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Private Pilot Oral Exam > Weather > Flashcards

Weather Flashcards

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Charter Pilot (Part 135) - Oral flashcards
1
Q

State the general characteristics in regard to the flow of air around high and low pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere.

A
  • Low Pressure: inward, upward, counterclockwise
  • High Pressure: outward, downward, clockwise
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2
Q

What is a trough?

A

elongated area of relatively low atomsphere pressure; area of rising area (conducive to cloudiness and precipitation=low pressure and bad weather)

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3
Q

What is a ridge?

A

elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure (areas of descending area, dissipation of cloudiness=high pressure and good weather)

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4
Q

What are the standard temperature and pressure values for sea level?

A

15 degrees Celsius and 29.92”Hg

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5
Q

What are isobars?

A

line on a weather chart which connects area of equal or constant barometric pressure

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6
Q

If the isobars are relatively close together in a surface weather chart or constant pressure chart, what information will this provide?

A

spacing defines how steep or shallow a pressure gradient is

  • very close together: steep pressure gradient exists which indicates higher wind speeds
  • not close together: shallow pressure gradient, wind speed will be less
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7
Q

What causes the winds aloft to flow parallel to the isobars?

A

coriolis force

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8
Q

Why do surface winds generally flow across the isobars at an angle?

A

surface friction

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9
Q

At what rate does atmospheric pressure decresas with an increase in altitude?

A

1”Hg per 1,000ft

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10
Q

What does dewpoint mean?

A

temperature to which a sample of air must be cooled to attain the state of saturation

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11
Q

When temperature and dew point are close together (within 5 degrees) what type of weather is likely?

A

clouds, dew, fog

*ideal conditions for carb ice

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12
Q

What factor primarily determines the type and verical extent of clouds?

A

stability of the atmosphere

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13
Q

How do you determine the stability of the atmosphere?

A
  • unstable air (temp decreases uniformly and rapidly as you climb [approaching 3 degrees C per 1,000ft] if temp remains unchanged or decreases only slightly with altitude the air tends to be stable
  • instability, likely when air near the surface is warm and moist
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14
Q

List the effects of stable and unstable air on clouds, turbulence, precipitation, and visibility.

A
  • STABLE (clouds=stratiform; turbulence=smooth; precipitation=steady; visibility=fair to poor)
  • UNSTABLE (clouds=cumuliform; turbulence=rough; precipitation=showery; visibility=good)
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15
Q

What is the definition of the term freezing level and how can you determine where that level is?

A
  • definition: lowest altitude in the atmosphere over a given location at which the air temperature reaches 0 degrees C
  • can use current icing products (CIP) and forecast icing products (FIP), as well as the freezing level graphics chart to determine the approximate freezing level
  • other sources for icing: area forecasts, PIREPs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, surface analysis, low-level significant weather charts, winds and temp aloft
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16
Q

What conditions are necessary for structural icing to occur?

A

visible moisture and below freezing temperatures

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17
Q

Name the types of icing an aircraft may encounter in flight.

A

structural, induction system, instrument icing

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18
Q

What action is recommended if you inadvertantly encounter icing conditions?

A

leave area of visible moisture; descend to altitude below the cloud bases, climbing to an altitude above the cloud tops or turning to a different course

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19
Q

Is frost considered to be hazardous to flight? Why?

A

Yes, because while frost does not change the basic aerodynamic shape of the wing, the roughness of its surface spoils the smooth flow of air, thus causing a slowing of airflow–slowing of air causes early airflow separationg results in loss of lift

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20
Q

What factors must be present for a thunderstorm to form?

A
  • sufficient water vapor
  • unstable lapse rate
  • initial upward boost (lifting) to start storm process in motion
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21
Q

What are the three stages of a thunderstorm?

A
  • cumulus stage: updrafts cause raindrops to increase in size
  • mature stage: rain at earth’s surface; it falls through or immediately beside the updrafts; lightning; perhaps roll clouds
  • dissipating stage:downdrafts and rain begin to dissipate
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22
Q

What is a temperature inversion?

A
  • increase in temperature with height -reversal of the normal decrease with height
  • inversion aloft permits warm rain to fall through cold air below
  • ground based inversion favors poor visibility by trapping fog, smoke, and other restrictions into low levels of the atmosphere
  • air is stable, with little or no turbulence
23
Q

What are two basic ways for fog to form?

A
  • cooling air to the dewpoint
  • adding moisture to the air near the ground
24
Q

What causes radiation fog to form?

A

ground cools the adjacent air to the dew point on calm clear nights

25
Q

What is advection fog and where is it most likely to occur?

A
  • results from transport of warm humid air over a cold surface
  • forms primarily along coastal areas, during the winter
  • may occur with winds, cloudy skies over a wide geographic area and at any time of day or night
26
Q

What is upslope fog?

A

forms as result of moist, stable air being cooled adiabatically as it moves up sloping terrain

  • when upslope wind ceases, fog dissipates
  • upslope fog is often quite dense and extends to high altitudes
27
Q

What is wind shear and what areas is is most likely to occur in?

A
  • rate of change of wind velocity per unit distance
  • may occur at any level in the atmosphere but these 3 are of special concern–>(wind shear w/ low-level temp inversion; wind shear in a frontal zone or thunderstorm; clear air turbulence (CAT) at high levels associated w/ a jet stream or strong circulation
28
Q

Why is wind shear an operational concern to pilots?

A

unexpected changes in wind speed and direction can be potentially very hazardous to aircraft operations at low altitudes on approach to and and departing from airports

29
Q

What is EFAS?

A
  • En route Flight Advisory Service, provides enroute a/c with timely and meaningful weather advisories pertinent to the type of flight intended, route of flight, and altitude
  • Also central collection and distribution point for pilot reported weather information
  • provides comm capabilities for a/c flying at 5,000ft AGL to 17,500ft MSL on common frequency if 122.0MHz, “Flight Watch”
30
Q

What is HIWAS?

A

Hazardous In-flight Weather Advisory Service, continuous broadcast of in-flight weather advisories including summarized Aviation Weather Warnings, SIGMETs, Convective SIGMETs, Center Weather Advisories, AIRMETs and urgent PIREPs; on sectional charts w/ “H” in upper right corner of identification box

31
Q

What is a flight information service(FIS) ?

A

method of receiving aviation weather and other operational data in the cockpit that augments traditional pilot voice communication w/ FSS or ATC facilities

32
Q

What is a METAR and what are the two types?

A
  • hourly surface observation of conditions observed at an airport
  • two types: routine METAR report that is transmitted every hour and an aviation selected weather report (SPECI, special report that can be given at any time to update METAR for rapidly changing weather conditions, a/c mishaps, or other critical info
33
Q

What is AWOS?

A

Automated Weather Observing System-consists of various systems, a processor, a computer-generated voice subsystem and a transmitter to broadcast local, minute-by-minute weather data directly to the pilot, prefix AUTO in the data

34
Q

What are PIREPs (UA), and where are they usually found?

A
  • two types: routine “UA” and urgent “UUA” contain info concerning weather as observed by pilots en route
  • required elements are message type, location, time (in UTC), flight level (altitudes in MSL), type of a/c and at least one weather element encountered (visibility in SM, distance in NM)
  • usually transmitted as an individual report but can be appended to a surface aviation weather report or placed into collectives
35
Q

What are Radar Weather Reports (SD)?

A
  • contains info about precipitation observed by weather radar; textual product derived from the WSR-88D NEXRAD radar without human intervention.
  • transmitted hourly and contain the following: location, ID, time, configuration, coverage, precipitation type and intensity, location, maximum tops, cell movement, and remarks
  • up to 80 minutes old, should only be used if no other radar info is avaliable
36
Q

What are Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)?

A

concise statement of the expected meterological conditions significant to aviation for a specified tome period within five statute miles (SM) of the center of the airport’s runway complex (terminal)

37
Q

Define aviation area forecast.

A
  • “FA” is a forecast of specified weather phenomena covering a flight information region or other area designated by the meterological authority
  • used to determine forecast en route weather and to interpolate conditions at airports that do not have a terminal aerodrom forecast (TAF)
  • issued 3x daily
38
Q

What info is provided by an FA?

A
  • issued for conterminous U.S. and cover the airspace between the surface and 45,000ft AMSL
  • synopsis, clouds and weather (cloud amount, cloud bases and tops, precipitation, visibilities between 3 and 6 SM and obstructions, sustained surface winds 20 knots or greater), 12 to 18 hour categorical outlook
39
Q

What are Inflight Aviation Weather Advisories (WST, WS, WA)?

A

forecasts to advise en route aircraft of development of potentially hazardous weather in 3 types: the SIGMET, the convective SIGMET, and the AIRMET; all heights referenced MSL, ceilings (CIG) indicate AGL

40
Q

What is a Convective SIGMET?

A
  • (WST) implies severe or greater turbulence, severe icing and low-level wind shear
  • may be issued for any convective situation which the forecaster feels is hazardous to all categories of a/c
  • issued hourly at H+55 (special bulletins issued at any time as required and updated at H+55)
  • observation and a forecast or just a forecast
  • valid for up to 2 hours
  • severe thunderstorm due to (surface winds greater than or equal to 50 knots, hail at the surface greater than or equal to 3/4 inches in diameter, tornadoes); embedded thunderstorms; line thunderstorms; thunderstorms producing greather than or equal to heavy precipitation that affects 40% or more of an area at least 3,000 square miles
41
Q

What is a SIGMET (WS)?

A

advises of non-convective weather that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft; issued for the six areas corresponding to the FA areas; max forecast period is four hours (severe icing not associated w/ a thunderstorm, severe or extreme turbulence or clear air turbulence (CAT) not associated wi/ thunderstorms, duststorms or sandstorms lowering surface or inflight visibilities to below 3 miles, volcanic ash

42
Q

What is an AIRMET (WA)?

A
  • advisories of significant weather phenomena that describe conditions at intensities lower than those which require the issuance of SIGMETs, intended for use by all pilots in the preflight and enroute phase of flight to enhance safety
  • two formats: text bulletins and graphics
  • issued on scheduled basis every 6 hours beginning at 0245 UTC
  • each includes: outlook for conditions expected after the AIRMET valid period
  • contain details about: IFR, extensive mountain obscuration, turbulence, strong surface winds, icing, and freezing levels
43
Q

What are the different types of AIRMETs?

A
  • Sierra: describes IFR conditions and/or extensive mountain obscurations
  • Tango: describes moderate turbulence, sustained surface winds of 30 knots or greater, and/or nonconvective low level wind shear
  • Zulu: descrobes moderate icing and provides freezing level heights
44
Q

Describe the winds and temperature aloft forecasts (FB).

A

computer prepared forecasts of wind direction, wind speed, and temperature at specified times, altitudes and locations; 4x daily; amendments are not issued to forecasts; wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within 1,500 feet of a location’s elevation

45
Q

What are Center Weather Advisories (CWA)?

A

aviation warning for use by aircrews to anticipate and avoid adverse weather conditions in the en route and terminal enviroments; not a flight planning product, instead it reflects current conditions expected at the time of issuance and/or is a short-range forecast for conditions expected to begin within 2 hours of issuance; valid for max 2 hours; if conditions are expected to continue beyond 2-hour valid period, statement will be included in the CWA

46
Q

What is a surface analysis chart?

A

compuer-prepared chart that covers the continguous 48 states and adjacent areas; transmitted every 3 hours; ready means of locating pressure systes and fronts; overview of winds

47
Q

What info does a weather depiction chart provide?

A
  • computer-generated from METAR reports; broad overview of observed flying category conditions at valid time of the chart;
  • begins at 01Z each day, transmitted at 3 hour intervals and is valid at time of plotted data
  • total sky cover, cloud height or ceiling, weather and obstructions to vision and visibilities
  • bird’s eye view of areas of favorable and adverse weather conditions at chart time
48
Q

Define the terms: LIFR, IFR, MVFR, VFR

A
  • LIFR, low IFR: ceiling less than 500ft and/or visibility less than 1 miles
  • IFR: ceiling 500 to less than 1,000ft and/or visibility 1 to less than 3 miles
  • MVFR, marginal VFR: ceiling 1,000 to 3,000ft and/or visibility 3 to 5 miles inclusive
  • VFR: ceiling greater than 3,000ft and visibility greater than 5 miles, includes sky clear
49
Q

What are radar summary charts?

A
  • computer-generated graphical display of a collection of automated radar weather reports (SDs)
  • displays area of precipitation as well as info about type, intensity, configuration, coverage, echo top, and cell movement of precipitation
  • available hourly, valid time of 35 minutes past each hour
  • identifies general areas and movement of precipitation and/or thunderstorms
  • displays drops or ice particles of precipitation size only , does not display clouds or fog
50
Q

What are short-range surface prognostic charts?

A
  • called “progs”, portray forecasts of selected weather conditions at specified valid times (12, 24,36 and 48 hour progs)
  • each valid time is the time which the forecast conditions are expected to occur
  • observed conditions are extended forward in time and become forecasts by considering atmospheric and enviromental processes
  • info for surface to 24,000ft is provided by the low-level significant weather prog charts
  • info from above 24,000 to 60,000 ft is provided by the high-level significant weather prog charts
51
Q

Describe a U.S. low-level significant weather prog chart.

A
  • “day one” forecast of significant weather pertaining to layer from surface to FL240
  • two forecast periods: 12 hours and 24 hours, chart is composed of four panels (two lower depict 12 and 24hr surface prog charts, two upper depict 12 and 24hr significant weather progs
  • issued 4x daily, 00Z, 06Z, 12Z, 18Z
  • covered are forecast positions and characteristics of pressure systems, fronts, and precipitation
52
Q

Describe a mid-level significant weather (SIGWX) chart

A
  • provides a forecast and an overview of significant en route weather phenomena over a range of flight levels from 10,000ft MSL to FL450 and associated surface weather features
  • “snapshot” of weather expected at the specified valid time and depicts numerous weather elements that can be hazardous to aviation
  • issues 24-hour mid-level significant weather chart 4x daily
53
Q

What is a convective outlook chart?

A
  • depicts areas forecast to have the potential for severe (tornado, wind gusts 50 knots or higher, or hail 3/4 inch diameter size or greater) and non-severe (general) convection and specific severe weather threats during the following three days
  • defines area of slight risk (SLGT), moderate risk (MDT) or high risk (HIGH) of severe thunderstorms for a 24hr period beginning at 1200 UTC
  • day 1 and day 2 convective outlooks also depict areas of general thunderstorms
54
Q

What are contstant pressure analysis charts?

A
  • upper air weather map where all info depicted is at the specified pressure of the chart
  • can approximate observed air temperature, wind, and temperature-dewpoint spread along a proposed route
  • also depict highs, lows, troughs, and ridges aloft by height contour patterns resembling isobars on a surface map
  • 2x daily, five contstant pressure charts are issued from observed data obtained at 00Z and 12Z

Private Pilot Oral Exam (3 decks)

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