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principles of aeronautical science > Exam 3 > Flashcards

Exam 3 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the definition of weather?

A

Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a given time and place with respect to variables

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2
Q

Is the state of the atmosphere based on temperature, moisture, wind velocity, and pressure?

A

Yes

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3
Q

Is vapor responsible for major changes in weather?

A

Yes

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4
Q

Does vapor change 0-5% of weather?

A

Yes

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5
Q

State the 4 layers of the atmosphere starting from the surface?

A

Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere

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6
Q

State 4 things that occur in the first layer of the atmosphere?

A

Weather, clouds, storms, and temperature variances

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7
Q

What layer is where most of the airplanes fly?

A

Troposphere

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8
Q

What causes the atmosphere to be in constant motion?

A

Uneven heating of the Earth’s surface

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9
Q

What brings us our daily weather?

A

Atmospheric circulation

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10
Q

What are the two types of atmospheric motion; which is horizontal and which is vertical motion?

A

Convective currents (vertical), winds (horizontal)

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11
Q

Where does air flow from and to, and does high pressure always move in the direction of low pressure?

A

Flows from high to low pressure, and yes

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12
Q

How are winds and currents created?

A

Pressure differentials

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13
Q

What are tailwinds favourable for, and state 2 changes it makes?

A

Cruising flight. Increases speed and causes fuel efficiency

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14
Q

Define anticyclonic circulation

A

The flow of air from high to low pressure is deflected to right and produces clockwise circulation around high pressure area

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15
Q

Is anticyclonic circulation typically related to good weather?

A

Yes

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16
Q

Is cyclonic circulation the opposite to anticyclonic circulation?

A

Yes

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17
Q

Is a microburst the most severe low-level wind shear?

A

Yes

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18
Q

What is the horizontal diameter of a microburst?

A

1-2 miles

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19
Q

Is the lifespan of a microburst 5-15 minutes?

A

Yes

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20
Q

What does the stability of the atmosphere depend on?

A

The ability to resist vertical motion

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21
Q

What two factors determine the stability of air and resulting weather?

A

Moisture and temperature

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22
Q

Is cool, dry weather very stable?

A

Yes

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23
Q

What is temperature inversion?

A

As air rises and expands the temperature increases (opposite to normal)

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24
Q

Is the cool air usually overlain by warmer air, and does the top layer act as a cap keeping weather and pollutants trapped?

A

Yes

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25
Q

State the 4 different types of fog?

A

Radiation, advection, steam (sea smoke), and ice

26
Q

Where does radiation fog form and when does it occur?

A

In low-lying regions. It occurs after terrestrial radiation (portion of natural background that is emitted by naturally occuring radioactive materials) and surrounding air temperature reaches dew point

27
Q

When does advection fog occur?

A

When wind pushes layer of warm, moist air over a cold surface

28
Q

When is steam fog formed?

A

Cold, dry air moves over warm water. Water evaporates, rises, and resembles smoke

29
Q

Where does ice fog occur?

A

In areas much below freezing, and water vapour forms directly into ice crystals

30
Q

How are clouds classified?

A

By the height of their base and vertical development

31
Q

State the 4 different types of clouds?

A

Low, middle, high, and clouds with vertical development

32
Q

How to remember which name is a particular cloud type?

A

Low clouds: Stratus
Middle: Alto
High: Cirrus
Vertical development: Cumulus

33
Q

What is an air mass?

A

A large body of air with fairly uniform temperature and moisture levels

34
Q

Are air masses classified polar or tropical based on temperature characteristics, and maritime/continental based on moisture content?

A

Yes

35
Q

Are fronts boundaries between air masses?

A

Yes

36
Q

How are fronts named?

A

Based on the temperature of advancing air relative to the one it is replacing

37
Q

What is the difference between a warm and cold front?

A

Warm: Boundary between two air masses where warm air trails the cold, cold: boundary between two air masses where cold trails warm

38
Q

Is stationary front when the forces of the two air masses are relatively equal?

A

Yes

39
Q

What is an occluded front?

A

Fast moving cold front catches the slow moving warm front

40
Q

What are the three stages thunderstorms go through before dissipating?

A

Cumulus stage, mature stage, dissipating stage

41
Q

Which stage is when the lifting action begins?

A

Cumulus

42
Q

Is it most violent at the mature stage?

A

Yes

43
Q

What happens in the dissipating stage?

A

Downdraft replaces the updrafts

44
Q

What is the difference between weather reports and weather forecasts?

A

Weather reports: actual weather that has been observed, and weather forecasts are predictions of future weather

45
Q

State the 4 types of weather observations used to form forecasts

A

Surface, upper air, radar, and satellite

46
Q

What do we use to make observations on the surface, upper air, and radar?

A

ASOS weather stations, PIREPS (Pilot report of the weather mid-flight) and weather balloons, and DOPPLER

47
Q

What is the primary source for preflight weather information?

A

FAA Flight Service Station (Air Traffic facility)

48
Q

What are the three types of weather briefings?

A

Standard, abbreviated, outlook

49
Q

Which provides the most complete information about weather?

A

Standard

50
Q

What is the difference between abbreviated and outlook?

A

Abbreviated is a shortened version that is often requested when flight is delayed, and outlook is provided 6 hours or more before planned departure

51
Q

Are all the briefings provided by a FSS specialist?

A

Yes

52
Q

What is the difference between a METAR and a TAF?

A

METAR: observation of current surface weather reported in standard international format, and TAF: expected conditions at an airport and within a 5 nautical mile radius of the runway

53
Q

Is a PIREP the most common type of upper air weather observations?

A

Yes

54
Q

Are inflight weather advisories available to pilots prior to departure?

A

Yes

55
Q

What are the three types of inflight weather advisories?

A

AIRMET, SIGMET, and Convective SIGMET

56
Q

Do AIRMETs solely concern light aircraft?

A

Yes

57
Q

What is the difference between SIGMET and Convective SIGMET?

A

SIGMETs are weather advisories based on non-convective weather that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft

58
Q

Which two charts show current weather?

A

Surface Analysis chart (high and low pressures, pressure reading, and fronts), and weather depiction chart (in addition to everything else, also includes precipitation)

59
Q

What does the Significant Weather Prognostic chart, a forecast weather show?

A

Ceiling information, turbulence, and icing/freezing levels

60
Q

State two responsibilities pilots have regarding the weather?

A

Understand weather and its impact on safe flight operation. Monitor weather during flight and at landing location

61
Q

When the weather is poor can pilots request to deviate their norm and are pilots ultimately responsible for the go/no go?

A

Yes

62
Q
A

principles of aeronautical science (4 decks)

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