Aviation weather Flashcards
(120 cards)
what is ideal air
lacks moisture. N2 78%, O2 21% and other 1%
air in coastal regions
water vapor 5% other 1% nitrogen 74% and oxygen 20%
Characteristics of troposphere
temp lapse rate. avg height in mid latitude 36000’. wind speed increase with altitude highest in trop. thicker at equator and thinner at poles (solar radiation). wx occurs here. unstable layer.
characteristics of tropopause
non continuous layer. abrupt change in temp lapse rate. jet streams are located in the breaks. avg depth no more than 1000’. turbulence due to strong windshear from jet streams
stratosphere
isothermal layer. thicker. wind speed decreases with altitude.
isa
29.92” of hg or 1013.25 hpa/mb 15deg c or 59 f. aircraft instrument are calibrated. standard for wx parameters. aircraft performance.
air desity
high elevation - density decreases. high temperature - density decreases. humidity increases - density decreases.
adiabatic
temp change by expansion and contraction with no heat added to or removed from the system.
freezing level
level at which temp is 0 degree c
temperature variation
LSDTA (lsd taste awful) latitude - high temp at equator
Seasonal- tilt of the earth. Diurnal variation- temp change during day and night. Topography- dessert semi arid land compared to vegetation or water bodies. Altitude- temp lapse rate 2 degree c per 1000’.
inversion
inverted temp lapse rate. increase in temp with increase in altitude.
surface based and aloft inversion
if the base is at surface then its called surface based inversion if not at surface then called aloft.
when does ground based inversion occur.
clear cool calm nights associated with stable layer of air
hazards of inversion
PIT poor visibility, icing and turbulence
station pressure QFE
actual pressure at field elevation
Altimeter setting QNH
the sea level pressure value. indicates true altitude and field elevation.
pressure lapse rate
1” per 1000’ upto 10000’ MSL
how temperature effects pressure
cold air- pressure decreases faster in colder air since its more dense.
true altitude
actual height above mean sea level
absolute altitude
actual height above the ground
indicated altitude
altitude that the altimeter reads when set to the local altimeter setting. (MSL)
Altimeter errors
high to low look out below. high temp/pressure to low tem/ pressure TA is less than indicated altitude.
TA=field elevation.
pressure altitude
indicated altitude when set to 29.92” of hg, at or above 18000’MSL.
why use PA
to simplify high speed flight procedure. to calculate aircraft performance. a/c have pa limits for takeoff and landing also called flight levels.