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Weather Briefing Flashcards

(137 cards)

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1
Q

Where does FF gets it weather information from?

A

National Weather Service

TAF- human
MOS- model
Daily- the weather channel

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2
Q

What are the two types of NOTAMS?

A

NOTAM (D)
Usually not included in a weather briefing unless specifically requested, NOTAM (D) outlines all local and distant (D) NOTAMs for all navigational facilities, public use airports, seaports, and heliports in the U.S. Chart supplement. For example, information regarding runway closures or obstructions can be found in this NOTAM.

FDC NOTAM
FDC, or Flight Data Center NOTAMs outline changes to instrument approach procedures and airways within the U.S. The next time you’re flying IFR, you should be checking them before you go.

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3
Q

METAR

A

Issued every 60min for local weather, but usually more frequent.

Meteorological Aerodrome Report

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4
Q

TAF

A

5 SM from airport,
issued 4Xs per day
valid for 24-30 hrs.

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast

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5
Q

Surface Prog Chart

A

Computer generated w/ frontal and pressure analysis

Provide snapshot for cross country flights

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6
Q

AIRMET

A

Bad news for small GA planes

An AIRMET is a weather advisory for pilots that alerts them to potential hazards in the air. The acronym “AIRMET” stands for “Airmen’s Meteorological Information.”

AIRMET SIERRA (Instrument Flight Rules or Mountain Obscuration): mountain obscuration or ceilings less than 1000 feet or visibility less than 3 miles affecting more than 50% of the stated area at one time

AIRMET TANGO (Turbulence): moderate turbulence, or continuous surface winds of 30 knots or more, or non-convective low−level wind shear.

AIRMET ZULU (Icing): moderate icing (AIRMET ZULU also provides freezing-level heights.)

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7
Q

What is a weather depiction chart?

A

Plots Wx, vis, sky cover, & ceiling height

8Xs per day (1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, & 22)

Comes from NWS

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8
Q

What are the different types of fog?

A

Small temp/ dew point spreads… w/in 5 deg C

Radiation fog- forms when the ground cools to cool the air to the dew point, burns off in the morning, best conditions clear sky, no wind, high humidity

Advection fog- moist air moves over cooler ground or water, most common along the coast

Steam fog- cold and dry air moves over warm water, common during cold winter months over bodies of water

Upslope fog- moist, stable air moves up along terrain, it cools causing fog (common reason for Airmet Sierra)

Precipitation fog- warm rain falls through cool air, precipitation saturates the cool air, dense and long-lasting

Freezing fog- tiny droplets of water are supercooling in the air, needs to be very cold for freezing fog to form, ~15 deg F or cooler

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9
Q

Difference between AWOS, ATIS, and ASOS?

A

ATIS- human data, arrival, departing info updated hourly or when required

AWOS & ASOS- automated and provide realtime weather

AWOS- minute weather, FAA

ASOS- NOAA (not FAA),

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10
Q

AWOS-?

A

A- Altimeter
AV- Visibility & altimeter
-1 -wind, temp & dewpoint, altimeter, & DA
-2 - -1 + visibility
-3 - same as above, but reported as pertinent

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11
Q

ASOS contains

A

Wind, vis, temp/ dew point, altimeter, and DA

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12
Q

Stages of a thunderstorm?

A

Unstable air, lifting force, high moisture

Developing -updraft, build cumulus clouds building

Mature -turbulent conditions and wind shear, begin precip

Dissipating -severe downdrafts and heavy rainfall

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13
Q

How far do you stay away from a t-storm?

A

20 miles

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14
Q

What hazards do pilots face in LLWS or microburst?

A

Loss of lift

LLWS- take 1/2 gust factor to add to approach speed

Microburst downdrafts… full throttle and gradually but quickly pull full nose up

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15
Q

How do you know if the t-storm is in the mature stage?

A

Precip begins

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16
Q

What do we need for ice to form?

A

Temperature (0- -20 C), moisture, and droplet size

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17
Q

What do FDC NOTAM (flight data center) cover?

