Weather and Aviation
What is the temperature on the Upper Map over North Dakota (BIS, ND)?
-19�C (correct)
The wind chill index is a combination of
. Cold temperatures and strong winds
Choose the correct statement.
0°C is the freezing point of water while 212°F is the boiling point of water
Generally speaking, air pressure lowers as you go to a higher altitude or elevation.
TRUE
Surface winds generally tend to blow away from the center of an area of high pressure.
TRUE
Surface winds generally tend to blow into the center of an area of low pressure.
TRUE
The temperature of the troposphere almost always decreases with height.
TRUE
True or false, large airports can be considered urban heat islands.
TRUE
Some of the elements on a synoptic scale land-based map include:
Temperature and dew point
What occurs on the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
The Sun shines directly overhead the Tropic of Cancer
What occurs on the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere?
The Sun shines directly overhead the equator
Mean sea-level pressure is defined as:
The air pressure adjusted to sea level and expressed in millibars so meteorologists can use it to analyze surface pressure fields
What is an example of climate?
The high temperature today was 89°F, which is normal for this time of the year
The instrument that is shown is called ( ) and performs which functions: ( black device, white letters, etc)
Altimeter that measures air pressure and altitude
An instrument used to measure the speed of the wind is called:
Anemometer
What is the relationship between air pressure and wind?
As long as the pressure change is weak, the wind can remain straight
The instrument used to measure changes in atmospheric air pressure is the
Barometer
Generally speaking, what happens to air pressure and temperature as you go from a lower elevation to a higher elevation in the troposphere?
Both the temperature and pressure decrease
Which of these two are referred to as greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide and water vapor
The graph below shows:
Carbon dioxide concentration at Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii (correct)
What is the wind flow around high- and low-pressure systems in the Northern Hemisphere?
Clockwise and divergent from highs and counterclockwise and convergent into lows
The front below is a: ( blue triangle spikes on a curved line)
Cold front
What are the three agents of energy transfer?
Conduction, convection, and radiation
Which best describes the urban heat island?
Densely populated areas warm up faster due to high concentration of buildings and roads
The two main causes of large-scale atmospheric circulation?
Differential heating of the Earth and the Coriolis effect
A boundary that is marked by a contrast of moist and dry air will be labeled with a:
Dry line
Closely spaced isobars indicate a weak pressure gradient and very little wind since the air cannot move fast between these lines.
FALSE
Generally speaking, air that is warm and moist is heavier than air that is cool and dry.
FALSE
The atmosphere is composed primarily of oxygen.
FALSE
The greenhouse effect is the same thing as global warming.
FALSE
The pressure of the atmosphere will sometimes increase with height since it is colder.
FALSE
Wind direction is always defined as the direction the wind is blowing to.
FALSE
What is the definition of temperature?
The average kinetic energy of the molecules of a substance
The red letter L on all surface weather maps refers to:
The center of lowest pressure
Although the intensity of solar radiation is greatest at local noon, the warmest part of the day is most often mid-afternoon. Which statement below best explains this.
The combination of the incoming solar radiation and outgoing Earth radiation is greatest during mid-afternoon. This is called the lag effect
Latent heat is best described as:
The energy released or absorbed, by a body or a thermodynamic system, during a constant temperature process
Daily and monthly means are used mainly for
Mostly for climatological purposes
Which layer of the atmosphere does most of the weather occur in?
Troposphere
What are the five main layers of the atmosphere?
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
How often are weather balloons launched daily in the United States?
Twice daily
Explain the difference between permanent and variable gases.
Variable gases will change seasonally, but permanent gases generally remain the same
What is the relationship between air pressure and wind?
When pressure remains the same, the wind can blow fast
Wind direction is defined as
Where the wind is coming from on a compass heading
An instrument used to measure the direction of wind is called:
Wind vane
How is a wind vane different from an anemometer?
Wind vane measures direction, anemometer measures speed
The front below is a: ( red half circles and blue triangles)
stationary front
The front below is a: ( red half circles on a curved red line)
warm front
Temperatures near the top of the troposphere can typically reach:
−60°C
The pressure trend symbol refers to a pressure change in what time period?
