Weather Information Flashcards
1
Q
What are PIREPs and where are they usually found?
A
- conditions as they actually exist in the air height of bases and tops of clouds
- There are two types of PIREPs: routine or “UA,” and urgent or “UUA.” PIREPs
2
Q
What are Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs)?
A
- Meteorological conditions for a specified time period within five statute miles (SM) of the terminal.
- same in METAR weather reports, in the following format:
- Type of reports-a routine forecast (TAF) an amended forecast (TAF AMO), or a corrected forecast (T AF COR).
- b. /CAO station identifier- 4-letter station identifier.
- 24- and 30-hour TAFs are issued four (4) times per day, at 0000, 0600, 1200, and J800Z.
3
Q
What is an Aviation Area Forecast (FA)? (AC 00-45)
A
- covering a flight information region use the area forecast to determine forecast enroute weather
- to interpolate conditions at airports that do not have a terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF).
- FAs are issued 3 times daily for each of the 6 areas
4
Q
What is a Graphical Forecast for Aviation (GFA)? (AWC)
A
- Provide aviation weather information as a complete picture
- The webpage includes observational data, forecasts, and warnings that can be viewed from 14 hours in the past to 15 hours
5
Q
What are the four types of lnflight Aviation Weather Advisories? (AIM 7-1-5)
A
- SIGMET (WS)
- Convective SIGMET (WST)
- AIRMET (WA ; text or graphical product),
- Center weather advisory (CWA).
- All heights are referenced MSL, except indicate AGL.
6
Q
What is a convective SIGMET? (AC 00-45)
A
- severe or greater turbulence, severe icing and low-level wind shear.
- Hazardous to all categories of aircraft.
- Bulletins are issued hourly at H+55 valid for up to 2 hours a.
- Severe thunderstorms due to
- Surface winds greater than or equal to 50 knots.
- Hail at the surface greater than or equal to 3{ inches in diameter. • Tornadoes.
- Embedded thunderstorms.
- A line of thunderstorms.
- Thunderstorms that produce precipitation levels greater than or equal to heavy-intensity precipitation , affecting 40% or more of an area at least 3,000 square miles .
7
Q
What is a SIGMET (WS)? (AIM 7-1-5)
A
- hazardous to a ll aircraft. S
- unscheduled products that are valid for 4 hours .
- Severe icing not associated with thunderstorms.
- Severe or extreme turbulence or clear air turbulence (CAT) not associated with thunderstorms.
- Widespread dust storms or sandstorms lowering surface visibilities to below 3 miles.
- Volcanic ash
8
Q
What is an AIRMET (WA)? (AIM 7-1-5)
A
- Issued every 6 hours beginning at 0245 UTC.
- AIRMET information is available in two formats: text bulletins (WA) and graphics (G-AIRMET).
- AIRMETs contain details about IFR, extensive mountain obscuration, turbulence, strong surface winds, icing, and freezing levels.
9
Q
What are the different types of AIRMETs? (AIM 7-1-5)
A
There are three types of AIRMET:
- AIRMET Sierra describes IFR conditions and/or extensive mountain obscurations.
- AIRMET Tango describes moderate turbulence, sustained surface winds of 30 knots or greater, and/or nonconvective low-level wind shear.
- cAIRMET Zulu describes moderate icing and provides freezing level heights.
10
Q
What is a winds and temperatures aloft forecast (FB)?
A
- Called FBs, are issued 4 times daily.
- In an FB, a 4-digit code group shows wind direction, in reference to true north
- wind speed in knots, with an additional 2-digit code group showing forecast temperatures in degrees Celsius.
- Wind forecasts are not issued for altitudes within l,500 feet of a location’s elevation.
11
Q
What valuable information can be determined from an FB? (AC 00-45)
A
- Most favorable altitude - based on winds and direction of flight.
- Areas of possible icing - by noting air temperatures of +2°C to -20°C.
- Temperature inversions- a temperature increase with altitude can mean a stable layer aloft reducing the chance for convective activity.
- Turbulence - by observing abrupt changes in wind direction and speed at different altitudes.
12
Q
What is a Center Weather Advisory (CWA)? (AC 00-45)
A
- Issued by a CWSU (Center Weather Service Unit),
- The CWA is a short-term “nowcast,” pinpointing hazardous weather already causing an impact or expected to cause an impact within a 2-hour period;
- therefore it is an inflight advisory rather than a flight planning tool.
- CW As are valid for a maximum of 2 hours; if conditions are expected to continue beyond the 2-hour valid period, a statement will be included in the CWA.
13
Q
What is a Convective outlook (AC)? (AC 00-45)
A
- Outlook of the potential for severe (tornado, wind gusts 50 knots or greater, or hail 1 inch or greater in diameter) and non-severe (general) convection and specific severe weather threats during the following 8 days .
- It defines areas
- marginal risk (MRGL)
- slight risk (SLGT),
- enhanced risk (ENH),
- moderate risk (MDT)
- high risk (HIGH) of severe weather based on a percentage probability.
14
Q
What is a surface analysis chart? (AC 00-45)
A
- Analyzed chart of surface weather observations.
- It depicts:
- including sea level pressure
- the positions of highs, lows, ridges, and troughs
- the location and character of fronts
15
Q
Describe a Ceiling and Visibility Analysis (CVA).
A
The CVA product provides a real-time analysis of current observed and estimated ceiling and visibility conditions
