Aviation Weather: Weather Charts Flashcards
What is Mean Sea Level (MSL)
your true altitude or the average height above standard
sea level
What is Above ground level ( AGL)
the height above the ground over which you are flying
Define SIGMET - Significant Meteorological Information
a weather advisory that
contains information about weather events like thunderstorms and severe
turbulence
Define AIRMET - Airmen’s meteorological information
a weather advisory that contains information about weather events that are potentially unsafe - moderate turblulance -high wind -restricted visibility
Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
basic VFR is defined as an airport having at
least a 1,000 foot ceiling and 3 statute miles of visibility
Instrument flight rules (IFR)
is defined as an airport having less than
a 1,000 ceiling and/or less than 3 statute miles of visibility
What is a the difference between Statue mile and Nautical mile?
Statute mile – legal definition of a mile (5280 feet)
Nautical mile - A unit of length used in sea and air navigation, based on the
length of one minute of arc of a great circle, especially an international and US
unit equal to 1,852 meters (about 6,076 feet)
ASOS
primary surface weather observing system for the U.S. and
the data source for METARs and other aviation weather information
AWOS
a weather reporting system that consists of various sensors and a transmitter to broadcast weather data
What is a cloud ceiling
the altitude at the base of a cloud layer
FAA defines it as height of the lowest layer of clouds of the surface that are either broken or over cast but not thin.
How do you calculate the cloud base?
Find the difference between the surface temperature and the dew point.
Divide result by 4.4 (if F) or 2.5 (if Celsius) am multiply by 1000
((Surface temp- dewpoint )/4.4 )* 1000
Octals- how to figure out cloud coverage
Dive skydome into 8 parts. The observer is in the middle looking up.
number of sections with clouds determines cloud cover. Clear, few, scattered, broken, overcast.
Types of Clouds: Cumulonimbus
What part of atmosphere?
Stretches from low to high altitude/ atmosphere. Big puffy cloud
Types of Clouds: Cirrocumulus
What part of atmosphere?
High altitude/atmosphere.
Types of Clouds: Cirrostratus
What part of atmosphere?
High altitude/ atmosphere
Types of Clouds: Cirrus
What part of atmosphere?
High altitude
Types of Clouds: Altocumulus
What part of atmosphere?
Mid altitude
Types of Clouds: AltoStratus
What part of atmosphere?
Mid altitude
Types of Clouds: Nimbostratus
What part of atmosphere?
Mid and low altitude
Types of Clouds: Cumulus
What part of atmosphere?
Low
Types of Clouds: Stratocumulus
What part of atmosphere?
Low
Types of Clouds: Stratus
What part of atmosphere?
Low
Cumulous Clouds
What are they like?
What kind of weather?
sUAS ranking?
Cumulus clouds are probably the most well-known of the
cloud types
generally form from convection, with air rising vertically into the and condensing
into the puffy, cotton-like clouds
Typically, cumulus clouds are associated with pleasant weather
Good for flying sUAS
Cumulonimbus
What are they like?
What kind of weather?
sUAS ranking?
If updrafts become stronger, cumulus clouds may grow
taller into what we call cumulonimbus clouds
These are the towering clouds (up to 60,000 feet) mainly observed during the summer
months
Can be indicative of developing thunderstorms, including lightning, hail, heavy rain and
even tornadoes
Indicators that it might be time to call it a day; effects of weather from these
clouds can extend many miles from their center
UAS ranking: BAD!
If you see mammatus cloud development you should land your vehicle immediately
and be aware of rapidly changing and severe weather developments