A

Regulatory changes, changes in instrument approach procedures,

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18
Q

What are NOTAM Ds?

A

Gives information about airports and airport facilities, temp outages, runways closed, etc

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19
Q

How do you receive NOTAMs w/ short effective period?

A

Receive w/ weather briefing

If longer, Notices to Airmen Publication (NTAP)

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20
Q

Where do you most likely encounter wind shear?

A

Temperature inversions
Fronts
Convective activity

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21
Q

Pilot math: Ground speed x 5 gives you..

A

~FPM to stay on a 3 deg glide path

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22
Q

during departure, under conditions of suspected low-level wind shear, a sudden decrease in headwind will cause

A

A loss in airspeed equal to the decrease in wind velocity

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23
Q

Light turbulence

A

Slight, erratic changes in altitude and/or attitude

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24
Q

Moderate turbulence

A

Changes in altitude and/or attitude occur but the aircraft remains in positive controls at all times

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25
Severe turbulence
Large, abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude. It usually causes large variations in indicated airspeed. Airplane could be momentarily out of control
26
Extreme turbulence
Aircraft is violently tossed about and is practically impossible to control May cause structural damage
27
What is the standard lapse rate?
3.5 deg F / 2 deg C per 1000’
28
What is the standard air temp/ pressure at sea level?
15 deg C / 59 deg F 1013.2 mb / 29.92 Hg (inches of mercury)
29
The temp decrease w/ altitude continues until you reach the… and what altitude is the Tropopause…
Tropopause and 32k’ *the temp stops decreasing w/ altitude after the tropopause
30
What is the physical process of weather?
Result of a heat exchange
31
What creates wind?
Caused by pressure differences High press to low press
32
What is a high pressure?
Air cools and then descends Turns clockwise Circulation- outward, Down and then out, clockwise
33
What is a low pressure?
Call a cyclone caused by coriolis force (counter clockwise circulation) Turns counter clockwise Circulation- Inward, upward, and counterclockwise
34
What does the coriolis force prevent?
Prevents air from flowing directly from high to low pressure Counterbalancing the horizontal pressure gradient b/c wind turns to flow parallel to the isobars (once above surface friction)
35
What wind direction will you have flying into a lower pressure area?
Continuous left crosswind flying towards unfavorable weather Closer to the center the higher the wind velocity
36
In the northern hemisphere, the wind is deflected to the
Right by Corilis force
37
Why does the wind have a tendency to flow parallel to the isobars above the friction level?
Coriolis force tends to counterbalance the horizontal pressure gradient
38
What prevents air from flowing directly from high pressure areas to low-pressure areas?
Coriolis force
39
Convective currents are most active on warm summer afternoons when the winds are
Light
40
In the development of convective circulation, will warm air rise on its own?
No… the more dense, cool air drawn to the ground by its greater gravitational force must sink to force the warm air upward.
41
Convective circulation patterns associated w/ sea breezes are caused by
Land absorbing and radiating heat faster than the water
42
To determine the stability of the air you need
A measure of the lapse rate (Unstable ambient lapse rates produce unstable air) ((Stable air cools much slower than the standard lapse rate))
43
Condensation
Water vapor to liquid state
44
Evaporation
Liquid state to water vapor
45
Sublimation
Vapor state to frozen state or visa Versa Evaporation and sublimation adds moisture to the air Adding moisture to the air will decrease the stability of the air
46
What determines the structure and type of clouds which will form as a result of air being forced to ascend?
Stability of the air before lifting occurs
47
What are characteristics of an unstable atmosphere?
A warm, humid air mass
48
