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Ground School > Meteorology > Flashcards

Meteorology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the lowest level of the atmosphere called?

A

Troposphere

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2
Q

What is the average level of the tropopause?

A

36000ft

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3
Q

Does oxygen, as a percentage of the atmosphere, change with altitude?

A

No, constant at all levels

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4
Q

What is the percentage of nitrogen content in the atmosphere?

A

78%

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5
Q

How high above sea level do you have to go to experience a reduction in 2hPa?

A

60ft

(Rate of change - 1hPa per 27ft [approx. 30ft])

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6
Q

The atmosphere is mainly heated as a result of…

A

Long wave radiation from the earths surface

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7
Q

Solar heating of the earths surface is…

A

Greater at low altitudes

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8
Q

How does cloud cover affect heating?

A

It reduces the heating of the Earths surface through solar radiation by day and its cooling by night

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9
Q

What is the Fahrenheit to Centigrade formulae?

A

°C = 5/9*(°F -32)

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10
Q

What is the ISA desnsity (ρ)?

A

1.225kgm^-3

Or 1225grams/m^3

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11
Q

In ISA conditions, what is the temperature at 4500ft?

A

6°C

15 [sea level temp]- (1.98x4.5) [2°C per 1000ft] = 6°C

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12
Q

What is the line on a chart joining places of equal temperature called?

A

Isotherm

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13
Q

What’s the pressure band around the equator known as?

A

The equatorial trough

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14
Q

What are the lines on a chart joining places of equal atmospheric pressure called?

A

Isobars

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15
Q

What is the extended area projecting from an anti-cyclone called?

A

Ridge

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16
Q

What is the coriolis force,

A

The turning effect imparted to wind flowing from the poles towards the equator

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17
Q

What weather is generally associated with cols

A

Foggy in winter, Hot in summer

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18
Q

What can the surface wind direction to be used to predict?

A

It can be an indication of the position of the centre of a pressure system

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19
Q

When flying away from a low-pressure centre without making adjustments to the subscale, what does the altimeter do?

A

Indicates a lower altitude that it’s actually at

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20
Q

What is the term used to describe an area with wind speed and direction changes over a short distance?

A

Area of shear

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21
Q

What do backing and veering mean?

A

Change in wind direction

Backing - anti-clockwise

Veering - clockwise

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22
Q

In the northern hemisphere, what direction does the wind move in relation to the centre of depression?

A

Anti-clockwise

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23
Q

Where does geostrophic wind exist?

A

From an average of 2000ft above the surface level

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24
Q

Wind gradient causes wind direction changes. What can direction changes due to wind gradient be up to?

A

30°

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25
Q

Wind gradient is usually…

A

More noticeable at night

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26
Q

What is the term describing when a sea breeze meets an opposing prevailing wind?

A

Convergence

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27
Q

It is normally expected that the surface wind strength will be…

A

Less that the upper wind

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28
Q

For a given pressure gradient, what will the wind strength around an anti-cyclone compared to the wind strength around a depression be?

A

Stronger

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29
Q

Define a Katabatic wind

A

Cold air flowing down valley sides

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30
Q

What effects can you expect to experience when flying up wind of hills?

A

Hill lift

Lee waves, rotor and downdrafts can be felt downwind

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31
Q

Alto cumulus lenticularis clouds are and indication of ….

A

Standing waves

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32
Q

What type of cloud may be associated with Lenticular cloud?

A

Roll cloud

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33
Q

What is the dew point?

A

The temperature at which a particular mass of air reaches 100% humidity

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34
Q

Relative humidity is directly affected by…

A

Tempurature

35
Q

As the relative humidity of a partake of air increases, what happens to the density of the air?

A

Decreases

36
Q

Define condensation

A

The change of state of water vapour to liquid

37
Q

If the moisture content of a parcel of air is such that its dew point is 7°C and surface temperature is 15°C, what level above ground will cloud form in the rising air?

A

2660ft

Dew point - 3°C/1000ft
15-7=8 Then 8/3=2.66 -> 2660ft

38
Q

The environmental lapse rate (ELR) is…

A

Variable at any level

39
Q

If the ELR is lower then the average the atmosphere will be…

A

Stable

40
Q

The Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate (DALR) is a constant value. What is the value?

