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FAA Written Test > Weather > Flashcards

Weather Flashcards

(62 cards)

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1
Q

What is the major source of all weather?

A

Unequal heating

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2
Q

What is the coriolis force?

A

Air masses appearing to curve to the right in the northern hemisphere caused by the earth’s rotation.

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3
Q

What does the coriolis effect do?

A

Deflects wind parallel to the pressure system boundaries (isobars).

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4
Q

In the northern hemisphere, how does air circulate?

A

Clockwise around a high

Counterclockwise around a low

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5
Q

What are isobars?

A

Lines showing equal pressure between systems.

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6
Q

What do tightly packed isobars mean?

A

The pressure is changing more rapidly between the systems, and strong winds are to be expected.

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7
Q

When flying east to west around a low, which side will offer tailwinds?

A

South side

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8
Q

When flying west to east around a low, which side will offer tailwinds?

A

North side

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9
Q

What direction do lows rotate?

A

Counter clockwise

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10
Q

What direction do highs rotate?

A

Clockwise

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11
Q

What is the standard decrease in temperature with altitude?

A

2 degrees C per 1000 feet

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12
Q

What is relative humidity?

A

The amount of moisture in the air relative to the amount of moisture the air could hold.

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13
Q

How can moisture be added to the air?

A

Only by evaporation or sublimation (ice to gas)

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14
Q

What is dew point?

A

The temperature to which air must be cooled to become saturated

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15
Q

To get tailwinds, which side should you enter a low?

A

On the right side (with the low to your left)

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16
Q

To get tailwinds, which side should you enter a high?

A

On the left side (with the high to your right)

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17
Q

When are temperature inversions most common?

A

On clear, still nights.

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18
Q

What is air mass modification?

A

The tendency of a body of air to take on properties of the underlying surface.

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19
Q

What is a ridge in weather?

A

An elongated area of high pressure.

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20
Q

What is a trough in weather?

A

An elongated area of low pressure.

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21
Q

Which type of fronts move faster?

A

Cold fronts move about twice as fast as warm fronts.

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22
Q

What are the indications of passing a front?

A
  1. Temperature change
  2. Continuous decrease in pressure followed by high pressure when front passes.
  3. Shift in wind speed and/or direction
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23
Q

What does the prefix “nimbo” or suffix “nimbus” mean?

A

Rainclouds

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24
Q

What type of clouds are least likely to contribute to icing?

A

Cirrus (since they are already made of ice particles)

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25
How do you calculate the altitude of a cloud base?
Surface temperature minus dew point, divided by 4.4, multiplied by 1000
26
What are convective currents?
Upward drafts
27
Where should a pilot expect turbulence around a cumulus cloud?
Below or inside
28
What types of clouds generate the most turbulence?
Cumulonimbus
29
What are the three conditions to form thunderstorms?
1. Sufficient water vapor 2. An unstable lapse rate 3. Initial upward boost
30
What is lapse rate?
The standard temperature decrease with altitude.
31
What is the standard lapse rate?
2 degrees celsius or 3.5 degress fahrenheit for every 1000 feet
32
What can cause an initial upward boost that can create a thunderstorm?
1. Heating from below 2. Frontal lifting 3. Mechanical lifting (i.e. mountain slope)
33
What are the three stages of a thunderstorm?
1. Cumulus 2. Mature 3. Dissipating
34
In what stage of thunderstorms are upward drafts found?
In the first, cumulus, stage.
35
When do thunderstorms reach their greatest intensity?
Mature stage
36
What is virga?
Precipitation that evaporates before hitting the ground.
37
What signals the mature stage of a thunderstorm?
Precipitation
38
How far can wind shear turbulence be from a thunderstorm?
Up to 20 nm
39
What is a squall line thunderstorm?
Non-frontal, narrow bands that develop ahead of a cold front.
40
What is wind shear?
Change in wind direction and/or speed over a very short distance.
41
When can low level wind shear be expected?
Temperature inversions where wind at 2000 to 4000 feet is at least 25 knots. All sides of and below a thunderstorm Frontal zones
42
When and where can wind shear be expected with a warm front?
In front of the front, for 6 hours below 5000 feet
43
When can wind shear be expected with a cold front?
Behind the front, for 3 hours below 5000 feet
44
How are the four families of clouds divided?
Height: low, middle, high and towering
45
What is advection fog?
Sea fog, when warm, moist air moves over colder ground or water
46
How is convective circulation caused?
Cool, dense air moving inland from water, forcing warm air up.
47
When should mountain wave turbulence be expected?
Across a mountain ridge with winds greater than 40 knots
48
What are lenticular clouds?
Lense shaped clouds over mountains where winds can be high
49
What is radiation fog?
Ground fog when a cool surface cools the air.
50
Where does radiation fog form?
Warm, moist air over low, flatland areas on clear, calm nights.
51
What is upslope fog?
Moist, stable air is cooled moving upwards.
52
What is the adiabatic lapse rate?
3 degrees C per 1000 feet
53
What is precipitation induced fog?
Along fronts, when drizzle falls through cooler air.
54
What is steam fog?
When cold, dry air passes from lands over ocean waters.
55
What is associated with steam fog?
Low level turbulence and icing.
56
When does frost form?
Sublimation when the surface temperature is at or below the dew point of the air.
57
What can frost do to an aircraft?
Reduction in lift.
58
What condition is necessary for icing?
Visible moisture (clouds or raindrops)
59
What is clear ice?
Hard and glossy ice from large water droplets at 0 to -15* C
60
What is rime ice?
Frost like ice from small water droplets at 0 to -10* C
61
When do ice pellets form?
In temperature inversions, causing freezing rain at higher altitudes.
62
What are the four effects of icing on an aircraft?
1. Reduced lift 2. Reduced thrust 3. Increased drag 4. Increased weight

FAA Written Test (9 decks)

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