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Meteorology Flashcards

1
Q

AS (Cloud)

A

Altostratus

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2
Q

ATIS

  • Issue Times
  • Heights
  • Wind
  • Visibility
  • Cloud Type
A
  • Issue Times: Irregularly, when conditions change
  • Heights: feet AAL
  • Wind: Degrees magnetic
  • Visibility: 4 digits, in metres for less than 5000m, KM 5000m or more
  • Cloud Type: Only if CB or TCU
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3
Q

VA

A

Volcanic ash

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4
Q

Describe Equatorial Air (Airmass)

A

Less warm and very moist

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5
Q

Describe the mature stage - Thunderstorms

A

Due vast amount of water and ice carried aloft, updraughts can no longer provide enough buoyancy and moisture descends, often at high rate. Downdraughts at front portion of the Cb while updraughts continue to function at the rear. Violent turbulence zone is produced between the up and down draughts. As downdraughts hit the surface, they spread out horizontally. Freezing level oscillates, lower in the forward half of the cloud where the downdraughts prevail and higher where the updraughts are found (usually the rear). Onset of downdraughts causes precipitation in the form of heavy showers of water and often more hail. Lasts approx. 15-20 mins.

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6
Q

AMD

A

Amended

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7
Q

What happens to pressure before, at and after the passage of a cold front?

A
  • Before: Decrease
  • At: Arrest of fall
  • After: Increase
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8
Q

CAT

A

clear air turbulence

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9
Q

SA

A

Sand

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10
Q

GR

A

Hail (5mm or more)

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11
Q

GS

A

Small hail (smaller than 5mm)

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12
Q

Warm advection means:

A

Warm air moving toward colder regions

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13
Q

METAR/METAR AUTO/SPECI

  • Issue Times
  • Heights
  • Area covered
  • Wind
  • Visibility
  • Cloud Type
A
  • Issue Times: METARs on the hour, every hour; AUTOs every half hour
  • Heights: feet AAL
  • Area: Within 8km of the aerodrome reference point. If term VC is used, it applies between 8 and 16km from aerodrome reference point
  • Wind: Degrees True
  • Visibility: 4 digits, in metres until 9999m, 2 digits in KM above 9999m (not at AA/WN/CH)
  • Cloud Type: Only if CB or TCU
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14
Q

MI

A

Shallow

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15
Q

Types of thunderstorms

A
  • Orographic Thunderstorms
  • Heat type (thermal) thunderstorms
  • Convergence Thunderstorms
  • Nocturnal equatorial Thunderstorms
  • Cold stream (or cold advection) Thunderstorms
  • Frontal Thunderstorms
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16
Q
A

Drizzle

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17
Q

DZ

A

Drizzle

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18
Q
A

Hail

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19
Q
A

Freezing Rain

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20
Q

Difference between gusts and squalls

A
  • Gusts: momentary increases in wind speed. Generally caused by turbulence.
  • Squalls: rapid increases in wind speed lasting some minutes then dying away. Caused by weather systems.
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21
Q

What happens to precipitation before, at and after the passage of a warm front?

A
  • Before: Light rain turning to persistent heavy rain
  • At: Rain ceases but may change to drizzle
  • After: occasional rain or drizzle
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22
Q
A

Widespread Fog

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23
Q

What happens to pressure before, at and after the passage of a warm front?

A
  • Before: Decrease
  • At: Arrest of fall
  • After: Steady or slightly rise
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24
Q

Aquaplaning speed formula

A

Vp=9 x Square root of tyre pressure in psi

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25
Q

Dangers of icing

A
  • Increase in Drag
  • Increase in all-up-weight
  • Distortion of Aerodynamic Shape
  • Increase in Stall Speed
  • Loss of thrust
  • Pitot-Static Blockage
  • Loss of Aerials
  • Fuel tank vent icing
  • Icing of moveable aircraft components
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26
Q
A

Severe Turbulence

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27
Q

9999

A

Visibility 10km or more

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28
Q

(blank space) (Wx symbol)

A

Moderate (when included before a weather phenomenon)

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29
Q

Terms on TAF:

  • NSC
  • BECMG
  • TEMPO
  • FM
  • PROB
A
  • NSC: Used when cloud is not forecast
  • BECMG: Permanent change
  • TEMPO: Temporary fluctuations lasting less than 1 hour
  • FM: Self contained part of the forecast expected to occur rapidly
  • PROB: Percentage indicating probability of weather phenomena
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30
Q

ABT

A

About

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31
Q

What is Virga?
What does it mean to a pilot?

