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COMMPractical > Weather Information > Flashcards

Weather Information Flashcards

1
Q

Most Wx occurs in what region of the atmosphere ?

A

Troposphere (up to 36,000 ft)

59F to -70F

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2
Q

What are standard temps and pressure at sea level ?

A

15C and 29.92 Hg

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3
Q

What are ISO Bars ?

A

areas of equal or constant barometric pressure

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4
Q

If ISO Bars close together on surface or pressure chart….

A

stronger pressure gradient

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5
Q

What does dew point mean ?

A

Temperature at which a column of air must be cooled to attain saturation.

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6
Q

When Temp and Dew point are close together (5 degrees F) what Wx is likely ?

A

Clouds, dew, or fog.

Ideal for Carb Icing

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7
Q

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

A

Stability of the the atmosphere

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8
Q

Explain the difference between stable atmosphere and unstable atmosphere

A

depends on ability to resist vertical motion.
Stable atmosphere resists vertical motion.
Dampens out disturbances

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9
Q

How can you determine stability of atmosphere ?

A

When temperature decreases uniformly, approaching 3 degrees per 1000 ft, you have unstable air.

If temperature remains unchanged or decreases slightly, air tends to be stable.

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10
Q

What are the effects of stable and unstable air on clouds, turbulence, precipitation and visibility ?

A

Clouds Stratiform Cumuliform
Turb Smooth Heavy
Precip Steady Showery
Visibility Poor Good

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11
Q

What are characteristics of air flow around Low and High Pressure systems in Northern Hemisphere ?

A

Low: Inward, upward, counter-clockwise
High: Outward, downward, clockwise

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12
Q

What Wx can be expected flying towards a Low Pressure system ? A High Pressure system ?

A

Low pressure is characterized by rising air, conducive to clouds, precip, and bad Wx.

High pressure is characterized by descending air, favors good weather.

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13
Q

Describe different types of Fronts ?

A

Cold Front: Cold dense air replaces warm air

Occluded Front: Fast moving cold front catches up with Slow moving warm front

Warm Front: Boundary area when warm air mass contacts and flow over colder air mass

Stationary Front: Relatively Equal air masses boundary is stationary

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14
Q

What are general characteristics of Wx operating near a Cold Front ?

A 
As Front passes, 
Cumulus, cumulonimbus, 
heavy rain
lightning
thunder
hail
tornadoes 
Temp/Dewpoint equal
rapid pressure drops
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15
Q

What are general characteristics of Wx operating near a Warm Front ?

A 
as front passes 
stratiform
clouds
drizzle
low ceilings
poor viz
variable winds
rise in temperature
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16
Q

What is a Trough ?

A

elongated area of relatively LOW pressure

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17
Q

What is a Ridge ?

A

elongated area of relatively HIGH Pressure

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18
Q

What is primary means of obtaining Wx ?

A

1-800-WX-Brief (24Hrs) FSS Briefer

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19
Q

What are examples of other sources of Wx ?

A

Foreflight, avaiationweather.gov, DUATS (Lockheed)

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20
Q

Does the Wx provided by 3rd party satisfy 91.103 requirements ?

A

It might not. May have different Quality Control. Would check with FAA Flight service specialist

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21
Q

What types of Wx briefings are available from FSS briefer ?

A

Standard (Request for Full report)
Abbreviated (request for supplemental)
Outlook (6+ hours or more)
Inflight (122.2)

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22
Q

What info should Wx preflight include ?

A 
Adverse conditions
VFR not recommended
Synopsis
Current Conditions
Enroute Forecast 
Destination Forecast
Winds Aloft
Notices to Airmen
ATC Delay
Info on Special use Airspace
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23
Q

What is FIS-B ?

A

ground based Wx broadcast via ADS-B 978 MHz UAT

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24
Q

Can FIS-B be used to navigate TS ?

A

No, delayed info

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25
Q

What is HIWAS ?

A 
inflight Wx on NAVAIDS for 
SIGMETS, 
Convective SIGMETS, 
CWAs, 
AIRMETS, 
URGENT Pireps.
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26
Q

What is ATIS ?

A

broadcast of repetitive info regarding aerodrome, terminal information service. (ATIS)

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27
Q

What’s included in ATIS broadcast ?

A 
time of latest Wx
ceiling
viz
obstructions to viz,
temperature
dew point
wind (magnetic)
velocity
altimeter
runway/approach in use
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28
Q

While enroute, how to obtain Wx info

A 
FSS on 122.2
XM
FIS-B
ATIS
HIWAS
ATC workload permitting
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29
Q

What is a METAR ?

A

hourly routine Wx report

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30
Q

Describe types of Wx reporting.

A

Manual
AWOS (Automated Weather Observation_
ASOS (Automated Surface Observation)

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31
Q

What are PiReps ?

A

conditions from pilots in the air.
Two Types:
UA - Standard
UUA -Urgent

32
Q

What are TAFs ?

A

Expected Wx issued 4 times a day.

33
Q

What is Area Forecast (FA) ?

A

6 CONUS area forecasts issued 3 times a day.

Plans to discontinue and replace with GFA

34
Q

What are graphically area forecasts (GFA) ?

A

aviationweather.gov to provide complete picture. 14 hrs in past to 15 hrs in future

35
Q

What are the types of Wx advisories ?

A

SIGMET
Convective Sigment
Airmet
CWA

36
Q

Convective SIGMET ?

A

Issued for Severe TS

1) due to Surface winds > 50 its
2) Hail > 3/4 inches
3) TS affecting 40% or more of area at least 3000 sq miles
4) Tornadoes
5) Embedded TS
6) Line of TS

7)Imply severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, LLWS

37
Q

How long is a convective SIGMET valid ?

