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Commercial Pilot Ground Course > Meteorology > Flashcards

Meteorology Flashcards

Atmosphere

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Charter Pilot (Part 135) - Oral flashcards
1
Q

This is a mix of life-giving gases surrounding our planet

A

Atmosphere

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2
Q

If you could capture 1 cubic foot, what would the atmosphere compose of based from that measur?

A
  • 78% Nitrogen
  • 21% Oxygen
  • 1% other several gases, primarily argon and carbon dioxide
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3
Q

This is a standard against which to compare the actual atmosphere at any point and time. This is used to calculate instrument and aircraft performance, among others

A
  • International Standard Atmosphere (ICAO)
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4
Q

What is the standard density?

A

1.225 kg/m³

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5
Q

What is the standard pressure lapse rate?

A

1 inHg/ 1000ft

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6
Q

What is the standard temperature lapse rate?

A

1.98 °C / 1,000ft

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7
Q

This is extending from the surface to an average altitude of 36,000 feet

A

Troposphere

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8
Q

This acts as a lid to confine most of the water vapor, weather

A

Troposphere

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9
Q

This extends to an altitude of approximately 160,000 feet and it has much the same composition as the troposphere

A

Stratosphere

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10
Q

It may be simply considered to be the movement of air relative to the earth’s surface

A

Atmosphere Circulation

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11
Q

What are the three cell convection

A
  • Hadley Cell
  • Ferrel Cell
  • Polar Cell
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12
Q

This is named after an 18th century scientist who first proposed the model of general circulation. This forms between O° and 30°

A

Hadley Cell

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13
Q

This is named after another researcher of general circulation, forms between 30° and 60°

A

Ferrel Cell

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14
Q

This exists between 60° and the poles

A

Polar Cell

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15
Q

The unequal heating of the surface of the earth not only changes air density and created circulation patterns, it also causes changes in __________

A

pressure

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16
Q

Where do meteorologists plot these pressure readings on weather maps and connect points of equal pressure with lines?

A

Isobars

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17
Q

What does the resulting patterns in isobars reveal?

A

Pressure gradient

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18
Q

What does it mean when isobars are spread widely apart?

A

It is considered to be weak

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19
Q

What does it mean when isobars are closely spaced?

A

Strong gradient

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20
Q

What pressure systems do isobars help identify?

A
  • Highs
  • Lows
  • Troughs
  • Ridges
  • Cols
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21
Q

This is a center of high pressure surrounded by lower pressure

A

High

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22
Q

This is a center of low pressure surrounded by higher pressure

A

Low

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23
Q

This is an elongated area of high pressure

A

Ridge

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24
Q

This is an elongated area of low pressure

A

Trough

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25
Q

This can designate either a neutral area between 2 highs and two lows, or the intersection of a ridge and trough

A

Col

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26
Q

The force behind the movement of air is caused by the pressure gradient and is called?

A

Pressure Gradient force

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27
Q

A strong gradient tends to produce? While a weak gradient results in?

A

Strong winds, lighter winds

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28
Q

This affects all objects moving freely across the face of the earth such as: ocean currents,airplane flight paths, which would otherwise follow a straight line, end up tracing a curved path to the earth’s rotation

A

Coriolis force

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29
Q

In the northern hemisphere, any deviations will go where of its intended path?

A

To the right

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30
Q

In the southern hemisphere, any deviations will go where of its intended path?

A

To the left

31
Q

What works in combination to create wind?

A

Pressure Gradient and coriolis force

32
Q

This causes the air to move from high pressure to low pressure

A

Pressure Gradient force

33
Q

In which direction does a high pressure area flow? and for low pressure area?

A

Clockwise (high), Counter- Clockwise (low)

34
Q

This is a low pressure system of the atmosphere in which air pressure has dropped below the standard (normal) atmospheric pressure

A

Cyclone

35
Q

In which direction do winds rotate in the northern hemisphere?

A

Inward in a counter-clockwise direction

36
Q

In which direction do winds rotate in the southern hemisphere?

A

Clockwise direction

37
Q

This reduces Coriolis Force and is caused by the earth’s surface which in turn slows the moving air

A

Frictional Force

38
Q

This low-level southerly flow is deflected to the West creating the..?

A

North East Trade Winds

39
Q

The low-level air flowing northward from the High Pressure area at 30 ° is also deflected to the right

A

Westerlies

40
Q

The cold polar air which flows southward from an area of High Pressure is deflected to the right to create the…?

