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Weather Flashcards

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1
Q

Troposphere

A

Nearly all weather occurs here

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2
Q

Pressure gradient force

A

The initiating force for all winds

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3
Q

Visible moisture is also

A

Cloud, super cooled water, freezing rain, liquid water below freezing

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4
Q

Cold fronts
Winds
Direction
Shifts

A

20kts
Moves from NW to SE
Shifts from SW to NW clockwise

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5
Q

Warm Fronts
Winds
Direction
Shifts

A

15kts
Moves from SW to NE
SHifts from SE to SW

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6
Q

Stationary fronts

A

Neither air mass is replacing the other. They are indicated on surface charts by an alternating warm and cold front symbols, retaining their original red and blue colors, but pointing in opposite directions.

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7
Q

PIREP Turbulence reporting term

A

Occasional: Less than 1/3 of the time
Intermittent: 1/3 to 2/3 of the time
Continuous: More than 2/3 of the time

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8
Q

Lifting actions

A

Frontal
Orographic
Convergence
Thermal

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9
Q

Occluded front

Where do the winds shift from?

A

When a faster moving cold front overtakes a slower moving warm front. Winds shift from SE to NW

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10
Q

Where layer does the ceiling start

A

Broken layer

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11
Q

Definition of fog

A

Visible layer of condensed moisture
Base at or within 50 feet of surface
Greater than 20 feet thick
Reduces visibility to less than 5/8 of a mile

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12
Q

Roll and wall clouds

A

Roll clouds occur in severe and fast moving thunderstorms. Indicate the presence of low level wind shear and extreme turbulence

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13
Q

Gust fronts

A

Forms on the surface at the leading edge of an advancing thunderstorm. 5-20 miles from the thunderstorm

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14
Q

Difference between funnel cloud and tornado

A

Funnel cloud is not touching the surface and tornado is.

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15
Q

Manual METAR observations…

A

Are required to be started no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the reporting time which is a window between 55 and 59 minutes past the hour.

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16
Q

Air traffic facilities are required to solicit PIREPs whenever the following conditions are reported or forecasted:

A

Ceilings are at or below 5000ft, vis at or below 5 miles, thunderstorms and related phenomena, icing of a light degree or greater, turbulence of moderate degree or greater, and wind shear.

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17
Q

Discontinuities between air masses

A
  • Temperature
  • Dew points: Larger contrasts produces more severe weather
  • Wind: Usually clockwise 90 degrees
  • Pressure: Falls ahead of front, rises after
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18
Q

Factors influencing frontal weather

A 
Moisture
Contrast
Stability
Slope
Speed
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19
Q

Intensity differences between Turbulence and Icing

A

Turbulence: Light, moderate, severe, extreme
Icing: Trace, light, moderate, severe

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20
Q

Thunderstorm avoidance (In order)

A
  1. Circumnavigate
  2. Over the top - 1000ft for every 10kts
  3. Underneath - 1/3 distance from the ground to cloud base
  4. Penetrate - Lower 1/3 of the storm
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21
Q

Vertical air movement happens:

A

Both up and down

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22
Q

Types of turbulence

A

Windshear: Jet stream, gusty winds, temperature inverstion
Thermal
Frontal
Mechanical

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23
Q

At what temperature does Rime, mixed, clear, and engine ice occur

A

Rime: -20 to -10 degrees celsius
Mixed: -15 to -8 degrees celsius
Clear: -10 to 0 degrees celsius
Engine: 0 to 10 degrees celsius

