SAMRA (Meteorology)

Question 1

What is the approximate ceiling of the tropopause?

Answer 1

36,000ft

Question 2

Where is the isothermal lapse rate in the stratosphere approximately:

Answer 2

65,000ft

Question 3

What is an isothermal?

Answer 3

Where temperature is constant with height

Question 4

What is the temperature at the tropopause?

Answer 4

-56.5 degrees

Question 5

What is the lapse rate within the tropopause?

Answer 5

1.98 degrees per 1,000ft

Question 6

Does mean sea level pressure change when it gets warmer but station altimeter remains the same?

Answer 6

When it becomes warmer at the station, the MSLP decreases due to the less dense air.

MSLP uses 12hr average temperature!!!!

Question 7

How are isobars spaced out regarding pressure?

Answer 7

Each line is 0004 QNH from each other.

Question 8

What causes highs and lows to form?

Answer 8

1. Sudden changes in velocity (spin)
2. Sudden accelerations and decelerations in wind speed (jet streaks)

Occurs high up in atmosphere

Question 9

What forces act on the eind?

Answer 9

1. Pressure gradient force (PGF)
2. Coriolis force (CF)
3. Friction
4. Thermal wind gradient force (TWGF)
5. Centrifugal forces around H & L (Cf)

Question 10

What is an isotach?

Answer 10

Line of equal wind speed

Question 11

For the same PGF, would the wind speed around a surface low be greater or less than a surface high?

Answer 11

HIGH PRESSURE WILL HAVE GREATER WIND SPEED

Because pressure gradient force goes inward on a low, and it goes outward on a high, going with the coriolis force!

Question 12

If air mass is moist and stable with mechanical turbulence present in lower levels, what type of clouds can you expect to be present?

Answer 12

Stratus and stratocumulus

Question 13

Fronts that affect Canada in general:

Answer 13

Continental arctic cA
Maritime arctic mA
Maritime polar mP
Maritime tropic mT

Question 14

What is a front?

Answer 14

A transition zone between two air masses where temperature changes

Question 15

What is a cold front:

Answer 15

Leading edge of an advancing cold air mass

Question 16

What is a warm front:

Answer 16

Trailing edge of a retreating cold air mass

Question 17

What is frontolysis:

Answer 17

Temperature contrast (difference) between two air masses decreases and front disappears (temps merge together)

Question 18

What is frontogenesis:

Answer 18

Temperature contrast (difference) between two air masses increases and a front is formed

Question 19

Factors affecting weather severity at cold front:

Answer 19

1. Speed of front
2. Moisture content of the **WARM AIR MASS*(
3. Stability of the WARM AIR MASS
   environment in which the front exists matters most; i.e. where the cold front is moving towards

Question 20

Where can squall lines exist ahead of a cold front?

Answer 20

100 to 200 NM ahead of the cold front

Question 21

A fast moving cold front having a warm air mass that is moist and unstable could give rise to ___.

Answer 21

A squall line

Question 22

What happens to wind, temperature and pressure as a cold front passes?

Answer 22

Temp decreases
Winds veer and increase
Pressure increases due to colder air being more dense

NOTE:
Temperature decrease may not begin for 2 to 3 hours after frontal passage

Surface wind tends to remain strong after cold front passage due to high pressure behind frontal wave!! i.e. that coriolis and PGF being higher around a high pressure

Question 23

What happens to wind, temperature and pressure as a warm front passes?

Answer 23

Temperature increases
Winds veer and increase (same as cold front)
Pressure decreases

Temperature may not begin to warm for 2 to 3 hours after frontal passage

Question 24

A cold front with a steep frontal surface is approaching your location; frontal passage has occurred. has WX passed, occurring now or yet to arrive?

Answer 24

Yet to arrive; something to do with steep frontal passage

Question 25

What is a trough?

Answer 25

An area of low pressure; GFA labeled as a purple dotted line

double lined purple line on GFA indicates a higher level trough

Question 26

What is a trowal?

Answer 26

troWAL (warm air aloft), depicted as red and blue “T” on GFA

Question 27

What happens to OAT as you fly through a TROWAL?

Answer 27

Rise than fall!

Question 28

How can you tell which wind direction a mature frontal wave will move?

Answer 28

It will move parallel to the isobars in the warm sector!

Question 29

Under what altitude does the affects of surface friction affect wind speed/direction?

Answer 29

2000-3000ft AGL (air backs and decrease around a high AND a low

Question 30

When flying above freezing level, avoid thunderstorms by __NM

Answer 30

10NM

Question 31

When flying below freezing level, avoid thunderstorms by __NM

Answer 31

5NM

Question 32

When flying below freezing level, avoid thunderstorms by __NM

Answer 32

5NM

Question 33

When flying near a severe thunderstorm, avoid it by __NM

Answer 33

20NM

Question 34

Where is the most dangerous part of a storm for hail?

Answer 34

Right below the anvil; because pilots thinks it looks clear but it’s severe hail

Question 35

When is icing most severe in regards to the development of a storm?

Answer 35

Generally most severe just prior to the onset of the mature stage!

Question 36

When is icing most severe in regards to the development of a storm?

Answer 36

Generally most severe just prior to the onset of the mature stage!

Question 37

What kind of clouds do you encounter when approaching a warm front?

Answer 37

Cirrus (Ci), Cirrostratus (Cs), Altostratus (As), Nimbostratus (Ns), Stratus (S)

C-CAN