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Private Pilot Knowledge Test > Weather Information > Flashcards

Weather Information Flashcards

1
Q

What direction of air movement is associated with low pressure systems?

A

Inwards, upwards, and counterclockwise

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2
Q

What direction of air movement is associated with high pressure?

A

Outward, downward, clockwise

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3
Q

What are the types of fronts?

A

Cold
Occluded
Warm
Sationary

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4
Q

Describe a cold front.

A

Cold, dense, stable air moves under and replaces warm air. Typically associated with thunderstorms. Gusty winds.

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5
Q

Describe an occluded front.

A

Fast moving cold front catches up to slow, warm front. Two types cold/warm occlusion.

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6
Q

Describe a warm front.

A

Warm air moves over and replaces cold air. Stratiform clouds. Low ceilings. Poor visibility.

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7
Q

Describe a stationary front.

A

Forces of two air masses equally opposed. Several days of affected weather. Mix of both warm & cold.

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8
Q

What is a trough (line)?

A

Elongated low pressure. Air flows in and up in a trough. Precipitation likely.

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9
Q

What is a ridge (line)?

A

Elongated area of high pressure. Descending air. Good weather.

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10
Q

What is STP for flight in C and F.

A

59F - 15C

29.92”Hg - 1013.2 millibars

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11
Q

What are isobars?

A

Lines that divide areas of equal pressure on a weather chart.

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12
Q

What does it mean if isobars are close together?

A
  1. Steep pressure gradient.

2. Higher wind speed

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13
Q

Why do winds flow across isobars at an angle?

A

Surface friction

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14
Q

What rate does pressure decrease with altitude?

A

1” Hg per 1000 feet

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15
Q

What condition is air in at dew point.

A

Saturated

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16
Q

How thick are clouds (at least) if there is significant rain at the surface?

A

4,000+ feet thick

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17
Q

What meteorological data should a pilot be aware of while planning a flight?

A

Fronts: location, type, speed, direction
Cloud layers: bases and tops
Freezing level(s): how to avoid icing
Air temp. & press.: icing at low press. and freezing temp.

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18
Q

What conditions are necessary for structural icing?

A
  1. Visible moisture

2. Below freezing

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19
Q

What are the two categories of aircraft icing?

A
  1. Structural - airframe

2. Induction - engine

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20
Q

What are three types of structural icing? Describe each.

A
  1. Clear ice: After initial impact when drop flows over surface. Gradual freeze
  2. Rime ice: Small drops. Drop freezes fast after impact before spreading
  3. Mixed ice: Drops vary in size. Very rough
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21
Q

Is frost hazardous to flight?

A

Yes. It spoils smooth airflow.

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22
Q

What conditions must be present for thunderstorms.

A
  1. Sufficient moisture
  2. Unstable lapse rate
  3. Lifting action
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23
Q

What kinds of fog forms in air colder than the dew pint?

A
  1. Radiation fog
  2. Advection fog
  3. Upslope fog
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24
Q

What kids of fog form from excess moisture?

A
  1. Frontal fog

2. Steam fog

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25
Q

Name types of fog.

A
  1. Radiation fog
  2. Advection fog
  3. Upslope fog
  4. Frontal/precipitation-induced fog
  5. Steam fog
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26
Q

What causes radiation fog?

A

When the ground cools adjacent air below dew point on calm, clear nights.

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27
Q

Describe advection fog and its source.

A

Transport of humid air over a cool surface.

Coastal areas in winter. Any wind/cloud conditions. Any time. Wide area.

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28
Q

Describe upslope fog and its source.

A

Moist stable air cooled adiabatically as it moves uphill.

Powered by wind, so it needs it to exist. Dense. Extends to high altitudes.

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29
Q

Define wind sheer. Where does it occur.

A

Change in wind velocity per unit of horizontal or vertical distance.

Occurs at any level, but most common in:

  1. Low level temp inversion
  2. Fronts or thunderstorms
  3. Clear Air Turbulence (CAT) (from jet stream or strong circulation)
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30
Q

What type of weather info do pilots examine to check for wind shear?

