Weather Fundamentals

Question 1

Weather affects aviators in what three ways?

Answer 1

Reduce visibility
Create turbulence
Reduce AC performance

Question 2

Natural air contains a variable amount of

Answer 2

Water vapor and

condensation nuclei

Question 3

The most important element of weather usually not found above the troposphere is

Answer 3

Moisture

Question 4

Six basic elements of weather

Answer 4

Temperature
Pressure
Wind
Moisture
Clouds
Precipitation

Question 5

What kind of cloud would you expect at low altitude in an UNSTABLE environment?

Answer 5

Cumuliform clouds

Question 6

What kind of cloud would you expect at low altitude in a STABLE environment?

Answer 6

stratiform clouds

Question 7

Avoid what kinds of clouds?

Answer 7

Cumulus / Cumulonimbus

Question 8

What clouds should make you prepare for an alternate airport?

Answer 8

Stratus

WARNING CUNULONIMBUS MAY BE EMBEDDED IN STRATUS CLOUDS

Question 9

CC cloud?

Answer 9

Cirrocumulus

Trouble at higher Altitudes: looks like popcorn

Question 10

CS cloud?

Answer 10

Cirrostratus

Moisture is aloft, stable

Question 11

CI cloud?

Answer 11

Cirrus

Wispy: strong winds at the cloud level, stable

Question 12

Types of high clouds

Answer 12

Bases between 16,000 to 45,000 AGL

CIRRUS - CI
CIRROSTRATUS - CS
CIRROCUMULUS - CC

Question 13

NS cloud?

Answer 13

Nimbostratus

Question 14

AC cloud?

Answer 14

Altocumulus

About to make thunder storm, lifting forces with ripples and moisture, UNSTABLE, clouds are coming down

Question 15

AS cloud?

Answer 15

Altostratus

Stable, a little moisture

Question 16

Middle clouds?

Answer 16

Bases between 6,500 and 20,000 AGL
ALTOSTRATUS - AS
ALTOCUMULUS - AC
NIMBOSTRATUS - NS

Question 17

CB with anvil cloud?

Answer 17

Cumulonimbus

Dissipating thunderstorm. Very strong winds up top, possible hail around immediate area from base of cloud anvil.

Question 18

CB without anvil cloud?

Answer 18

Cumulonimbus

Fresh thunderstorm

Question 19

SC cloud?

Answer 19

Stratocumulus

In between, there’s moisture. Possible transfer of weather

Question 20

ST cloud?

Answer 20

Stratus

Stable conditions

Question 21

CU cloud?

Answer 21

Cumulus

Generally unstable

Question 22

Low clouds

Answer 22

Base writhing 6,500 AGL 
CUMULUS - CU
STRATUS - ST
STRATOCUMULUS - SC
CUMULONIMBUS - CB

Question 23

Describe cumulus clouds

Answer 23

Unstable, vertical clouds.

Question 24

Describe stratus clouds

Answer 24

Flat, stable.

Question 25

3 atmospheric conditions that provide the best lift

Answer 25

High pressure, low temp, low humidity.

Question 26

Methods of heat transfer

CRAC

Answer 26

Convection: transfer of heat by gas in a vertical movement

Radiation: transfer of heat by electromagnetic waves
(Terrestrial: outgoing from earth )
(Insulation: incoming from the sun)

Advection: horizontal transfer of heat by wind

Conduction: transfer of heat by physical contact

Question 27

Uneven heating of the earth is because of the 23.5* tilt of the earth and….

Answer 27

The Coriolis effect

Question 28

The difference between convection and Advection

Answer 28

Convection: exchange of heat vertically
Advection: exchange of heat horizontally

Question 29

Standard temp lapse rate is ___ per 1,000’

Answer 29

2*C

Question 30

Temperature inversion

Answer 30

A layer of air increases in temp with altitude

Question 31

Standard MSL in millibars

Answer 31

1013.2 hP/mb

Question 32

Sky conditions with low pressure areas are produced by

Answer 32

Rising and cooling of the air.

Question 33

What is an isobar?

Answer 33

A line connecting points of equal pressure corrected to MSL

Question 34

The wind aloft or gradient wind circulation around a high pressure area is….

Answer 34

Going clockwise and parallel to the isobars