A
  • Precipitation that is evaporating before it hits the ground
  • Usually occurs where the air below the cloud is very dry
  • Virga associated with showers suggests strong downdrafts with possible moderate or greater turbulence
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32
Q

TL

A

till

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33
Q

FU

A

Smoke

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34
Q

HVY

A

Heavy

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35
Q

TAF

A

Aerodrome Forecast

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36
Q

AC (cloud)

A

Altocumulus

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37
Q

TAF/TREND

  • Heights
  • Area covered
  • Wind
  • Visibility
  • Cloud Type
A
  • Heights: feet AAL
  • Area: Within 8km of aerodrome reference point
  • Wind: Degrees True
  • Visibility: 4 digits, in metres until 9999m, 2 digits in KM above 9999m (not at AA/WN/CH)
  • Cloud Type: Only if CB or TCU
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38
Q

What is a microburst?

A
  • A downdraft that may emerge from a cloud or no cloud as high as 15,000ft
  • Wind intensifies for about 5 minutes after ground contact
  • Can occur in families (more than one)
  • Speed differences from 50-100kts
  • Vertical speeds in excess of 3,000fpm
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39
Q

ATIS

A

Automatic terminal information service

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40
Q
A

Rain

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41
Q

Describe the Decaying (Dying) stage - Thunderstorms

A

Updraughts cease so general descending motion takes place. Turbulence and gusts decrease. Precipitation is common and will occur underneath the entire base of the cloud. Freezing level bulges down relative to outside the cloud.

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42
Q
A

Intertropical Convergence Zone

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43
Q

Describe Ac (airmass)

A

Arctic Continental - extremely dry and very cold

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44
Q

ST (cloud)

A

Stratus

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45
Q

METAR AUTO

A

Automatic aerodrome routine meteorological report

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46
Q

VC

A

Vicinity of the aerodrome

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47
Q

What happens to temperature before, at and after the passage of a warm front?

A
  • Before: Steady or slight decrease due to precipitation
  • At: Increase
  • After: Light change
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48
Q

Describe Tm (airmass)

A

Tropical maritime - very warm and very moist

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49
Q

TIL

A

Until

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50
Q

Define jet stream

A

A strong narrow current of air, concentrated along a quasi-horizontal axis in the upper troposphere or in the stratosphere, characterised by strong vertical and horizontal wind shears featuring one or more wind maxima. Wind strength must be greater than 60 knots.

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51
Q

/// (METAR)

A

Cloud is detected (unable to determine TCU/CB)

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52
Q

NC

A

No change

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53
Q

Types of Airframe icing

A
  • Clear ice (translucent or glaze ice)
  • Rime ice (opaque ice)
  • Hoar frost
  • Freezing rain
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54
Q

Air masses have uniformity in: (horizontal plane)

A
  • Temperature
  • Moisture content
  • Temperature lapse rate
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55
Q

FC

A

Funnel cloud

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56
Q

Pre-requisites for the formation of mountain waves (large scale interference):

A
  • Mountain range of substantial dimension.
  • Wind more or less at right angles to the range.
  • Low level wind must be at least 15 knots and increase in strength with height.
  • A generally unstable atmosphere at low levels with a stable layer at altitude, normally slightly above mountain crests.
  • The air above this layer should be less stable or slightly unstable.
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57
Q

SIGMET Symbols

A

Severe sand or dust haze

Widespread sand storm or dust storm

WIndspread haze

Widespread mist

Widespread fog

Hail

Volcanic eruption

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58
Q

SC (cloud)

A

Stratocumulus

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59
Q
A

Widespread mist

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60
Q

What happens to precipitation before, at and after the passage of a cold front?

A
  • Before: Not common
  • At: Showers, possibly heavy, may include hail
  • After: Showers may cease quickly, then isolated showers
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61
Q

What happens to visibility before, at and after the passage of a cold front?

A
  • Before: Fair to good
  • At: Very poor
  • After: Very good but reduced in showers
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62
Q

G

A

Gusts

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63
Q

Rime Ice (Airframe Icing)

A

Occurs when small supercooled water droplets are disturbed and the amount of water flowing back is limited. Air pockets are trapped causing milky opaque appearance. Rime ice is rough and uneven in shape. Most likely to occur in stratiform cloud.