A
  1. Terminal forecasts: any LLWS, thunderstorms, or microbursts
  2. METARs: thunderstorms, gusts, warming trends
  3. SIGMETS: prime source
  4. LLWAS: (LLWS alert system)
  5. PIREPs: sudden airspeed changes

LLWS = Low Level Wind Shear

31
Q

Where can one get a weather briefing?

A

Flight Service Station (FSS) over the phone online.

1800wxbrief.com

32
Q

What are other sources of weather?

A
  1. Private sources
  2. Flight Info Services (FIS-B via ADS-B in)
  3. Aviation weather cameras (Alaska only)
33
Q

What kinds of briefings are available from an AFSS/FSS briefer?

A

Standard: for when no preliminary data is known
Abbreviated: supplements known data
Outlook: 6+ hours forecast for plan
//Inflight: to update preflight

34
Q

What should a weather briefing include?

A
  1. Adverse conditions
  2. VFR flight not recommended
  3. Synopsis
  4. Current conditions
  5. Enroute forecast
  6. Destination forecast
  7. Winds aloft
  8. NOTAMs
  9. ATC delay
  10. Optional: SUA, alert areas, MOAs, MTRs, training routes, warning areas, ATCAA, density alt., immigration procedures, ADIZ rules, search & rescue, runway friction, GPS RAIM
35
Q

Describe FIS-B.

A

Through ADS-B UAT network. Line-of-sight. Weather info.

36
Q

Can you use FIS-B to avoid thunderstorms in flight?

A

No. It’s not real time.

Andres’s Story

37
Q

Where can a pilot get inflight weather?

A
  1. FSS on 122.2 and appropriate RCO (remote communication outlet) frequencies
  2. ATIS/AWOS/ASOS
  3. ARTCC — AWWs, SIGMET family, Urgent PIREPs, CWA alerts ???
  4. Datalink weather
  5. ATC
38
Q

How often is a METAR updated?

A

Hourly

39
Q

Distinguish the two kinds of METARs

A

Routine: hourly

Selected Special Weather Report (SPECI): given any time for crit. info

40
Q

Describe parts of a METAR.

A 
Type of Report - METAR & SPECI
ICAO Station ID - 4 letters
Date & Time - 6 digit Z
Modifier - AUTO or based on precip.
Wind - 5 digits: 3 dir, 2 vel
Visibility - surface, SM
Runway Visual Range (RVR) - 
Weather Phenomena - qualifiers, phenomena
Sky Condition - amount/height/type clouds AGL
Temp/Dew Point - Celsius 
Altimeter - “ Hg
Remarks - additional optional data
41
Q

List weather observing programs.

A
  1. Manual Observations
  2. AWOS
  3. AWOS Broadcasts
  4. ASOS/AWOS
42
Q

Describe Manual Observations.

A

Locations staffed by FAA. Conducted by personnel at airport.

43
Q

Describe AWOS.

A

Automated Weather Observing System. Automatic, minute by minute weather data radioed directly to pilot. AUTO prefix.

44
Q

What is a PIREP?

A

A weather report confirming data that can only be seen by someone in flight instead of a ground station. (Good for finding icing)

45
Q

What are the two kinds of PIREPS?

A

UA - routine PIREP

UUA - Urgent PIREP

46
Q

What is a TAF?

A

Terminal Aerodrome Forecast: Airport specific weather forecast organized like a METAR

47
Q

Describe the parts of a TAF.

A
  1. Type of report
  2. ICAO ID
  3. Date and Time (of origin)
  4. Valid Time
  5. Forecasts
48
Q

What types of TAFs are there?

A
  1. Routine (TAF)
  2. Amended (TAF COR)
  3. Corrected (TAF AMD)
49
Q

What is an FA?

A

Aviation Area Forecast: Issued for Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Alaska. 18-24 hour forecast. 3-4 times daily.

50
Q

Describe GFAs.

A

Graphical Forecasts for Aviation: Web based graphics that show wind, icing, and turbulence in 3,000 foot increments from 6k-30k MSL and 6k increments from 30k-48k. 14 hours in the past to 15 hours in the future.

51
Q

What types of forecast are available under the “Forecast” tab of the GFA on aviationweather.gov?

A
  1. TAF
  2. CIG/VIS - Ceiling and Visibility
  3. Clouds
  4. PCPN/WX - Precip. & weather
  5. Thunderstorms
  6. Turbulence
  7. Ice
52
Q

What weather products are available under the “Obs/Warn” tab of the GFA?

A
  1. METAR
  2. Precipitation/weather
  3. CIG/VIS
  4. PIREP
  5. RAD/SAT - Radar/Satellite
53
Q

What are the 4 inflight aviation weather advisories?

A
  1. SIGMET
  2. convective SIGMET
  3. AIRMET
  4. Center Weather Advisory
54
Q

Ceilings are reported with which altitude?

A

AGL

55
Q

What do convective SIGMETs report?

A

Thunderstorms, icing, and low level wind shear. Hazards for all categories of aircraft.

56
Q

What does a SIGMET report?

A
  1. Severe icing not from thunderstorms
  2. Severe turbulence or CAT that is not from thunderstorms
  3. Dust storms/sandstorms
  4. Volcanic ash

Potentially hazardous to all aircraft.

57
Q

What is an AIRMET

A

For use by ALL pilots. Lower intensity than SIGMETs. Contain details about IFR, mountain obscuration, turbulence, strong surface winds, icing, and freezing levels.

58
Q

Describe the three AIRMET types.

A

Sierra: IFR conditions or MOUNTAIN observations
Tango: moderate Turbulence, sustained surface winds of 30kts+, or non-convective LLWS
Zulu: icing and freeZing level heights

59
Q

Describe winds and temp.s aloft.

A

They are forecasts for wind speed and direction and temperature at altitude. 4/day.

60
Q

What information can you determine from a winds aloft forecast?

A
  1. Most favorable altitude - tailwinds
  2. Areas of possible icing
  3. Temperature inversions
  4. Turbulence - by observing abrupt changes in wind direction
61
Q

What are CWAs?

A

Center Weather Advisory: Aviation warning for poor weather en route or at a point. Current conditions only.

62
Q

What are some NWS weather charts used in flight planning?

A
  1. Surface Analysis Chart
  2. Weather Depiction Chart (old) - Ceiling and Visibility Analysis (new)
  3. Short-range Surface Prognostic Chart
  4. Significant Weather Prognostic Chart
  5. Convective outlook Chart
  6. Constant Pressure Analysis Chart (old) - Upper Air Constant Pressure Level Forecasts (new)
  7. Freezing Level Graphics
63
Q

What is a surface analysis chart? How many are made per day.

A

Surface weather observations. Sea level pressure, highs, lows, ridges, troughs, fronts, boundaries (like drylines). 8x/day

64
Q

Describe a CVA.

A

Ceiling and Visibility Analysis: Real time (5 min). Displays current visibility and ceilings. Follow up with other forms of weather data.

65
Q

Define LIFR

A

LIFR - Low IFR: ceiling <500ft or visibility <1mile

66
Q

Define IFR

A

IFR: Ceiling 500-1000ft or visibility 1-3 miles

67
Q

Define MVFR

A

MVFR - Marginal VFR: ceiling 1,000-3,000ft or visibility 3-5 miles

68
Q

Define VFR.

A

VFR: Ceiling >3,000ft and visibility >5 miles

69
Q

What are short-range surface prognostic charts?

A

prog charts forecast surface pressure systems, fronts, and precipitation for a 2.5 day period. 12, 18, 24, 48, and 60 hour predicted conditions. Issued 4x/day.

70
Q

Describe a Low-Level SIGWX chart.

A

Low-Level Significant Weather Prog Chart: Aviation weather hazards from flight level 240 and below. Used in preflight

71
Q

Describe a Mid-Level SIGWX chart.

A

10,000 to FL450. Snapshot of weather hazardous to aviation. 1x/day

72
Q

What is a convective outlook chart?

A

Forecasts areas that have potential for severe weather (tornado, 50+kts, hail 3/4+”) and non severe convection weather. Slight (SGLT), Moderate (MDT), or High (HIGH) for 24 hour periods 1 and 2 days in advance.

73
Q

Define Constant Pressure Analysis Charts.

A

Shows pressures at different altitudes. Issued twice daily, 5 charts from 00Z to 12Z.

Private Pilot Knowledge Test (6 decks)

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