WEATHER Pumped and Dumped (NIFE 2025)

What is the atmosphere composed of?

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gases

How much water vapor does the atmosphere contain?

0% - 5% by volume

The atmosphere contains many nongaseous substances (dust, salt, particles, etc) which are referred to as what?

Condensation Nuclei

What is the layer adjacent to the Earth's Surface where nearly all weather occurs and has large amounts of moisture?

Troposphere

What is the height of the troposphere?

28,000' MSL to 55,000' MSL

With an increase in altitude within the Troposphere, what happens with temperature and wind strength?

Temperature decreases with altitude while wind strength increases with altitude

Wind speeds over ______ knots may occur at the top of the troposphere

200

An abrupt change in the rate of temperature decrease with increasing altitude marks the boundary called the __________________

Tropopause

What is the isothermal transition layer between troposphere and stratosphere called?

Tropopause

In which layer does temperature stay relatively constant?

Tropopause

What is the primary reason that the tropopause is important to aviators?

The strongest winds (jet streams) occur just below the tropopause which can cause moderate to severe turbulence with wind shear

How is ambient static pressure measured?

By the weight of a column of air directly above an area on the earth's surface

What are the two units of measurement for Static pressure?

Inches of Mercury (Hg) and Millibars (mb)

Static pressure decreases with an increase in ________________

Altitude

What is the standard pressure lapse rate?

1 inch Hg per 1000 feet of altitude

As altitude increases, what happens to atmospheric pressure and density?

Decrease

Normal sea level pressures in the atmosphere vary from as low as _____ in-Hg to as high as ____ in-Hg

28, 31

What type of pressure is given to you for local area?

Sea Level Pressure (SLP)

Sea Level Pressure is pressure read directly at ____________________ or calculated from a known station pressure

sea level

In order to calculate for Sea Level Pressure (SLP) you must add _______________ and _____________ together.

Station Pressure (SP) and Field Elevation (FE)

What type of pressure is atmospheric pressure read directly at an airfield or specific altitude?

Station Pressure (SP)

T/F: Station Pressure (SP) will be LESS than the equivalent Sea Level Pressure when the station is above sea level

True

1 multiple choice option

What are lines of equal barometric pressure called?

Isobars

Atmospheric circulation moves air in mainly two ways which are what?

Ascending and Descending

The circulating air currents carry and move ______________ around, causing the changes in weather

moisture

Every physical process of water is accompanied by (or a result of) what?

Heat Exchange

What is the curving of the path of objects or fluids due to the Earth's rotation called?

Coriolis Effect

What leads to a 90 degree deflection of air as moves?

Atmospheric Circulation

Due to atmospheric circulation, in the Northern Hemisphere, air deflects to the ___________ while in the Southern Hemisphere, air deflects to the ___________

Right, Left

Pressure Gradient Force is the initiation __________ for all winds

Force

What is a rate of pressure change in a direction perpendicular to the isobars?

Pressure Gradient

Regarding Pressure Gradient Force (PGF), High Pressure is the result of ___________________ air while Low Pressure is the result of _________________ air

Descending, Ascending

Air moves from areas of ______________ pressure to areas of _______________ pressure

Higher, Lower

When isobars are close together, what happens to PGF and winds?

Strong PGF, Steep Gradient, Winds are stronger

When isobars are far apart, what happens to PGF and winds?

Weak PGF, Shallow Gradient, Weak Winds

What are the standard day conditions?

At sea Level, 29.92" Hg, 15 degrees C (59 F)

What is the average temperature lapse rate?

2 degrees C / 1000 ft of altitude

What is the average pressure lapse rate?

1" Hg / 1000 ft of altitude

If it is 20* Celsius at sea level, and we want to climb to 5,000 ft, what can we expect the temperature to be?

10 degrees Celsius

What is a large body of air with relatively the same/uniform temperature and moisture characteristics across a horizontal plane called?

Air Mass

T/F: There are no abrupt temperature or dew point changes within the air mass at a given altitude

True

1 multiple choice option

How are air masses named?

Location, Temperature, and Moisture

Regarding air mass naming, what locations can they be from?

T.A.P.E.

Tropical

Arctic

Polar

Equatorial

Warm air masses bring in _________ conditions while cold air masses are inherently ______________

stable, unstable

Moisture is water in any of its three states, which are what?

solid, liquid, gas

What is it called when temperature increases with an increase in altitude?

Temperature inversion

Dew Point is represented as a _______________

temperature

Dew point is a direct indication of how much ________________ is in the air

moisture

The dew point will always be ______________ than or ____________ to the current air temperature

Lower, Equal

Identify the dew point within these examples of Temperature and Dew Point readings:

1. 18/13

2. 25/15

3. 30/29

1. 13

2. 15

3. 29

What is the temperature at which saturation occurs called?

Dew Point Temperature

What is the term called that is the percent of saturation of the air?

Relative Humidity (RH)

What is the difference between temperature and dew point called?

Dew Point Depression/Spread

As Dew Point spread decreases, what happens to moisture?

Begins to condense and become visible (clouds, fog, frost)

What dew point depression temperature is when the air is holding close to the maximum amount of water vapor possible?

