Weather Flashcards
Which side of a low pressure front would you want to fly on to take advantage of tailwinds?
It depends on which direction you’re flying. If you’re flying west, the north side would benefit you. If you’re flying east, the south side would benefit you. If you’re flying north, the east side would benefit you, and lastly, if you’re flying south, the west side would benefit you
What are the thin grey lines (isobars) Close vs far isobars?
Shows differences in pressure
What stage would you most likely encounter the anvil top?
Mature stage
How to differentiate hail from rain on radar?
Hail can be detected using radar. On Doppler radar, hail generally sends a return signal that looks like extremely heavy rainfall. Dual-polarization radar technology, used by the NWS, can help tell the difference between hail, ice pellets and rain, and even determine hail size.
If it is 5C at altitude could we get ice on wings?
Yes. It depends on the temperature of the surface of the aircraft. If descending from very cold altitudes you can definitely accumulate ice with an OAT of 5C.
How often do winds and temperature aloft forecasts come out?
At a global level, winds aloft forecasts are updated every 6 hours. For North America, Europe, and Australia, these forecasts are updated every hour. The time resolution for global forecasts is every 3 hours up to 30 hours (e.g., 00Z, 03Z, 06Z, 09Z).
Heavy rain / heavy snow equates to what visibility?
1/4 vis
Name the different types of fog and what causes them?
(1) Advection fog
(2) Radiation fog (ground or valley fog)
(3) Upslope fog (Cheyenne fog)
(4) Steam fog (arctic sea smoke)
(5) Frontal fog (forms from the evaporation of warm precipitation as it falls into drier, colder air in a frontal system)
(6) Ice fog (This type of fog is only seen in the polar and artic regions. Temperatures at 14 F (-10°C) is too cold for the air to contain super-cooled water droplets so it forms small tiny ice crystals.)
At a cold weather airport , is your true altitude higher or lower?
cold weather = lower true alt. warm weather = higher true alt
Is frost considered structural icing?
Yes
What is clear air turbulence?
Turbulence not associated with cloud formations
Where is the most severe turbulence in a thunderstorm?
top 1/3 of the thunderstorm where updrafts and downdrafts meet
What would you do if there was a microburst over the field and you were five minutes from landing?
Maybe ask for vectors to a hold and wait it out. Or divert to alternate.
Why does the thunderstorm flatten at the top?
Mature thunderstorm cells can rise so high that they reach the stratosphere, where winds will spread and flatten the top. This makes the anvil-shaped thunderstorm clouds that you may have seen.
As a pilot how can you visually tell which stage the thunderstorm is in?
updrafts in cumulus clouds, due to lifting force Mature stage when it starts to rain Dissipating stage when the cloud opens up and starts to dry out and the anvil shape forms
Mountain waves can extend how far from mountains?
700 miles.
What is the definition of severe icing?
Icing accumulation to the point that equipment fails to control removal