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24
Q

Clear air Turbulence can…

A

Occur in any 4 classifications of turbulence

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25
Standard lapse rate
2 degrees celsius per 1000ft
26
Standard day
15 degrees celsius
27
Why is there a temperature inversion in the stratospher
Ozone and to close to the sun
28
What is the tropopause
Transition between troposphere and stratosphere, isothermal layer is located here
29
What type of weather is associated with the stratospher
smooth, clear air
30
What percentages of elements found in pure, dry air?
78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% mix of 10 other gases
31
How much water vapor is in the atmosphere?
0-5% by volume
32
What is the coriolis force and what does it do?
It is created by earth's rotation, diverts air to the right and circulates air in our atmostphere
33
High pressure rotates and is what color... Low pressure
High: Clockwise descending and out Low: Counterclockwise, converging and ascending
34
Less than 2000 ft what affects the winds?
Coriolis force and surface friction
35
Jet stream dimensions and speeds
- 100-150kts avg - 250kts center - 50kts outer - 1000 - 3000 miles long - 3000-7000ft tall - 100-400 miles wide
36
What breezes happen during the day and at night?
Sea, valley day | Land and mountain, night
37
Saturation
When temperature and dew point are equal
38
Fog will begin..
when the temperature dew point spread reaches 4 degrees farenheight, or the relative humidity will be 90%.
39
Three characteristics of precipitation
SHowers, continuous (steady), and intermittent
40
Three common types of precipitation
Drizzle, rain, frozen
41
Middle clouds
Alto | 6500ft-20000ft AGL
42
Low clouds
Less than 6500 ft AGL | Worried about terrain
43
High clouds
Cirro - Icing | Above 20000ft AGL
44
Nimbostratus
Violent, downward
45
Cumulonimbus
Heavy, upwards
46
Squall lines occur how far in front of what kind of front
50-300 miles, cold front
47
Orographic types
Steady, neutral, unstable
48
Thermal lifting action caused by
Cold air moving over warm surface
49
Two characteristics that are the same across a uniform horizontal plane and what is this called?
Temperature and moisture, an Airmass
50
How are fronts named?
The overtaking air mass temperature
51
What are occluded fronts and where can their weather be found?
When a faster moving cold front overtakes a slower moving warm front, the type is dependent on which front stays in contact with the ground. 100nm south and 300NM north of the frontal intersection
52
Cloud formations associated with Mountain wave turbulence
Rotor Cloud Forms downwind from and parallel to the mountain range Cylindrical shape Downward flow has been known to reach the ground Cap Cloud Cover the top of the mountain Remain stationary Lenticular Cloud Forms on leeward side of the mountain from standing waves
53
Mountain wave turbulence found where and at what speed
Extreme turb found on leeward side of mtn up to 50kts or greater at the peak. - Severe turbulance 150 miles downsind, moderate turbulence as far as 300 miles downwind.
54
Where should you fly to avoid mountain wave turbulence
Circumnavigate if possible or at a level at least 50% higher than the height of the highest mountain range along your flight path. Approach at a 45 degree angle so that a quick turn can be made away from the ridge if a severe downdraft is encountered.
55
Types of icing
Clear (most dangerous), rime, mixed, and frost
56
Types of engine icing
Induction (increased risk of FOD into engine ahead of compressor) and compressor(ice forming on compressor inlet screens)
57
When will icing occur?
Visible moisture and freezing temps(0- -20degrees celsius)
58
Visibility defined as
- Ability to see and identify prominent unlighted objects by day and prominent unlighted objects by night.
59
Flight visibility defined as
The average forward horizontal distance, measured in SMs from the cockpit where the pilot can see unlit and lit objects whether it be day or night.
60
Prevailing visiblility
Greatest horizontal visibliity, equaled or exceeded throughout at least 50% of the horizon circle, which need not be continuous.
61
Slant range visibility Define
Distance on final approach with the runway environment in sight
62
Runway visual range
Horizontal distance, expressed in hundreds of FEET OR METERS, a pilot will see by looking down the runway fromt he approach end
63
Fog
Is a visible aggreagate of minute water droplets that is based or within: - 50 feet of the surface - greater than 20 feet in depth - reduces vis to less than 5/8 of a SM
64
Radiation fog
Occurs due to nocturnal cooling, usually on clear nights, when the earth releases relatively large amounts of radiation into the atmospher, cooling the surface. It can dissipate with winds greater than 10 knots or solar heating.
65
Advection fog
occurs when warm, moist air moves over a cold surface and the air is cooled to the dew point. It can only be dissipated by winds.
66
Thunderstorm hazards
``` H: Hail I: Icing M: Microbursts E: Extr Turb. L: Lightning T: Tornados ```
67
Everything in a TAF/METAR is in zulu time except
weather watches
68
Microbursts
- Downward vel: 2000-6000ft/min - Velocities: 20-200kts - Diameter: 1/4-2 1/2 miles - Span: 5-10 mins
69
METARs last
1 hr
70
TAFs last
24 hrs
71
NEXRAD finds
H: Hail T: Tornados M: Microbursts L: Low level wind shear
72
TAF for Military is in what unit of measurement
Meters, everything else is in SM
73
On Prognostic charts if above 36?
Subtract 50, add 100
74
Weather warning is for what and what are the req. for a thunderstorm to be reported
Tornado, funnel cloud, or TS: 50kts or greater Hail greater than 3/4in 10000 SM area
75
What size hailstones can cause significant damage?
1/2 to 3/4 inch
76
SIGMETS - Abbreviation: - Duration: - S/U
- Abbreviation: WS - Duration: 4 hrs - S/U: U
77
Convective SIGMET - Abbreviation: - Duration: - S/U
- Abbreviation:WST - Duration: 2hrs - S/U: U
78
``` AIRMET - Abbreviation: - Duration: - S/U Sierra: Tango: Zulu: ```
- Abbreviation: WA - Duration: 6hrs - S/U: S Sierra: IFR conditions Tango: Mod turb Zulu: Icing
79
Prognostic chart: 1733
170 degrees true and 33 kts
80
Prognostic chart: 740957
240 degrees true at 109 kts -57 degrees celsius
81
How should pilots flight plan given tailwinds and headwinds
Greater tailwinds, and lighter headwinds

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