Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Commercial Pilot Ground Course (or Private Pilot Ground Course) > Meteorology > Flashcards

Meteorology Flashcards

Atmosphere (74 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

This is a mix of life-giving gases surrounding our planet

A

Atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

If you could capture 1 cubic foot, what would the atmosphere compose of based from that measur?

A
  • 78% Nitrogen
  • 21% Oxygen
  • 1% other several gases, primarily argon and carbon dioxide
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

This is a standard against which to compare the actual atmosphere at any point and time. This is used to calculate instrument and aircraft performance, among others

A
  • International Standard Atmosphere (ICAO)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the standard density?

A

1.225 kg/m³

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the standard pressure lapse rate?

A

1 inHg/ 1000ft

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the standard temperature lapse rate?

A

1.98 °C / 1,000ft

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

This is extending from the surface to an average altitude of 36,000 feet

A

Troposphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

This acts as a lid to confine most of the water vapor, weather

A

Troposphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

This extends to an altitude of approximately 160,000 feet and it has much the same composition as the troposphere

A

Stratosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

It may be simply considered to be the movement of air relative to the earth’s surface

A

Atmosphere Circulation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the three cell convection

A
  • Hadley Cell
  • Ferrel Cell
  • Polar Cell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

This is named after an 18th century scientist who first proposed the model of general circulation. This forms between O° and 30°

A

Hadley Cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

This is named after another researcher of general circulation, forms between 30° and 60°

A

Ferrel Cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

This exists between 60° and the poles

A

Polar Cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

The unequal heating of the surface of the earth not only changes air density and created circulation patterns, it also causes changes in __________

A

pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where do meteorologists plot these pressure readings on weather maps and connect points of equal pressure with lines?

A

Isobars

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does the resulting patterns in isobars reveal?

A

Pressure gradient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does it mean when isobars are spread widely apart?

A

It is considered to be weak

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What does it mean when isobars are closely spaced?

A

Strong gradient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What pressure systems do isobars help identify?

A
  • Highs
  • Lows
  • Troughs
  • Ridges
  • Cols
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

