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Weather Flashcards

1
Q

Troposphere

A

Nearly all weather occurs here

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2
Q

Pressure gradient force

A

The initiating force for all winds

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3
Q

Visible moisture is also

A

Cloud, super cooled water, freezing rain, liquid water below freezing

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4
Q

Cold fronts
Winds
Direction
Shifts

A

20kts
Moves from NW to SE
Shifts from SW to NW clockwise

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5
Q

Warm Fronts
Winds
Direction
Shifts

A

15kts
Moves from SW to NE
SHifts from SE to SW

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6
Q

Stationary fronts

A

Neither air mass is replacing the other. They are indicated on surface charts by an alternating warm and cold front symbols, retaining their original red and blue colors, but pointing in opposite directions.

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7
Q

PIREP Turbulence reporting term

A

Occasional: Less than 1/3 of the time
Intermittent: 1/3 to 2/3 of the time
Continuous: More than 2/3 of the time

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8
Q

Lifting actions

A

Frontal
Orographic
Convergence
Thermal

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9
Q

Occluded front

Where do the winds shift from?

A

When a faster moving cold front overtakes a slower moving warm front. Winds shift from SE to NW

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10
Q

Where layer does the ceiling start

A

Broken layer

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11
Q

Definition of fog

A

Visible layer of condensed moisture
Base at or within 50 feet of surface
Greater than 20 feet thick
Reduces visibility to less than 5/8 of a mile

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12
Q

Roll and wall clouds

A

Roll clouds occur in severe and fast moving thunderstorms. Indicate the presence of low level wind shear and extreme turbulence

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13
Q

Gust fronts

A

Forms on the surface at the leading edge of an advancing thunderstorm. 5-20 miles from the thunderstorm

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14
Q

Difference between funnel cloud and tornado

A

Funnel cloud is not touching the surface and tornado is.

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15
Q

Manual METAR observations…

A

Are required to be started no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the reporting time which is a window between 55 and 59 minutes past the hour.

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16
Q

Air traffic facilities are required to solicit PIREPs whenever the following conditions are reported or forecasted:

A

Ceilings are at or below 5000ft, vis at or below 5 miles, thunderstorms and related phenomena, icing of a light degree or greater, turbulence of moderate degree or greater, and wind shear.

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17
Q

Discontinuities between air masses

A
  • Temperature
  • Dew points: Larger contrasts produces more severe weather
  • Wind: Usually clockwise 90 degrees
  • Pressure: Falls ahead of front, rises after
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18
Q

Factors influencing frontal weather

A 
Moisture
Contrast
Stability
Slope
Speed
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19
Q

Intensity differences between Turbulence and Icing

A

Turbulence: Light, moderate, severe, extreme
Icing: Trace, light, moderate, severe

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20
Q

Thunderstorm avoidance (In order)

A
  1. Circumnavigate
  2. Over the top - 1000ft for every 10kts
  3. Underneath - 1/3 distance from the ground to cloud base
  4. Penetrate - Lower 1/3 of the storm
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21
Q

Vertical air movement happens:

A

Both up and down

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22
Q

Types of turbulence

A

Windshear: Jet stream, gusty winds, temperature inverstion
Thermal
Frontal
Mechanical

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23
Q

At what temperature does Rime, mixed, clear, and engine ice occur

A

Rime: -20 to -10 degrees celsius
Mixed: -15 to -8 degrees celsius
Clear: -10 to 0 degrees celsius
Engine: 0 to 10 degrees celsius

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24
Q

Clear air Turbulence can…

A

Occur in any 4 classifications of turbulence

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25
Q

Standard lapse rate

A

2 degrees celsius per 1000ft

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26
Q

Standard day

A

15 degrees celsius

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27
Q

Why is there a temperature inversion in the stratospher

A

Ozone and to close to the sun

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28
Q

What is the tropopause

A

Transition between troposphere and stratosphere, isothermal layer is located here

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29
Q

What type of weather is associated with the stratospher

A

smooth, clear air

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30
Q

What percentages of elements found in pure, dry air?

A

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% mix of 10 other gases

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31
Q

How much water vapor is in the atmosphere?

A

0-5% by volume

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32
Q

What is the coriolis force and what does it do?

A

It is created by earth’s rotation, diverts air to the right and circulates air in our atmostphere

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33
Q

High pressure rotates and is what color… Low pressure

A

High: Clockwise descending and out
Low: Counterclockwise, converging and ascending

34
Q

Less than 2000 ft what affects the winds?

A

Coriolis force and surface friction

35
Q

Jet stream dimensions and speeds

A
  • 100-150kts avg
  • 250kts center
  • 50kts outer
  • 1000 - 3000 miles long
  • 3000-7000ft tall
  • 100-400 miles wide
36
Q

What breezes happen during the day and at night?

A

Sea, valley day

Land and mountain, night

37
Q

Saturation

A

When temperature and dew point are equal

38
Q

Fog will begin..

A

when the temperature dew point spread reaches 4 degrees farenheight, or the relative humidity will be 90%.

39
Q

Three characteristics of precipitation

A

SHowers, continuous (steady), and intermittent

40
Q

Three common types of precipitation

A

Drizzle, rain, frozen

41
Q

Middle clouds

A

Alto

6500ft-20000ft AGL

42
Q

Low clouds

A

Less than 6500 ft AGL

Worried about terrain

43
Q

High clouds

A

Cirro - Icing

Above 20000ft AGL

44
Q

Nimbostratus

A

Violent, downward

45
Q

Cumulonimbus

A

Heavy, upwards

46
Q

Squall lines occur how far in front of what kind of front

A

50-300 miles, cold front

47
Q

Orographic types

A

Steady, neutral, unstable

48
Q

Thermal lifting action caused by

A

Cold air moving over warm surface

49
Q

Two characteristics that are the same across a uniform horizontal plane and what is this called?

A

Temperature and moisture, an Airmass

50
Q

How are fronts named?

A

The overtaking air mass temperature

51
Q

What are occluded fronts and where can their weather be found?

A

When a faster moving cold front overtakes a slower moving warm front, the type is dependent on which front stays in contact with the ground. 100nm south and 300NM north of the frontal intersection

52
Q

Cloud formations associated with Mountain wave turbulence

A

Rotor Cloud
Forms downwind from and parallel to the mountain range
Cylindrical shape
Downward flow has been known to reach the ground
Cap Cloud
Cover the top of the mountain
Remain stationary
Lenticular Cloud
Forms on leeward side of the mountain from standing waves

53
Q

Mountain wave turbulence found where and at what speed

A

Extreme turb found on leeward side of mtn up to 50kts or greater at the peak.
- Severe turbulance 150 miles downsind, moderate turbulence as far as 300 miles downwind.

54
Q

Where should you fly to avoid mountain wave turbulence

A

Circumnavigate if possible or at a level at least 50% higher than the height of the highest mountain range along your flight path. Approach at a 45 degree angle so that a quick turn can be made away from the ridge if a severe downdraft is encountered.

55
Q

Types of icing

A

Clear (most dangerous), rime, mixed, and frost

56
Q

Types of engine icing

A

Induction (increased risk of FOD into engine ahead of compressor) and compressor(ice forming on compressor inlet screens)

57
Q

When will icing occur?

A

Visible moisture and freezing temps(0- -20degrees celsius)

58
Q

Visibility defined as

A
  • Ability to see and identify prominent unlighted objects by day and prominent unlighted objects by night.
59
Q

Flight visibility defined as

A

The average forward horizontal distance, measured in SMs from the cockpit where the pilot can see unlit and lit objects whether it be day or night.

60
Q

Prevailing visiblility

A

Greatest horizontal visibliity, equaled or exceeded throughout at least 50% of the horizon circle, which need not be continuous.

61
Q

Slant range visibility Define

A

Distance on final approach with the runway environment in sight

62
Q

Runway visual range

A

Horizontal distance, expressed in hundreds of FEET OR METERS, a pilot will see by looking down the runway fromt he approach end

63
Q

Fog

A

Is a visible aggreagate of minute water droplets that is based or within:

  • 50 feet of the surface
  • greater than 20 feet in depth
  • reduces vis to less than 5/8 of a SM
64
Q

Radiation fog

A

Occurs due to nocturnal cooling, usually on clear nights, when the earth releases relatively large amounts of radiation into the atmospher, cooling the surface. It can dissipate with winds greater than 10 knots or solar heating.

65
Q

Advection fog

A

occurs when warm, moist air moves over a cold surface and the air is cooled to the dew point. It can only be dissipated by winds.

66
Q

Thunderstorm hazards

A 
H: Hail
I: Icing
M: Microbursts
E: Extr Turb.
L: Lightning
T: Tornados
67
Q

Everything in a TAF/METAR is in zulu time except

A

weather watches

68
Q

Microbursts

A
  • Downward vel: 2000-6000ft/min
  • Velocities: 20-200kts
  • Diameter: 1/4-2 1/2 miles
  • Span: 5-10 mins
69
Q

METARs last

70
Q

TAFs last

71
Q

NEXRAD finds

A

H: Hail
T: Tornados
M: Microbursts
L: Low level wind shear

72
Q

TAF for Military is in what unit of measurement

A

Meters, everything else is in SM

73
Q

On Prognostic charts if above 36?

A

Subtract 50, add 100

74
Q

Weather warning is for what and what are the req. for a thunderstorm to be reported

A

Tornado, funnel cloud, or
TS: 50kts or greater
Hail greater than 3/4in
10000 SM area

75
Q

What size hailstones can cause significant damage?

A

1/2 to 3/4 inch

76
Q

SIGMETS

  • Abbreviation:
  • Duration:
  • S/U
A
  • Abbreviation: WS
  • Duration: 4 hrs
  • S/U: U
77
Q

Convective SIGMET

  • Abbreviation:
  • Duration:
  • S/U
A
  • Abbreviation:WST
  • Duration: 2hrs
  • S/U: U
78
Q 
AIRMET
 - Abbreviation:
- Duration:
- S/U
Sierra:
Tango: 
Zulu:
A
  • Abbreviation: WA
  • Duration: 6hrs
  • S/U: S
    Sierra: IFR conditions
    Tango: Mod turb
    Zulu: Icing
79
Q

Prognostic chart: 1733

A

170 degrees true and 33 kts

80
Q

Prognostic chart: 740957

A

240 degrees true at 109 kts -57 degrees celsius

81
Q

How should pilots flight plan given tailwinds and headwinds

A

Greater tailwinds, and lighter headwinds

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