What do you need for cumuliform formation?
Lifting action Moist air Unstable air mass Good visibility Showery precip Updrafts
49
Towering cumulus clouds
Produce convective turbulence
50
What happens when you have a cold air mass moving over a warm surface?
Heated from below, make the air rise, Cumulifrm clouds Turbulence Good visibility
51
What type of conditions w/ Stable air (resists rising)?
Stratus-type clouds Poor vis Steady participation
52
Conditions necessary for the formation of state form clouds are a lifting action and
Stable, moist air
53
Characteristics of stable air are
Stratiform clouds and fog Continuous precip Smooth air Fair to poor vis in haze and smoke
54
Which are characteristics of a cold air mass moving over a warm surface?
Cumuliform clouds, turbulence, and good vis
55
What weather do you expect after a cold front?
A cold front is where colder air replaces warmer air and its passage is associated w/ clearing skies, with gusty turbulent winds, and cooler temps.
56
Radiation fog
Restricted to land areas surface based temp inversion On clear, cool nights W/ calm or light wind
57
Steam fog
Forms over a water surface Evaporating water adds moisture to the air above it
58
Advection fog
Typically in coastal area VECtor- moist air moves over a colder surface, air cools off to the dew point Air mass moving inland from the coast during the winter Can appear suddenly day or night More persistent than radiation fog
59
Surface winds of 15kts or stronger
Can dissipate advection fog or lift it into a layer of stratus clouds
60
Precipitation induced fog
Associated w/ warm fronts Raining out of warm fronts into colder air below, evaporates and saturates the air Result of saturation
61
Cold front occlusion occurs
Air ahead of warm front is warmer than the air behind the overtaking cold front ((Cold fronts sometimes move faster than warm fronts))
62
Warm front occlusion
Cool air is not as called as the retreating cold air Warm front rides over top if it all
63
Occluded fronts
Most likely to have freezing precip Rain falls from air warmer than 32 deg F Into air w/ temp of 32 deg F or less
64
What is a cold-front occlusion?
The air ahead of the warm front is warmer than the air behind the overtaking cold front. In a cold front occlusion, the coldest air is under the cold front. When it overtakes the warm front, it lifts the warm front aloft, and cold air replaces the cool air at the surface.
65
When does frost form
Surface temp below dew point Dew point below freezing Frost causes early airflow separation of the wing
66
Freezing rain
Water instantly goes from liquid to a solid on contact Highest rate of structural ice accumulation (Must be warmer temperatures above)
67
Ice pellets
Frozen rain turned solid Prob freezing rain at a higher altitude above you
68
Wet snow
Temperature is above freezing at your altitude
69
Ice pellets encountered during a flight are evidence that
A warm front is about to pass Rain falling through colder air may become supercooled, freezing on impact as freezing rain, or it may freeze during descent. Ice pellets always indicate there exists a layer of warmer air above which is normally is evidenced that a warm front is about to pass
70
Thunderstorm stages
Cumulus stage (Building, updrafts) Mature -rain begins to reach the ground, rain at surface, updrafts and downdrafts (Updrafts- enhance growth rate of precip) Dissipating -dominated by downdrafts, decrease over time as the storm loses moisture
71
What are the greatest threats in vicinity of thunderstorms?
Hail Turbulence
72
What are the hazards associated w/ squall lines?
Most intense weather hazards to aircraft Destructive winds Heavy hail Tornadoes -narrow bands of active t-storms ahead of a cold front -non-frontal -contain severe steady state thunderstorms
73
What are signs of extreme turbulence in a thunderstorm?
Cumulonimbus clouds Very frequent lightening Roll clouds
74
Where can wind shear turbulence w/ thunderstorms occur?
Outside the clouds 20 miles literally from a severe storm
75
Where is hail most likely?
To be associated w/ cumulonimbus clouds In clear air Several miles from the t-storm (thrown out the top and dropped on your from the anvil)
76
Do squall lines form slowly?
No, squall lines usually form rapidly. Squall lines may develop far from any front (I.e. non-frontal)
77
