Lesson 501 International Data

Question 1

What are the commonly used international data in the provision of PBS?

Answer 1

METAR
TAF 
Area forecasts
SIGMET
AIRMET
PIREP
Upper wind
Convective Outlook

Question 2

What does the abbreviation TSNO mean?
RVRNO
PWINO
PNO
FZRNO
VISNO_LOC, CHINO_LOC

Answer 2

The Lightning detection sensor is not operating.

Question 3

Area forecast in the contiguous US consist of _____ AOR? Names?

Answer 3

Six

SFO, SLC, DFW, CHI, MIA, BOS

Question 4

What is the difference between a US convective SIGMET and a US non-convective SIGMET?

Answer 4

Convective: valid for two hours followed by outlook valid for 2-6 hours beyond valid time. Special bulletins may be issued at other times. For severe TS (wind >50kt, hail >3/4’, tornadoes), embedded TS, line of TS (length at least 60 miles, width 24 miles), intense TS. (DVIP >4).
Non-convective: valid for a maximum of four hours for things such as severe icing/turbulence, dust or sand storms reducing visibilities to less than 3 miles or volcanic ash.

Question 5

What are the terms used to describe the area coverage of forecast showers or thunderstorms?
IWSN

Answer 5

Isolated - single cells
Widely scattered- less than 25% of area affected
Scattered- 25-54% of area affected
Numerous - more than 54% of area affected

Question 6

What are the 3 different AIRMET forecasts called and used for and when are they issued?

Answer 6

AIRMET Sierra (IFR)
AIRMET Tango (turbulence)
AIRMET ZULU (icing)
All are issued at 0245, 0845, 1445, 2045Z

Question 7

Name 3 differences encountered with US PIREP.

Answer 7

Indicators are coded for Weather (/WX)
Flight visibility will be the first entry if provided. FV99 = unrestricted visibility.
Different abbreviations may be used.

Question 8

The wind data part of the FB bulletin is issued at intervals of every _____ degrees of latitude and longitude for a given area.
When are they issued?

Answer 8

5 degrees

Twice daily at 00 and 12 Z

Question 9

The differences with FB bulletins when compared to FD are _____ digits for wind speed and negative temperatures are indicated by the letter ______ rather than the - sign.

Answer 9

Three

M

Question 10

Categorical convective Outlooks cover a period of ________ days. What is covered on each day?

Answer 10

Day 1: probability of tornadoes, hail, damaging TS winds,extreme tornadoes, extreme hail, extreme TS winds.
Day 2 and 3: total probability of severe or extreme TS.
(No significant TS, general TS, Slight, moderate, or high risk)