Weather Services Flashcards
What are the four types of weather observations?
Surface, Upper Air, Radar, and Satellite
Surface Observations
Local weather conditions, five mile radius, (METARS) current weather at individual ground stations across the United States.
ARTCC
Air Route Traffic Control Center
Job of the ARTCC
Maintaing separation between flights conducted under IFR in the en route structure
Two methods of Upper Air Observations
Radiosonde observation and Pilot weather reports (PIREPS)
What does SIGMET stand for?
Significant Meteorological Information
SIGMETs
Safety to all aircraft, Cover area of 3,000 feet. Provide data regarding severe and extreme turbulence, severe icing, and widespread dust or sandstorms that reduce visibility to less than three miles.
What does AIRMETs stand for?
Airmen’s Meteorological Information
AIRMETs
Issued only to amend the area forecast, less severity than SIGMETs, moderate icing, moderate turbulence, sustained winds of 30 knots or more at the surface, ceilings less than 1,000 feet and visibility less than three miles, and extensive mountain obscurement.
What are the three types of weather briefings?
Standard, Abbreviated, or Outlook
Standard Briefing
Most complete report and provides the overall weather picture.
Abbreviated Briefing
Shortened version of the standard briefing. Requested when departure has been delayed or when you need an update.
Outlook Briefing
When departure is more than 6 hours away.
How often are METARs published?
Every hour unless significant weather changes occur.
When does ATC Required to solicit PIREPs from pilots in the area?
When the ceiling is below 5,000 feet, or visibility is at or below five miles
What does TAF stand for?
Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts
What is a TAF?
5 Statute miles around the airport, Valid for 30 hours, updated 4 times a day at 0000Z, 0600Z, 1200Z, and 1800Z.
What does FA stand for?
Area Forecast
What is an AF?
Picture of clouds, encompassing several states. 6 areas in the 48 states, Issued three times a day and are valid for 18 hours.
How often are AIRMETs issued?
Every six hours
What are the 3 AIRMETs?
Sierra for IFR and Mountain Obscuration
Tango for turbulence, strong surface winds, and low-level wind shear
Zulu for icing and freezing levels
How often are SIGMETs put out?
Unscheduled forecast that are valid for 4 hours but if relating to hurricanes, it is valid for 6 hours.
Convective SIGMET
Severe thunderstorms with surface winds greater than 50 knots, hail at eh surface, embedded thunderstorms, Issued 55 minutes past the hour, valid for 2 hours.
Winds and Temp. Aloft?
Taken 2x a day, Wind direction is always given in true north and speed is given in knots.
Surface Analysis Charts
Transmitted every 3 hours, Shows area of high and low pressure, fronts, temp, dew points, wind direction and speeds local weather and visual obstructions
Weather Depiction Charts
Transmitted by computer every 3 hours beginning at 0100Z and valid at the time of the plotted data.
Radar Summary Charts
Published hourly at 35 min. past the hour