This is a center of high pressure surrounded by lower pressure

A

High

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

This is a center of low pressure surrounded by higher pressure

A

Low

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

This is an elongated area of high pressure

A

Ridge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

This is an elongated area of low pressure

A

Trough

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
This can designate either a neutral area between 2 highs and two lows, or the intersection of a ridge and trough
Col
26
The force behind the movement of air is caused by the pressure gradient and is called?
Pressure Gradient force
27
A strong gradient tends to produce? While a weak gradient results in?
Strong winds, lighter winds
28
This affects all objects moving freely across the face of the earth such as: ocean currents,airplane flight paths, which would otherwise follow a straight line, end up tracing a curved path to the earth's rotation
Coriolis force
29
In the northern hemisphere, any deviations will go where of its intended path?
To the right
30
In the southern hemisphere, any deviations will go where of its intended path?
To the left
31
What works in combination to create wind?
Pressure Gradient and coriolis force
32
This causes the air to move from high pressure to low pressure
Pressure Gradient force
33
In which direction does a high pressure area flow? and for low pressure area?
Clockwise (high), Counter- Clockwise (low)
34
This is a low pressure system of the atmosphere in which air pressure has dropped below the standard (normal) atmospheric pressure
Cyclone
35
In which direction do winds rotate in the northern hemisphere?
Inward in a counter-clockwise direction
36
In which direction do winds rotate in the southern hemisphere?
Clockwise direction
37
This reduces Coriolis Force and is caused by the earth's surface which in turn slows the moving air
Frictional Force
38
This low-level southerly flow is deflected to the West creating the..?
North East Trade Winds
39
The low-level air flowing northward from the High Pressure area at 30 ° is also deflected to the right
Westerlies
40
The cold polar air which flows southward from an area of High Pressure is deflected to the right to create the...?
Polar Easterlies
41
These are narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere. They follow the boundaries between hot and cold air
Jet Streams
42
True or False. The air over the equator will be moving toward one of the poles and will keep its eastward motion but the earth below the air, moves slower as that air travels toward the poles
True
43
Temperature changes are the greatest in which areas?
30° North and South and 50° - 60° North and South
44
As the difference in temperature increases between the two locations, the strength of the wind _______?
Increases
45
They are often indicated by a line on a weather map indicating the location of the strongest wind.
Jet streams
46
This is a belt of Low Pressure which circles the Earth generally near the equator where the trade winds of the northern and southern hemisphere come together
Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
47
This is characterized by convective activity which generates often vigorous thunderstorms.
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
48
Where the trade winds are weaker, the ITCZ is characterized by what?
Isolated Cumulus and Cumulonimbus clouds
49
Where the trade winds are stronger, the ITCZ can spawn what?
A strong line of active cumulonimbus clouds with other cloud types developing as a result of instability at higher levels
50
These are caused by terrain variations such as mountains, valleys, and water
Local Wind Patterns
51
The force behind the local wind patterns are _____________ replacing ___________ - a smaller scale of global wind patterns
cool air, warm air
52
During the day, the land surface heats up faster than the water surface, as the warm air over the land is rising, the cooler air over the ocean is flowing over the land surface to replace the rising warm air
Sea Breeze
53
True or false. The land surface cools quicker than the water surface at night
True
54
As mountain slopes are warmed by the sun, the adjacent air is also heated. Since the heated air is less dense than the air at the same altitude over the valley, an "upslope flow" known as the ________
Valley Breeze
55
At low levels, the air typically flows up the valley and up the warm slopes during the day, this is also called _____
Anabatic Winds
56
At night, the higher terrain cools off and eventually becomes cooler than the air over the valley. The pressure gradient is reversed, causing a ''downslope flow'' or ...?
Mountain Breeze
57
What is another term for mountain breeze?
Katabatic Winds
58
When large ice and snow fields accumulate in mountainous terrain, the overlying air becomes extremely cold and a shallow dome of High pressure forms which pushes the cold air through gaps in the mountains, and as the air may be warmed during descent, it's still colder than the air it displaces
Cold Downslope Winds
59
When a warm air moves across a mountain range at high levels, it often forms a trough of low pressure on downwind side which causes a downslope wind and as the air descends, it is compressed which increases the temperature
Warm Downslope Winds
60
It is the atmosphere's resistance to vertical motion
Atmospheric Stability
61
When air moves downward, it is compressed by the increased pressure at lower altitudes. As pressure of a given portion of air changes, so does its temperature and when air descends, pressure increases, volume decreases, and temperature increases
Adiabatic Heating
62
When air moves upward, it is expanded by the decreased pressure at higher altitude. As pressure of a given portion of air changes, so does its temperature and when air rises, pressure decreases, volume increases, and temperature decreases
Adiabatic Cooling
63
This happens when temperature increases with altitude. This develops when cool air is trapped at the ground under a layer of warm air
Temperature Inversions
64
Change of liquid water to water vapor. As water vapor forms, heat is absorbed from the nearest available source
Evaporation
65
This occurs when water vapor changes back to liquid. This is just like how water droplets form on a cold grass of water on a warm day.
Condensation
66
The process in which a solid changes directly to a gas is called? It occurs when the particles of a solid overcome the intermediate liquid stage and directly reverts back to a gas state
Sublimation
67
This is the process in which a gas changes through the liquid state. It occurs when gas particles become very cold
Deposition
68
It is basically water vapor and is responsible for many of the flight hazards encountered in aviation operations
Moisture
69
This simply refers to the amount of moisture in the air
Humidity
70
This is the amount of moisture in the air compared to the total amount that could be present at that temperature
Relative Humidity
71
This is an absolute measure of ''how much'' moisture is in the air. It is the temperature at which the air reaches a state that it can no longer hold more water (moisture)
Dewpoint
72
When lifted, unsaturated air cools at about what height and temp?
5.4° F per 1,000 feet
73
Dew point temperature decreases at about what temp per height?
1° F per 1,000 feet
74
temperature and dew point converge at what temp and height?
4.4° F per 1,000 feet

Commercial Pilot Ground Course (or Private Pilot Ground Course) (21 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions