Weather Charts

Question 1

Surface Analysis Chart

Answer 1

Depicts analysis of surface weather. Transmitted every 3 hours, shows areas of high and low pressure, fronts, temperatures, dew points, wind direction and speeds, local weather, and visual obstructions.

Question 2

Weather Depiction Chart

Answer 2

Details surface conditions as derived from Metars and other surface observations. Transmitted every 3 hours. Graphic display of IFR, VFR, MVFR weather. IFR areas are a hatched area outlined by a smooth line. MVFR shown by a nonhatched area outlined by a smooth line. VFR areas not outlined. Fronts, troughs, squall lines are also depicted.

Question 3

Significant Weather Prognostic Charts

Answer 3

2-panel display of weather, issued 4 times daily. Left is 12 hour, right is 24 hour. Depicts freezing levels, turbulence, low cloud ceilings/visibility restrictions. Useful for preflight when used in conjunction with specific, local forecasts.

Question 4

AIRMET S

Answer 4

IFR conditions (less than 3SM and 1000’ ceiling)

Extensive mountain obscuration

Question 5

AIRMET T

Answer 5

Moderate turbulence

Sustained surface winds 30kts or greater

Non convective LLWS

Question 6

AIRMET Z

Answer 6

Moderate Icing

Frz lvl

Question 7

AIRMET area

Answer 7

Items reported in an AIRMET are widespread, that is, they affect or are forecast to affect an area of at least 3000 square miles at any one time. The entire area is not always directly made up of the items at a given moment.

Question 8

SIGMET

Answer 8

is issued if any of the following affect or are forecast to affect an area of at least 3000 square miles :

Severe icing
Severe or extreme turbulence
Duststorms or sandstorms lowering visibility to less than 3 miles
Volcanic ash

Question 9

SIGMET valid time

Answer 9

Issued for 6 hours periods for phenomena assiciated with hurricanes and 4 hour periods for all other

Question 10

AIRMET valid times

Answer 10

Routinely issued for 6 hour periods. May be amended as necessary for changing conditions or SIGMET issuance

Question 11

Convective SIGMETS

Answer 11

1. Severe surface weather including
   a. surface winds greater than or equal to 50 kts
   b. hail at the surface greater than or equal to 3/4 inches
   c. tornadoes
2. Embedded thunderstorms
3. Lines of thunderstorms
4. Thunderstorms affecting greater than 40% of an area at least 3000 square miles

Any other phenomena the briefer feels should be included

Question 12

UUA PIREPS

Answer 12

Tornadoes, funnel clouds, waterspouts
Severe/exteene turbulence including CAT
Sever icing
Hail
LLWS within 2000 AGL if 10kta or more
Volcanic ash clouds
Anything else deemed necessary

Question 13

UA PIREPS

Answer 13

Any information not urgent

Question 14

Constant pressure charts

Answer 14

Wind forecast with temp, relative humidity, or other.

Question 15

CWA

Answer 15

Center Weather Advisory warning for conditions approaching in-flight advisory (SIGMET, AIRMET or Convective SIGMET) criteria

Valid for up to 2 hours, may include forecast for continuance of conditions

May be issued if
No existing AWC or AAWU advisory exists
Conditions meet Convective SIG criteria
Moderate or greater icing
Moderate or greater TB
Heavy/extreme precip
Frzing precip
At or approaching Low IFR
Srfce wnd gusts at or above 30 kts
LLWS within 2000 AGL
Volcanic ash, DS, SS
Hazard has grown out of AWC/AAWU advisory
Upgrading a TS advisory to severe TS
Upgrade AIRMET to SEVERE TB/ICING
Define a line of TS within a larger area covered by AWC/AAWU advisory
To better define hazards expected at a major terminal already within AWC/AAWU advisory
Anything else judged to add value

Question 16

Convective Outlook

Answer 16

Potential for sever/non-severe convective actuvity during the following 8 days. 
Marginal risk.  MRGL
Slight risk.   SLGT
Enhanced risk.  ENH
Moderate risk.   MDT
High risk.      HIGH

Specific times during days 1-3, 4-8 have general prediction

Question 17

FA

Answer 17

Abbreviated plain weather forecast over a large area (several states)
18-24 hr valid time, issued 3-4 times daily. Exact phenomena depends on region and conditions. Does not replace TAF. May be amended (AMD) or corrected (COR)

Question 18

TAF

Answer 18

Concise statement of the expected meteorological conditions significant to aviation for a specified time period within 5 SM of the center of the airport’s runway complex. Same codes as METAR
Valid for 24 and 30 hrs, issued at 0000, 0600, 1200, 1800Z

Question 19

FB

Answer 19

Winds and Temps aloft
WND not issued if withon 1500 of airport elevation, Temps not reported if within2500 of location elevation. Graphical and text display.

If winds greater than 100, less than 199, add 100 to speed group and subtract 50 from direction. If wind speeds greater than/equal to 200, it is coded as 199. Above 24,000 MSL, all temps negative and temp sign is dropped

Question 20

FRZ LVL Graphics

Answer 20

Supplemet to awareness, official FRZ LVL info found in AIRMETs. But the graphic helps show this in a more readable way.

Question 21

Lifted-K Index

Answer 21

Stability chart,

moisture (lifted-K)

The bugger the top number, the more stable the air.

The bugger the bottom number, the more moisture, and therefore chance of TS.

The whole fraction should be equal to as big a number as possible for good, stable conditions. Positive means more stability.