2 degrees C (4 degrees F)

What are the chances for clouds, fog, or precipitation to form with a higher dew point?

Greater chance

T/F: Warmer air can hold more moisture than colder air

True

1 multiple choice option

What is the actual amount of moisture in the air compared to the total amount that could be present called?

Relative Humidity

The closer to 100% RH you get, the __________ (more or less) likely to see visible moisture

more

T/F: A lower dewpoint will feel less humid than a higher one, and a higher dewpoint will feel more humid than a lower one; regardless of the relative humidity percentage

True

1 multiple choice option

What type of altitude is what the barometric altimeter indicates?

Indicated Altitude

What type of altitude is height above mean sea level and is the standard altitude used around the world?

True Altitude (MSL)

What type of altitude is the height above the terrain below you?

Absolute Altitude (AGL)

What type of altitude is not displayed on the altimeter but a calculation to determine the altitude that the airplane "thinks" it is at; used to gauge performance.

Density Altitude (DA)

What type of altitude is displayed when 29.92 is set in the Kollsman window and above Standard Datum Plane?

Pressure Altitude (PA)

What instrument displays altitude in the cockpit?

Altimeter

What type of altitude is the indicated altitude corrected for instrument error?

Calibrated Altitude

Calibrated Altitude corrected for temperature deviations from the standard atmosphere is what type of altitude?

True Altitude (MSL)

What is the standard altimeter setting at MSL's at or above 18,000' also known as Class A airspace?

29.92

Why does the FAR require all aircraft operating in Class A airspace to set their altimeter to 29.92?

Ensure consistent altitude separation

What type of altitude is pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature deviations?

Density Altitude (DA)

Altimeters measure the difference between the ________ pressure and ___________ pressure set in the kollsman window

static, sea level

With higher temperature or moisture, what happens to air density, density altitude, thrust/lift, and takeoff/landing distances?

Air density = Lower

DA = Higher

Thrust/Lift = Decreased

Takeoffs/Landing = Longer

With lower temperature or moisture, what happens to air density, density altitude, thrust/lift, and takeoff/landing distances?

Air density = Higher

DA = Lower

Thrust/Lift = Increased

Takeoffs/Landing = Shorter

How do we get updates on the altimeter setting during flight?

Via radio with ATC

If you are in an area of higher pressure going into lower pressure, what is your altitude at compared to what is on your altimeter?

Aircraft is lower than indicated

If you are in an area of lower pressure going into higher pressure, what is your altitude at compared to what is on your altimeter?

Aircraft is higher than indicated

A change in pressure of 1" Hg will change the altimeter reading by how many feet?

1000

What does the acronym "SET AI" mean?

Situation, Error, True Altitude, Absolute Altitude, Indicated Altitude on Deck

If it is colder than the standard atmosphere, the altimeter will indicate a higher or lower altitude than you are actual at?

Higher

If it is warmer than the standard atmosphere, the altimeter will indicate a higher or lower altitude than you are actual at?

Lower

*Commit this to memory for your dump sheet* This is SET AI

*Commit this to memory for your dump sheet*

The horizontal distribution of pressure on the Earth's surface is depicted on weather charts by _______________

Isobars

The weight of the air mass over any point on the Earth surface is __________________________

Atmospheric pressure

A decrease of one inch of mercury in atmospheric pressure would cause a change in an altimeter reading of approximately __________ feet (assuming constant elevation and altimeter setting)

plus 1000

Which type of altitude would be assigned in the US above 18,000 feet MSL?

Pressure Altitude (PA)

What color and shape is a cold front on a Surface Analysis Chart?

Blue, Triangle-Like shapes

What color and shape is a warm front on a Surface Analysis Chart?

Red, Half Circle-Like shapes

What color and shape is a Stationary front on a Surface Analysis Chart?

Blue/Triangles for the Cold Front, Red /Half Circles for the Warm front both mixed in together

What color and shape is a Occluded front on a Surface Analysis Chart?

Purple with Triangle/Half Circle mixed in together

"Out of the highs, and into the lows" is a saying that best describes what?

Pressure gradient force affects high pressure and low pressure areas

Wind Direction is always expressed in terms of the direction it blows ___________ (to or from)

From

What is the pattern of circulation of air for high pressure and low-pressure areas?

Clockwise for High Pressure, Counterclockwise for Low Pressure

Gradient Winds are found above ___________'AGL and flow __________ to how the isobars are depicted on a surface analysis chart

2000, parallel

Surface winds are heavily influenced by _____________ friction, and are found below ___________' AGL

surface, 2000

T/F: Surface winds flow exactly parallel to isobars

False, they do not flow exactly parallel to the isobars due to surface friction

1 multiple choice option

Surface winds around a low pressure center will tend to turn __________ (toward or away) to/from the center

Toward

Surface winds around a higih pressure center will tend to turn __________ (toward or away) to/from the center

Away

Is the pressure gradient force perpendicular or parallel to isobars?

Perpendicular

According to Buy Ballot's Law, if wind is at your back, the area of lower pressure will be at your _____

Left