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64
Q

Describe Tc (airmass)

A

Tropical continental - very warm and very dry

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65
Q

Fohn wind requirements:

A
  • Substantial mountain range;
  • Wind blowing more or less at right angles to the mountain range;
  • High moisture content of the approaching air
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66
Q
A

Convergence Line

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67
Q

HZ

A

Haze (visibility less than 5000m)

68
Q

SG

A

Snow grains

69
Q
A

Severe Icing

70
Q

PS

71
Q

Clear Ice (Airframe Icing)

A

Occurs when supercooled water drops are large and temperatures 0°C to -15°C. Only a small percentage of the drop freezes and a relatively large amount of water flows back. Most likely to occur in cumuliform cloud.

72
Q

BR

A

Mist (1000-5000m vis)

73
Q

MS

74
Q
A

Widespread sand storm or dust storm

75
Q
A

Widespread Smoke

76
Q

Where in the vicinity of jet streams is CAT likely to be found?

A

The frontal zone especially at the higher levels on the cold side and just below the core. Above the jet core within the first 3-5000ft above the centre of the jet, especially on the warm side.

77
Q

What is windshear?

A
  • Change in wind speed and/or direction with altitude (Vertical) or in the horizontal plane (Horizontal)
  • Carry extra speed on final if windshear is reported
78
Q

PIREP

A

Pilot report (AIREP)

79
Q

SEV

80
Q

AIREP

A

Routine air report from aircraft in flight

81
Q

CAVOK

A

Cloud and visibility ok. Issued when there is no cloud below 5000ft or minimum sector altitude, whichever is higher. No CB or TCU. Visibility at least 10km.

82
Q

BTN

83
Q

AWIB

A

Aerodrome and weather information broadcast

84
Q

Describe Pm (airmass)

A

Polar maritime - slightly moist and cold

85
Q

CLD

86
Q

SIGMET validity time:

A

4 hours (6 hours for volcanic ash and tropical cyclones), reviewed after three hours or when further information is available

87
Q

PL

A

Ice pellets

88
Q

DR

A

Low drifting

89
Q

FRQ

90
Q

What happens to wind before, at and after the passage of a warm front?

A
  • Before: Veer and slight increase in strength
  • At: Backing
  • After: Fairly steady in direction and speed
91
Q

SN

92
Q

What happens to wind before, at and after the passage of a cold front?

A
  • Before: slight veering and increase in strength
  • At: Sudden backing may be associated with a squall
  • After: Steady direction, slow decrease in strength
93
Q
A

Severe Sand or Dust Haze

94
Q

DP

95
Q

SIGMET

A

Significant meteorological information

96
Q

Dangers involved in flying through Thunderstorms

A
  • Turbulence
  • Up/Down draughts
  • Gusts
  • Wind shear
  • Icing
  • Lightning
  • Hail
  • Noise
  • Loss of instruments or impairment if accuracy
97
Q

NSC

A

No significant cloud

98
Q

Cold advection means:

A

Cold air moving towards warmer regions

99
Q

////

A

Visibility not reported

100
Q

SIGMET Symbols

A

Radioactive material

Tropical cyclone

Severe Squall line

Moderate turbulence

Severe turbulence

Tropopause level

Tropopause low

101
Q
A

Thunderstorm

102
Q

DU

103
Q

Conditions for Radiation Fog

A
  • High relative humidity so that little cooling is needed to saturate the surface air.
  • A clear sky so that terrestrial radiation can readily escape.
  • A light wind so that mixing within the surface air layer is assured.
  • A general stable atmosphere so that mixing and cooling are confined to a shallow layer.
104
Q

NCD

A

No cloud detected

105
Q

NS (Cloud)

A

Nimbostratus

106
Q
107
Q

WKN

108
Q

VRB

109
Q

// (METAR)

A

Weather not detected due sensor temporarily inoperative.

110
Q

What causes rotor streaming?

A

When a strong wind blows onto a mountain range and the speed of this wind decreases in strength from crest level upward.

111
Q

+ (Wx symbol)

112
Q

Describe the growing stage (cumulus stage) - Thunderstorms

A

All draughts are upwards. Massive amounts of moisture carried aloft which turns to ice as freezing level is passed. No precipitation due severity of draughts. Raised height of freezing level. No high level stratiform development. Generally takes 15-30 minutes.