A

3°C per 1000ft

Or 3/1000

41
Q

When does rising air at 100% relative humidity cool?

A

SALR (saturated adiabatic lapse rate)
1.5/1000

42
Q

What is the name of the warming and drying effect on airflows as a result of passing over a mountain and shedding moisture as rain?

A

The foehn effect

43
Q

The water particles held in the atmosphere as cloud are in…

A

Suspension

44
Q

What is the base hight for medium level clouds?

A

6500ft

45
Q

What is the minimum base hight for High level clouds?

A

18000-20000ft

46
Q

A cloud of a flat layered appearance is known as…

A

Stratus type

47
Q

Cloud made of ice crystal is called…

A

Cirrus

48
Q

What are lines of cumulus running parallel with the wind direction called?

A

Streets

49
Q

What does the cloud abbreviation CS stand for?

A

Cirrostratus

Ci - Cirrus
Cu - cumulus
CB - cumulonimbus

50
Q

What is a stratocumulus cloud abbreviated by?

A

Sc

S - Stratus
c - cumulus

51
Q

Where do Orographic clouds form?

A

Close to ground features

52
Q

What is Virga?

A

Rain that falls from the base of clouds, but evaporates before reaching the ground

53
Q

What is snow?

A

Ice crystals

(Hail is frozen rain)

54
Q

What cloud types usually produce rain?

A

Cumuliform, cumulus, stratus

55
Q

In the UK, unstable, showery conditions are likely to prevail with a…

A

Polar maritime airflow

56
Q

A south easterly airflow onto the British isles would be described as…

A

Tropical continental flow

57
Q

What do tropical maritime flows on the British isles create?

A

Mild, damp conditions

58
Q

What is the average warm front slope gradient?

A

1:150

59
Q

When a warm front approaches your position, high cloud ahead of the surface front can be up to how far from the front?

A

600nm

60
Q

What cloud may you see at the base of a warm front?

A

Nimbostratus

61
Q

What is the average slope angle for a cold front?

A

1:50

62
Q

Cloud at the base of a cold front might be….

A

Cumulus

63
Q

What cloud type could be associated with a vigorous cold front?

A

Cumulo-nimbus

64
Q

What normally moves faster? Cold or warm front?

A

Cold front

65
Q

It is normal in the UK to expect that wind direction will…

A

Veer at the passing of a front

66
Q

What will happen I f air air the base of a cold front is at 5°C and in front of the base of a warm front, the air is at 6°C?

A

A cold occlusion will occur

67
Q

What cloud will normally be found in warm sector of a frontal system?

A

Fracto stratus followed by cumulus

68
Q

Anticyclonic conditions can lead to the formation of what?

A

Fog

69
Q

What is the cause of visibility being reduced to less than 1km at the surface, due to presence of water particles?

A

Fog

70
Q

When does Smog (a mixture of fog and smoke giving reduced visibility) occur?

A

During the existence of temperature inversion

71
Q

How does hoar frost occur?

A

When water Vapor changes directly to a solid

72
Q

What is a sheet of ice formed over a wing made up of?

A

Clear Ice

73
Q

What is the type of ice formed on a wing adversely affecting aerodynamic performance?

A

Rime ice

74
Q

How far can gusts associated with individual thunderstorms be felt?

A

10miles or more from the cloud

75
Q

Lee airflows (those behind high ground) are likely to be less turbulent behind where?

A

Rolling downlands

76
Q

What does radiation fog formation depend on?

A

A high relative humidity and light wind

77
Q

What condition is needed for the formation of advection fog?

A

Wind

78
Q

How would you describe Wind flow from the west at 25knts?

A

270/25

79
Q

What direction are met office reports related to?

A

True north

80
Q

What does a line on a weather chart with semicircles on indicate?

A

A warm front

81
Q

How would a 2 okra cloud report be indicated?

A

FEW

Few FEW -1-2 oktas
Scattered SCT - 2-4 oktas
Broken BKN - 5-7 oktas
Overcast OVC - 8 oktas

Measures cloud cover on a scale of 1-8

82
Q

What is the minimum visibility for a CAVOK report?

A

10km

83
Q

What does SCT020 mean?

A

Scattered clouds at 2000ft

Ground School (5 decks)

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