Weather avoidance radar
Provides no assurance of avoiding IFR weather It only shows precip, you dont get any return from the clouds Use it to avoid areas of hazards weather. Avoid t-storms by 20miles
78
What min distance between intense radar echoes before any attempt to fly inbetween them?
40 miles
79
Wind shear?
Suddenly or abrupt change in the wind direction and/or wind speed over a very short distance Any any altitude Horizontal and vertical direction In areas of temp inversions Near t-storms
80
What is a temp inversion?
Warm air above and cold air above
81
Windward side?
Wind blowing into the mountain
82
Leeward side
Wind coming over the mountain
83
greatest danger from turbulence in mountains terrain?
Windy Leeward side Flying into the wind And you are flying into rising terrain
84
Mountain wave formation
Stable air (resists lifting) Wind at least 20 kts *if you have unstable air, you would end up w/ tall buildups or t-storms
85
Standing lenticular altocumulus clouds are an indication of
Strong turbulence Found on the leeward side of the mountain ridge
86
What is the most danger mountain wave turbulence
In and below rotor clouds Forms at ridge top level
87
What type of turbulence is associated w/ the Jet stream
Clear air turbulence Above 15k’ AGL Not associated w/ cumuliform clouds Common location is on the polar side of the Jetstream when you have an upper trough (low pressure system)
88
Expect moderate or greater turbulence in the jet stream
6 knots vertical shear per 1k’
89
How do you recognize the jet stream?
Long streaks of cirrus clouds
90
When is the jet stream the strongest?
In winter- moves south/ stronger (wild in winter) ((In summer- moves north/ weaker (stop))
91
A strong wind shear can be expected in a jet stream?
On the low pressure side of a Jetstream core where the speed at the core is stronger than 110 knots
92
Tell the weather briefer the following
Pilot Aircraft ID or pilots name VFR only or IFR Route Destination Type of aircraft
93
Standard weather briefing type
Complete weather briefing, need everythibng
94
What is a abbreviated Wx briefing?
Supplement mass disseminated data Update a previous weather briefing
95
What is outlook briefing?
6 or more hours in the advance of the departure time
96
Most current source for Wx enroute
Flight service station
97
What is the Wx Forecast Office (WFO) good for?
Out of ordinary requests (maritime forecast)
98
Is NEXRAD is up to date?
It’ could be 15-20 min late in addition to the age you see in the cockpit
99
What wind conditions would anticipate when squalls are reported at your destination?
Sudden wind increase of at least 16 kts Sustained speed of 22 kts or more for at least 1 min
100
What is virga
streamers of precip trailing beneath clouds but Evaporating before it hits the ground Could be microburst
101
METAR
Regular routine hourly observation… normally updated at 55min past the hour
102
If labeled speci report then
Substantial change in Wx from regular observation
103
METAR RMK
RMK RAB35 Rain started 35 past the hour (1835 is correct)
104
METAR Remarks: FZDZB42 WSHFT 30 FROPA
Freezing drizzle 42 min past the previous hour Wind shift occurred 30min past the hour due to Frontal passage
105
METAR ceilings are measured in AGL
Field elevation 1,300’ MSL Tops reported 3,800’ MSL OVC020 is 2k’ AGL 2000 + 1300= 3300 3800-3300= 500’
106
In a convective atmosphere, temperature and dew point converge at
2.5 deg C per 1k’ Temp @2k’ MSL 10 deg C Minus DP @2k’ MSL 1 deg C Temp spread = 9 deg c Base of cumulus clouds AGL 9 deg * 1000 / 2.5 = 3,600’ AGL Surface in MSL = 2000 Based of clouds AGL = 3600 Based of clouds MSL= 5600 ft
107
How to find bases w/ temp and dew point spread?
Temp spread * 1000 / 2.5 = ? AGL
108
PIREPS (pilot reports)
UA -routine pirep UUA -urgent pirep
109
What is listed in UUA pireps?
Tornadoes Funnel clouds Waterspouts Severe icing Hail Low-level wind shear
110
PIREP breakdown
SK OVC 025/ =means tops at 2500 045 OVC 090/ =means 4500 bottoms and 9000 tops
111
Look at FSS on information box
Look at your VOR box, upper left, Give your tail number, give free #, location to closest VOR Note- If line under frequency then there is no voice available
112
What is the meaning of the terms PROB40 1321/1402 +TSRA as seen in a TAF?
Between 2100z and 0200z there is a 40% probability of t-storms w/ heavy rain
113