113
Q

Requirements for the presence of thunderstorms:

A
  • An atmosphere which is unstable through a deep layer.
  • An adequate supply of moisture from below.
  • A ‘trigger action’ which causes the initial upsurge of the unstable air.
  • A mechanism that will produce sufficient electrical charge differences.
114
Q
A

Severe Squall Line or Squall line (below 10,000ft)

115
Q

Causes of turbulence

A
  • Thermal
  • Mechanical
  • Shear
  • Aerodynamic (Wake Turbulence)
116
Q

STNR

A

Stationary

117
Q

Difference between Radiation fog and Advection Fog

A

Radiation Fog involves the relatively rapid cooling of the surface, advection Fog required a surface which is already cold so that when moist air is transported over it (advection), the air can cool to temperatures lower than dew point.

118
Q

WDSPR

A

Widespread

119
Q

FZ

120
Q
A

Moderate Turbulence

121
Q

TS

A

Thunderstorm

122
Q
A

Freezing Level

123
Q

AIREP Special

A

Special (non-routine) air report from aircraft in flight

124
Q
A

Volcanic Eruption

125
Q
A

Widespread Haze

126
Q
A

Mountain Waves

127
Q

BC

128
Q

T

A

Temperature

129
Q

What happens to temperature before, at and after the passage of a cold front?

A
  • Before: Steady ‘warm’
  • At: Often an abrupt decrease
  • After: Steady ‘cold’
130
Q
131
Q
132
Q

OCNL

A

Occasional

133
Q

SPECI

A

Aerodrome special meteorological report

134
Q

SIGMET Symbols

A

Mountain waves

Moderate icing

Severe icing

Snow

Shower

Position, speed and level of wind max.

Tropopause high

135
Q

NSC vs SKC

A

NSC used at AA/WN/CH, SKC used for METAR AUTO at other airfields

136
Q

BKN

A

Broken (5-7 oktas)

137
Q

WS

138
Q
A

Tropical Cyclone

139
Q

When is RVR passed onto pilots?

A

When prevailing visibility reduces below 1500m

140
Q

PR

141
Q

NOSIG

A

No significant change

142
Q

PO

A

Dust/sand whirls

143
Q

OBSC

144
Q

Causes for cloud formation

A
  • Orographic Rising
  • Mechanical Rising
  • Convective Rising
  • Widespread Ascent
  • Frontal Lifting
145
Q
  • (Wx symbol)
146
Q

NSW

A

Nil significant weather (when expected bad weather is supposed to clear)

147
Q

MTW

A

Mountain Waves

148
Q

SH

149
Q
A

Radioactive Material

150
Q

Jet streams found in the troposphere

A
  • Sub tropical jet - (Northern, Southern Hemisphere) (main tropospheric jet stream)
  • Polar jet - (Northern, Southern Hemisphere)
151
Q

DS

A

Dust storm

152
Q

FG

A

fog (visbility less than 1000m)

153
Q

Sea breezes?

A
  • When the land heats while the water in the adjacent sea retains its temperature.
  • Sets in around 10am and peaks around 2-4pm.
  • Measures between 10-15 knots.
  • Travels 25-40km inland, vertically 2-3000ft.
154
Q

BLW

155
Q

SIG

A

Significant

156
Q

METAR

A

Aerodrome routine meteorological report

157
Q

BL

158
Q

TREND

  • Validity time
  • NOSIG
  • NSW
  • BECMG
  • TEMPO
  • TREND vs TAF
A
  • Landing forecast is an abbreviated forecast appended to a METAR or SPECI from an international airport.
  • Validity time: 2 hours NOSIG: When no significant change is expected.
  • NSW: When ‘bad weather’ is expected to clear.
  • BECMG: Gradual Change
  • TEMPO: Frequent or infrequent fluctuations which lady for less than 1 hour in each instance.
  • TREND supersedes the TAF during its validity period
159
Q

TC

A

Tropical cyclone

160
Q

What is a SPECI?

A

Term when a ‘METAR’ needs to be issued at a non routine time due to changes in weather conditions.

161
Q

SQ

162
Q

SS

163
Q

Describe Pc (airmass)

A

Polar continental - very dry and cold

164
Q

What happens to visibility before, at and after the passage of a warm front?

A
  • Before: Good but becoming poor in rain
  • At: Very poor
  • After: Fair but poor in drizzle/rain
165
Q

ARFOR

  • Issue Times
  • Heights
  • Wind
  • Visibility
  • Cloud Type
A
  • Issue Times: 0530-0610, 1130-1210
  • Heights: feet AMSL
  • Wind: Degrees True
  • Visibility: 4 digits, in metres until 9999m, 2 digits in KM above 9999m
  • Cloud Type: All mid and low level cloud types
166
Q

COR

167
Q
A

Moderate Icing

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