 numbers mean true direction the wind is coming from
Second 2 numbers indicate the wind speed

Third 2 number are the temperature marked in + or -
Any temperature above 30,000ft is assumed to be negative

9900 means light and variable winds of less than 5 knots

62
Q

AIRMETs
Airmen’s meteorological information
How long do they last for/how often are they issued?
What kind of weather are they associated with?
Sierra, Tango, Zulu…

A

Communicate weather conditions that are potentially hazardous to light aircraft/general aviation

AIRMETs are typically for Intermediate weather

Sierra: IFR conditions and mountain obscurantism
Tango: Turbulence, strong surface winds, low level wind shear
Zulu: Icing and freezing

63
Q

SIGMETs
How are they different from AIRMETs?

A

SIGMETs are the exact same as AIRMETs except they are for SEVERE weather

Dust-storms, Sandstorms, Volcanic ash, Severe Icing, Extreme Turbulence

64
Q

Convective SIGMETs (WSTs)
How long do they last for?
What do they communicate?

A

They last for 2 hours
Issued b/c of SEVERE TURBULENCE, SEVERE ICING, LOW LEVEL WINDSHEAR

TORNADOES, LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS HAIL GREATER THAN 3/4 OF AN INCH,
WIND GUSTS GREATER THAN 50 KNOTS

65
Q

What do satellite weather pictures provide?

A

Help determine presence of clouds as well shape and texture
Depict heat radiation emitted by various cloud tops

66
Q

CVA
Ceiling and Visibility Analysis
What does it help with?
How often is it updated?

A

Real time display of current observed and estimated ceiling and visibility across the United States

Helps VFR pilots avoid IFR conditions

Updated every 5 minutes

67
Q

3 types of weather briefings…

A

Standard: complete brief, assuming zero information known prior

Abbreviated: helpful with supplementing a previous report

Outlook: 6 or more hours in advance

68
Q

What do you have to include when introducing yourself to a weather briefer?

A

That you’re a pilot
VFR or IFR
Aircraft number/pilots name
Aircraft type
Departure airport
Route
Destination
Flight altitudes
Departure time
Time enroute

69
Q

AWOS
What are the 4 types?
Which is the most capable?

A

Automated weather observing system
Provides real time weather data

AWOS-A: reports altimeter settings
AWOS-1: reports wind speed/direction/gusts/temperature/dew points
AWOS-2: provides visibility information in addition to everything in AWOS-1
AWOS-3: provides cloud and ceiling data in addition to everything in AWOS-2

70
Q

ASOS

A

Automated surface observing system
Primary surface weather observing system in the US

Reports everything AWOS-3 does along with:
Cloud height
Visibility
Pressure changes
Precipitation info
Wind shifts/peak winds

71
Q

What does it mean when the isobars are close together?
What do the isobars represent?

A

Closer isobars means windier

Isobars represent the amount the pressure is changing

72
Q

Relative Humidity

A

The ratio of how much water is in the air vs how much it can actually hold
The warmer it is, the more vapor it can hold

73
Q

Dew point
What is it it?

A

A specific temperature used to determine relative humidity

74
Q

What is the relationship between temperature and dew point as altitude increases?

A

As altitude increase, the temperature and dew point come closer together

This happens because as the air cools, it cannot hold as much water vapor

The rate at which it they converge is 2.5 Celsius/4.4 Fahrenheit

75
Q

Cold front winds (low pressure)

Warm front winds (high pressure)

A

Inwards and upwards

Outwards and downwards

Private Pilot (14 decks)

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