Three hours
The heat index is a combination
High heat and high humidity
The average sea-level pressure when measured in millibars is
1,013 mb
Wind symbols, which are a single line, have how much wind:
10 kts
For unpressurized aircraft, supplemental breathing oxygen is recommended for cabin pressure altitudes above:
10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) during the day and 5,000 feet MSL at night
Dangerous heat index values typically occur above
105F
According to Coordinate Universal Time, if it is 18z, what time is it during Daylight Saving Time in Los Angeles?
11:00 a.m.
The weight of the air at the surface in pounds per square inch:
14.7
How much incoming solar radiation from the Sun is absorbed by the atmosphere?
19%
What is the temperature on the Upper Air Map over Northeast Wisconsin (GRB, WI)?
20C
The wind chill will become dangerous and produce frostbite at what point
20F (correct)
What is the boiling point of water?
212F
The United States has sustained ( ) weather and climate disasters since 1980 where overall damages/costs reached or exceeded $1 billion.
241
A wind blowing from the west will have a direction of:
270°
What is the freezing point of water?
32F
Wind symbols, which are a solid triangle, have how much wind:
50 kts
Some synoptic scale weather maps can range in size from:
600 -1500 miles
What is the typical temperature for an airplane at 34,000 feet?
60F
According to Coordinate Universal Time, if it is 00z in London, what time is it during standard time in Chicago?
6:00 p.m.
Urban areas can be how much warmer than surrounding rural areas.
7-10F
What is the chemical composition of the atmosphere?
78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% Argon, trace gases
According to Coordinate Universal Time, if it is 12z in London, what time is it during standard time in New York?
7:00 a.m. (correct)
What is the pressure gradient force?
A force that results when there is a difference in pressure across a surface
What best describes the daily mean temperature?
Add the maximum and minimum for a 24-hour period and divide by 2
For pressurized aircraft, when flying above a flight level of 35,000 feet (FL 350), one pilot must wear an oxygen mask:
At all times
What is ASOS?
Automatic Surface Observing Systems
What best describes the annual mean?
Average of the 12 monthly means
For pressurized aircraft, a 10-minute supplemental oxygen supply is required:
For all aircraft occupants above a flight level of 25,000 feet (FL 250) in case of loss of cabin pressurization
Using this compass, which direction is the wind? (Between W and S)
From the Northeast, or 060 degrees
What is a radiosonde?
Instrument packages tethered to balloons that gather weather data
One of the key elements used to observe atmosphere pressure is the:
Isobar
The small window that displays air pressure is called:
Kollsman window
Large airports can become somewhat of an urban heat island due to
Large concentration of buildings, and concrete and asphalt runways
The three rates of snow and rainfall as defined by the surface map symbols are
Light, moderate, and heavy
An isobar on a surface weather map represents:
Line of constant air pressure
What are isotherms?
Line that connects points on a map that have the same temperature
The layer in which meteorites typically "burn-up" is
Mesosphere
The Earth's greenhouse effect is best described as:
Outgoing longwave radiation from the Earth's surface is trapped by carbon dioxide and water vapor warming the atmosphere
Requirements and recommendations for aircrew and passengers affected by possible lack of oxygen in the cockpit and cabin are outlined by the FAA Federal Aviation Regulation:
Part 135
What are the three main factors, which govern the wind?
Pressure gradient, Coriolis Effect, and friction
The most important component of a weather observation for pilots and air traffic controllers is
Sky cover
The International Standard Atmosphere is a ( ) atmospheric model of how the pressure, temperature, density, and viscosity of the Earth's atmosphere change over a wide range of altitudes or elevations.
Static
Winds are often referred to according to their?
Strength and direction
Squall lines can signify where:
Strong line of thunderstorms
Which statement best describes the Keeling Curve?
The level of carbon dioxide falls during the growing season to a minimum in October and recovers over winter to a maximum in May
What is the definition of climate?
The long-term state of the atmosphere at a particular place
What is the definition of weather?
The particular state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place (correct)
Altimeter setting is defined as the:
The pressure adjusted to mean sea level using the temperature profile of the standard atmosphere
Station Pressure is defined as:
The pressure that is observed at a specific airport and is the true barometric pressure of a location
What is an example of weather?
The sky is sunny, the temperature is 32 degrees, and the wind is calm (correct)
Why is the tilt of the Earth important in understanding the reason for seasonal changes in weather?
The tilt of the Earth allows a greater incidence of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun
What is the definition of heat?
The transfer of energy between two substances of different temperatures