TAF, what does VRB mean?
Wind direction (not speed) is variable
114
AIRMET
Airmen’s meteorological advisory Small aircraft/ inexperienced pilots IFR Mountain obscurantism Moderate turbulence Surface winds over 30 kts Moderate icing Issued every 6 hrs and valid for no more than 6 hrs
115
SIGMET
Significant Meteorological Advisory: observation and a forecast or just a forecast *potentially hazardous to all aircraft Unscheduled Period not to exceed 4 hours May be reissued SIGMETS – Significant Meteorological Information SIGMETs (abbreviated WSs) are notices issued for non-convective weather that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft. SIGMETs are unscheduled forecasts that are valid for 4 hours unless the SIGMET relates to a hurricane, in which case it is valid for 6 hours. They are issued to report severe weather such as: Severe icing not associated with thunderstorms Severe or extreme turbulence or clear air turbulence (CAT) not associated with thunderstorms Dust storms or sandstorms that lower surface or in-flight visibilities to below three miles Volcanic ash
116
Convective SIGMET
Reported or forecasted t-storm Severe or greater turbulence Server icing LLWS Embedded t-storms Lines of t-storms T-storms w/ widespread heavy precip Issued hourly Updated every 2 hours
117
Special convective SIGMETs
Severe t-storms Hail 3/4” or larger Tornadoes Issued hourly Normally valid for 2 hours
118
What are CWAs?
CWAs are advisories issued by the Center Weather Service Units (CWSUs) that are for conditions just below severe criteria. CWAs are issued for: Thunderstorms Turbulence Icing Ceiling & Visibility (IFR)
119
What are Weather Advisory Broadcast in flight?
Severe Wx forecasts alert (AWWs) Convective SIGMETs SIGMETs CWAs AIRMETs
120
WABs, including AWW, convective SIGMETs, and SIGMETs are provided by
ARTCCs on all freqs, except emergency, when any part of the area described is w/in 150 miles of the airspace under their jurisdiction.
121
What does ADS-B stand for?
Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast
122
ADSB- out & in?
Out- aircraft location, direction, speed, altitude to other aircraft and ATC In- allows you to display weather information, traffic, etc via data linking FIS-B (flight info system broadcast), I.e. data linked. Data linked weather is a advisory only.
123
Datalink weather: NEXRAD- C, Age- 8 min
C means conus 8 min means how long since it has been created. Images depicted on the image is always older than this time as much as 15-20min older.
124
Surface Analysis Chart
Observed frontal positions Pressure centers @the valid time of the chart
125
What are isobars? (Surface analysis chart)
Solid lines Show sea leave pressure patterns Connect points of equal pressure Closer together the isobars the strong pressure gradient and stronger the winds are… *dashed line to weak pressure gradient, “trough”
126
Surface analysis charts show
Actual frontal positions, pressure patterns, temperatures, dew point, wind, weather, and obstructions to vision at the valid time of the chart
127
What values are used for Winds Aloft Forecasts?
True direction and knots
128
Which provides a graphic display of both VFR and IFR weather?
Weather Depiction Chart by outlines and hatching
129
When total sky cover is few or scattered, the height shown on the Weather depiction chart is
Base of the lowest layer
130
Hatching on a constant pressure analysis chart indicates
Wind speed 70 knots to 110 knots
131
What flight planning info can a pilot derive from a Constant Pressure Analysis charts?
Winds and temperatures aloft @each reporting station are the observed temp, temp-dew point spread, wind, height of the pressure surface, as well as height changes over the previous 12-hr period
132
High level prog chart?
Flight level 250- 630
133
Low level prog chart?
SFC up to 400 MB (24k’) Valid for specific time Valid for 12 hours
134
Prognostic charts
Help determine areas to avoid
135
High level sig Wx prog chart
Issued 0800, 1400, 2000, 02z Valid for 24hrs Fl 250-630
136
What is the height of the tropopause?
Look at the BOX on the high level prog chart
137
What Wx phenomenon is implied w/in an area enclosed by small scalloped lines on a U.S. High-Level Significant Wx Prog chart?
CB, icing, and moderate or greater turbulence

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