Weather Flashcards by scott wood

Most of the Earth’s weather occurs in what region?

Troposphere, up to approx 36,000

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What does dew point mean?

Temperature which a sample of air must be cooled to attain state of saturation.

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

Stability of the atmosphere.

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What is the difference between stable and unstable air?

Depends on it’s ability to resist vertical motion. Unstable air producers convective activity.

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How can you determine the stability of the air?

When temperature decreases uniformly and rapidly as you climb, 3 degrees per 1000 feet.

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What is an occluded front?

Stop, close up or obstruct… fast moving front catches up with a slow moving front.

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What is a trough?

Elongated area of low atmospheric pressure. At the surface, when air converges it cannot go downward into the ground, or outward, it must go up.

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What is a ridge?

Elongated area of high atmospheric pressure. Defending air

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What types of weather briefings can you get from FSS?

Standard, Abbreviated, Outook, Inflight.

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What pertinent info can you get from a weather briefing?

Adverse conditions
VFR not recommended
Synopsis
Current conditions
Enroute forecast
Destination forecast
Winds aloft
NOTAMS
ATC Delay
You can also request special use space activity, RAIM etc

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What are flight information services?

Broadcast through ADS-B to flight decks with weather and aeronautical information.

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While enroute, you can get updated weather from?

FSS on 122.2 and appropriate RCO (remote communication outlet)

ATIS

HIWAS

Datalink (FIS-B…ADS-B)

ATC

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Describe types of weather observing programs in use

Manual observations
AWOS - Automated weather observing system
AWOS-broadcasts, permits manual appending
ASOS/AWSS - Primary surface observing system in US. Continuous. Over freq or navaid

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What are two types of PIREPs?

UA - urgent

UUA - routine

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What are TAFs?

Terminal Aerodrome Forcasts
5 SM from center of airport
Date and time, valid period, forcasts

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What is an area forecast (FA)?

Flight information covering a region. Use for enroute weather planning.
3 times a day.. 6 areas, 48 states

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What is graphical forecasts (GFA)?

Complete picture of weather that may impact flight.

From 14 hours before to 15 hours in the future.

What are 4 types of inflight aviation weather advisories?

SIGMET (WS), Convective SIGMET (WST), AIRMET(WA), Central Weather Advisory (CWA)

What is a Convective SIGMET?

Valid for 2 hours,
Severe thunderstorms, surface winds > 50Kts, Hail at surface > 3/4 inches
Tornadoes.
Embedded Thunderstorms
Line of thunderstorms
Thunderstorms producing participation levels greater than or equal to heavy-intensity.

What is a SIGMET(WS)

Valid 4 hours
(6 for tropical cyclones and volcanic ash)
Severe icing
Severe turbulance or CAT
Dust storms with < 3 miles visibility
Volcanic ash

What is AIRMET (WA)

Lower than SIGMET
IFR
Mountain obscuration
Turbulance
Strong surface winds
Icing
Freezing levels

What are the different types of Airmets?

Sierra - IFR

Tango - moderate turbulance => 30kts and/or non convective low-level wind shear

Zulu - moderate icing…provides freezing level

What is winds and temperatures aloft forecast?

For specific locations, called FBs are issues 4 times daily in 4 digit code format is true north. Wind forecasts are not issued for atltitutes within 1500 feet of location.

What valuable information can be determined from an FB?

Most favorable altitude
Areas of possible icing
Temperature inversions
Turbulance… abrupt changes in the wind direction and speed.

What is a Center Weather Advisory(CWA)?

For enroute and terminal environments. It is a short-term now cast pinpointing hazardous weather already causing an impact and will for the next 2 hours... it is an inflight tool and are valid for maximum of 2 hours

What is a Convective Outlook (AC)?

Narrative and graphical outlook of potential severe Tornado, wind gusts > 50 Kats hail > 1" Non-severe Threads for next 8 days. ``` Areas of Marginal risk (MRGL) Slight risk (SLGT) Enhanced risk (ENH) Moderate risk (MDT) High risk (HIGH) ```

What is a surface analysis chart?

``` Analyzed surface weather observations. Sea level pressure, Positions of highs, lows, ridges, and troupes Fronts It is produced 8 times daily ```

Describe Ceiling and visibility analysis. (CWA)

Real-time. | Generally, for general aviation to avoid IFR conditions.

What information does a weather depiction chart provide?

Helps determine IFR, MVFR, VFR. Being phased out by CWA.

What does short-range surface prognostic charts provide?

Forecast of surface pressure systems, fronts and precipitation for a 21/2 day period (12, 18, 24, 48 and 60 hour) Issued 4 times a day.

Describe a low-level signficant weather chart.

Forecast of hazardous weather used for pre-flight briefings. Surface to FL24 12 hour and 24 hour report

What are NOTAMS?

Time critical temporary information or not in time for chart publication. Closures Navigation aids status changes Radar service availability For planned enroute, terminal or landing operations.

What are the types and descriptions of NOTAMS?

D-enroute navigation aids, civil public use airports in AFD, facilities, services and procedures FDC - changes to IFR charts, procedures, and airspace usage Pointer - highlight or point out another NOTAM Military - Pertails to military SAA - Special Activity Airspace will be active outside published schedule. FICON - Field conditions, contaminant measurements for paved runways.

What are keywords contained in NOTAM D?

RWY, TWY, RAMP, APRON, AD, OBST, VAN, COM, SVC, AIRSPACE, U(unverified info), O(other info)

Where can you get NOTAM info?

FSS, DUATS, Notice to Airmen Publication (NTAP... published every 28 days), FAA website

What are three types of thunderstorms?

Single cell, Mutli-cell, Supercell

What charts and reports are useful in determining potential and locations of thunderstorms?

Convective Outlook (AC) - slight, moderate, high Significant Weather Chart(SIGWX) NEXRAD Convective SIGMETS (WST) PIREPS

What are characteristics of microbursts?

Less than 1 mile in diameter, can extend 21/2 miles near ground level Downdrafts as strong as 6000 female Horizonal up to 45 Kts resulting in 90kt wind shear Can last longer than 15 minutes from the time it strikes the ground until dissipation and if in a line, may last for up to an hour.

What reports help determine microburst/wind shear?

``` TAF METAR LLWAS TDWR - terminal Doppler weather radar, deployed to 45 airports SIGMET and Convective SIGMET Visual clues from cockpit Heavy rain Ring of blowing dust, or flying debri Virga Tornados features At night, lightning PIREPS ```

Where can windshear occur?

Low level temperature inversion Frontal zone or thunderstorm Clear Air Turbulance (CAT) at high levels associated with jet stream or strong circulation