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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
3 Methods of Precipitation
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)
26
Drizzle vs Rain vs Rain Showers
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
27
Air Mass
Large body of air with fairly uniform temperature and moisture content
28
Classifications of Air Masses
For temperature: Polar/Tropical For moisture content: Continental/Maritime
29
Air Mass: warming from below
Air mass moves over warmer surface Lower layers of air mass are heated causing vertical movement of the air EXTREME INSTABILITY
30
Air Mass: cooling from below
Flows over cooler surface Lower layers are cooled and vertical movement is inhibited Stability is increased
31
Front Definition
When two air masses that have different moisture/temperature characteristics collide
32
Types of FRONTS
Cold Warm Stationary Occluded
33
Cold Front
Towering Cumulus clouds Short periods of showers Fair visibility in haze High dew point
34
Warm Front
Stratus clouds Fog Light to moderate rain Poor visibility Steadily rising dew point
35
Occluded Front
Nimbostratus clouds Light to heavy precipitation Poor visibility in precipitation Steady dew point Most dangerous
36
3 Conditions for Thunderstorms to form
Unstable air (lapse rate greater than 3) Lifting action Relatively high moisture content
37
Squall line
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
Life Cycle of a Thunderstorm
Cumulus Stage (updrafts) Mature Stage (updrafts and downdrafts, most dangerous) Dissipating Stage (downdrafts beneath the clouds, updrafts in them)
39
How far should you stay away from a thunderstorm?
Minimum of 20 nautical miles
40
What should you do with the plane during turbulence?
Slow to maneuvering speed Attempt to maintain level flight altitude Accept variations in airspeed and altitude
41
Mechanical turbulence
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
Convective Turbulence
Occurs over land in fair weather Caused by thermals which develop in air heated by contact with warmer surface below
43
Capping stable layer
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
Frontal turbulence
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
Wake turbulence
Created by large aircraft’s wind vortices Most dangerous when: SLOW, CLEAN, AND HEAVY
46
Clear air turbulence
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
Mountain wave turbulence
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
Wind shear
Drastic shift in wind speed and/or direction Can occur at ANY altitude
49
Wind Shear (Microburst)
Extreme downdraft up to 6,000ft loss of altitude per minute
50
Visual Indicators of Wind Shear
Humid climates: Low clouds, visible rain shaft Dry climates: Virga at cloud base, dust ring on ground
51
What conditions does icing occur and what does it do to the airplane?
Visible moisture When the temperature of the aircraft surface is 0 Celsius or colder Reduces thrust and lift Increases drag and weight
52
What is rime ice and what does it do to the aircraft?
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
Clear Ice
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
3 Types of Icing
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
PIREPs 7-1-18
Pilot weather report Altitude must be reported in MSL Encouraged anytime you encounter unexpected weather conditions UA=routine UUA=urgent
56
METARs
Observation of surface weather reported in standard format Aviation routine weather report
57
SPECI
Type of METAR that is a non-routine weather report
58
TAFs How long are they valid for?
Terminal Aerodrome Forecast Valid for 24hours Scheduled 4 times a day One of the best sources of weather info for a SPECIFIC airport
59
Sea level pressure interpretation…
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
BECMG (TAF interpretation)
Gradual change in the weather during a 2 hour period
61
Wind and Temperatures Aloft forecast What do the first 4 numbers mean? What does a code of 9900 mean?
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
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…
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
SIGMETs How are they different from AIRMETs?
SIGMETs are the exact same as AIRMETs except they are for SEVERE weather Dust-storms, Sandstorms, Volcanic ash, Severe Icing, Extreme Turbulence
64
Convective SIGMETs (WSTs) How long do they last for? What do they communicate?
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
What do satellite weather pictures provide?
Help determine presence of clouds as well shape and texture Depict heat radiation emitted by various cloud tops
66
CVA Ceiling and Visibility Analysis What does it help with? How often is it updated?
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
3 types of weather briefings…
Standard: complete brief, assuming zero information known prior Abbreviated: helpful with supplementing a previous report Outlook: 6 or more hours in advance
68
What do you have to include when introducing yourself to a weather briefer?
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
AWOS What are the 4 types? Which is the most capable?
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
ASOS
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
What does it mean when the isobars are close together? What do the isobars represent?
Closer isobars means windier Isobars represent the amount the pressure is changing
72
Relative Humidity
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
Dew point What is it it?
A specific temperature used to determine relative humidity
74
What is the relationship between temperature and dew point as altitude increases?
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
Cold front winds (low pressure) Warm front winds (high pressure)
Inwards and upwards Outwards and downwards

Private Pilot (14 decks)

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