Weather Flashcards
Flying from hot to cold
From high to low look out below
Your altimeter will read a higher altitude than actual
The amount of moisture that air can hold is directly dependent on
Temperature
The amount of water vapor present in the atmostphere is
Humidity
Dew point
The temperature at which air must be cooled to become saturated with water vapor
Convective currents
Upward and downward motion
Wind
Horizontal motion
High pressure
Cold temperature
Low pressure
Warm air
Surface based Temperature inversion
On cold clear nights when the temperature of the earths surface is cold and can cause turbulent conditions
Normal temperature inversion
Temperature of air rises with altitude which are normally shallow layers of smooth air.
If relative humidity is high it can contribute to clouds, haze, or fog
Mountain waves
Formed when strong winds blow perpendicular across a mountain range.
When sufficient moisture is present, mountain waves produce cap clouds, CCSL, ACSL, and rotor clouds
Taking off in a headwind or tailwind?
Head wind because a tailwind will decrease decrease performance
Crosswind correction for taxi
Tailwind-down and away
Headwind- into with neutral aileron
Cloud classification
High, middle, and low, and vertical development
What is needed for clouds to form
Water vapor
Condensation nuclei (dust, salt, or smoke)
A method by which air can be cooled
Low clouds
At or below 6500
Stratus, stratocumulus, and nimbostratus
Low ceilings hampering visibility
When air cools and reaches its saturation point
The invisible water vapor changes into a visible form
Cumulo
Fluffy
Nimbo
Raining
Middle clouds
6500-20000
Altostratus and altocumulus
May be turbulent and contain moderate icing
High clouds
20000 and above
Cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirrocumulus
Pose no real threat to turbulence
Unstable air clouds and conditions
Cumuliform clouds
Showery precipitation
Rough air
Good visibility
Stable air clouds and conditions
Stratiform clouds and fog
Continuous precip
Smooth air
Poor viz
Thunderstorms
Moisture/sufficient water vapor
Lifting action
Unstable air/unstable lapse rate
Cumulus stage of thunderstorm
Lifting action, moisture and instability, clouds continue to increase in vertical height
Mature stage of thunderstorm
Within 15 minutes, the most violent time period, rain or hail, down-rushing air increases surface winds and decrease temperature, anvil shape at the top
Dissipating stage of thunderstorm
Downdrafts spread out and replace the updrafts needed to sustain the storm
Type of thunderstorm
Air mass thunderstorm
Steady state thunderstorm
Steady state thunderstorm
Updrafts become stronger snd last much longer than air mass thunderstorm
Air mass thunderstorm
Occur at random in unstable air last only and hour or two and produce only moderate wind gusts
Wind shear/ LLWS
Sudden drastic change in wind speed or direction over a very small area
LLWS- commonly associated with passing frontal systems, thunderstorms, and surface temperature inversions
Microburst
Horizontal diameter of 1-2 miles
Depth of 1000 ft
Lifespan 5-15 minutes
Downdrafts of up to 6000 fpm
Hazardous wind direction changes
Virga
Rain that evaporated before hitting the ground
Intense rain shaft
Thunderstorm and hail
Hail should be anticipated with any thunderstorm,especially beneath the anvil
1/2 inch and greater size hail can damage an aircraft in a few seconds
Icing conditions for clear, mixed, and rime
This may occur in thunderstorm updrafts which support large amount of water and large droplet sizes
From 2 to -10 C = clear
From -10 to -15C = mixed
From -10 to -20C = Rime
With ice how is ice predicted to disrupt with the airfoil
Destroys or interrupts smooth laminar airflow and causes an increased parasitic drag
If you’ve got ice in the wings what would you do
Get lower in elevation, point the airfoil towards the sun, get to the nearest airport snd land
How far does FAA recommend you stay away from a T-storm
20 miles
What are other obstructions to visibility
Smoke from wildfire
Volcanic ash contains rock and glass particles
Haze from air pollution
