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+ ATSC 113 > Flying 1: Clouds, Ceiling, Visibility, and Fog > Flashcards

Flying 1: Clouds, Ceiling, Visibility, and Fog Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two main types of clouds?

A

normal and special

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2
Q

What are the two types of normal clouds?

A

cumuliform and stratiform

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3
Q

What are cumuliform (convective) clouds?

A

puffy and associated with updrafts

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4
Q

Cumuliform (convective) clouds:

When do they form?

A

when humid air rises through cooler air

  • occurs when air at ground is colder than surface (ie. air above the ocean is colder than the ocean surface)
  • occurs behind cold fronts
  • clear days when sunshine warms the earth more than air
  • cold air blows over warm air or warm body of air
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5
Q

When does humid air rise through cooler air?

A
  • occurs when air at ground is colder than surface (ie. air above the ocean is colder than the ocean surface)
  • occurs behind cold fronts
  • clear days when sunshine warms the earth more than air
  • cold air blows over warm air or warm body of air
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6
Q

Cumuliform (convective) clouds:

What drives the strong updrafts?

A

buoyancy

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7
Q

Cumuliform (convective) clouds:

What are the 4 classifications and what are they classified by?

A

classified by vertical depth

Cumulus humilis (small): can have turbulence from updraft

Cumulus mediocris (medium): can have turbulence from updraft

Cumulus congestus (large): poses hazard, thunderstorms and violent updrafts

Cumulonimbus (thunderstorm): poses hazard, thunderstorms and violent updrafts

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8
Q

What are stratiform (layer) clouds?

A

flatter like sheets or blanket, and can extend hundreds of kilometers

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9
Q

Stratiform (layer) clouds:

How must pilots fly?

A

need to rely on IFR

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10
Q

Stratiform (layer) clouds:

What may form edges if cloud is below freezing?

A

ice

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11
Q

Stratiform (layer) clouds:

When do they form?

A

where there are layers in the atmosphere with different relative temperatures

  • associated with warm fronts
  • high clouds approach first, followed by lower clouds
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12
Q

Stratiform (layer) clouds:

How are they classified?

A

classified by altitude: they get thicker and less holes with decreasing altitude

high
middle
low

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13
Q

Stratiform (layer) clouds:

What are the high clouds?

A

Cirrus: thin wispy, ice and crystals

Cirrostratus: thin but with more coverage: ice, halo

Cirrocumulus: mix, a bit lumpier

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14
Q

Stratiform (layer) clouds:

What are the middle clouds?

A

Altostratus: mix, corona

Altocumulus: lumpier, mix

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15
Q

Stratiform (layer) clouds:

What are the low clouds?

A

Stratus: well defined cloud base, no precipitation

Nimbostratus: blurry cloud base, some type of precipitation

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16
Q

What are castellanus clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

unstable airloft

appearance: small castle turrets

info:
- atmosphere is unstable
- thunderstorms possible later in the day

17
Q

What are billow clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

unstable airloft

appearance: waves in a cloud

info:
- indicates wind shear and creates CAT (clear-air turbulence)
- related to Kevin-Helmholtz waves

18
Q

What are lenticular clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

mountain waves, strong winds across mountains

appearance: “bubble shape,” little UFOs

info:
- wind oscillations
- may indicate mountain wind turbulence

19
Q

What are rotor clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

strong winds across mountains

appearance: ragged looking under mountain

info:
- ragged looking cloud that forms at low altitude under crests of mountain waves
- BIG HAZARD

20
Q

What are banner clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

strong winders across mountains

appearance: like a banner blowing off the mountain

info:

  • indicates strong turbulence
  • usually only on an isolated peak
21
Q

What are pyrocumulus clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

extra heat

appearance: located over a big fire or volcano
info: heat and moisture released is so strong it can make a thunderstorm

22
Q

What are pileus clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

updrafts

appearance: little hat on cumulus clouds
info: form over fast-growing cumulus clouds

23
Q

What are fractus (scud) clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

low altitude turbulence

appearance: ragged, low

info:
- turbulent humid air near ground
- indicates high humidity and strong winds

24
Q

What are fumulus clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

man-made

appearance: above smoke stacks
info: water droplets condense over cooling towers

25
Q

What are contrails clouds?

  • description
  • appearance
  • info
A

man-made

appearance: trails behind airplanes
info: from wing-tip vortices on airplanes

26
Q

Describe cloud coverage.

A 
0/8 oktas: sky clear (nothing) - SKC
1/8: few clouds (small trails) - FEW
2/8: few clouds (small trails) - FEW
3/8: scattered (large gaps) - SCT
4/8: scattered (large gaps) - SCT
5/8: broken (small gaps) - BKN
6/8: broken (small gaps) - BKN
7/8: broken (small gaps) - BKN
8/8: overcast (no gaps) -OVC
27
Q

Describe how altitude affects clouds coverage.

A

flying at altitude just above or just below a the level of clouds make them appear to have more coverage than they actually do

28
Q

What is a cloud ceiling?

A

clouds that cover more than half of the sky

29
Q

How does the cloud ceiling affect pilots?

A

restricts them to fly below it

30
Q

What is vertical visibility?

A

when ground visibility is very poor

+ ATSC 113 (1 decks)

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