A

Polar Easterlies

41
Q

These are narrow bands of strong wind in the upper levels of the atmosphere. They follow the boundaries between hot and cold air

A

Jet Streams

42
Q

True or False. The air over the equator will be moving toward one of the poles and will keep its eastward motion but the earth below the air, moves slower as that air travels toward the poles

A

True

43
Q

Temperature changes are the greatest in which areas?

A

30° North and South and 50° - 60° North and South

44
Q

As the difference in temperature increases between the two locations, the strength of the wind _______?

A

Increases

45
Q

They are often indicated by a line on a weather map indicating the location of the strongest wind.

A

Jet streams

46
Q

This is a belt of Low Pressure which circles the Earth generally near the equator where the trade winds of the northern and southern hemisphere come together

A

Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

47
Q

This is characterized by convective activity which generates often vigorous thunderstorms.

A

Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)

48
Q

Where the trade winds are weaker, the ITCZ is characterized by what?

A

Isolated Cumulus and Cumulonimbus clouds

49
Q

Where the trade winds are stronger, the ITCZ can spawn what?

A

A strong line of active cumulonimbus clouds with other cloud types developing as a result of instability at higher levels

50
Q

These are caused by terrain variations such as mountains, valleys, and water

A

Local Wind Patterns

51
Q

The force behind the local wind patterns are _____________ replacing ___________ - a smaller scale of global wind patterns

A

cool air, warm air

52
Q

During the day, the land surface heats up faster than the water surface, as the warm air over the land is rising, the cooler air over the ocean is flowing over the land surface to replace the rising warm air

A

Sea Breeze

53
Q

True or false. The land surface cools quicker than the water surface at night

A

True

54
Q

As mountain slopes are warmed by the sun, the adjacent air is also heated. Since the heated air is less dense than the air at the same altitude over the valley, an “upslope flow” known as the ________

A

Valley Breeze

55
Q

At low levels, the air typically flows up the valley and up the warm slopes during the day, this is also called _____

A

Anabatic Winds

56
Q

At night, the higher terrain cools off and eventually becomes cooler than the air over the valley. The pressure gradient is reversed, causing a ‘‘downslope flow’’ or …?

A

Mountain Breeze

57
Q

What is another term for mountain breeze?

A

Katabatic Winds

58
Q

When large ice and snow fields accumulate in mountainous terrain, the overlying air becomes extremely cold and a shallow dome of High pressure forms which pushes the cold air through gaps in the mountains, and as the air may be warmed during descent, it’s still colder than the air it displaces

A

Cold Downslope Winds

59
Q

When a warm air moves across a mountain range at high levels, it often forms a trough of low pressure on downwind side which causes a downslope wind and as the air descends, it is compressed which increases the temperature

A

Warm Downslope Winds

60
Q

It is the atmosphere’s resistance to vertical motion

A

Atmospheric Stability

61
Q

When air moves downward, it is compressed by the increased pressure at lower altitudes. As pressure of a given portion of air changes, so does its temperature and when air descends, pressure increases, volume decreases, and temperature increases

A

Adiabatic Heating

62
Q

When air moves upward, it is expanded by the decreased pressure at higher altitude. As pressure of a given portion of air changes, so does its temperature and when air rises, pressure decreases, volume increases, and temperature decreases

A

Adiabatic Cooling

63
Q

This happens when temperature increases with altitude. This develops when cool air is trapped at the ground under a layer of warm air

A

Temperature Inversions

64
Q

Change of liquid water to water vapor. As water vapor forms, heat is absorbed from the nearest available source

A

Evaporation

65
Q

This occurs when water vapor changes back to liquid. This is just like how water droplets form on a cold grass of water on a warm day.

A

Condensation

66
Q

The process in which a solid changes directly to a gas is called? It occurs when the particles of a solid overcome the intermediate liquid stage and directly reverts back to a gas state

A

Sublimation

67
Q

This is the process in which a gas changes through the liquid state. It occurs when gas particles become very cold

A

Deposition

68
Q

It is basically water vapor and is responsible for many of the flight hazards encountered in aviation operations

A

Moisture

69
Q

This simply refers to the amount of moisture in the air

A

Humidity

70
Q

This is the amount of moisture in the air compared to the total amount that could be present at that temperature

A

Relative Humidity

71
Q

This is an absolute measure of ‘‘how much’’ moisture is in the air. It is the temperature at which the air reaches a state that it can no longer hold more water (moisture)

A

Dewpoint

72
Q

When lifted, unsaturated air cools at about what height and temp?

A

5.4° F per 1,000 feet

73
Q

Dew point temperature decreases at about what temp per height?

A

1° F per 1,000 feet

74
Q

temperature and dew point converge at what temp and height?

A

4.4° F per 1,000 feet

Commercial Pilot Ground Course (20 decks)

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