A

2 hrs

38
Q

When (time) are convective SIGMET issued ?

A

55 min past the hour.

39
Q

SIGMET ?

A

Severe or extreme Turbulence NOT associated with TS
widespread Dust/Sand storms
Volcanic ash

40
Q

What time are convective SIGMETS issued ?

A

unscheduled, as needed. Valid for 4 hrs.

Ash/Volcano = 6hrs

41
Q

What is an AIRMET ?

A 
Wx Advisory
IFR
Mountain obscuration
turbulence
strong surface winds
icing
freezing levels
42
Q

How often are AIRMETs issued ?

A

Every 6 hrs.

43
Q

What are the different types of AIRMETS ?

A

Sierra - IFR and Mountain obscurations
Tango - Turbulence
Zulu - Moderate Icing and provides freezing levels

44
Q

What is a winds and temperature aloft forecast (FB) ?

A

4 digit codes for wind and direction, 2 digit codes for temps.

issued 4 times a day

45
Q

What info can be obtained from winds aloft forecasts (FB) ?

A

Favorable altitude
Areas of icing
Temperature Inversions
Turbulence

46
Q

What is a CWA ?

A

Warning of adverse conditions valid for Max of 2 hrs

47
Q

What is a Convective Outlook ?

A

outlook for severe (tornado, 50kts gusts, 1” hail) and non-severe convection

48
Q

What is a surface analysis chart ?

A 
highs
lows
ridges and troughs
fronts
issued 8 times a day
49
Q

Describe Ceiling and Visibility analysis.

A

real-time analysis of observed and estimated ceilings in CONUS

50
Q

What does a Wx depiction chart provide ?

A

Plot of selected METAR stations for IFR, MVFR, VFR conditions

51
Q

What info do short-range surface prognostic charts provide ?

A

Forecast of surface pressure systems and precip for 2 1/2 day period. 4 times a day.

52
Q

Describe low-level significant Wx chart (SIGWX).

A

12 to 24 hr forecasts of
Wx categories
turbulence
Freezing levels

53
Q

What are NOTAMS ?

A 
Time critical info on
runway closures
navaids
approaches
radar availability
essential to enroute, terminal or landing operations.
54
Q

NOTAMS (D)

A

Distributed widely (ie.runway closures etc)

55
Q

FDC NOTAM

A

Regulatory, I.e. IFR Chart mods

56
Q

Pointer NOTAMS

A

Refer to other NOTAMS

57
Q

Military NOTAM

A

Military

58
Q

SAA NOTAM

A

Special Airspace

59
Q

FICON NOTAM

A

Field Conditions

60
Q

Give examples of NOTAM keywords

A

RWY, TWY, RAMP, NAV, COM, U = unverified

61
Q

Where to obtain NOTAMS ?

A

Foreflight, FSS, FAA pilot webiste

62
Q

What are the 3 principle types of TS ?

A

Single Cell
Multi-Cell
Super Cell

63
Q

When attempting to avoid TB around TS, explain operational procedures Pilots should never attempt…

A

Never TOL with approaching TS (wind sheer)
Never Fly Under TS
Never Fly under Anvil
Never Fly without Radar into a cloud mass (embedded)
Never Trust visual appearance
Never assume ATC will offer guidance
Never use NEXRAD for tactical … to thread needle through TS (delayed)

64
Q

What procedures can be performed when flying without TS detection equipment ?

A

1) Strategic Spacing VIA NEXRAD (shows where it was)
2) Ask ATC radar guidance
3) Avoid 20 NM
4) Avoid entire area if TS cover 60% of area
5) Recall vivid and frequent lighting = SEVERE TS

65
Q

Can ATC provide inflight assistance to avoid Wx ?

A

yes, to the extent possible. Primary responsibility is traffic separation.

66
Q

What charts are useful for Preflight planning of TS avoidance ?

A

1) Convective Outlook
2) Significant weather chart SIGWX
3) Wx Radar observations
4) Convective SIGMETS
5) Pilot Reports

67
Q

What are microbursts ?

A

Intense downdrafts which spread outward when reaching surface causing vertical and horizontal sheers

68
Q

Where are microbursts most likely to occur ?

A

anywhere convective activity, Virga, TS

69
Q

What are basic characteristics of a microburst ?

A

< 1 mile in Diameter near top, 2.5 miles near ground
downdrafts or 6000 FPM
can last up to 15 min

70
Q

What type of Wx info will you examine to see microburst conditions ?

A

1) TAFS for convective activity
2) METARS for WSHR clues (TS, rain showers, blowing dust)
3) LLWAS reports
4) TDWR (Doppler radar)
5) SIGMETS

71
Q

What is wind sheer and when most likely to occur ?

A

rapid rate of wind change per unit of distance.

a) low-level temp inversion
b) Fronts
c) CAT (clear air turbulence)

72
Q

Why is wind sheer a concern for pilots ?

A

Rapid changes in wind speed an direction are hazardous at low altitudes

73
Q

What airplane characteristics will be observed with sudden increase/decrease of headwind ?

A

Tailwind sheers to HW = increase in AS, ALT, PITCH

HW sheers to TW = decrease in AS, ALT,PITCH

74
Q

What is LLWAS ?

A

Low-Level Windshear Alert System at some airports

75
Q

What are 2 classifications of thunder storms ?

A

Airmass TS = single cell, pop-up

Steady State = Associated with Frontal systems.

76
Q

Describe properties of a steady state TS.

A

associated with Frontal system
converging winds and troughs aloft force upward motion
precipitation falls outside of updraft allowing TS to continue for many hours

COMMPractical (11 decks)

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